The Holidays at Aspen Snowmass
The holidays in Aspen and Snowmass Village are peak season for our towns and slopes, booking your hotels and lift tickets in advance assures the lowest rates and best deals.
From opening day rope drops to sparkling New Year’s Eve celebrations, Aspen Snowmass comes alive with winter magic from late November through January. Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open November 26, 2026, kicking off a particularly special season as Aspen Snowmass celebrates 80 years of skiing, community, and mountain tradition. The milestone brings even more reasons to celebrate, with special anniversary festivities joining a lineup of live music, festive dining, après gatherings, tree lightings, and beloved holiday traditions. From first turns of the season to cozy nights beneath falling snow, there's no better time to experience the holiday spirit of Aspen Snowmass.
Early Season at Aspen Snowmass
Aspen and Snowmass Opening Day
Thanksgiving celebration with The Little Nell
Celebrate Thanksgiving in Aspen with three festive dining experiences at The Little Nell. Enjoy an elevated holiday dinner at Element 47, featuring seasonal ingredients and a refined mountain atmosphere, or gather slopeside at Ajax Tavernfor a more relaxed Thanksgiving feast with traditional favorites. Prefer to celebrate from the comfort of home? The Little Nell's Thanksgiving To-Go offers a convenient, chef-prepared holiday meal without the cooking.
Wintersköl 2026
Celebrate 75 years of Wintersköl, Aspen's beloved annual toast to winter, December 10–13, 2026. This four-day celebration brings the community together with live music, snow sculptures, the fan-favorite Soupsköl competition, a festive bonfire, and a spectacular torchlight parade and fireworks over Aspen Mountain. This year is especially memorable as Aspen Snowmass celebrates its 80th anniversary, with $80 lift tickets available December 12–13 across all four mountains. Explore the full Wintersköl schedule and join the festivities!
Why Visit Early Season
In case you need more convincing, discover 6 more reasons to visit Aspen Snowmass early season.
Holiday Happenings at Aspen Snowmass
The Little Nell Christmas Tree Lighting
Join us on December 7th for The Little Nell’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration, a cherished community tradition that transforms the Wine Bar and Courtyard into a magical winter wonderland. Festivities take place from 5–7 pm, with the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 pm. Enjoy complimentary freshly baked cookies, rich hot cocoa, and warm apple cider crafted by our pastry chefs while the Aspen High School choir fills the air with beloved carols. Capture special moments with Santa and celebrate the spirit of the season alongside friends and neighbors.
Christmas Eve + Christmas Dinners at The Little Nell
Celebrate season’s eatings at The Little Nell. Whether you're craving a festive meal at the base of Aspen Mountain at Ajax Tavern or a Michelin Guide–recommended dining experience at Element 47, both restaurants celebrate the holidays with inspired seasonal menus and exceptional hospitality. Nothing embodies Christmas in Aspen quite like a day on the slopes followed by a warm, welcoming après meal. On Christmas Eve, choose between an elegant multi-course dinner at Element 47 or a lively slopeside celebration at Ajax Tavern.
Christmas Day continues the festivities with refined holiday classics at Element 47 and a relaxed yet elevated atmosphere at Ajax Tavern, perfect for gathering with friends and family after a memorable day on the mountain.
Holiday Things to Do
Skiing and Riding at All Four Mountains
Make the most of the holiday season with skiing and riding across Aspen Snowmass's four mountains, offering more than 5,700 acres of diverse terrain. From first turns on Aspen Mountain to wide-open runs at Snowmass, a single Aspen Snowmass lift ticket unlocks endless ways to explore. Plan ahead and save up to 25% on lift tickets when booking 30 or more days in advance, or explore special 80th anniversary offers during the early season festivities.
Breathtaker Alpine Coaster at Elk Camp, Snowmass
Tubing at Elk Camp, Snowmass
New Year's Eve at Aspen Snowmass
New Years Eve Dinner at Ajax Tavern
Begin the evening slopeside at Ajax Tavern, where the spirit of the mountain meets the art of celebration. Indulge in an à la carte menu of refined holiday selections, complemented by the warmth and vibrancy of Aspen’s most iconic setting. Guests can choose between two seatings, an early celebration, or a later, more spirited affair. Each offers an unforgettable 2.5-hour dining experience, crafted to mark the final hours of the year with style and delight.
New Year's Party at Limelight Aspen
No tickets, no velvet ropes—just good tunes, great food, and even better company. Join us on December 31 starting at 2pm until 1am as we ring in 2027 the laid-back, light-up, and lively Aspen way. Come as you are, stay as long as you’d like.
Fireworks in Aspen Snowmass
New Year’s Eve with Dom Pérignon
Ring in 2027 with Aspen’s most iconic celebration. The Little Nell invites you to experience a constellation of unforgettable moments at the 11th annual Dom Pérignon New Year’s Eve Party, Through the Decades. The evening unfolds room by room. Dynasty glamour in the Living Room, the energy of Studio 54 in the Grand Salon, the edge of the 90s in the Wine Bar. Live performances carry you from one era to the next before a late-night DJ takes the night to midnight, as champagne flows and Aspen Mountain lights up beneath the New Year's sky
