MINI TOUR:

Mountain Christmas

By Shelly Steig

> Points of light
> An old-fashioned celebration
> Jingle bells in Breckenridge
> Lights, cider, action!

Colorado is beautiful at any time of the year, but when the chilly, clear air reveals the many moods of the mountains, frost tips the evergreens and the ground is cloaked in a mantle of snow, it’s even more alluring.

Against this backdrop, mountain towns like Golden, Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Dillon, Frisco, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Evergreen and Morrison are dressed in their finest holiday garb, almost as if they are posing for a Norman Rockwell painting. To help you pick your favorites, here’s a roundup of holiday events in a few of Colorado’s beautiful mountain towns.

Points of light

Golden’s Candlelight Walk. © Jeff Steig.

303-279-3113, www.goldencochamber.org It’s 6:30 p.m. on a frigid December evening. Groups of people, huddled to stay warm, gaze up Washington Avenue in Golden. At the top of the street, twinkling lights pierce the darkness. The lights bob and blink as hundreds of celebrants begin to move slowly down the hill, carefully carrying their candles or sporting their light sticks on strollers and dog collars. As they reach the bridge at Clear Creek, miniature lights on the trees along the riverbanks blink on, lending an air of enchantment to the scene. It’s the Candlelight Walk, the event that kicks off the Olde Golden Christmas season. And this year, it’s held December 4.

The activities actually begin the weekend before, with the Golden Holiday Open House in the historic downtown area. Merchants extend their hours and offer discounts, refreshments and entertainment. The shops have been festooned with ribbons and sprigs of green, and the trees along the street are wrapped in strings of lights. There’s a reindeer petting zoo, free carriage rides and a puppet show. Carolers dressed in Victorian garb wander the street, along with musicians, performers and, of course, St. Nicholas. At the Golden Pioneer Museum, roasted chestnuts, homemade cookies, hot cider and caroling to an old-fashioned pump organ await.

Youngsters will especially enjoy the Olde Golden Christmas on Parade the following two weekends, as well as other festivities throughout the season: Colorado Railroad Museum’s Santa Express, Heritage Square’s Candy Cane Lane and special activities at the Golden Pioneer Museum. Adults can shop the Holiday Art Market at the Foothills Art Center and attend the Colorado School of Mines Concert Choir.

An old-fashioned celebration

Santa Lucia procession in Georgetown. © Jeff Steig.

303-569-2840, www.historicgeorgetown.org In Georgetown, children arrayed in white gowns and bright red capes carry tall yellow stars down Sixth Street, behind a man dressed as Father Christmas. A few are giggling at the crowd of onlookers. Some look a little nervous. All are bundled in winter coats and snow pants beneath their white robes. It’s a chilly day, but it’s obvious they are thrilled to be participants in the Santa Lucia Children’s Procession during Georgetown’s annual Christmas Market, held December 5, 6, 12 and 13. Santa Lucia processions are Scandinavian in origin, and traditionally involve girls crowned with wreaths of lighted candles, and boys with stars or lanterns.

Throughout the historic district, visitors bustle in and out of shops and galleries. Festivities include horse-drawn carriage rides, free musical entertainment, museum tours and high tea at Grace Hall. The mountain hamlet also offers an evening Victorian reception December 12 and 19 at the Hamill House. Visitors can tour this beautifully restored 1867 home while they sip on wassail, then enjoy the lighting of Christmas tree candles, caroling and the Yule log presentation.

Jingle bells in Breckenridge

888-251-2417, www.gobreck.com Dusk has fallen with a hush. The team of huge draft horses from Breckenridge Stables stomp their furry hooves in anticipation. Their jingling bells echo across the base of Beaver Run, which is still etched with the tracks of the day’s last skiers. A group from Texas, who are enjoying a family reunion, warm their hands around steaming mugs of hot chocolate. We all climb into the beribboned and bedecked sleigh, and wrap wool blankets around our shoulders. The horses whinny and prance across the packed snow. It’s just one of many ways to celebrate the holidays in Breckenridge.

Set in the Ten Mile Range, Breckenridge is quaint, yet hip. There is the happy commotion of skiers and snowboarders strutting through town with gear perched on their shoulders, and the whir of lifts as a backdrop to the colorful, ornate Victorian architecture.

During the holiday season, the ski town shines, especially during the Lighting of Breckenridge annual event on December 5. Visitors can grab a hand-warming cup of hot cocoa then join a procession down Main Street led by St. Nick in a horse-drawn carriage. After the tree is lit, the procession heads south to Main Street Station for a holiday concert and visit with Santa.

Throughout the season, the ongoing Victorian Holidays Celebration offers mountain competitions, strolling carolers, shopping and kids’ activities. During the Breckenridge Snowflake Challenge, December 4 to 12, sculptors of all ages and abilities create art on the streets with nature’s winter bounty.

The town is also host to the Winter Dew Tour, December 18 to 20, with halfpipe and slopestyle competitions. Other cold-weather activities include dog sledding, ice fishing, ice skating, snowmobiling, show shoeing and of course skiing and snowboarding.

After overnighting at the Great Divide Lodge, which is convenient to the slopes and Breckenridge’s historic downtown, we headed to Fairplay for a special treat from the Silver Scoop Creamery. This old-time ice cream parlor features a restored James W. Tufts Company fountain from the 1890s, a 500-pound model composed of three types of marble with 10 syrup drawers. Many families also flock to the Fairplay area to cut their own Christmas tree in the Pike National Forest—a permit is needed, and can be obtained from the U.S. Forest Service’s Fairplay office (call 719-836-2031 for more information).

Lights, cider, action!

Here are five more stops worth making in December.

Idaho Springs starts its celebrations early on November 21 with the Tree Lighting Festivities which also features choir music and photos with Santa. 303-567-4421, www.150goldrush.org.
Dillon celebrates its lighting December 3. Highlights include St. Nick and his reindeer, Mrs. Claus’ craft shop, entertainment, caroling and complimentary food including home-baked cookies, hot dogs, cider and cocoa. 970-468-2403, www.townofdillon.com.
Enjoy free hot cider at Frisco’s festooned shops daily during Wassail Days, December 5 to 13. On the weekends of December 5 and 12, visitors can enjoy carolers, horse-drawn sleigh rides and breakfast with Santa. 800-424-1554, www.townoffrisco.com.
Evergreen kicks off the holidays on November 28 at Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The pair will also make an appearance alongside a strolling Christmas tree December 4 during the Holiday Walk. Caroling, a tree lighting ceremony, horse-drawn trolley rides and free entertainment round out the event. Also on December 4, the Hiwan Homestead Museum offers music, holiday decor and chestnuts from an open fire. The museum hosts a holiday tea on December 14. 303-674-3412, www.heartofevergreen.com.
Morrison, home to antiques and other shops as well as some excellent restaurants, hosts Caroling by Candlelight on December 4. The quaint town rests in the shadows of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. The park and amphitheater are quiet at this time of year and the scenery is stunning—making it a beautifully peaceful place to end a holiday tour. 303-697-8749, www.town.morrison.co.us.

Shelly Steig is a freelance writer based in Parker.

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