Vail kicks off the holidays the day after Thanksgiving with the Lionshead Tree Lighting on Friday, November 27, 2026 at 6 p.m. — a free village celebration with a figure-skating exhibition, live music and a visit from Santa.
Families gather at the tree by the Lionshead welcome arch, across from the welcome center, for the 6 p.m. lighting. Live music sets a festive mood, and "a jolly, bearded guest in red" makes an appearance.
Champion figure skaters perform a free 15-minute exhibition at the Arrabelle Ice Rink, opening a run of free holiday ice-skating shows in Vail that continues through early January.
The lighting is part of the Vail Après series presented by Discover Vail and the Town of Vail. It's right next to the main Lionshead bus stop, so the free Vail in-town bus is the easiest way to get there.
Highlights
- Lighting of the Lionshead holiday tree
- Free figure-skating exhibition at the Arrabelle Ice Rink
- Live music
- A visit from Santa
- Part of the Vail Après series
Schedule
Times are from the official event listing and are subject to change — confirm on the official calendar before you go.
Friday, November 27 TREE LIGHTING
| Evening | Live music in Lionshead Village |
| 6:00 p.m. | Tree lighting at the Lionshead welcome arch |
| Evening | Figure-skating exhibition at the Arrabelle Ice Rink & Santa visit |
Know Before You Go
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
- Where: Lionshead Village, at the tree by the welcome arch (next to the main bus stop)
- Admission: Free
- Take the free Vail in-town bus — village parking fills on holiday weekends
- Pair it with the Dobson Arena re-opening concert the next night
Explore more Summit County & Vail Valley events
From festivals and concerts to seasonal celebrations, there is always something happening across the mountains.