THE SCENE / ARTS
A SPRINKLING OF CHEER The holidays in Telluride and Mountain Village are straight out of a storybook BY LINNE HALPERN
Brett Schreckengost
W
Ryan Bonneau Ryan Bonneau
ant to feel the small-town comes the Holiday Prelude in Mountain Village, charm of a romance novel an extravaganza with fun for the whole family. come to life? Spend the holIce-skating, photos with Santa, a scavenger hunt, iday season in Telluride and train rides, tree-lighting and more ensure that the Mountain Village. Come December, Colorado little ones will feel all the holiday cheer and magic Avenue turns into a winter wonderland, dressed of the mountains. up in decorations and lights with a view of Ajax There’s also a plethora of arts and enterPeak that sparkles in the snow. Pop into Bruno for tainment available throughout December. For a coffee while you browse the stacks at Between starters, Telluride Arts hosts its annual Holiday the Covers Bookstore. Embark Bazaar Dec. 1-3 that showcases on a family outing with a sleigh treasures from regional artisans ride and s’mores that feels straight and makers. Add to this Telluride EMBARK ON A out of a storybook with Telluride Choral Society’s WinterSing conFAMILY OUTING Sleighs and Wagons. Or head cert Dec. 8-10, Palm Arts’ winter WITH A SLEIGH up to Mountain Village to enjoy recital, A Frozen Story, Dec. 9 the ambiance and fine dining at and 10, and Telluride Theatre’s RIDE & S’MORES. Ania’s Table in the Lumière with holiday show (Dec. 14-17 and Inspirato. And of course, a day spent on the slopes 21-23) and you have the makings of a festive or beside the fireplace is always good. month. Meanwhile, the Sheridan Opera House Locally, the holiday festivities kick off on Dec. invites all to the Sheridan Foundation Holiday 6 with Noel Night, an opportunity to sample Concert Series, with nightly music from Dec. 27all the Telluride scene has to offer. Stores and 31, culminating in a New Year’s Eve Gala. boutiques stay open late to accommodate To help you get even further into the holiday shopping for everyone on your “nice” list and spirit, there are torchlight parades on the Telluprovide unique discounts, fun games and tasty ride Ski Resort Christmas Eve on the Telluride treats. Enjoy, too, the ceremonial lighting of the side of the mountain and New Year’s Eve on both Ski Tree in Elks Park, a special event that brings the Telluride and Mountain Village sides, with the whole town together. Next up, on Dec. 9-10, fireworks in Mountain Village. After dark, bundle
up and watch skiers and snowboarders carrying brightly lit torches make their way down the slopes in a longstanding tradition that’s also an impressive feat. Festive ways to ring in 2024 on Dec. 31 are the Silver Ball at Telluride Arts HQ or the Ah Haa School’s Launchpad Dinner. And, just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, be sure to gather amongst the local community in front of the historic San Miguel County Courthouse for the countdown to 2024. Cue the confetti, kiss a loved one and revel in the moment … maybe even a snowflake or two will fall, closing out the holiday experience with a final sprinkling of cheer, a gift from our beloved box canyon.
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