Fueling your family's holiday spirit

By L.S. Burns

Summit County is the perfect place to reign in the holiday spirit.With torchlight parades, tree lighting ceremonies and strolling carolers, each of our mountain towns offers events planned to help locals and visitors alike celebrate the season.

On Dec. 1, Breckenridge will officially light up for the season. Hot cocoa, Christmas carols and visits from Santa will take place during the lighting of the town tree at Blue River Plaza. Call (970) 453-5579. Do the holidays put you in a creative spirit? Consider putting it to good use at the Arts District Holiday Party in Breckenridge. The Dec. 12 event lets you create ornaments while enjoying refreshments with the whole family. The free event runs from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. at the Breckenridge Theatre. Call (970) 453-3364.

The night of Dec. 4 starts the holiday of Hanukkah. The Synagogue of the Summit is hosting a pot-luck shabbat dinner and Hanukkah party on Friday night, Dec. 7. All are welcome, contact www.synagogueofthesummit.org, or call (970) 668-0670.

On Dec. 6 Dillon will hold their annual holiday lighting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Village Place in downtown. Santa, Mrs. Claus and children of all ages will switch on the town holiday lights. Festivities include meeting Santa, children’s craft area hosted by Mrs. Claus, holiday carols and music. Hot apple cider and hot chocolate, cookies and hot dogs provided compliments of Dillon merchants and Pug Ryan’s restaurant. For more information call (970) 468-2403.

From Dec. 15 – 25, Copper will be holding their High Alpine Holidays. The two-week event will feature carolers and Santa himself, who will be available for pictures as well as for some turns on the hill. Copper also hosts En Fuego from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 15, 22 and 24. Activities include torchlight parades, street entertainers, bonfires, fire performers and a fireworks finale. A torchlight parade will round out Copper’s festivities on Christmas Eve. For more information call (888) 841-2481 or go to www.coppercolorado.com.

Have a sweet tooth? Check out Keystone’s Chocolateville from Dec. 14 through Jan. 2. Chef Ned Archibald sculpts 2,500 pounds of chocolate into a miniature alpine village, complete with a chocolate mountain, a working chocolate gondola and a 6-foot white chocolate Christmas tree with hand-blown sugar ornaments. The lobby of the Keystone Lodge and Spa will be home to this years creation. Call (800) 354-4386 or visit www.keystone.snow.com.

Bring the kids down to Frisco Historic Park for a photo with Santa and old fashioned carolers, on Dec. 8 and 15. The festivities run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on those two Saturday’s and children of all ages will have a chance to meet and be photographed with the jolly man from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call (970) 668-5276 or go to www.townoffrisco.com.

Silverthorne will host their Saturday with Santa event on Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event is held at the Silverthorne Pavilion. Santa Claus will be on hand for photos and family activities will be available for a nominal fee, with all proceeds benefiting the Summit County Preschool. Call (970) 262-7300 or check out www.silverthorne.org for more information.

There are many churches throughout Summit County that will be offering both Christmas Eve and Christmas day services. A list of area churches, and their phone numbers are located under the “useful phone numbers” section of this publication.