Mountain Village is being transformed once again into the North Pole for this year’s Holiday Prelude celebration on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. This year promises a great kick-off to the holiday season with train rides, sitting with Santa, ice skating and children’s holiday surprises around every corner.

This year promises a great kick-off to the holiday season with photos with Santa, ice skating and children’s holiday surprises around every corner. Holiday Prelude is a collaborative effort between Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association, Town of Mountain Village, Telluride Ski & Golf Company, the Madeline Hotel and Residences and local merchants to transform Mountain Village into a regional destination for holiday fun and activities.

For both Saturday and Sunday, children of all ages will delight in the decorations and lights galore as Santa’s elves send them up the Polar Express gondola to sit with Santa in Heritage Plaza from 12 to 4 p.m. Children and adults can expect many surprises on the Train Ride throughout the twinkling Mountain Village with an adventurous scavenger hunt. Kids young and old can perfect their ice-skating skills with free Ice Skating available from noon to 4 p.m. Also, don’t forget to visit the Telluride Photo Booth located at the Telluride Distillery for lots of fun photo ops delivered in print and digital strips!

Saturday’s events will feature a small group of carolers from the Telluride Choral Society roaming the Village Center and the annual holiday performance by the Telluride Figure Skating Club. The show is set to begin at 4:15 p.m. The day will culminate with a Tree Lighting Ceremony with Santa and carolers in Heritage Plaza at 6 p.m. Following the tree lighting, head back to the ice-skating rink for the “coolest” Ice Skating Party ever – all set to your favorite holiday tunes.

New in Mountain Village this year is a very festive and fun light installation with larger than life sized light displays and epic tree lights thoughtfully placed all throughout the Mountain Village Core. Stay into the evening to experience the lights twinkling at their brightest, perfect for family photos and selfies!

For those who need to get some last-minute Christmas shopping done, Mountain Village merchants are extending discounts and specials to customers until 7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Shoppers will receive some of the best discounts of the year, along with food and drink specials and more.

Check out the full schedule: