STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Sun Valley Resort will usher in its Winter Wonderland during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays this weekend.
It’ll kick off with tonight’s Bogner Olympic Party and Saturday’s Holiday Kick-off Celebration.
Along the way, it will include an encore performance of The Homegrown Film Festival, showcasing short films featuring such local athletes as McKenna and Axel Peterson, Lexi DuPont, Wing Tai Barrymore, Collin Collins and Karl Fostvedt.
And it will continue through New Year’s Eve when the resort plans to host a New Year’s party with night skiing and fireworks on Dollar Mountain.
“We hope to throw in a few surprises around traditional events like our tree lighting on Dec. 16, as well,” said Kelli Lusk, Sun Valley’s public relations and communications manager.
One of the highlights, as always, is the free ice show on Christmas Eve followed by the torchlight parade and fireworks on Dollar Mountain.
For several years the show centered around “The Nutcracker.” But this year’s show will feature modern renditions of classic holiday music as professional skater Erin Reed and others, including members of the Sun Valley Figure Skating Club, go “Skating in a Winter Wonderland.”
And on Thursday, Dec. 21, acclaimed pianist Joe Fos and professional singers who call Sun Valley their home will present the 10th annual Classic Christmas Concert in the Sun Valley Opera House.
It will feature storytelling and singing, including “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth” duet by Bing Crosby and David Bowie, said David Janeski, who has appeared in several Company of Fools plays.
“I love performing around Christmas because my family’s on the other side of the country. So this makes Christmas for me,” he said.
Here are the highlights of Sun Valley’s Winter Wonderland:
FRIDAY, Dec. 8—Brass Ranch in Sun Valley Village will celebrate the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, with a Bogner Olympic Party featuring the newest Bogner ski wear from 5 to 7 p.m. Olympic-themed cocktails and light fare will be served and a portion of the proceeds from sales will benefit the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and Higher Ground SV.
SATURDAY, Dec. 9—Sun Valley will unveil its remake of Dollar Mountain into a playground fit for adults and children alike at 9 a.m. And it will open Warm Springs from top to bottom on Bald Mountain. The skiing on Baldy has been good, thanks to a terrific outpouring of snow from Sun Valley’s snow guns. And—psst—it’s been warmer at top than at bottom, thanks to an inversion.
The Winter Wonderland Holiday Kick-off Celebration will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in Sun Valley Village. It will feature Santa, a village train, live holiday music performances and a kids’ gingerbread/cookie decorating event. And Colla Voce, the Wood River High School’s elite female vocal group, will perform familiar carols through the village. All is free, with the exception of the cookie decorating, which costs $7 per child.
Sunny—the Bear, Sun Valley’s new mascot for Dollar Mountain, will make his (or her) debut in the annual Scavenger Hunt. Adults and youngsters can match Sunny’s activities with window displays in 10 Sun Valley locations to collect a Christmas ornament as a prize.
THURSDAY, Dec. 14—The Community Library will present an afternoon of holiday storytelling for kids from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Sun Valley Lodge Sun Room. All children will receive a holiday treat bag.
FRIDAY, Dec. 15—Sun Valley Artist Nancy Liston will release her 2017 limited-edition holiday ornament during a trunk show at Sun Valley Signatures and Gifts from 1 to 6 p.m. She will offer demonstrations of her Sun Valley-themed ceramics, paintings and hand-dyed scarves.
Warren Miller’s newest ski film, “Line of Descent,” which features three Sun Valley skiers, will be shown at 2:30 p.m. in the Sun Valley Opera House. Admission: $5.50.
Homegrown Film Festival, a benefit for the Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, will have an encore presentation in the Sun Valley Opera House. The festival sold out two days in advance when staged at The Liberty Theatre. Doors open at 7 and the films start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Sun Valley Recreation Center, by calling 208-622-2135 or at sunvalley.ticketfly.com.
SATURDAY, Dec. 16—Sun Valley’s Open-Air Holiday Market will feature a European-style market with more than 20 regional and local vendors offering a range of items from traditional wreaths to roasted nuts and linzer cookies from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Sun Valley Village duck pond.
Guests can have gifts wrapped for free during the Wrap ‘N Run at Sun Valley Signatures from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with donations benefiting Girls on the Run of the Wood River Valley.
Kids Cookie Decorating will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Boiler Room. $7 per child.
“ELF” will be shown at 2:30 p.m. in the Sun Valley Opera House. Admission: $5.50.
The Emily Stanton Band will perform from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the River Run Lodge. No cover charge.
The grand opening of Sun Valley’s new Village Station restaurant on the site of the former Bald Mountain Pizza will take place at 4:30 p.m. Among the offerings: Free cupcakes with each meal. The restaurant will feature 12 craft beers on tap, family pack take outs and wide screen TVs for those wanting to watch Boise State University’s bowl game against Oregon.
The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will start at 5:30 p.m. and will include music from the Sun Valley Carolers, ice caring demonstrations, free cookies and cocoa and a visit from Santa, scheduled to appear either in a golf cart or in a sleigh behind a miniature horse. Sun Valley hopes to throw in additional surprises this year, as well.
SUNDAY, Dec. 17—The Open-Air Holiday Market continues from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Polar Express” will be shown at the Sun Valley Opera House at 2:30 p.m. $5.50.
The Emily Stanton Band will perform free of charge from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the River Run Lodge.
TUESDAY, Dec. 19—Warren Miller’s “Line of Descent” will show at 2:30 p.m. at the Sun Valley Opera House. $5.50.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20—“Sun Valley Serenade,” the iconic 1941 movie showing Sonja Henie, Milton Berle and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, will be show free of charge at 2:30 p.m. at the Sun Valley Opera House.
THURSDAY, Dec. 21: Sun Valley will celebrate its 81st birthday with High Tea at 1 and 3 p.m. at the Lodge Lobby. Prices are $55 for adults with champagne and $35 for adults without champagne. It’s $20 for children. For reservations, call 208-622-2097.
The 10th annual Classic Christmas Concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Sun Valley Opera House. It will feature John Mauldin, Courtney and Ward Loving, David Janeski, Aly Wepplo and Joe Fos and surprise guests. Admission is $25—free for children 2 and younger. Admission is $20 per person in groups of 10 or more. Tickets: sunvalley.ticketfly.com or at the Sun Valley Guest Information Center in the village.
FRIDAY, Dec. 22—Warren Miller’s “Line of Descent” will show at the Sun Valley Opera House at 2:30 p.m. $5.50.
High Mountain Heard will perform from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the River Run Lodge. Free.
Holiday Storytelling will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Sun Valley Lodge Sun Room. All children will receive a holiday treat bag.
The Holiday Vintage Sweater Contest and Party will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Duchin Lounge in the Sun Valley Lodge. Prizes for first, second and third place sweaters.
SATURDAY, Dec. 23—Brunch with Santa will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sun Valley Club at Sun Valley’s Trail Creek golf course. The buffet, with kid-friendly dishes and traditional favorites along with live music, costs $45 for adults, $20 for children. It’s free for those 2 and under. For reservations, call 208-622-2919.
High Tea will be held at 1 and 3 p.m. at the Lodge Lobby. Cost is $55 for adults with champagne, $35 for adults without champagne and $20 for children. For reservations, call 208-622-2097.
An Elf-for-a-Day Kids’ Gift Making event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Boiler Room, with kids encouraged to make something unique for those on their Christmas list.
“ELF” will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Sun Valley Opera House. $5.50.
SUNDAY, Dec. 24—Brunch with Santa will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sun Valley Club. For reservations, call 208-622-2919.
“The Polar Express” will be shown at the Sun valley Opera House at 2:30 p.m. $5.50.
DJN8 will provide the music from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Warm Springs Lodge. No cover charge.
Christmas Eve Skating in a Winter Wonderland Show, and Dollar torchlight parade and fireworks will start at 5:30 p.m. at Sun Valley’s outdoor ice rink. Gates open at 3 p.m. Free cookies and cocoa will be served.
SUNDAY, Dec. 31—Family Night Skiing and Party will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dollar Mountain. Cost is $35 for adults and $25 for those 12 and under. In addition to skiing, attendees can take part in face painting, decorating party hats for New Year’s Eve, a photo booth, bouncy twister and more. An early New Year’s Eve countdown and fireworks will take place at 9 p.m.