Breckenridge does winter properly. A Norse snow god honored with a parade and a bonfire, hundreds of Santas running down Main Street, 25-ton blocks of snow carved into art by teams from around the world, and fireworks over Peak 9 to ring in the new year.
Breckenridge Ski Resort opens Friday, November 6, 2026. Here is everything happening between opening day and spring, with confirmed dates, times, and locations.
Most of these are free. Worth knowing before you plan.
At a Glance
| Date | Event | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | Ski Resort Opening Day | Peak 8 / Peak 9 | Lift ticket |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas | Main Street | Free |
| Dec 17-19, 2026 | 63rd Annual Ullr Fest | Main Street | Free |
| Dec 31, 2026 | New Year's Eve Fireworks | Base of Peak 9 | Free |
| Jan 23 - Feb 2, 2027 | 36th International Snow Sculpture Championships | Riverwalk Center | Free |
| Spring 2027 | Spring Beer Festival | Main Street | Ticketed |
| Spring 2027 | Five Peaks Music Series | On mountain | Free |
| Closing weekend | Spring Pond Skim | Peak 8 | Free to watch |
November 2026
Breckenridge Ski Resort Opening Day
Friday, November 6, 2026
Peak 8 and Peak 9 base areas
breckenridge.com
The lifts start turning for the 2026/27 season. Early season terrain is limited and built on snowmaking, so expect a handful of runs on firm surfaces. The mountain fills in through December.
Not sure which pass you need? See our guide to Epic vs. Ikon.
Thanksgiving Week
Late November 2026
The first real week of the season. More terrain open, a festive town, and the start of holiday decorations going up along Main Street. One of the better value weeks before December pricing kicks in.
December 2026
Lighting of Breckenridge, Race of the Santas & Dog Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Main Street, Breckenridge
Free
The official start of the holiday season. Hundreds of Santas dash down Main Street, dogs join in a costume parade, and the whole town gathers for the lighting of the Town Tree as thousands of lights come on along the street.
Genuinely one of the best photo opportunities of the year, and dogs in Santa suits are very much part of the event. See our dog-friendly Breckenridge guide.
63rd Annual Ullr Fest
Thursday December 17 through Saturday December 19, 2026
Main Street, Blue River Plaza, and venues around downtown
Free | gobreck.com
The best party in Breckenridge, and one of the most genuinely unusual events in Colorado. Sixty-three years of locals and visitors donning Viking helmets to honor Ullr, the Norse god of snow, in hopes of a powder-filled season.
What happens:
- The Ullr Parade down Main Street, which is unlike any parade you have attended.
- The Ullr Bonfire. Bring your Christmas tree to retire in it.
- The Ullr Ice Plunge, where participants immerse themselves in frozen Maggie Pond. Spectating is entirely acceptable.
- The Shotski, an unofficial world record attempt at the longest shotski. Thursday December 17, with lineup at 2:30 p.m., entry at 3:00 p.m., and the shot starting at 3:30 p.m. Registered participants check in from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Riverwalk Center. Proceeds benefit Breckenridge Mountain Rotary.
- Crowning of the Ullr King and Queen, two local residents chosen for their contributions to the community and their love of snow.
- The Ullr Ball, plus talent shows, comedy nights, and helmet decorating.
Note for planners: Ullr Fest now sits in mid-December rather than January, where it ran historically. Book accordingly.
Christmas in Breckenridge
December 24 to 25, 2026
A Victorian mining town under snow and lights, with Main Street at its most atmospheric. Restaurants book out well ahead for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so reserve early. See our 9 best restaurants guide.
New Year's Eve Fireworks
Thursday, December 31, 2026 into January 1, 2027
Base of Peak 9, hosted by the Town of Breckenridge
Free
Fireworks over the base area to bring in 2027, with the whole village turning out. Main Street stays lively well past midnight.
Worth knowing: December 31 falls on a Thursday with New Year's Day on Friday, making this a natural four-day weekend. Lodging for that stretch is among the first to sell out all season.
January 2027
36th Annual International Snow Sculpture Championships
Saturday January 23 through Tuesday February 2, 2027
Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, 150 W Adams Ave
Free | gobreck.com
The event Breckenridge is internationally known for, and it is remarkable in person. World-renowned sculpting teams from around the globe hand-carve 12-foot-tall, 25-ton blocks of snow into enormous, intricate works of art using only hand tools. No power tools, no internal supports.
The schedule:
- Sculpting Week: Saturday January 23 through Wednesday January 27. Watch the teams work. After 94 hours of carving, sculptures must be complete by 9:00 a.m. on January 27.
- Awards ceremony: Wednesday January 27, around 6:45 p.m., at the sculpture site.
- Viewing Week: Wednesday January 27 at 9:00 a.m. through Tuesday February 2 at 10:00 p.m. Open 24 hours a day, and downtown becomes a temporary outdoor gallery.
Go at night. The sculptures are lit after dark and it is a completely different experience from daytime viewing. Dress warmly and give yourself an hour.
Event dates and times are weather dependent and subject to change.
MLK Weekend
January 16 to 18, 2027
One of the busier non-holiday weekends of the winter. Book ahead.
February 2027
Snow Sculpture Viewing Continues
Through Tuesday, February 2, 2027
The sculptures remain on display at the Riverwalk Center through February 2, weather permitting. Worth catching if you are here in the first days of the month.
Presidents' Day Weekend
February 13 to 15, 2027
One of the three busiest weekends of the Breckenridge winter, alongside Christmas and New Year's. Lodging and lessons both sell out.
March and April 2027
Spring Beer Festival
Spring 2027, dates to be confirmed
Main Street, Breckenridge | Ticketed
Craft beer from Colorado and beyond, with live music and food vendors taking over Main Street. One of the best-attended spring events in town.
Five Peaks Music Series
Spring 2027, dates to be confirmed
On mountain | Free
Live music on the mountain through the spring season, which turns an ordinary ski afternoon into something considerably better. Sunshine, soft snow, and a band.
Spring Pond Skim
Closing weekend, spring 2027
Peak 8 | Free to watch
The traditional send-off. Skiers and riders in costume attempt to cross a pond of icy water. Most do not make it, which is the point.
Closing Day
Spring 2027, typically late April
Breckenridge usually runs later than most Colorado resorts thanks to its elevation. Spring skiing here means soft snow, long days, sunshine, and the lowest rates of the season.
All Season Long
- Dog sledding with Good Times Adventure Tours, 6061 Tiger Rd, (970) 453-7604. Six-mile trails through the Swan River Valley behind a team of Siberian Huskies.
- Sleigh ride dinners at Golden Horseshoe, 6061 Tiger Rd, (970) 453-2005, with the Diamond Dixie dinner theater, or Two Below Zero in Frisco, (970) 453-1520, for a chuckwagon dinner and show.
- Ice skating at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, 189 Boreas Pass Rd, (970) 547-9974, with an indoor rink, a covered outdoor sheet, and ice bumper cars. Check the online schedule for public session times.
- Nordic skiing and snowshoeing at the Breckenridge Nordic Center, 9 Grandview Dr, (970) 453-6855, or Gold Run Nordic Center, 200 Clubhouse Dr, (970) 547-7889.
- Gold mine tours at Country Boy Mine, 0542 French Gulch Rd, (720) 458-5387, Wednesday to Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Ghost tours at 302 S Main St, (970) 340-8102, daily. Dark by 5:00 p.m. in winter, which improves them considerably.
More in our guides to 9 things you can't miss this winter and top winter outdoor activities.
Planning Around the Calendar
- Book six to nine months ahead for Christmas, New Year's, and Presidents' Day weekend. These sell out every year without exception.
- Four to six months for Ullr Fest, the Snow Sculpture Championships, and MLK weekend.
- January midweek and March are the value windows. Good snow, fewer crowds, better rates.
- Most winter events are free, including Ullr Fest, the snow sculptures, the Lighting of Breckenridge, and the New Year's fireworks.
- Dress for standing still. Nearly all of these are outdoor evening events at 9,600 feet in December and January.
- Use the free transit. The town's Free Ride bus and our complimentary VIP shuttle mean you can leave the car parked.
Check our events calendar for additions and confirmed spring dates.
Where to Stay for Event Weekends
Location matters more than usual when you are planning around events. Ullr Fest, the Lighting of Breckenridge, and the Snow Sculpture Championships all happen downtown. The New Year's fireworks happen at Peak 9.
- Downtown rentals, walkable to Main Street and the Riverwalk Center
- Ski-in ski-out rentals, closest to the Peak 9 base and the fireworks
- Easy ski access rentals, most of the convenience for less
- Large group rentals for event weekends with friends
- Family-friendly rentals and pet-friendly rentals
- Rentals with private hot tubs, which earn their keep after an evening outdoors
Browse all Breckenridge vacation rentals or check our current specials.
Why Book With Ski Country Resorts
- Lowest rates online, guaranteed, matched or beaten if you find better
- No service fees when booking direct
- Complimentary on-call VIP shuttle throughout Breckenridge, which matters enormously on event nights
- 24/7 emergency support
- A local team who will tell you which events are worth planning a trip around
Contact Ski Country Resorts
Phone: 970-423-3080
Toll Free: 800-633-8388
Email: Contact us here
Office: 213 North Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
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Event dates, times, and locations are sourced from GoBreck and event organizers and are accurate as of publication. Outdoor events are weather dependent and subject to change or cancellation. Several spring 2027 dates had not been announced at publication. Confirm with organizers before finalizing travel plans.