Crested Butte Christmas & Holiday Events

People often ask me – are there any fun Crested Butte Christmas & Holiday Events?  Where can you go to Christmas Eve service? What do you do in Crested Butte for Christmas and over the holidays?  Ha! Keep reading…

Crested Butte has been named “The Last Great Colorado Ski Town” and the charm and character of the town shines through the many events throughout Christmas & New Years (and the Winter Ski Season)!

I did my best to compile a list and break it down so you can plan accordingly – I will update this – let me know if I missed anything and if there are any corrections…

What is a Crested Butte Christmas and Holiday Event?

This is a good question – there are official events, and unofficial events. Many CB events you may be encouraged to dress-up. Some events require registration, or an entry fee of some amount to participate – others you just show-up, or make a decision to not show-up and participate (but maybe just watch).

Some events are competitions and there will be extremely competitive uber athletes who go out first, and then there are the people who dress-up in clunky fun costumes who may bring up the rear…

See My Top Fun Crested Butte Winter Ski Season Events List (below the Christmas and Holiday events) you should not miss, and a fairly complete compilation list of Crested Butte Winter Ski Season Events by month.  Okay – here we go…

December 23rd: Christmas Eve day – Santa Ski
This was an official event in the past – now on December 23rd there are hundreds of skiing Santas on the slopes. Super fun to dress up as Santa, and to ski with hundreds of Santas!

December 24th Santa and His Sleigh
CBMR – Join us at Butte 66 for hot cocoa and cookies (while supplies last) as we watch Santa ride down the mountain. Take pictures with Santa on the deck of Butte 66 before he takes off on his sleigh for the big night!

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December 24th Christmas Eve Celebration

I believe celebrating the birth of Christ and the joy of Christmas is a truly special time – and nothing better than to attend Christmas eve service.

We enjoy Union Congregational Church – as Rev. Tim Clark and Rev. Kelly Jo Clark offer a wonderful service with a great spiritual message, Christmas Hymns, and the candlelight singing of Silent Night.  I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes early to get a seat.

Union Congregational Church (UCC): Join us on Tuesday Dec, 24th Services at 4:00pm & 7:30 pm with Special Music
403 Maroon Ave, Crested Butte, CO 81224
4:00 pm- UCC Handbell Choir, Ken Todd, violin, Alicia Belgiovane, piano/organ, Reed Meredith, soloist/guitar
7:30 pm- Keith Miller, bass, Ken Todd, violin, Alicia Belgiovane, piano/organ

All Saints in the Mountains Episcopal Church: Join us for a candlelight Christmas Eve, December 24th, 5:30pm
We meet at Union Congregational Church, 403 Maroon Ave, Crested Butte
THE REV. LAURA OSBORNE, Celebrant
ALICIA BELGIOVANE, Organ & Piano

Queen of All Saints Catholic Church – Christmas Masses and Penance Service
401 Sopris Avenue, Crested Butte, CO 81224
Christmas Eve: 8:30 pm
Christmas Day 8:30 am

December 27th – Winter ArtWalk Evenings
Leisurely stroll through the galleries of Crested Butte, experience the diverse artistic expressions of local artists, and be inspired by these special ArtWalk evenings. This is a self-guided tour of the galleries in downtown Crested Butte hosted by Artists of Crested Butte.

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December 27th – Polka with Pete Dunda, 5pm-7pm
Join us at the Crested Butte museum with Pete Dunda on the accordion to show off your best polka skills, festive outfits are encouraged!

December 31st, 2024

New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Torchlight Parade in Mt. Crested Butte — Kick off your New Years Eve celebration with a torchlight parade (CBMR) and fireworks on the mountain! Join us on the Butte 66 deck for the best view!

New Year’s Eve Party + Live Music – Crested Butte Center for the Arts, 9:00pm –
Dance into 2025 with funk sensations Cool Cool Cool + Eddie Roberts & the Lucky Strokes at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts!

January 2025:

January 6: 12 Night Bonfire and Tree Recycling
When: Saturday, January 6, Trees: 9 am – 6 pm, Bonfire: 5:30 to 8 pm, Where: 4-Way parking lot Behind Visitors Center Downtown Crested Butte
Details: Drop off your Holiday tree for a $10 suggested donation to offset the cost of the event., The tree bonfire will start at 5:30 pm and the last tree to be put on the fire will be at 7:30 pm.

Chris Kopf’s Top Fun Crested Butte Winter Ski Season Events

• Crested Butt Opening Day Ski Season
• Al Johnson Uphill Ski Race
• Alley Loop Crested Butte Nordic Center
• Santa Ski (this was an official event in the past – now on December 23rd there are hundreds of skiing Santas on the slopes)
• The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse – Ski Race Crested Butte to Aspen
• Fat Bike World Championship in Crested Butte January 2025
• Christmas Eve Church Service – Union Congregational Church
• Christmas Eve Torch Light Parade
• New Years Eve Fireworks and Torch Light Parade
• Crested Butte Closing Weekend Ski Season – Slush Huck

Crested Butte Winter Ski Season Events

Here is a compilation of notable events in Crested Butte for the winter ski season from mid November 2024 through April 2025. As well you can always check the schedule of events or performances at Crested Butte Center for the Arts, Crested Butte Mountain Theater – Mallardi, music at Public House Crested Butte…

January 24-26: 2025 Borealis Fat Bike Worlds
The same race you love, or perhaps have always wanted to try, returns to where it all began in Crested Butte, Colorado in 2025. Bring your family and friends to this three-day festival, plan to make some new memories, and get ready for some all-out racing!
FatBikeWorlds Website\

February 2025:

February 1, 2025: Alley Loop Nordic Race, 8:00am – 5:00pm
A premier Nordic skiing event through the streets of Crested Butte. The 37th annual Alley Loop marathon Nordic ski race. Join us for race distances for the whole family ranging from a kids’ 1k fun race all the way up to 42k skate and classic races. Costumes are highly encouraged!

February 8: Al Johnson Memorial Uphill/Downhill Telemark Race
A unique race honoring a local legend. Start is just below the top of Paradise lift.  By Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Crested Butte Avalanche Center.  Proceeds to benefit the Crested Butte Avalanche Center.

February 20 – 22: Move The Butte – Dance Collective, Center for the Arts
Move the Butte is a community dance production that features diverse dance styles performed by over 140 local Crested Butte and Gunnison Valley adults. This production showcases many dance styles such as Ballet, Tap, Aerial, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Burlesque, and more!

February 22: Gothic Mountain Tour Backcountry Ski Race
Crested Butte Nordic Center hosts a backcountry ski race circumnavigating Gothic Mountain. The 23-mile competitive race starting at the Community School, or the 17-mile recreational division starting at the Snodgrass Trailhead.

February 22, 2025: Ski Town Breakdown (live music) Presented by Mountain Dew
CBMR – Mt. Crested Butte base area – Crank up your weekend with the first live music show of the Ski Town Breakdown series presented by MTN DEW at Butte 66!

February 23rd – 27th: Blister Summit kick off at 5 PM on February 23rd and will run through 10 PM on February 27th. Elevation Hotel, Mt. Crested Butte
Blister Summit is the only consumer-focused gear test and demo event in the world. Test skis, snowboards (solids & splits), ski boots, apparel, and avalanche safety gear in the backcountry and on-resort; talk to company founders; ski or ride with Blister reviewers and professional athletes; learn from designers and innovators in nightly panel sessions; make some new buddies; and have a great time.

March 2025:

March 1-2: Mardi Gras Celebration
Festivities including a parade in downtown Crested Butte and live music.

March 6: IFSA Extreme Skiing Qualifier Competition, Spellbound Bowl
Watch some of the best extreme skiers in the world shred the most epic lines in the CB steeps…
Hosted by CBMR and The International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association (IFSA)

March 8, 2025: Ski Town Breakdown (live music) Presented by Mountain Dew
CBMR – Mt. Crested Butte base area – Crank up your weekend with the first live music show of the Ski Town Breakdown series presented by MTN DEW at Butte 66!

March 14-16: Crested Butte Film Festival Winter Session
A selection of films celebrating winter sports and culture.

March 22: Sleds and Kegs, 12pm – 8pm, Location: 1 Maroon Ave, Downtown Crested Butte, CO

We sled. We Celebrate. We Give Back. For Those Who Cannot We Shall! Sleds and Kegs is an event created for the locals, by the locals. Let’s sled, party, and raise some money for local CB non-profits – CB State of Mind, Oh be Dogful Rescue, Coal Creek Watershed Coalition, PCK Memorial Scholarship, and Charlie Parr Outdoor Education Scholarship.

March 29?: KBUT Disco Inferno (formerly Soul Train) – Date TBD, Center for the Arts?
Enjoy the hottest disco and soul grooves from the 70’s. KBUT’s Disco Inferno is our longest-running special event. Crowds from throughout the Gunnison Valley and beyond come decked-out in their grooviest digs to dance, party and crown a new Queen and King of Disco!

March 30, 2025 @ 12:00am – 6:00pm
The legendary 27th annual edition of the 40+ mile backcountry ski race from Mt. Crested Butte to Aspen. Registration opens December 1st at midnight. If you’re not racing, join us at the CBMR base area to send racers off into the night!

April 2025:

April 2 – 6?: Flauschink

Crested Butte’s oldest festival since 1969. A celebration to flush out winter and welcome spring! A tradition over 5 Days of celebration including historical slideshow and storytelling, Flauschink King and Queen ski run, infamous Polka Party, Flauschink Parade in downtown Crested Butte, crowning of the new King and Queen, and more gathering and skiing…

April 5: Ski Town Breakdown
An end-of-season concert and celebration.

April 11: Slush Huck / Pond Skim
The last weekend of the ski season and for the brave – you can attempt to skim across the (cold) water on your skis. Most don’t make it…

April 6: Closing Day at Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Final day of the ski season with various festivities.

Please note that event dates and details are subject to change. For the most current information, refer to the official event websites or local event calendars.

 

 

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