Breckenridge Christmas: A Holiday Week Guide

More than 59,000 feet of LED lights, about 11 miles in all, wrap the Victorian storefronts along Main Street each December. Up on the peaks above town, ski season is already several weeks old.

Breckenridge Ski Resort plans to open on November 6, according to Vail Resorts, seven weeks before Christmas, conditions permitting. Off the slopes, the town fills December with festivals and holiday traditions. Here’s the month in order, from the first holiday weekend to New Year’s Eve on Peak 9, with the 2026 dates that are already set.

The ski season and the town’s winter traditions are both up and running by early December. Sleigh rides begin in late November, and the covered outdoor rink at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena opens in September. How much ski terrain is open in the first weeks depends on snow, so check the resort’s snow report as your trip gets closer.

Breckenridge kicks off the holidays on Saturday, December 5, with the Lighting of Breckenridge and Race of the Santas. It’s the town’s official start to the holiday season.

Hundreds of runners in Santa suits dash down Main Street in the Race of the Santas. In 2025, the day began with a holiday dog parade and a kids’ race called the Moose March. As evening falls, Santa lights the Town Tree at Blue River Plaza, and the holiday lights glow across downtown. The full 2026 schedule will be posted closer to the date.

In 2025, Breck Create hosted Handmade Holiday alongside the Lighting, with ornament making and free creative activities for kids on its Arts District campus. Watch for the 2026 date as the Lighting gets closer.

Ullr Fest honors Ullr, the Norse god of snow, with three days of celebration from December 17 to 19. This year marks Ullr Fest’s 63rd anniversary, and it falls a week before Christmas, so a mid-December stay catches both the festival and the holiday lights.

Thursday, December 17

The festival opens at Blue River Plaza at 3 pm with the crowning of the Ullr King and Queen. At 3:30 pm, Main Street hosts the World’s Longest Shotski, an unofficial world record attempt for guests 21 and older, with registration required. The free Ullr Parade follows at 4 pm, with a bonfire at the East Sawmill lot from 5 to 7 pm.

Friday and Saturday

Friday brings a film festival and concert at Blue River Plaza. On Saturday, December 19, families can skate with Ullr at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, where admission is $13 for adults and $10 for youth and seniors, with free skate rental. The full schedule is still being finalized, so check the festival page for times.

Christmas week is one of the busiest times to visit, according to the tourism office, so book sleigh rides and Christmas dinner tables as soon as your dates are set.

Sleigh Rides and Dinner in the Snow

Three companies offer sleigh rides around Breckenridge from late November to late April, depending on snow, according to GoBreck. Two Below Zero offers a one-hour scenic ride with cocoa and cookies, or a dinner ride to a heated tent with a three-course meal and musical entertainment. Golden Horseshoe Tours rides behind Belgian draft horses through the White River National Forest. Breck Stables runs rides from Peak 9 and the Gold Run Nordic Center, including a dinner ride that climbs to a yurt at about 11,000 feet. Availability is limited over the holidays, so book early.

Skating at Stephen C. West

The Stephen C. West Ice Arena is a full-size, open-air rink with a roof overhead, and it offers public skating most days of the week, with figure and hockey skate rentals.

Holiday Shows and Services

The Backstage Theatre and the Alpine Dance Academy typically stage holiday performances in December, and many churches in town hold Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Call ahead for times.

Christmas Dinner in Town

Most of Breckenridge’s 100-plus bars and restaurants stay open over the holidays, according to the tourism office, though many don’t offer special holiday menus. Reserve your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day tables well ahead, and expect waits if you walk in. If you’d like to celebrate at home, plan takeout or a private chef in advance.

Breckenridge saves its torchlight parade for New Year’s Eve. On Thursday, December 31, the evening begins with the Glow Worm Parade for kids, about an hour before the main event. Children who can ski or ride a green run on their own can join in.

At 6 pm, instructors from the Breckenridge Ski and Snowboard School ski down more than 1,000 vertical feet of Peak 9 carrying red torches, arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree. The resort’s fireworks follow at about 9:30 pm from the base of Peak 9 and last around 15 minutes. All times depend on the weather.

For the best views, head to Blue River Plaza, the base areas of Peaks 7, 8 and 9, or Main Street Station. Nights can drop to single digits or below zero, so dress the whole family in warm layers. Our guide to the best torchlight parades in the Rockies shows how Breckenridge’s parade compares with other mountain towns.

Breckenridge makes it easy to leave the car behind. The town’s Free Ride buses and the Main Street Trolley are free, and the My Free Ride app shows where each bus is in real time, according to GoBreck. The free BreckConnect Gondola links town with Peak 8, stopping at Shock Hill and Peak 7, and runs from 8:30 am to 5 pm this winter, with the last ride up at 4:30 pm. Downtown parking is mostly paid and fills quickly over the holidays.

The town sits at 9,600 feet, and the summit reaches 12,998 feet. Drink plenty of water and keep your first day easy so everyone feels their best. Our guide to Breckenridge elevation has simple tips for settling in, and our Christmas ski trip packing list helps you bring everything you need.

For more ideas, explore our guide to things to do in Breckenridge. Our Breckenridge luxury vacation rentals offer space for everyone to gather after a day on the mountain, and our local team takes care of the details so you can simply enjoy the season. We’d be delighted to welcome you for the holidays.