Our Favorite Things to do in Breckenridge over the Holidays

As long-time Summit County locals, we know firsthand how awesome it is to spend the holidays in Breckenridge. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Breckenridge over the holidays, so whether you are visiting or living here, you have all your options in one place.

Who doesn’t want to spend the holiday season in Colorado’s mountain towns, watching the snowfall slowly and embracing all that our local community has to offer?

We can’t think of anyone!  Let’s start with activities to do in Breckenridge over the holidays. You can check out:

• Sledding & Tubbing
• Building a snowman 
• Taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride
• Ice Skating
• Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing
• Dog Sledding
• Skiing or Snowboarding at Breckenridge Ski Area

Sledding and tubing are great family-friendly options for all ages. There are two sledding hills, one at Carter Park located at the end of south High St. and one near Colorado Mountain College. Both hills are free and open to the public.

If you’re looking for an experience you’ll never forget, take a scenic sleigh ride. Some options include entertainment and dinner. Two Below Zero is even offering their annual Breakfast with Santa Sleigh Ride and Scenic Ride with Santa Sleigh Ride for two days only on December 5 and 12.

Something that you can do all year round in Breckenridge is ice skating. However, it’s particularly magical in the winter. There’s indoor and outdoor skating at Stephen C West Ice Arena, plus on the 24th, there’s indoor and outdoor skate planned as well! 

The Breck Nordic Center offers not only nordic skiing and snowshoeing adventures but also has private snowcat tours. In addition, you can cross country ski on their course or take a lesson to expand your skillset.

Their Prinoth Snowcat, designed by Pininfarina in Italy, features a heated, eight-passenger all-glass cabin for the snowcat adventure. The tour is 90 minutes and worth every second!

Dog sledding is another option for fun outdoors this holiday season in Breck. Check out Good Times Adventures for a 6-mile dog sledding tour along the gorgeous winding trails of the Swan River Valley. 

One of the main reasons to come to Breckenridge, CO, is to enjoy skiing and snowboarding at one of the nearby world-class ski resorts. Not only is Breckenridge Ski Resort right by Main Street, but within 30 minutes, there are four other fantastic ski resorts to ski and ride. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Keystone Resort, Copper Mountain, and Loveland Ski Area are all options for skiing or snowboarding.

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Next up are all of the extraordinary holiday events that happen in Breckenridge in December and January. Our favorite events during the holidays in Breckenridge include:

• Ullr Fest
• The Festival of Trees
• The International Snow Sculpture Championships
• Holiday plays by the Breckenridge Backstage Theater

The infamous Ullr Fest is our annual celebration Breckenridge for snow. The festival praises the Norse God of snow, Ullr, and all events are focused on a powder-filled ski season. This year it’s happening from Dec 9- 12th, 2021. 

On December 9, the event kicks off with the Ullr Parade on Main Street and the effort to break the 2021 Breckenridge Distillery Shotski® “unofficial” World Record. Another highlight is the Crowning of the Ullr King and Queen, where the community chooses two local residents to be the Ullr King and Queen.  

To break the “unofficial” World Record in 2021, the community needs 1,333 people to help beat the 2019 world record! It costs $15 to participate, and all proceeds benefit the Breckenridge Mountain Rotary. 

Did you know that a local business or non-profit organization designs each tree on the Blue River Recreation Path each December? The lights are a beautiful sight to see from December 5 – January 3.

INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCULPTURE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The International Snow Sculpting Competition in Breckenridge happens when 12 teams worldwide are invited to hand-carve 20-ton blocks of snow into art. Even more impressively, the artist teams are only allowed to use hand tools when crafting their creations. As a result, the teams have around 96 hours to carve incredible show-stopping sculptures.

Keep an eye out for carving week January 24-28 before viewing week starting January 28-February 2. 

This year, the Backstage Theater will feature It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio based on The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. This beloved American holiday classic will be recreated as a live 1940s radio broadcast on stage. 

The Breckenridge Theater is operated by Breck Creative Arts and has been in the community for 48 years. Each year they have an incredible holiday performance for us to enjoy. You can buy tickets to enjoy the show today. Performances begin December 9, 2021.

Last but not least, take note that Breckenridge transforms its historic downtown with more than 13,000 feet and 250,000 LED holiday lights every year. So those visiting Breckenridge during or after December 5 can expect iconic holiday lights throughout downtown Breckenridge.

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We love spending the holidays in Breckenridge each year and hope you do too! If you’re visiting Summit County, there are tons of activities and events to enhance your holiday vacation. If you’re a local or Summit County second homeowner spending the holidays with family and friends, we hope you enjoy the holidays in Breckenridge as well. 

As always, if you need at-home oxygen delivery, book Peak Oxygen for fast and easy oxygen delivery in Breckenridge. When visiting the mountains of Colorado, the high altitude can affect your breathing, so utilizing oxygen is a great option to feel better, sleep better, and perform better during your holiday vacation.