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Festive Fun
The holiday season in Breckenridge is nothing short of magical. Visitors and families have their pick of festivals, events and holiday celebrations to choose from that bring the community together. Keep reading to learn more about the fantastic lineup of performances and events throughout December, ensuring there’s something for everyone in the family!
Breckenridge Holiday Events & Activities
Community Event: Handmade Holiday
Saturday, December 2 • Arts District Campus • FREE
Embracing the spirit of the holiday season, Breck Create invites you to the annual Handmade Holiday, which coincides with the Lighting of Breckenridge festivities. A veritable holiday open house, this event allows Breck Create’s instructors to showcase their artwork (jewelry, ceramics, prints and more) and also lead creative activities such as ornament and candle workshops. Find the perfect gift, enjoy holiday music and some holiday cheer (cash bar) while wandering through the winter wonderland of downtown Breckenridge.
Free Art: Color With Breck Create Coloring Book
Available for pick up at Old Masonic Hall starting December 2nd • FREE
Color With Breck Create by Elisa Gomez available for pick up at this event! Gomez served as one of Breck Create’s fall artists-in-residence. While in Breckenridge, she developed a coloring book about the Breckenridge Public Art Collection and Arts District Campus. Gomez is a Salt Lake City-based painter focusing on landscape through the lens of abstract expressionism. The coloring books will be available at Old Masonic Hall. Be sure to pick one up!
Community Event: Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas
December 2 • Downtown Breckenridge • FREE
Breckenridge ups the ante on small town holiday charm with the return of Lighting of Breckenridge and Race of the Santas. The first weekend of December kicks off a festive holiday scene in the streets of Breckenridge. Hundreds of Santa look-alikes will run down Main Street in a race to kick-off the holiday season. Hang out post-race to watch the town transform into a real life holiday card thanks to more than 13,000 feet and 250,000 LED holiday lights. The iconic holiday lights in downtown Breckenridge are one of the most photographed sights during the snowy months and continue to shine and spread hope all winter long.
Event Highlights
• Holiday Dog Parade
• Race of the Santas
• Children’s Moose March
• Countdown to tree lighting with Santa Claus
• Holiday carolers & revelry
Performance: The Gift of the Magi
December 6th – 30th • Breckenridge Theater
Based on the beloved 1905 short story by O. Henry, this holiday chamber musical follows Jim and Della, a young husband and wife with full hearts and empty pockets, seeking the perfect Christmas gifts for each other. This uplifting musical features a spirited 80-minutes of live music, singing and dancing. Celebrate the joy of love and hope with Breckenridge Backstage Theatre this holiday season! Perfect for all ages!
Rated G • Run time: 80 minutes + 15 minute intermission
Community Event: Ullr Fest
December 7 – 9 • Downtown Breckenridge • FREE
Grab your Viking helmets and celebrate all things winter at the 60th anniversary Ullr Fest, December 7 – 9, 2023. 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!
Event Highlights
• Take part in the Ullr Parade down Main Street
• Break the Breckenridge Distillery Shotski® “unofficial” World Record
• Prove your dedication to snow at the Ullr Bonfire
Ullr Comedy Night
December 8th • Riverwalk Center
A night of laughter and fun to benefit Carriage House. njoy a silent auction and two outstanding comedians. Award-winning comedian Nancy Norton is a former registered nurse who now heals with humor. Norton tours nationally and internationally. She draws material from everyday life experiences and growing up in a big Ozark family, working as a nurse, being a single mom, spending months in Nepal adopting her son and yes, there are a few airplane jokes.
Andrew Orvedahl is a comedian, writer and actor based out of Denver, Colorado. As a stand-up, he has appeared on several late-night shows including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He also co-created and starred in the sitcom Those Who Can’t, currently on HBO Max.
Ticket sales support the building of the new playground at Carriage House Early Learning Center in Breckenridge.
Exhibition Opening: Locals Live, Work, Create
December 15 • 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. • Old Masonic Hall • FREE
This annual exhibition reflects the rich tapestry of talent within the Breckenridge community and features the artwork of Breck Create’s resident artists, instructors and staff. Don’t miss the opening reception on Friday, December 15th, where you can meet the artists and witness the vibrant creativity that thrives in Breckenridge.
Exhibition Opening: Coloradans and Our Shared Environment in Times of Challenge and Change
December 15 • 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. • Old Masonic Hall • FREE
This group exhibition tells the story of how Coloradans are experiencing interrelated challenges of fire, drought, and water and air quality in their communities. It features collaborative work by Colorado Art Science Environment (CASE) fellows through the CU Boulder Office for Outreach and Engagement. The artwork reflects a dialogue between the perspectives of the artists, scientists and the artists’ communities.
Performance: Alpine Dance Academy Presents The Nutcracker: Land of the Sweets
Friday, December 15 • 7pm • Riverwalk Center
Alpine Dance Academy presents The Nutcracker: Land of the Sweets. This beloved ballet will transport you to a magical land featuring local performers, from kids to adults. Join Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy for a new Summit County holiday tradition!
Performance: The Queen’s Cartoonists Holiday Hurrah! Yule Love It
Thursday, December 21 • Riverwalk Center
This all-ages extravaganza is perfect for the whole family. Pulling from over 100 years of animation from around the world, The Queen’s Cartoonists performances are perfectly synchronized to the animated films projected on stage. This show includes traditional holiday vocal numbers such as “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells,” paired with jazz arrangements and festive animated films. There’s also a good amount of novelty and comedy resulting in a show perfect for young and old alike.
Performance: The Sweet Lillies
Friday, December 29 • Riverwalk Center
The Sweet Lillies’ music is, first and foremost, heartfelt and collaborative. The Sweet Lillies have incorporated all of their cumulative life-experiences into their music, song-writing and artistry, crafting an uncommonly-beautiful style they have christened “String-Americana” - a nod to the band’s all encompassing musical tastes and willingness to experiment with genres.
Performance: New Year’s Eve at the Riverwalk Center ft. Brass Queens
Sunday, December 31 • Riverwalk Center
Join Breck Create for a fabulous new year’s eve party at the Riverwalk Center! The event features Brass Queens, a New York-based brass band that is female-led and features an all-female horn section, along with additional performing acts, dancing, a ball drop and more! General-admission and VIP tickets are available.
Brass Queens has developed a signature sound that sits right at the intersection of the Big Apple and the Big Easy: their music is deeply inspired by and pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while injecting the upbeat, multifaceted energy of their New York home into each performance. The result is a nonstop party: a Brass Queens show will have you singing along to classic pop hits, dancing your heart out to reggaeton, and feeling like you’ve been transported to Frenchman Street.
This holiday season, Breckenridge invites you to share in the warmth of community, the joy of creativity and the laughter of shared moments. Join us for these fantastic events and make memories that will last a lifetime. For more information and to stay updated on all our events, sign up for our newsletter and follow our social media channels. Let’s make this holiday season truly magical together!