The Essential Ski Utah Holiday Season Guide
Après Adam here to help you ring in the holidays, Utah-Style!
There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toastingAnd caroling out in the snowThere'll be scary ghost stories, and tales of the glories of theChristmases long, long agoIt's the most wonderful time of the yearThere'll be much mistltoeing, and hearts will be glowingWhen love ones are nearIt's the most wonderful time of the year. (Especially in Utah).
The rumors about Utah are true, the Holiday Season is very different than anywhere else… it’s way, way better.
Across out great state, ski resorts, mountain towns, and neighboring metropolitan areas offer an endless array of opportunities to honor traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, Festivus, or whatever else you may choose to celebrate. With so much going on over the next two weeks, it’s hard to keep track of all of the options. As a 17-year veteran of Utah and a lifelong fan of any reason to celebrate, I am here to help you navigate the next twelve days on the slopes, with the family, or when you need to escape the family and share a sip of some holiday cheer with soon-to-be friends.
On-Piste Fun:
Let’s start with some on-the-snow fun this holiday season. Dress up as Santa and ski for free or join a torchlight parade. Or even just grab those powder boards and ski some of The Greatest Snow On Earth.
December 23:
- Nordic Vally - Ski With Santa: Santa will be shredding Nordic Valley from noon-3pm.
December 24th (Christmas Eve):
- Snowbird - Santa Skis Free: Dress up like Santa and ski for free then stick around for the torchlight parade at Snowbird.
- Deer Valley - Santa Visits Deer Valley: Santa will be hanging out at Silver Lake Lodge until 1:30pm at Deer Valley Resort.
December 25th (Christmas Day):
- Solitude - Ski With Santa: Help Santa unwind on the slopes after a night of delivering presents.
- Snowbird - Santa Rides the Bird: Santa will take his sleigh one canyon south and will spinning Tram laps at The Bird
- Alta - Christmas Day Mass: Attend Christmas Day Mass at Our Lady of the Snows before hitting the slopes.
December 30th:
- Nordic Valley - Frosty Fat Bike Race: Sign up and join in a downhill Fat Bike race
- Alta - Ski in a Torchlight Parade: Grab a torch and ski down Alta on New Year's Eve. A ten dollar donation to the Utah Food Bank is all that separates you from one of the best experiences of the holiday season.
Off-Piste Family Fun:
If the thought of skiing with a gasoline-soaked torch or sulphur-burning flare scares you and the kids, maybe check out these family-friendly activities. Photos with Santa, fireworks, and parades (all viewable from a safe distance) are everywhere.
December 24th (Christmas Eve):
- Solitude - Meet With Santa: Santa will be hanging out at the Solitude Village from 4-6pm
- Park City Mountain - 55th Annual Park City Torchlight Parade: Watch the parade from the Park City Mountain Base Area.
- Snowbasin - Torchlight Parade and Fireworks: Enjoy a Christmas Dinner, burn a Yule log, eat some s’mores and take a photo with Santa.
- Snowbird - Watch some fireworks: Check out the Christmas Eve firework show and torchlight parade. Santa is going to get extreme and is set to rappel out of the tram.
December 30th:
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Deer Valley - Annual Torchlight Parade. Enjoy free hot cider and cookies while you watch the parade.
December 31st (New Year’s Eve):
- Snowbird - Torchlight Parade and Fireworks: Watch riders make their way down the mountain while drinking hot cocoa by the outdoor firepits.
- Solitude - Torchlight Parade and Magic Show: Watch a torchlight parade and a magic show in the Solitude Village.
- Park City Mountain (Canyons Village) - Park City New Year’s Eve Fireworks. Watch fireworks and listen to music at the Canyons Village.
- Brian Head - New Year's Eve Party: night skiing, a torchlight parade and fireworks.
- Nordic Valley - Torchlight Parade and Fireworks: Family Friendly fun in Eden, Utah.
- Alta - Torchlight Parade and Bonfire: Watch a torchlight parade next to a bonfire at Alta.
Apres-Ski Shenanigans For Adults:
Need a quick escape from friends and family during the holidays? I've got you covered.
December 21st:- Solitude - BrewSki and Cottonwood Cider Social
- Park City - Pixie and the Partygrass Boys at OP Rockwells
- Park City - The Breakfast Klub 80's Dance Party at The Cabin
- Park City - T.I. at Park City Live
- Cottonwood Heights - A Very Superbubble Christmas at Hog Wallow
- SLC - Ugly Seater Party at Urban Lounge
December 23rd:
- Brighton - Brian Thurber Band at Molly Green's
- Park City Resort (Canyons Village) - Ugly Sweater Party at the Umbrella Bar
- Powder Mountain - Superbubble funk show at the Powder Keg
- Park City - Nero at Park City Live
- Park City - Dj Stario at The Downstairs
- Park City - Ugly Seater Party at The Cabin
December 26th:
- Park City - The Prince Experience at the Egyptian Theater
- Park City - Robert Randolph and The Family Band at OP Rockwells
- Park City - Dillon Francis at Park City Live
- Park City - The Coverdogs at the Spur
- Park City - Steve Aoki at Park City Live
- Park City - Who's Bad? The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute at the Egyptian Theater
- Park City - Mokie at OP Rockwells
- Sundance Mountain Resort - Triggers and Slips at the Owl Bar
December 30th:
- Brighton - Gorgeous Gourds at Molly Green's
December 31st:
- Powder Mountain - New Year's Eve Jam at the Powder Keg
- Park City - Park City Live Black and White Masquerade Ball
- Park City - NYE 2018 with DJ Scooter at The Downstairs
- Park City - Disco NYE at The Cabin
- Alta/Snowbird - Torchlight Parade After-Party at the Peruvian Bar (P Dog) at the Alta Peruvian Lodge
- Powder Mountain - New Year's Day Party with Mullet Hatchet at the Powder Keg
The Après Adam Plan:
What am I doing this holiday season? I’m glad you asked. Here’s my plan for making the best of the last 12 days of 2017.
December 21st:
- Sneak out of work early and ski some fresh snow at Solitude.
- Check out the BrewSki and Cottonwood Cider Social at the Thirsty Squirrel.
- Head up the canyon to Brighton for some night skiing.
- Grab a drink at Molly Green's
December 22nd:
- Ski some leftover powder at Alta or Snowbird
- Celebrate the start of Christmas weekend at The Alta Peruvian
- Head down canyon to the Superbubble show at How Wallow
- Back up to Park City, throw on some 80's ski gear and head the the Breakfast Klub show at The Cabin.
December 23rd:
- Work and afternoon laps at Deer Valley
- Join the 5th Park City Fun Run to benefit Bears Ears National Monument.
- Grab a Santa costume and ski for free at Snowbird.
- Grab a drink at the Tram Club and the P Dog.
- Uber back to Park City to watch the Santa Torchlight Parade.
December 25:
- Ski Park City Mountain or Deer Valley Resort.
- Attend an impromptu Christmas Day Martini Party
- Christmas dinner and cocktails with family and friends.
December 26-30th:
- Ski Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, Solitude, Brighton, and Beaver to avoid the crowds.
- Make a trip to Eagle Point or Brian Head if a storm stays south of us.
- Head up to Beaver Mountain if the storms stay north.
December 31st:
- Book a room at the Alta Peruvian Lodge or The Cliff Lodge
- Ski Alta and Snowbird.
- Soak some tired muscles in the Cliff Lodge Spa
- Sign up and ski in the Torchlight Parade at Alta
- Celebrate New Year’s at the P Dog, the Sitzmark and the Tram Club.
- Start the new year off right at Powder Mountain
- Dance in the New Year to Molly Hatchet at the Powder Keg
- Grab a Star Burger at the Shooting Star Saloon
- Catch up on some much-needed sleep.
There you have it. The Après Adam guide to the last ten days of 2017. Time to show up, preferably in costume, and try to make the most of a generally awful year. Let's send 2017 out with a bang!
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