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Adventurous Activities and Events in Breckenridge

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Bring the Whole Family Together This Winter

Get your family out of the house this winter with an epic trip to Colorado’s snowiest mountain village, Breckenridge. You’ll find that we are a “celebrate anything and everything” type of town. From the Race of the Santas to the International Snow Sculpture Championships and more, you’ll always find the town buzzing with excitement. Read on for details on a few exciting events on the calendar for the upcoming winter season!

Winter Events

While Breckenridge offers numerous winter activities for visitors all season long, the events we have on the calendar are bound to be a great time! 

  1. Frisco Wassail Days (Nov 27-Dec 5, 2021) — Wassail Days is Frisco’s festival celebrating all things winter. Wassail is a hot, spiced cider served during the holiday season and often shared amongst friends and family. So naturally, Wassail Days is full of libations and celebrates everything the holiday season has to offer. 
  2. The Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas (Dec 4, 2021) — A slightly reimagined version of the traditional lighting of Breckenridge will take place this year. Our 250,000 LED holiday lights hung throughout the town are luminated on on the 4th and will stay lit all winter long to spread joy and bring life to the holiday season through the town. 
  3. Breckenridge Ullr Fest (Dec 8-12, 2021) — The traditional Ullr Festival will take place this winter with reimagined features to ensure we can celebrate Ullr, the Norwegian snow god, safely. Ullr Fest is traditionally celebrated to honor the coming winter season and to pay tribute to Ullr for his gift of snow. This year’s festival will feature a weeklong celebration consisting of games, parties and more.
  4. International Snow Sculpture Championships (Jan 24-30, 2022) — The world-renowned International Snow Sculpture Championships (brought to you by the Breckenridge Tourism Office) is a competition pitting 16 teams from around the world against one another. Each team is tasked with carving a 20-ton block of snow into an enormous, intricate work of art using only hand tools and creativity to bring their vision to life.

The ongoing global health pandemic has required us all to modify our plans in order to remain safe and to abide by local and national health regulations while still attempting to maintain some traditions. Though some features of these events have been modified to adhere to public Colorado health and safety regulations, there really is no better time to celebrate the great outdoors than now!

Winter Activities Happening All Season

While many visitors come for the can’t-be-beat, epic, on-mountain terrain, Breckenridge offers endless winter activities for all those who don’t ski! From cross-country skiing to dog-sledding, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, ice skating, and more, the possibilities for non-skiing activities are endless. 

If you are planning your trip to Breckenridge this winter and looking to book some epic winter activities for all of the non-skiers in your group or even some last-minute activities the whole family can enjoy, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the Top 100 Things To Do in Breckenridge, download a visitor guide, or contact Breckenridge Grand Vacations to connect with a vacation specialist to plan your trip!

Stay With Us!

While there are many lodging options to choose from in Breckenridge, the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 offers an experience that can’t be beat. With a location directly on the mountain, you’ll experience the magic of waking up with the sun and stepping out onto a balcony overlooking the entire ski resort. The luxury amenities like ski-in/ski-out access, onsite spa, indoor/outdoor aquatics, fitness facility, dining options, and more at make the Grand Colorado the perfect home base for your next Breckenridge vacation.

The Best Coffee Shops in Breckenridge

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To celebrate National Espresso Day, we’ve caffeinated up and rounded up the best coffee shops in Breckenridge. Read on to get your caffeine fix. 

Ullr Café | 1627 Ski Hill Rd. 

Located at the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 and just steps from the lifts, Ullr Café is your go-to spot for an après warmup. Choose from a variety of coffee drinks and cocktails and then head outside to watch skiers traverse the mountain or sit fireside at the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 Ice Rink.  

Our Favorite Drink: Peppermint Mocha – made with milk, Ghirardelli milk chocolate, peppermint syrup and topped with house-made whipped cream. 

Hours: Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 

 

Cuppa Joe | 118 S Ridge St. 

Away from the hustle and bustle of Main Street, Cuppa Joe serves up local coffee and friendly service. Order a coffee and explore the one-acre Breckenridge Arts District, filled resorted historic structures that now serve as creative spaces. 

Our Favorite Drink: A regular cup of coffee! Cuppa Joe sells Breckenridge Coffee Roasters coffee, which is roasted with care here in Breckenridge with 100% compostable packaging and minimal waste generation. 

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday to Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

 The Crown | 215 S Main St. 

The Crown is best known for its ambiance. Order a beverage and grab a spot by the fire or in one of the cozy window seats. With many coffee, cocktail and food options you can spend the afternoon warming up in this local favorite spot. 

Our Favorite Drink: Breckenridge Coffee – made with americano, hazelnut coffee, Irish cream liqueur and topped with whipped cream.  

Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

 

Clint’s Bakery & Coffeehouse | 130 S Main St. 

In addition to their delicious coffee concoctions, Clint’s creates breakfast sandwiches and freshly made baked goods galore. Clint’s is centrally located on Main Street, so you can grab a sandwich and coffee before shopping to your heart’s desire. 

Our Favorite Drink: Almond Joy Mocha – made with almond syrup and coconut syrup in a mocha.

Hours: Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

 Cool River Coffee House | 325 S Main St.  

For views and food head to Cool River Coffee House. Conveniently tucked away behind Main Street along the Blue River you’ll find mountain views and a warm atmosphere. Pick from one of their many caffeinated drinks, but don’t forget to grab something out of their homemade bakery case.  

Our Favorite Drink: Any flavored latte! Try from favorites like the Nuttin’ Honey to the Cinnamon Roll Latte. 

Hours: Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. 

 

 

Your Guide to Sustainable Travel in Breckenridge

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If you’re planning a trip to Breckenridge, consider adding a sustainable travel plan to your checklist. Earlier this year Breckenridge became the second town in the world to be certified as a Mountain IDEAL sustainable destination. What does that mean? Breckenridge has put time and energy into creating a plan for a sustainable future including a carbon-neutral goal of being powered by 100% renewable energy by 2035. With more than one million visitors annually, your travel habits can make a difference in our mountain community. 

Travel to Breckenridge Sustainably 

Denver International Airport (DIA) is the closest airport to Breckenridge, so travelers can expect at least a two hour drive to arrive in mountain paradise. Instead of renting a car, beat the congestion and traffic of I-70 and opt for a discounted shared shuttle from the airport to your lodging.  

Once you’re here, the Breck Free Ride bus system provides free public transportation throughout Breckenridge. With several color-coded routes and an interactive schedule, it takes the headache out of navigating. An added sustainable bonus — the Free Ride fleet includes two all-electric buses! 

For travelers arriving via electric car, Breckenridge has 22 public electric vehicle charging ports at conveniently located around town.  

Sustainable Lodging Options in Breckenridge 

Breckenridge Grand Vacations (BGV), a developer and manager of three properties in Breckenridge, is committed to sustainable efforts through responsible business practices that ensure minimal impact on the mountain environment. Thirty-nine percent of waste created at BGV’s resorts or corporate offices is diverted through recycling and compost efforts. Plus, 100% of the electricity consumed at the company’s corporate offices is offset by solar panels.  

Guests of Grand Timber Lodge, the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 and the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 will find they too can contribute to BGV’s sustainable efforts. Each property offers a complimentary shuttle service to transport guests around town and also provides electric vehicle charging stations in their heated garages.

Guests are encouraged to help in sustainable efforts by utilizing on-property water bottle refilling stations, setting their thermostat at or below 68 degrees, reusing their towels and turning off lights and televisions when not in use. In addition, guests have access to recycling throughout the properties and can make use of countertop compost pails available at the Front Desks. 

Gear Rentals

If you’re new to skiing and snowboarding and are in need of some gear for your trip, you’re not alone! There’s no need to buy a whole set up with a plethora of thrift stores and rentals available in Breckenridge.  

Consider renting your skis, helmets and boots through companies like Ski Butlers, Breck Sports and Alpine Sports. Many companies are located on properties or will deliver to you no matter where you are staying! For ski pants and jackets, visit Ridden in Breckenridge. The shop offers consignment items along with outerwear rentals and even sled rentals for the nearby sledding hill at Carter Park.  

Reduce Waste 

Be sure to add your reusable bags and water bottles to your packing list.  

In an effort to discourage the use of plastic bags, Breckenridge passed a plastic bag ban this year which means only paper bags are available at stores for a 10 cent fee. Practice BYO BAG to avoid fees at checkout. No bag? No problem! Ask the property’s Front Desk or a local retailer about the reusable bags that the Town of Breckenridge provides. 

The Town of Breckenridge has a goal to reduce waste headed to the landfill by 40%. Help reach this goal, and enjoy fresh mountain water, by bringing your reusable water bottle and refilling at one of the water fill stations around town. 

Sustainable Activities in Breckenridge 

Skiing is the ultimate outdoor winter activity and Breckenridge Ski Resort is known for its world class skiing and riding. Vail Resorts’ comprehensive sustainability commitment, Epic Promise For A Zero Footprint, aims to achieve zero waste to landfill, zero net emissions and zero net operating impacts to forests and habitat all by 2030. While you’re on the slopes, take a look around you. Breckenridge Ski Resort has installed lower energy chairlifts that use 30% less electricity along with low energy snowmaking guns that use more than 50% less compressed air than traditional snowmaking guns. 

Bonus sustainable activities for the non-skiers include cross country skiing and snowshoeing at the Breckenridge Nordic Center. Here you can rent the gear you need and explore over 2,000 acres of beautiful high alpine forest. 

Bottom line — whatever vacation activity you choose — you can take steps to leave Breckenridge better than you found it.