Tis the season to be jolly, and Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park have lots of fun activities planned to make your holidays merry and bright! Make your plans to join the fun!
Photo by John F Williams Photography on Grand Lake’s Boardwalk
Holiday Activities in Grand Lake — All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Community House is the charming building in Grand Lake’s Town Square.
Through December 31st Christmas Music set to lights! Awesome animated holiday show lasts about 45 minutes, beginning on the hour every evening from 5 to 10 pm at 2142 County Road 4. Arrive at any point and enjoy favorites from the warmth of your car; just tune your radio dial to 90.7 FM. Five miles south of Grand Lake, turn west off Highway 34 onto County Road 4 and drive exactly 2 miles; relax, be entertained.
* Sledding Hill (by Trinity Church, behind Bear’s Den) & Ice Fishing
*Explore, snowshoe and cross country ski. All winter you can drive 10 miles up into the Rocky Mountain National Park. $10 per car requested at the park entrance.
*Grand Lake Nordic Center is open every day at the end of Road 48 (turn by Sloopy’s just north of town on Highway 34) 970-627-8008, grandlakeski.com. Snow tubing, cross country skiing, rentals, soup, hot beverages. Ask about a season pass.
*December 19, Friday: Free Holiday Movie at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, 800 Grand Avenue in Grand Lake. Watch the movie White Christmas on the huge screen! Santa visits. Treats and caroling. Doors open at 6pm. Movie at 7pm. 970-627-3421, rockymountainrep.com.
*December 19, Friday: Juliet performs A Rocky Mountain Christmas at Community House. Cocktails 6:30. Show begins at 7:00 pm. Tickets $25 adults $10 children. 970-531-0110 or 970-887-8903. Santa and Elves. Sponsored by Grand Arts Council.
*December 20, Saturday: Free Cross Country Ski Lessons at 10 am and 1 pm at Grand Lake Nordic Center. Must pre-register and pay trail fee and have or rent skis. Call 970-627-8008.
*Decemeber 21, Sunday at 2 pm : Home for the Holidays Christmas production featuring beloved past performers at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre! Tickets $15 each. rockymountainrep.com or call 970-627-3421.
*Christmas Eve & Christmas Day: Variety of church schedules. Look forward to Candlelight Services with Special Music.
*December 26, Friday 6-9 pm: Historical Holiday Celebration at the Kauffman House Museum by the Beach. Tickets purchased ahead of time $20 at Grand Lake Art Gallery grandlakehistory.org – or at door $25. Fabulous pick-up food, adult beverages, great olde-timey music all included in the price. No young children, please. All proceeds benefit the Cottage Camp.
*December 26 – December 31, Friday through Wednesday: The Ballad of Windy Gap Melodrama the full week after Christmas! Cheer, boo and hiss at local performers each evening in the Community House in Town Square. Tickets at the door or early at grandartscouncil.com $15 adults $7 under age 12.
*December 27-28, Saturday & Sunday: Kauffman House Museum by the Beach 1-4 pm Treats and Tours in the festively decorated Victorian Hotel. Adults $5.00, Free to Children 12 and Younger.
*December 31, Wednesday: FIREWORKS at Midnight on New Year’s Eve, down by Grand Lake’s beach! (Kauffman House will be open from 10 pm to midnight with treats: $5 per person. 970-627-8324). Join us to begin 2015 with a bang & a sky full of colorful surprises! !
Holiday Activities in Rocky Mountain National Park
On the west side of the park
• Ski the Wilderness – December 27 and January 3 at 9:30 a.m. Join a park ranger for this 1.5 hour cross-country ski tour of the Kawuneeche Valley. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 627-3471.
• Snowshoe in the Kawuneeche – December 27 and January 3 at 1 p.m. Beginner-level snowshoe tour with a ranger. For ages 8 and above. Bring your own snowshoes and poles. Reservations required, and can be made beginning December 21; call (970) 627-3471.
• Intermediate Snowshoe Walk: December 28 and January 4 at 1 p.m. A more rigorous tour with elevation gains up to 500 feet. This tour requires the ability to maintain a good pace over uneven terrain at high altitude. Bring your own snowshoes and poles. For ages 8 and above. Reservations required,and can be made beginning December 22; call (970) 627-3471.
• Spirit of the Mountains – Park Movie – Shown by request daily.
• See the stunning 23 minute park film at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center (located on Highway 34 north of Grand Lake).
Programs continue through the winter. For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206. All park visitor centers and the Information Office will be closed on December 25.
