Birds of Prey World Cup skiing
Visa Birds of Prey Men’s World Cup Week runs Tuesday-Dec. 4 in Beaver Creek. Highlights are Men’s World Cup Alpine Skiing, featuring Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom and Slalom. In all four races, American ski favorite and overall World Cup Champion, Bode Miller, makes his only U.S. World Cup appearance during the event. Spectator viewing from the Red Tail Finish Stadium is free to the public, with numerous free public activities throughout the week. Call 970-949-1999 or visit vvf.org for a daily schedule. Beaver Creek also kicks off its 25th Anniversary celebration during World Cup Week. Visit beavercreek.snow.com for details.
Victorian Christmas in Georgetown
Step back in time to a Victorian Christmas village with the Santa Lucia Parade, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and carriage rides at Georgetown’s Christmas Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Dec. 4, and again Dec. 10-11. An outdoor European market offers handcrafted gifts, and other shops will showcase their wares in Strousse Park and downtown Georgetown. Call 303-567-4660 or 303-569-2840 or visit clear creekcounty.org for more information.
Historic holiday in Sheridan
Wyoming’s Trail End State Historic Site in Sheridan, Wyo., a historic house museum, hosts a holiday open house filled with the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas 4-7 p.m. Friday through Dec. 4. Built in 1913, the house will be decorated inside and out, including seven trees. Live entertainment, spiced cider and traditional pudding will be offered. Trail End is located at 400 Clarendon Ave. Admission: $1 for adults; 17 and under are free. Call 307-674-4589.
Backcountry Bash at REI
Backcountry Snowsports Alliance’s Backcountry Bash is on Friday at the Denver Flagship REI, 1416 Platte St. The event is designed to raise awareness for the BSA, and its work representing human-powered winter recreationists. Festivities kick off at 6:30 p.m. and include live bluegrass music, a slideshow and live and silent auctions featuring winter gear from manufacturers and retailers, along with hut, yurt and hotel stays, ski passes from Colorado cross-country and alpine ski areas, avalanche classes, books, gift certificates and a variety of other items. Dinner and beer are included with the price of admission ($20 advance, $25 at the door; $5 additional for non-members). Visit backcountryalliance.org for more information, or call 303-494-5266 for advance tickets.
Old Colorado City B&B tour
Old Colorado City Historical Society will host the annual Victorian Bed & Breakfast Holiday Tour 2-6 p.m. on Dec. 4. This year’s tour includes beautiful and historic homes lovingly converted to bed-and-breakfast inns and the Old Colorado City History Center museum. The participating properties are located in or near Old Colorado City Historic District, downtown Colorado Springs, Historic Manitou Springs and Cascade at the foot of Pikes Peak. Tickets are $10 per person if purchased before Dec. 1 at 719-636-1225 or $15 at the door. A gift drawing will be held at the Old Colorado City Historical Society’s History Center, 1 South 24th St., Colorado Springs. All proceeds will benefit the History Center. For details, go to historytour.info or call Pat Fejedelem at 719-473-8684 or Sallie Clark at 719-471-3980.
See the lights in Longmont
Celebration of Lights, a downtown holiday open house, will be Friday at the Sixth Avenue Plaza, Sixth and Main streets in Longmont. Music performances will be 5-6:30 p.m. with the Longmont Concert Band, the Longmont Children’s Chorus and the Longmont Chorale. The tree-lighting ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Downtown shops will be open until 8:30 p.m. Visit dolo.org, or call 303-651-8484.
Estes Park mountain-home tour
From quaint to luxurious and log homes to condos, the annual Holiday Home Tour of five homes in the Estes Park area on Saturday showcases unique mountain abodes decked out in holiday finery. The tour is 11 a.m.-4 p.m; tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour. Tickets available at the Estes Park Visitors Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave. More information is available at 970-586-5800. Saturday evening, enjoy the Fantasy Ball, a fundraising event for the Estes Park Music Festival that includes a black-tie-optional dinner and dance. Cocktails are at 6 p.m.; dinner is at 7:30 p.m., and dancing is 8-11:30 p.m. at the Estes Park Conference Center, 201 S. St. Vrain Ave. Tickets are $75 per person. Call 970-586-9900 for additional details.
Noel at Nebraska’s Stuhr Museum
Stuhr Museum, 3133 W. U.S. 34 in Grand Island, Neb., will present its annual Christmas event, “Christmas: Past and Present,” 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 and 10 and 2-5 p.m. on Dec. 11. Enjoy Christmas Past with a lantern-lit visit to the 1861 log Road Ranch Settlement, the 1890s Railroad Town and the turn-of-
the-century farming community with its rural church and schoolhouse. Christmas Present, celebrated in the Stuhr Building, will display two floors filled with the Fantasy of Trees, and Santa Claus will be waiting in his historic sleigh for the little ones to whisper their wishes and have a photo taken with him. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 7-12, and children 6 and under are free. Call Stuhr Museum at 308-385-5316 or log on to stuhrmuseum.org for additional information.
