STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Sun Valley’s Winter Wonderland Festival will feature a new Holiday Concert this year, and it will be capped with a New Year’s Eve Snow Ball Party at River Run Lodge.
The Holiday Concert on Dec. 21 and 22 at the Sun Valley Opera House is a re-imagining of the first Christmas in Sun Valley through music and storytelling set to holiday classics and original musical compositions by Colin Martin.
And the Snow Ball Party, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, will offer a touch of glam to the Sun Valley holiday season.
The concerts and the party take their places among a long list of activities beginning today that are designed to create the perfect holiday memories.
The schedule:
FRIDAY, DEC. 8
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dollar Mountain opens with Quarter Dollar lift running.
Roundhouse Restaurant opens for lunch service. Reservations can be made at OpenTable.com.
6:30 p.m. Sun Valley Resort will offer a free screening of “Ups and Downs,” at the Sun Valley Opera House. Filmmaker and skier Drew Peterson will discuss his mental health struggles following a near-death accident with ski journalist Paddy O’Connell after the screening. The film looks at the mountains and valleys along Peterson’s path to mental health as he navigated PTSD, bipolar disorder, brain injury, rehabilitation and suicidal thoughts. There’ll be pizza, soda, snacks and a raffle
SATURDAY, DEC. 9
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dollar Mountain will celebrate its opening with a scavenger hunt and appearance from Sunny the Bear. Pick Scavenger hunt cards up from Guest Services team members in yellow jackets.
Noon-4 p.m. Winter Wonderland kicks off at Sun Valley Village between noon and 4 p.m. There’ll be a Santa Shop & Stroll and cooking decorating ($12.50 for a giant-sized cookie with all the fixings), as well as pictures with Santa in The Boiler Room.
Colla Voce will stroll and sing while shoppers can take part in the annual Shop for a Cause event, with a percentage of purchases at The Brass Ranch, Pete Lane’s, Signatures and the Lodge Gift Shop supporting local nonprofits.
Noon-6 p.m. A Holiday Glassybaby Trunk Show will be held in the Lodge Gift Shop with a special etched Sun Valley Glassybaby and more.
The Community Gingerbread Contest kicks off at The Boiler Room and continues through Dec. 31
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Alexa Sluder
7 p.m. A Comedy Show featuring Keith Barany, who has shared the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black and others, will be held at the Sun Valley Opera House.
SUNDAY, Dec. 10
Shop for a Cause continues in the Sun Valley Village, along with Glassybaby Trunk show at Lodge Gift Shop.
THURSDAY, Dec. 14
4-6 p.m. Santa will pose for pictures at the Brass Ranch at River Run Plaza.
FRIDAY, Dec. 15
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live music at River Run Lodge featuring Buddy Devore & The Faded Cowboys
6:30 p.m. Holiday movie shown at Sun Valley Opera House
SATURDAY, Dec. 16
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Open Air Holiday Market will feature European-style vendors selling holiday wreaths, arts and crafts and foodstuffs around the Duck Pond Lawn outside the Sun Valley Inn with stroll-along music provided by Colla Voce. The Chocolate Moose’s Mary Jones will have an assortment of gingerbread and other edibles, and Hailey jeweler Lisa Horton will have new jewelry made out of turquoise and leather.
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring High Pine Whiskey Yell
2-6 p.m. Spa Retail Sip n’ Shop at The Spa at Sun Valley will feature light snacks and beverages along with new items from lululemon, Beyond Yoga, Saxx, Nagedi and more.
4 p.m. Live Ice Carving Demonstration near Village Station.
5:30 p.m. Tree Lighting outside Sun Valley Inn kicks off with a caroling performance by the Faculty Lounge and ends with the tree lighting at 6 and a visit from Santa. Complimentary cookies and cocoa will be served.
6:30 p.m. Holiday movie at Sun Valley Opera House
SUNDAY, Dec. 17
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Open air Holiday Market continues.
MONDAY, Dec. 18
3:30 p.m. Storytellers from The Community Library will present a Holiday Children’s Storytelling in the Sun Room of the Sun Valley Lodge. Attendees will receive a holiday treat bag.
5 p.m. Free screening of “Sun Valley Serenade,” which put Sun Valley Resort on the map for countless Americans, will be at the Sun Valley Opera House. The madcap musical adventure on the ski slopes and ice rink of Sun Valley features Sona Henie, John Payne and Milton Berle and music by the Glenn Miller Orchestra featuring such hits as “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and “It Happened in Sun Valley.”
7 p.m. Warren Miller movie “All Time,” which focuses on 74 years of Warren Miller movies, screens at the Sun Valley Opera House
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20
3:30 p.m. Storytellers from The Community Library will present a Holiday Children’s Storytelling in the Sun Room of the Sun alley Lodge. Attendees will receive a holiday treat bag.
THURSDAY, Dec. 21
Sun Valleys 87th birthday and Winter solstice
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Mark Mueller
7 p.m. Free outdoor screening of “Sun Valley Serenade” at Lodge Pool
7 p.m. “A Sun Valley Story” Holiday Concert at Sun Valley Opera House. The concert is the re-imagining of the first Christmas in Sun Valley through music and storytelling set to holiday classics and original musical compositions by Colin Martin, accompanied by Brooks Hartell, Brad Hershey, Jason Vontver and Katie Buxton. Will also feature special performances by the Wood River Jewish community and Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church. Call 208-622-2135 for tickets.
FRIDAY, Dec. 22
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Kevin Ware
7 p.m. “A Sun Valley Story” Holiday Concert at Sun Valley Opera House
SATURDAY, Dec. 23
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Brunch with Santa at Sun Valley Clubhouse. Brunch includes Eggs Florentine Benedict, Brioche French Toast, Prime Rib, Pacific King Salmon, Swiss Gruyere Mornay Orecchiette and more. Tickets are $89 for adults and $39 for children, available at 208-622-2919.
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Adam Williams Band
6:30 p.m. Outdoor Kids Movie at Lodge Pool
SUNDAY, Dec. 24
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Brunch with Santa at Sun Valley Clubhouse
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Music at River Run Lodge featuring Colin Martin
5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Ice Show, Torchlight Parade and Fireworks at Lodge Terrace and Dollar Mountain. Complimentary cookies and cocoa will be served on the lodge terrace.
MONDAY, Dec. 25
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Katie Buxton
TUESDAY, Dec. 26
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Jon Divello
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring The Pisten Bullys
THURSDAY, Dec. 28
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring the Kim Stocking Band
7 p.m. Free screening of “Sun Valley Serenade” outside at the Lodge Pool.
FRIDAY, Dec. 29
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Secuestrado
SATURDAY, Dec. 30
2-5 p.m. Apres Ski Live Music at River Run Lodge featuring Jon Divello
7:30 p.m. Stand-up Comedy Show featuring Don Friesen, two-time winner of the San Francisco International Comedy Competition, at the Sun Valley Opera House.
SUNDAY, Dec. 31
6-9 p.m. New Year’s Eve night skiing at Dollar Mountain, featuring groovy tunes and fireworks at 9. Tickets are $55 for adults and $40 for kids, available at 208-622-2135.
9 p.m.-1 a.m. New Year’s Eve Snow Ball Party at River Run Lodge. Guests are invited to don the glam for complimentary champagne from 9 to 10 p.m. and delicious bites and a live D and photobooth. Tickets are $125, available at 208-622-2135.
All Day. Last day to view and vote on gingerbread houses in the Community Gingerbread Contest at the Boiler Room.