STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Mother Nature has already done her part to turn the Sun Valley area into a Winter Wonderland.
Now the elves at Sun Valley Resort are primed to do their part in turning Sun Valley Village into a magical place for the holidays.
The resort’s month of Winter Wonderland celebrations kicks off with the annual Fashion Kick-Off Party at the Brass Ranch from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.
The following day—Saturday, Dec. 8--Sun Valley Resort hosts its Party in the Village from 1 to 4 p.m
Santa will climb into his throne letting youngsters confide their innermost wishes. The village train will rumble through the village collecting chubby cheeked youngsters as it rolls.
There’ll be holiday music culled from groups like Colla Voce, roast chestnuts and other seasonal foods.
And kids will get a chance to decorate gingerbread cookies. For $7 kids can get a big gingerbread man to decorate and all the decorating materials they want from M&Ms to sprinkles.
Warren Miller’s Face of Winter will be shown at 2 p.m. in the Sun Valley Opera House. There is a $5.50 admission. The movie will be repeated on Friday, Dec. 14.
And adults and children alike can participate in the annual Sun Valley scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt involves window shopping as detectives try to spot Sun Valley’s mascot—Sunny the Bear—doing an activity in each of the stores in Sun Valley Village.
Those who successfully match Sunny to the store on the scavenger hunt will win a Christmas ornament from the Sun Valley Guest Center in the Sun Valley Village.
Sun Valley’s Winter Wonderland Festival just starts the ball rolling.
On Saturday, Dec. 15, and Sunday, Dec. 16, the Open-Air Holiday Market returns to the Sun Valley Village Inn Lawn from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the third year in a row. Vendors will offer everything from Sun Valley T’s and towels to traditional wreaths and nutcrackers to roasted nuts, spiced cider and Linzer cookies.
“The Open-Air Market has actually become one of my favorite parts of the holiday season,” said Mike Fitzpatrick, director of marketing for Sun Valley Resort. “It’s nice to see all the tents on the lawn, and they have some interesting items for sale. It’s just like a European-style market.”
Duck in out of the cold for the holiday classic “Home Alone” at 2 p.m. at the Sun Valley Opera House on that Saturday.
You’ll be out in time for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in the front of the Sun Valley Inn.
The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, when the Sun Valley Carolers ring in the holidays with hand bells and Christmas carols.
There’ll be ice carving demonstrations, free cookies and hot cocoa. And the tree lighting will take place at 6—right about the time Santa rolls up on either a golf cart or pony-pulled sleigh.
Another holiday classic, “Elf,” will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Sun Valley Opera House. And, yes, you knew it had to happen—“Sun Valley Serenade,” the 1941 movie that put Sun Valley Resort on the map for many, will be shown at 2 p.m.
Locals doubled for ice skater Sonja Henie as she hurtled down the slopes of Bald Mountain in the madcap musical adventure featuring Milton Berle. And the Glenn Miller Orchestra provided the music for the movie, including such hits as “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and “It Happened in Sun Valley.”
Here are additional holiday happenings to look forward to:
The free event starts at 5 p.m. with free cookies, cocoa, cider and coffee served on the terrace of the Sun Valley Lodge.
This year’s Skating in a Winter Wonderland Ice Show will feature performances by pairs skaters Frank Sweiding and Anita Hartshorn, Ashley Clarke and other professional skaters. The Sun Valley Figure Skating Club will trot out cute little youngster skating to holiday music. And the Sun Valley Carolers will serve up a few a cappella numbers, even as Santa Claus makes yet another appearance.
The event will be capped by the traditional torchlight parade on Dollar Mountain as fireworks burst overhead.