Published October 30, 20264 min read

October 30, 2026 · Mountains

Aspen and Vail Holiday Season 2026: Thanksgiving to New Year’s

Aspen and Snowmass are in the Roaring Fork Valley, and Vail and Beaver Creek are in the Eagle Valley, so pick the events that are near your rental. This page covers the dated events we could confirm on the towns’ tourism sites, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s, Aspen Skiing Company’s and Vail Resorts’ own pages, read on October 30, 2026. Where a 2026 detail is not published, we say so. Shortlist condos and homes on Aspen and Vail rentals, then book on the property site. For choosing a base, see the neighborhood guide, and for year-round ideas, things to do.

Quick answer

Vail Mountain plans to open November 13, 2026, and Snowmass on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. The Vail Village tree lighting is Sunday, December 6, at 5 p.m. Wintersköl in Aspen and Snowmass is December 10–13. On New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31, Vail’s torchlight parade at Golden Peak is at 6:15 p.m., and Snowmass’s on Fanny Hill is at 6 p.m. Opening dates depend on weather and conditions.

The 2026 holiday calendar

Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25, 2026.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Thursday, December 31, 2026, and Friday, January 1, 2027.

Many rentals set their own minimum stay for these nights, and it can differ from the rest of the season. Read the minimum for your exact dates on the booking site, not the general winter rule.

Planned ski opening days

Vail Mountain: November 13, 2026, and Beaver Creek: November 25, per Vail Resorts’ August 18, 2026 announcement. It says dates can change with weather and conditions.
Snowmass: Thursday, November 26, 2026, per Snowmass Tourism’s opening day page. Only the Meadows beginner area opens that day, served by the Elk Camp Gondola and the Meadows lift.
Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk: Saturday, December 12, 2026, per the Aspen Chamber’s Wintersköl schedule below.

Vail Village tree lighting

Discover Vail’s event page lists the Vail Village Holiday Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Children’s Fountain on Gore Creek Drive, between Pepi’s and Lancelot.

Wintersköl in Aspen and Snowmass, December 10–13

From the Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s Wintersköl page:

Saturday, December 12: holiday tree lighting at The Viewline in Snowmass at 5 p.m., a torchlight parade on Snowmass at 6 p.m., and a torchlight parade and fireworks on Aspen Mountain at 7 p.m. The Aspen Mountain parade is for local ski-club athletes only, not the public.
Sunday, December 13: The Little Nell’s tree lighting, 5–7 p.m., with the ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

Aspen Skiing Company’s Wintersköl page says it is still working on this year’s schedule, so check again closer to the date.

Santa’s Village in Snowmass, December 21–24

Snowmass Tourism’s Santa’s Village page lists December 21–24, 2026, at the Snowmass Village Mall. Santa is at The Collective from 3 to 5 p.m. each day. A free holiday ice-skating show is on December 24 from noon to 1 p.m.

New Year’s Eve torchlight parades, December 31

Vail: Discover Vail’s New Year’s Eve page lists the Vail Ski and Snowboard School torchlight parade at Golden Peak at 6:15 p.m., followed by fireworks at 6:25 p.m. that can be seen from all base areas and the village.
Snowmass: Snowmass Tourism’s torchlight parade page lists the parade down Fanny Hill at 6 p.m. Intermediate skiers and riders aged 8 and up can join through online registration, first come, first served, with 250 spots. Registration was not open yet when we checked.

What to confirm before you pay

The minimum stay and cancellation terms for your holiday nights.
Which town the rental is in. Aspen, Snowmass, Vail and Beaver Creek each have their own events.
How you get to the lifts, and whether parking is included.
House rules and occupancy: Aspen and Vail rental tips. Typical December weather: weather by month.

If one feature matters for a holiday stay, start with these Aspen and Vail pages; each lists only rentals whose own listing title or website mentions that feature: Aspen and Vail rentals with a hot tub (14), Aspen and Vail rentals with a pool (10), Aspen and Vail condo rentals (13), Aspen and Vail ski-in/ski-out rentals (8), Aspen and Vail rentals with a fireplace (8), Pet-friendly Aspen and Vail listings (9). Confirm the feature and the holiday minimum stay with the owner or manager in writing before you pay.

FAQ

When is the Vail Village tree lighting in 2026?

Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. at the Children’s Fountain in Vail Village.

When is Wintersköl in 2026?

December 10–13, 2026, in Aspen and Snowmass. The Aspen Mountain torchlight parade and fireworks are on Saturday, December 12, at 7 p.m.

What time are the New Year’s Eve torchlight parades?

Vail: 6:15 p.m. at Golden Peak, with fireworks at 6:25 p.m. Snowmass: 6 p.m. on Fanny Hill.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then finish on the site linked from the listing.

Start browsing stays

Sources

Vail Resorts — 2026/27 opening dates, August 18, 2026 (read October 30, 2026)
Snowmass Tourism — Snowmass opening day (read October 30, 2026)
Discover Vail — Vail Village tree lighting (read October 30, 2026)
Aspen Chamber Resort Association — Wintersköl (read October 30, 2026)
Aspen Snowmass — Wintersköl (read October 30, 2026)
Snowmass Tourism — Santa’s Village (read October 30, 2026)
Discover Vail — New Year’s Eve torchlight parade and fireworks (read October 30, 2026)
Snowmass Tourism — New Year’s Eve torchlight parade (read October 30, 2026)

Things to do · Winter and ski packing · Weather by month · Neighborhood guide · New Year’s ski rental tips