There's more to the Colorado mountain resorts of Steamboat, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek than their world-class skiing and snowboarding. You'll want to plan your winter vacation around one of the many amazing events in these areas. There's everything from World Cup ski races, international snow sculpture competitions and one of the best food and wine festivals in the country. to cowboys on skis and plenty of live music and fireworks.
Here's a roundup of our favorite events and festivals for winter 2023-2024.
Part ski race, part rodeo, part train wreck! As the legend goes, back in the ’70s, Billy Kidd (Olympic Gold medalist and Steamboat’s Director of Skiing) and Larry Mahan (six-time All-Around World Champion cowboy) decided to invite a few of their Pro Rodeo pals for a day of skiing after the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Word travels fast through the rodeo scene and soon the best cowboys were clamoring to compete in what has become the most unique ski competitions in the country. Learn more.
Brews and Bands collide at the Steamboat WinterWonderGrass Festival. The event brings together authentic bluegrass music and Colorado craft beer for one of the best bluegrass music festivals of the season. With 20+ bands on 4 stages, daily craft brew, and cider samplings these are some of the most coveted music festival tickets in the state. Learn more.
Grab your Viking hats and celebrate all things winter at the 59th annual Ullr Fest, December 7-8. Breckenridge invites locals and visitors of all ages to praise Ullr, the Norse god of snow, in hopes of a powder-filled ski season. Show your devotion at the Main Street parade and become part of history at the longest Shotski® “unofficial” World Record breaking attempt. If you’re in for a legendary party, this is one you won’t want to miss! Learn more.
Snow artists from around the world will compete in January in Breckenridge at the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Sculptures, which traditionally remain on display for one week after sculpting, start as 12-foot-tall, 20+ ton blocks of snow. Teams from all over the world will compete and using only hand tools, artists achieve finished pieces across five days (65 hours) of sculpting in this one-of-a-kind event. Learn more.
Ranked as the number one overall stop by the athletes and coaches who participate, the Beaver Creek Xfinity Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup has become legendary in the ski world. Beaver Creek Mountain is home to the formidable Birds of Prey racecourse, challenging an international roster of top athletes for one week of racing featuring Men’s Alpine Super G, Downhill and Giant Slalom competitions. Learn more.
The Taste of Vail showcases more than 30 of Vail's finest chefs and restaurateurs alongside the owners and winemakers from nearly 50 of the country's top wineries. Taste of Vail showcases more than 30 of Vail's finest chefs and restaurateurs alongside the owners and winemakers from nearly 50 of the country's top wineries. The Taste of Vail is ranked among the nation's best spring food & wine festivals by such media outlets as Forbes.com, USA Today and The Travel Channel. Learn more.
To pack in all these activities, you're going to want to stay for a few days! Moving Mountains has amazing luxury homes in Steamboat, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek. Call us to see which one will be perfect for you and your group.