Let Breckenridge sweep you off your feet this Valentine’s Day. Star-filled nights, snow-covered peaks, Main Street strolls among thousands of lights and endless date options make for the perfect romantic retreat despite chilly February temps.
There are few better ways to reward yourself than with a hot boozy drink after a day on the mountain. Take a stroll down Main Street and try out some of the best boozy hot chocolates, ciders, spiced wine and anything that you could desire.
If you’re visiting Breckenridge for the holidays, you may have holiday traditions that you bring with you, or you may be looking to start new traditions with your family. The Best of Breck team has shared their favorite ways to celebrate the holidays in Breckenridge so you can feel right at home!
When it comes to the holiday season, we like to consider Breckenridge a winter wonderland. There’s magic around every corner with twinkling holiday lights, a fresh blanket of snow and a bright and spirited atmosphere. Seasonal events, winter activities and pure holiday magic make Breckenridge the perfect holiday destination.
There’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit than by attending one of Breckenridge’s iconic events. The first Saturday of December brings the Lighting of Breckenridge and Race of the Santas, an event that heralds the holiday season. The event kicks off with a holiday dog parade, followed by hundreds of Santas racing down Main Street. The grand finale occurs when Blue River Plaza is illuminated with more than 250,000-holiday lights.
Celebrate all things winter and pray for snow December 8–11 at Breckenridge’s Ullr Fest. This multi-day event honors Ullr, the Norse God of Snow, and is filled with celebrations like the “unofficial” world’s longest Shotski, Ullr Parade and Ullr Bonfire.
There is an abundance of activities available around Breckenridge so you can make new holiday memories with your family or celebrate an old tradition.
During the holidays, you might want to feel at home even if you’re away from home. The Grand Colorado on Peak 8, Grand Lodge on Peak 7 and Grand Timber Lodge are all properties that will make you feel right at home. From their superior service and amenities to their spacious residences, there is a little bit of everything you need. As a bonus, these properties offer the option to add a Christmas tree to your room for an extra fee. Be sure to secure your dates before they are gone!
Celebrate family traditions and create new memories with your loved ones this Thanksgiving in Breckenridge.
Whether you live in Breckenridge or are just visiting, there’s no better way to give back to our mountain community than by volunteering a little time. There are countless nonprofit organizations in Breckenridge and Summit County that provide services to our residents, the planet and beyond. If you’d like to give back, consider a few opportunities below.
The Family Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) has served Summit County since 1993. FIRC provides a variety of services like housing assistance, mental health navigation, food market, parenting support and so much more. FIRC is always looking for volunteers to assist in their food markets and in their thrift store in Breckenridge, Thrift & Treasure.
Smart Bellies is a backpack food program that has been feeding students in Summit and Lake Counties since 2018. Each week this generous nonprofit provides nutritious, kid-friendly meals and family bags of produce to children and families in our community. You can sign up to help pick up supplies, pack bags of food or deliver directly to homes.
Breckenridge Backstage Theater
Breckenridge Backstage Theater relies on volunteers to help them put on amazing performances and events. During their theater rotation they are often looking for volunteers to help with concessions, tickets, constructions and more. Why not catch a show and support a local nonprofit at the same time?
Friends of the Dillon Ranger District
If you happen to find yourself in Breckenridge in the summer, Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) is always seeking volunteers to help with trail and forest health projects. If you enjoy some of the hundreds of miles of trails throughout Breckenridge, volunteering to help restore and build trails is a great way to give back to the land.
If you enjoy backcountry skiing in the winter or long hikes in the summer, you may have noticed a few backcountry cabins on your adventures. These incredible cabins can be rented by backcountry travelers, but they need help to be maintained! These volunteer opportunities typically include physical labor like wood splitting and maintenance projects. Volunteers are rewarded with a free night stay in any of the Summit Huts Hutmasters Quarters for each day of volunteer work.
Breckenridge Events
Breckenridge is a town full of popular events like Oktoberfest, the International Snow Sculpture Championships, Wine Classic, Breck Film Fest and more. Many of these events are looking for volunteers like you to help the event run smoothly. At celebrations like Oktoberfest, volunteers receive a stein and two drink tokens which makes your time giving back even sweeter!
If you don’t have time to volunteer with FIRC at the thrift store or food markets, attending their annual Fashion Show fundraiser is a fantastic way to show your support. Each year local models use reimagined thrift store finds to bring a new theme to life.
The Rob Millisor Heart Health Walk was established in memory of Rob Millisor, one of the owners/developers of Breckenridge Grand Vacations. Each year you can participate in the race or walk to raise money for heart health research which has included the installation of AED units around Breckenridge. If you can’t make the event, you can opt to donate. The total raised from 2016 –2022 has been over $1 million.
This longstanding Summit County Tradition, put on by the Summit Foundation, has supported our mountain community for more than three decades. The race typically takes place on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. The race itself features over 10,000 ducks, purchased by donation, that race down the Blue River in the heart of Breckenridge, vying for the top spot and prizes.
If you can’t give back time but would like to donate in some way, the Summit Foundation is a fantastic organization that has supported our community for over 35 years. The Summit Foundation has given $46 million back to the community since 1984 and provides student scholarships and grants to local nonprofits. You can feel good knowing your dollars will go directly to the community you know and love.
