Granby
Dec. 11: Chili Christmas – Enjoy food, activities and holiday spirit for a good cause. The Chili event raises funds for those less advantaged. Bring children’s winter clothing, kids’ gifts (unwrapped), two cans of food or $8 cash to enjoy the music, model railroad, visits with Santa, a snowball drop and lots of chili and other holiday foods.
Call 970-887-2311 or e-mail grcoc@rkymtnhi.com.
Grand Lake
Dec. 11-12: Snowshoe in the Kawuneeche – Take ranger-led snowshoe tours through Rocky Mountain National Park. At 1 p.m. each day, snow trekkers can take free two-hour tours (bring your own snowshoes and ski poles). Dec. 11 is the
beginner-level tour and Dec. 12 is the intermediate-level trek with an elevation gain of up to 500 feet and a variety of terrain.
Reservations required – call 970-627-3471 or visit nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/index.htm.
Dec. 18-19: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s “Home for the Holidays” – Get in the Christmas spirit with holiday carols and winter songs performed in a cabaret style by former RMRT actors. Cast members will invite audience participation in sing-a-longs and also tell their own personal holiday stories.
The performance will be at the Grand Lake Community House, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com. Tickets are $10.
Dec. 26-31: Holiday Melodrama – Hiss! Boo! Catch the holiday melodrama, “The Shame of Grand Lake,” presented by the Grand Arts Council. This is a family-friendly, audience participation event with a story full of treachery, romance, hidden identity, the love of a mother and the love of youth.
The show starts at 8 p.m. each night. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for kids ages 12 and under. Visit grandartscouncil.com for more information.
Dec. 27 and 29: Kauffman House Museum Holiday Gala and Open House – Attend the Kauffman House’s first Historical Society Holiday Gala for food, wassail and other holiday victuals, plus music and a fundraiser. Visitors can tour the museum during an open house Dec. 29 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy cookies, coffee and cider. Along with the regular displays, special exhibits include more than 150 collectible dolls throughout the house, plus a new exhibit of the Kawunechee Valley sisters who ran a dairy farm.
For more information, visit kauffmanhouse.org.
Kremmling
Dec. 11: Candy Cane Lane with Mr. and Mrs. Claus – From noon to 2 p.m., kids can sit on Santa’s knee and meet Mrs. Claus while parents shop for the little ones’ Christmas goodies in private at the many shops of Candy Cane Lane.
Hosted by the Kremmling Area Chamber of Commerce. Go to kremmlingchamber.com/events.html for more info.
Winter Park
Dec. 11-12: Ski, Snowboard and Snowshoe Demofest – Attend this free two-day event at Winter Park Resort to try out this season’s equipment from some of the best snow-gear manufacturers in the industry. Call 970-726-1590 or click on winterparkresort.com for more info.
Dec. 18: Holy Holly Days at Cooper Creek Square – Take free horse-drawn carriage tours of downtown Winter Park or peek into Cooper Creek Squares’ many shops as the Dickens Carolers in Victorian garb treat you to holiday music. Other treats include a storyteller reading holiday classics and visits with Santa by the fire, in addition to hot cocoa or lattes.
The event is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Winter Park’s Cooper Creek Square.
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks – Discover one of Winter Park’s most beloved traditions during the Torchlight event. It starts at 4 p.m. with Christmas carols around the bonfire at the base of the Winter Park Resort. Torch-bearing skiers and boarders begin their way down Lower Hughes Trail at 5:30 p.m., followed by Santa and his elves. The fireworks begin at 6 p.m., accented by Christmas colors lighting the slopes, courtesy of light-adorned snowcats.
Afterward, event-goers are invited to attend Christmas Eve interdenominational services at the Balcony House or Catholic services at the West Portal Station Level 4.
Call 970-726-1564 or visit winterparkresort.com for more information.
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve Celebration at Hideaway Park – Winter park presents the community event that draws more than 500 guests each year. The family-friendly festival begins at 7 p.m. and includes free sledding, music and hot chocolate. Fireworks start around 9 p.m.
Call 970-726-4118 or visit playwinterpark.com.
If You Go
For more information, visit grand-county.com.