Snowboard Grand Prix
Breckenridge hosts the Chevy U.S. Grand Prix of Snowboarding, including a SuperPipe competition and a Parallel Giant Slalom competition,Dec. 13-17 at Breckenridge Ski Resort. The schedule features halfpipe qualifications Tuesday, HP finals Wednesday and HP qualifications Friday. Saturday will include HP finals and an evening rail jam event downtown. Call 970-453-5000.
More entertainment is scheduled Friday and Saturday at the Holiday Ice Show at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, 0189 Boreas Pass Road. Kids can perform with their friends or watch the show; no experience is necessary. Call 970-547-9974.
Holiday Open House
Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, a historic ranch-turned-arts community, is holding its annual Holiday Open House 5-7 p.m. Thursday. Featuring an exhibition of artwork by ranch residents, a candlelit walk with 300 luminaries between studios will guide travelers to artists, original artwork and festive goodies. Call 970-923-3181 or 970-948-3087 or visit anderson ranch.org for details.
Meditation series
Aspen Center for Integrative Health is offering a winter meditation series in collaboration with Shambhala Mountain. Locals and visitors have an opportunity to attend the “Give Your Mind a Workout” meditation workshops at The Aspen Club & Spa, 1450 Crystal Lake Road, on 10 Fridays from December through March, 8-9 a.m. and 4-5 p.m. The total cost for 10 sessions is $200 for the public and $180 for Aspen Club members. Drop-ins are welcome at a rate of $20 for Aspen Club members and $25 for non-members. Information is available at 866-484-8254 or 970-925-8900.
Snow Polo meet
Rio Grande Park in Aspen will be the venue for the sixth annual World Snow Polo Championship, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 17-19. Details at 970-566-0818 or barry@worldsnowpolo.com.
Winter Market
Minturn’s Winter Market is a family event that includes strolling carolers, open-fire pits, free hot cocoa and cookie decorating for kids in Santa’s house, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. Other highlights include gourmet food, wreaths, ornaments and other arts and crafts from around the world. Santa will also be there, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Call Karen Earley at 970-827-5645, or visit minturn.org.
Trolley light tours
Cheyenne’s Street Railway Trolley Holiday Light Tours will run at 6 and 8 p.m. Dec. 18-24 beginning at the Historic Depot, 121 W. 15th St. Enjoy the many Christmas-light displays on a narrated tour aboard the enclosed trolley. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for ages 12 and younger. Call 307-778-3133.
New Year’s on a train
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style and kick off the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s 125th birthday year. Celebrate the New Year onboard with a reception in the museum before an 8 p.m. departure. This vintage 1880s presidential train, made up of first-class parlor cars, travels to Cascade Canyon and back, with musical entertainment and a champagne toast at midnight. Additional cash cocktail and beverage service will be available onboard. Travelers are invited to wear their best Victorian attire for a costume contest on the train. Tickets are $125 per person and are limited to 60. Reservations at durangotrain.com or 970-247-2733.
Snowshoe Festival
Mark your calendars for the annual Grand Lake Snowshoe Festival in Grand Lake on Jan. 13-16, with partial proceeds to benefit the Colorado chapter of MS. The list of events includes 5K and 10K races with new, challenging courses; an introductory seminar on geocaching (treasure hunting with a GPS) followed by two geocaching adventures; celebrity snowshoe races; an antique snowshoe tour and sleigh ride; veterans of the 10th Mountain Division sharing their stories and 10th Mountain Division memorabilia; snowshoe technique tour; moonlight X-C skiing at the Grand Lake Touring Center; concert in the Pines featuring Bob Turner; moonlight snowshoe tour in Rocky Mountain National Park after a presentation on snowshoeing; and a hospitality house with music, three-alarm chili and exhibits and seminars, with a kickoff concert by Wendy Woo. To register for the 5K and 10K races, go to grandlakesnowshoefestival.com. Race registration is $25 before Jan. 11, $40 after. The geocaching events are free but require advance registration.
Christmas in Taos
Journey to Taos Pueblo in northern New Mexico, the only living American Indian community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multistoried adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for more than 1,000 years. The Christmas Eve Procession of the Virgin is a pageant of beauty, heritage and inspiring images. The Taos Pueblo Deer or Matachinas dances, the traditional Christmas Day dances, will be performed Dec. 25. Many of the events are religious ceremonies, and no photography is allowed. Taos Pueblo and the Taos Mountain Casino are near Taos, in north central New Mexico. For times and details, call 505-758-1028, e-mail tourism@taospueblo.com, or visit taospueblo.com.
