Magical Holiday Moments in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Events for the whole family, great vacation packages and more are a reason to ho-ho-ho

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (December 7, 2011) - A snowy mountain backdrop, lots of good cheer, and plenty of fun activities for all ages combine to create magical holiday moments in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colo.  The season for winter sports kicks off just in time, with Crested Butte Nordic Center opening Nov. 19 and Crested Butte Mountain Resort opening Nov. 23.

DECEMBER 2011

2                                  Gunnison Night of Lights, Main Street

3                                  Holiday Bazaar, Crested Butte Community School

3, 4                               Paint Your Own Pottery Holiday Event for Kids & Families, Trailhead Children's

Museum, Mt. Crested Butte

3 - 4                             Holiday Open Houses at Downtown Gunnison Merchants

10                                 Light Up Night & Holiday Parade, Elk Avenue, Crested Butte

10                                 Moonlight Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Mountain Resort

16,17,22,23, 26,30,31      "Santaland Diaries" presented by Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret

22                                 ArtWalk Evening, Crested Butte Galleries

23                                 Santa's Workshop Celebration for Kids and Families at the Trailhead Children's

Museum, Trailhead Children's Museum

23                                 Pre-Christmas Yurt Dinner, Crested Butte Nordic Center

24                                 Torchlight Parade & Fireworks, Crested Butte Mountain Resort

28, 29                           "A Holiday Cabaret with Joan Hovarth" presented by Crested Butte Mountain

Theatre, Mallardi Cabaret

31                                 ArtWalk Evening, Crested Butte Galleries

31                                 New Year's Yurt Dinner Party, Crested Butte Nordic Center

31                                 New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks, Crested Butte Mountain Resort

JANUARY 2012

1                                  New Year's Brunch at the Yurt, Crested Butte Nordic Center

December Holidays Happenings

Gunnison will formally usher in the Christmas season with Night of Lights held downtown on Friday, Dec. 2, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  Expect many bright moments with competitions for best lighted displays, bonfires for roasting marshmallows and warming up along the way, booths for hot cocoa and other free treats, and local entertainment groups at various downtown venues. Santa will arrive at 6:30 p.m., escort the crowd to the community tree lighting and greet children at the Elk's Lodge. 

Holiday Open Houses will be held Dec. 3 and 4 at downtown Gunnison merchants, complete with shopping specials and refreshments from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon - 4 p.m. on Sunday.  For more information about Night of Lights and the open houses, contact the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce at (800) 274-7580.

Also find great gifts at the annual Crested Butte Community School Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The bazaar features handcrafted items for everyone on your shopping list as well as tasty baked goods.  For information, call Lisa Blunck at (970) 349-6820.

Make your own creations on Dec. 3 and 4, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the Paint Your Own Pottery Holiday Event for Kids and Families and Trailhead Children's Museum at the base of the ski area.  Paint holiday ornaments, decorations and gifts during these two exciting days in December.  Guests pay per piece, with glazes and firing included. Pottery will be available for pick-up or can be shipped in time for the holidays.  For information, call (970) 349-7160 or visit www.trailheadkids.org.

Light Up Night on Crested Butte's historic Elk Avenue is all about lighting the community Christmas tree, hearing favorite holiday tunes performed by Tyler Hansen and the Union Congregational Church hand bell choir, and enjoying visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus and Crested Butte Mountain Resort's Bubba and Betty Bear. The festivities are scheduled for Dec. 10, 5 - 6 p.m., and will take place between Second and Third Streets.  A kids' after party with make-your-own cookies and ornaments and viewing of holiday movies will follow at West End Public House.  For information, call the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce at (970) 349-6438 or visit www.cbchamber.com.    

Enjoy moonlit trails during Crested Butte Mountain Resort's (CBMR) Moonlight Snowshoe Tour on Dec. 10. Catch a ride from a snowcat to the top of Red Lady Express chairlift and traverse trails bathed in the moonshine to the base area on this magical outing that runs from 7 - 9 p.m. and costs $75. For reservations, contact (800) 544-8448 or visit http://www.skicb.com/.

Also during December, CBMR will hold its annual gingerbread house contest with the candy-loaded creations on display from Dec. 18 - 30 at Elevation Hotel & Spa. Nationally recognized ice sculptors will be back from Dec. 14 - 21 to decorate Mountaineer Square (entrance to the base area) and other locations around the mountain with beautifully crafted ice creations, many illuminated for evening viewing. Local carolers also add to the festive scene by singing Christmas tunes at the base area throughout the season.

Crested Butte Mountain Theatre's annual holiday production will be "Santaland Diaries" by David Sedaris, running Dec. 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 30 and 31 at Mallardi Cabaret Theatre.  This one-man show is based on the outlandish and true chronicles of Sedaris' experiences as Crumpet the Elf in Macy's SantaLand display.  Tickets cost $15.

CBMT also will be offering a special treat this season: "A Holiday Cabaret with Jan Hovarth" on Dec. 28 and 29.  Hovarth is one of New York's most glamorous Broadway stars; she played leading roles in "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats" and has gained renown as a concert soloist. 

She will unite with some of Crested Butte's local talent, making this a truly unique cabaret evening for the whole family.  To purchase tickets for CBMT productions, call (970) 349-0366 or visit www.cbmountaintheatre.org.

Visit the wide array of art galleries in downtown Crested Butte any day of the week, but the art scene really comes alive on Dec. 22 during ArtWalk Evening, a gallery walk held from 5 - 8 p.m.  Light refreshments, music and on-site artists are part of the fun.  Visit http://www.awearts.org/.  

Kick off the Christmas weekend on Dec. 23 at the Santa's Workshop Celebration for Kids and Families at the Trailhead Children's Museum from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.  There's lots to "ho, ho, ho" about with holiday crafts, science projects, storytelling, caroling, snacks and photos with Santa.  The cost is $5 per person. For information, call (970) 349-7160 or visit www.trailheadkids.org.

As the countdown to Santa's arrival draws near, embark on an easy snowshoe or cross-county ski to the Crested Butte Nordic Center's Magic Meadows Yurt and feast on gourmet foods prepared by local chefs for a Pre-Christmas Yurt Dinner on Dec. 23.  Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. and costs $65 for adults and $30 for children (under age 12), including a trail pass and equipment rental (alcohol and gratuity are extra). For reservations and information, call (970) 349-1707 or visit http://www.cbnordic.org/.  

On Christmas Eve, it's exquisite to watch skiers and boarders winding down the slopes with lights in hand during the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, with fireworks further illuminating the snow-covered wonderland.  Visit http://www.skicb.com/.

New Year's Magic

Greet 2012 in style by visiting the wide array of art galleries in downtown Crested Butte during a special New Year's Eve ArtWalk Evening from 5 - 8 p.m.  Light refreshments, music and on-site artists are part of the fun.  Visit http://www.awearts.org/.  

The New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks on the slopes of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in early evening is a great way to celebrate for all ages.  For information, visit http://www.skicb.com/.

Join the Crested Butte Nordic Center for its New Year's Yurt Dinner Party by skiing or snowshoeing to the fun at Magic Meadows that begins at 7 p.m. in order to celebrate a "New York" New Year's.  Enjoy dinner prepared by personal chef Tim Egelhoff, drinks and live music for a cost of $85 per person.  The official New Year's Eve wave will begin at 10:30 p.m. and include two drinks, a New Year's toast and live music, all for $25. 

Or enjoy New Year's Brunch at the Yurt with tasty selections prepared by personal chef Tim Egelhoff from 11a.m. to noon.  The cost is $25 for adults and $10 for kids (under 12).  Ski passes and rentals are extra.  For brunch and dinner reservations, call (970) 349-1707 and visit http://www.cbnordic.org/.

Holiday Vacation Packages

The Grandest Christmas package features four nights of lodging at the Grand Lodge in Mt. Crested Butte, three days of skiing or riding, and Adventure Park access for tubing, ice skating and bungee trampolines at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.  The $1,199 package is for two adults and two children, ages 17 or younger, and is good for travel from Dec. 17 to Dec. 28, 2011.  This deal must be booked by Dec. 16, and price is subject to availability and prior to all fees, taxes and optional travel protection.  Call Crested Butte Vacations at (800) 600-2803.

Every Second Night is Half Off at Elevation Hotel & Spa located slopeside at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Book one night, get the next at half off (price is subject to availability).  This offer is good for travel from Dec. 16, 2011 - Jan. 28, 2012 and cannot be combined with any other offer.  Valid only on new reservations. For more information visit www.skicb.com/specials or call Crested Butte Vacations at (800) 600-2803.

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages

To find out more, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association's toll-free line, (800) 814-8893, or visit http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/.  Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on www.twitter.com/gcbta.  The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United Airlines and during the winter season by American Airlines and Continental Airlines.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado.  Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.  Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities.  In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding.  Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options - from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels. 

Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, which offers bachelor's and master's degrees in liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional fields.  Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities. 

Recognized as the "Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in 2008, Crested Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.  Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area's conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails. 

Marble is located in the Upper Crystal River Valley along the Elk Mountains and is the gateway to nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country. Marble has seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is the location of the Yule Marble Quarry.

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country's newest national parks.  Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

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Photo courtesy of Nathan Bilow and Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

For a Word version of this press release, click on the link below. 

Contact:                       Beth Buehler, Public Relations Director                                    

                                    Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association               

                                    (970) 349-1168 or bethbuehler@qwestoffice.net