Every holiday season Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley make our mountain home a special place for locals and visitors alike. Here’s a snapshot of descriptives, dates and times of some of our favorite traditional holiday events in the valley.
1st Annual Mt. Crested Butte Fall Festival & Pumpkin Patch
It’s the first annual Mt. Crested Butte Fall Festival. This free community event features live music from Mama Lingua, and free children’s activities including a Pumpkin Patch, Cookie Decorating, Face Painting, and more! A complimentary bar with both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages will be provided and food will be available for purchase from local food truck favorite, Doughp Pizza!
When: Saturday, October 7th, 2023 – 12 pm to 4 pm
Where: Ted Scheske Park
More Info: HERE
Gunnison Night of Lights
Join the fun as Santa lights the Gunnison Christmas Tree – Friday in downtown Gunnison. Vendors out from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Santa will light the tree at 6:30 pm. Need more information, want to be a participant in the event – contact the Gunnison Chamber (970) 641-1501.
When: Friday, December 1st, 2023 – 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: Downtown Gunnison
More Info: HERE
WCU Holiday Concert Gala
Enjoy this WCU Music department at Kincaid Concert Hall for a holiday concert presented by many of our ensembles. Suggested donation $10.
When: December 8th, 2022 – 8:30 pm to 10 pm
Where: Western Colorado University
More Info: HERE
Firebird Theatre Presents: The Nutcracker and The Mouse King
Firebird’s children’s programming continues this winter with another fun, wacky adaptation by Annie Flora! The Nutcracker and the Mouse King will tell the original story of the popular fireplace tchotchke based on E.T. A. Hoffman’s original tale of the same name.
The show is an imaginative, interactive re-telling of the story itself. Crested Butte Community School’s Maddy Carver (She Kills Monsters, Beauty and the Beast) will direct.
When: December 9th, 2023 – 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Where: Majestic Theatre
More Info: HERE
Mt. Crested Butte Light Up The Night
Join the Town of Mt Crested Butte and Crested Butte Mountain Resort for the Annual Light Up The Night on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 4-7 pm at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square. This free family-friendly event features photos with Snow Queen & Santa, tree and menorah lighting, cookie decorating, arts & crafts by Trailhead Children’s Museum, a Dreidel spinning game, hot cocoa bar, face painting, fire spinning performances, and live music.
When: December 9th, 2023 – 4 pm to 7 pm
Where: Lodge at Mountaineer Square
More Info: HERE
Santa Night At The Museum
Join us at the Crested Butte Museum to meet with Santa, tell him what you want him and his reindeer to bring you for the holidays, decorate cookies, and do a holiday craft. This is a free community event, although we encourage making a donation of your choice if you are able to the museum to keep these events accessible for all.
When: December 10th, 2023 – 4 pm to 6 pm
Where: Crested Butte Museum
More Info: HERE
Jack’s Holiday Karoke Night
Get ready to belt out some Holiday tunes, or sit back and enjoy the best bad singers of the Butte at Jack’s Holiday Karaoke Night. Karaoke nights are always FREE, but we ask that you consider buying concessions or a drink to support fun events like this at the Majestic.
When: December 12th, 2023 – 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Where: The Majestic Theatre
More Info: HERE
Rock on Ice
Renowned ice carving artists from the group ‘Rock on Ice’ return to the base area to ply their skills in celebration of the holiday season. Join us throughout the process for carving demonstrations and to watch the sculpture garden grow. Guests may then enjoy the sculptures in the base area for as long as they last!
When: December 14-19, 2023 – 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Crested Butte Mountain Resort
More Info: HERE
New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks
Join us on the Butte 66 deck for the best view of the torchlight parade and fireworks. Plus, Viking Sound Machine will be spinning vinyl from 5pm-8pm. Fireworks and torchlight parade will start at approximately 5:30 pm. Crested Butte’s finest ski and snowboard instructors wind their way down the mountain bearing torches that light up the night – followed by a fireworks show to celebrate the new year.
When: December 31st, 2023 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Crested Butte Mountain Resort
More Info: HERE