Christmas in Aspen 2026: Events, Holiday Dinners and How to Plan the Trip

Christmas in Aspen is a two-part trip. The first part is Wintersköl, December 10 to 13, when tree lightings pop up in both Aspen and Snowmass. The second part is the holiday rush from about December 19 to January 3, and that’s where the prices go. The order you book things in matters more than any single reservation. This guide covers events, holiday dinners, a booking timeline and the airports that work in winter.

Aspen Christmas Events Calendar 2026

Aspen Christmas events cluster in the second week of December, and the Aspen Chamber events calendar lists any changes. Opening day is planned for November 26 at Aspen Mountain and Snowmass, with Highlands and Buttermilk to follow on December 12. Snowfall gets a vote on both dates, so call the resorts before you lock in flights.

Snowmass hosts the tree lighting and the first torchlight parade on December 12, so anyone basing themselves there can sort out the airport leg with a Denver to Snowmass private shuttle.

Santa’s Village at The Collective in Snowmass ran December 21 to 24 in 2025, and 2026 dates aren’t confirmed. New Year’s Eve has its own guide in our Colorado post.

Wintersköl: The Early December Option

Things to do in Aspen in December start with Wintersköl, and the Aspen Chamber posts the full Wintersköl schedule. The weekend opens Thursday, December 10 with the Icebreaker Bash at the Paul JAS Center from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The Aspen Extreme screening follows at 7:30 p.m. at the Wheeler Opera House.

Saturday, December 12 carries most of the weekend. The Wintersköl Beer Festival runs 2 to 6 p.m. at Wagner Park, with tastings for guests 21 and older, and the bonfire and torchlight parades take over that evening.

Sunday, December 13 wraps things up with the tree lighting at The Little Nell, 5 to 7 p.m. The ceremony itself starts at 5:30.

Which Week to Book for an Aspen Christmas Vacation

Christmas Eve lands on a Thursday and Christmas Day on a Friday. An Aspen Christmas vacation really comes down to two windows. Aspen in December holds the first, with the Wintersköl weekend ahead of the peak. The holiday week from December 19 to January 3 holds the second, along with the highest prices and the heaviest demand.

Once the holidays end, things go quiet from January 4 to 16, and then Aspen Gay Ski Week starts on January 17. Some hotels may insist on a minimum stay over the holiday week, which is worth a quick check before you compare rates.

Aspen weather in December runs cold. WeatherSpark’s averages put daily highs below 36°F from November 21 to March 6, so pack for it. Between events, the Silver Circle ice rink near Aspen Mountain is the only outdoor rink in town.

Christmas Dinner in Aspen

Aspen Christmas dinner menus usually surface in late November. Going by last year’s menus, a Christmas dinner runs about $150 to $375 per adult. Element 47 at The Little Nell charged $375 in 2025, so that’s the top of the range, and every restaurant’s site will list the 2026 price.

Booking windows differ by restaurant. PARC and French Alpine Bistro open reservations 60 days ahead, and Matsuhisa opens 30 days ahead. Counted back from Christmas Eve, that’s about October 25 for the first two and November 24 for Matsuhisa.

Ajax Tavern, also at The Little Nell, and the Prospect restaurant at Hotel Jerome are worth a call about holiday menus. Pine Creek Cookhouse is dinner with a commute. It sits about 11 miles from downtown, and in winter the final stretch is on skis or behind a team of horses.

What to Book First: A Timeline

An Aspen Colorado Christmas runs on a booking calendar. Flights and transport go together, and private instructors and ski school spots for the holiday week go first.

• Book flights and the transfer together this week.
• Hire private instructors before Thanksgiving.
• Watch for restaurant holiday menus in late November.
• Reserve dinner tables as each window opens.
• Reconfirm lift openings before December 12.

Getting to Aspen at Christmas: ASE, Eagle or Denver

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, known as ASE, is the closest airport at 3 miles from the center of town. The winter schedule is running, and the airport closes only from April 4, 2027, for runway work.

Winter makes the road the harder part. Independence Pass closes for the season, so the only way into Aspen by car is Highway 82 through Glenwood Springs. Eagle County Airport, known as EGE, sits 1 hour 45 minutes away by road. Denver sits 4 hours 15 minutes out. Eagle gives the shorter drive for anyone who can fly there, and Denver stays an option when fares point that way.

Those figures are standard rates, and the peak weeks carry holiday pricing, so ask for the exact fare for your dates. Gratuity adds 20% to the fare, and rides between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. pick up a 10% night surcharge. Cancel up to 48 hours before pickup and it costs nothing.

The Eagle Airport to Aspen car service page covers the shorter route. The Denver to Aspen car service page covers the longer drive, and both run door-to-door. The SUV and van fleet page shows which vehicle fits a family of five or a group of 14, and the number for holiday week fares is +1 970-401-0821.