There is no better place for a white Christmas than Montana's Big Sky Country. Tucked high in the Madison Range between Bozeman and Yellowstone, Big Sky turns on every bit of its charm for the holidays: world-class skiing, bucket-list alpine adventures off the slopes, and small-town traditions that locals plan their whole December around.
The 2026/2027 season opens Wednesday, November 25, 2026, the day before Thanksgiving. Here is your holiday planning guide, covering opening day through New Year's Day. For events running January through April, see our full Big Sky Winter Events Calendar.
A note on dates: Big Sky Resort publishes much of its holiday programming closer to the season. Confirmed 2026 dates appear below. Where an event runs every year but the date is not yet announced, we have noted the typical timing and linked to the official source so you can check as your trip approaches.
Before You Book: The One Date That Matters Most
If you hold an Ikon Base Pass or Ikon Session Pass, note that Big Sky's holiday blackout for 2026/2027 runs December 26 through 30, 2026. That is the entire week between Christmas and New Year's. The full Ikon Pass has 7 days with no blackouts and is unaffected.
If your trip lands inside that window and you are on a Base or Session pass, budget for separate lift tickets. Buy early for the lowest price, and note that the Easy Change policy allows a full refund up to 48 hours before your start date.
Alpine Activities and Experiences
When you are not skiing the biggest terrain in America, Big Sky offers a deep bench of experiences you cannot get anywhere else. Book these before you arrive. Over the holidays the good ones sell out weeks ahead, and the sleigh ride dinners and yurt evenings often fill by Thanksgiving.
- Nordic skiing at the Big Sky Nordic Center and Lone Mountain Ranch
- Headlamp night skiing on Andesite Mountain
- The Enchanted Forest on Andesite, reached by the Ramcharger 8
- Winter horseback riding with a wrangler
- Backcountry dogsledding excursions
- Winter fly fishing on the Gallatin River
- Guided snowshoe tours
- Snowmobile rentals and tours
- Sleigh ride dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch, (406) 995-4644
- Montana Dinner Yurt on Lone Mountain, (406) 995-3880
- Luxury slopeside day spas
- Soak in natural hot springs
New for the Holidays: Kircliff
When: All season
Where: Summit of Lone Peak, 11,166 feet
Kircliff is a two-story glass observation deck at the summit of Lone Peak, reached by taking the Explorer Gondola to the Lone Peak Tram. Views across three states and two national parks, and a glass floor you can look straight through.
Why it matters for a holiday trip: the summit is now reachable with no skis and no hiking, so grandparents, toddlers and non-skiing family members get the best view of the trip. Kircliff and the tram are included with every lift ticket, and non-skiers can buy a Kircliff Winter Scenic Ticket for all-day pedestrian access. Children 6 and under ride for $1. Ikon and Mountain Collective passholders need to enable Tram Autocharge instead.
Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
Phone: (406) 995-6345
Website: warrenmillerpac.org | Contact WMPAC
WMPAC opened in March 2013 through a collaboration between the Big Sky community, Friends of Big Sky Education, and the Big Sky School District. With only 280 seats, it delivers world-class acts and local performances in a genuinely intimate room. The holiday lineup goes on sale early and sells out to locals, so check the calendar as soon as you have dates.
Big Sky Holiday Season Calendar 2026
December to Remember
When: Mid-December 2026 through January 1, 2027 (exact dates TBA)
Where: Big Sky Resort
The resort's umbrella program for the holidays, running festive events and family activities right through New Year's Day. Explore the festivities.
Enchanted Forest
When: Typically opens mid-December and runs through late March (2026/2027 dates TBA)
Where: Andesite Mountain
The season opens with a lighting ceremony, but it runs for months afterward, so missing opening night is not a crisis. Ride the Ramcharger 8 up and wander a forest strung with lights. A guaranteed hit with young kids and a genuinely lovely evening for everyone else. Get tickets.
Christmas Stroll
When: Typically the second weekend of December (2026 dates TBA)
Where: Big Sky Town Center, Nordic Center and Meadow Village
The unofficial start of the holiday season in Big Sky and one of the town's longest-running traditions. A full weekend of family-friendly events across Town Center and Meadow Village. Full schedule and details.
The Nutcracker
When: Typically mid-December (2026 date TBA)
Where: Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
The classic, performed by the renowned Montana Ballet Company in Big Sky's own 280-seat theater. Tickets through WMPAC or see the Arts Council calendar.
Avalanche Dog Demo
When: Weekly through the season, typically starting mid-December (2026/2027 schedule TBA)
Where: Explorer Gondola mid-station
Meet Big Sky Resort's avalanche dogs, learn how they are trained, and see how they work with ski patrol. Free, short, and reliably the favorite memory of anyone under ten. Details.
Reindeer Visits
When: December 2026 (dates TBA)
Where: Mountain Village Plaza
Santa's furry helpers stop by Big Sky each December before heading back to the North Pole. Bring a camera. Details.
Letters to Santa
When: The days before Christmas 2026 (dates and times TBA)
Where: Kircliff
Ride to the summit of Lone Mountain and post your letters in Santa's mailbox at 11,166 feet. Hard to beat for pure novelty, and it doubles as an excuse to get the whole family up to Kircliff. Details.
Pictures with Santa Claus
When: December 23 and 24, 2026 (times TBA)
Where: Big Sky Resort. Location varies by day between the Mountain Village Plaza and the Explorer Gondola mid-station, so check the resort's event listing before you go.
The annual photo with Santa against a snowy mountain backdrop. Bring the wishlist. Confirm this year's location and times.
Cookie Decorating Classes
When: December 2026 (dates TBA)
Where: Cheyenne Room, Huntley Lodge
An all-ages festive cookie decorating class and an excellent storm-day backup plan. Registration required. Details.
Holiday Trivia
When: December 2026 (dates TBA)
Test your festive knowledge over dinner and drinks. Trivia nights run at venues around Big Sky through the holidays, including The Waypoint in Town Center and at the resort. Check both calendars for this year's schedule.
Christmas Eve Dinner
When: Thursday, December 24, 2026 (times TBA)
Where: Huntley Dining Room
A festive holiday dinner in the historic Huntley Lodge. Reservations required, and this is one of the first things in Big Sky to sell out. Watch for booking to open and reserve immediately rather than hoping for a table on the day. Details and booking.
Christmas Eve Religious Services
When: Thursday, December 24, 2026 (times TBA)
Where: Talus Room, Summit Hotel
Catholic and non-denominational Christmas Eve services at the resort. More about the Summit Hotel.
Fireworks and Torchlight Parade
When: Thursday, December 24, 2026 (time TBA)
Where: Visible from Mountain Village
A river of torchlight skiing down Andesite followed by the traditional Christmas Eve fireworks show. The most photographed night of the Big Sky year. Get outside early and claim a spot. Details.
Skiing with Santa
When: December 24 and 25, 2026
Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves ski the mountain and work the base areas on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Details.
Christmas Celebrations
When: December 24 and 25, 2026
Where: Big Sky Resort
Fireworks, visits with Santa, a celebratory feast and more across both days. Christmas events.
New Year's Eve at Big Sky Resort
When: Thursday, December 31, 2026
Where: Big Sky Resort
Gourmet dining, live music, family-friendly activities and fireworks to close out 2026. Local's tip: fireworks typically go off around 9 PM, which is early enough for kids to make it. Come out well before and grab a viewing spot. New Year's events.
New Year's Eve Party at Montana Jack
When: Thursday, December 31, 2026
Where: Montana Jack
Note: 21+, tickets required
Music, dancing and a proper send-off to the year. Details.
Beyond the Holidays
Staying past New Year's, or planning a February or March trip instead? The Best in the West Showdown skijoring competition returns in February 2027 at a brand-new Town Center course on Aspen Leaf Drive after pausing its 2026 edition. See our full Big Sky Winter Events Calendar for the January through April lineup, including Winter Pride Week, Shedhorn Skimo, the IFSA freeride competitions and the Spring Series concerts at The Bowl.
Holiday Planning Checklist
- Book lodging first. Christmas and New Year are the two most sold-out weeks of the Big Sky year.
- Check your pass blackout dates against your travel week.
- Reserve childcare at the Lone Peak Playhouse, (406) 993-2220 for Mountain Village or (406) 993-6060 for Madison Base. Reservations and full payment are required in advance.
- Book sleigh rides, the dinner yurt and ski school, which sell out earliest.
- Make dinner reservations for every night you want a table.
- Schedule gear delivery through Ski Butlers at 15% off for our guests.
- Arrange ground transportation from Bozeman. Uber and Lyft do not operate here.
For the full breakdown, read our 10 tips for holiday travel to Big Sky.
Celebrate the Holidays with Big Sky Vacation Rentals
Take the hassle out of the holidays. With BSVR you get your Montana home for the holidays plus guest services covering airport transportation, ski shipping, grocery delivery and private chefs, which is often the best call for a big family Christmas dinner.
Book near Mountain Village for the torchlight parade and resort programming, or near Town Center in Meadow Village for the Christmas Stroll and the free ice rink. See multi-family homes for extended-family gatherings, or our Platinum Properties for the full-luxury version.
Browse all Big Sky vacation rentals, check current specials, or call our team at (888) 915-2787 to plan your holidays in Big Sky. We live here, we play here, we know Big Sky.
Events are subject to change, cancellation and weather. Dates marked TBA had not been published at the time of writing. Always confirm with the event organizer before building travel plans around a specific date.