Vail, Colorado – Winter 2025 – Winter in Vail is shaping up to be festive, fashionable and full of fresh experiences. The destination continues to redefine the winter experience with more than 50 live music events, including headline performances and immersive pop-up concerts above 10,000 feet. These vibrant moments complement exciting new offerings on Vail Mountain. On and off the slopes, guests can enjoy expanded après ski options, signature dining, and endless turns all day. From high-energy DJ sets in the village to scenic turns at elevation, this season delivers a dynamic blend of sport, music, and mountain lifestyle.
Music & Events Stoke the Winter Spirit
New Free Outdoor Winter Concert Series
Vail Village will come alive with music and après vibes during Stoke Sessions, a free outdoor concert series at Checkpoint Charlie in the heart of Vail Village on Fridays—Nov. 14, 21, 28, and Dec. 5. Sponsored by Discover Vail, the series kicks off opening day with Blu DeTiger and continues with Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, The Runaway Grooms, and American Authors. Expect high-energy performances, local culinary favorites, and a limited-release Stoke Sessions IPA from Vail Brewing Company.
Winter Nights Heat Up in Vail with Chasing Rabbits and AM Radio’s Electric Lineup
Chasing Rabbits is set to energize the village this season with a lineup of high-profile artists performing throughout the winter. Expect vibrant nights featuring acts like Dillon Francis (Jan 9), Sidepiece (Jan 31), and Chris Lorenzo (Feb 6), among others. One standout collaboration is when Chasing Rabbits teams up with AM Radio for a dynamic experience. Last year’s free outdoor concert in Solaris Plaza drew crowds with performances by Surf Mesa, Justin Jay, and Emmitt Fenn. This year’s Solaris Plaza event is free to attend and will be followed by an afterparty inside Chasing Rabbits. The venue will also debut a “Meet the Maker” series spotlighting a variety of international artists including renowned photographer David Yarrow and sculptor Joel Amit. During these multi-sensory pop-up experiences, guests will view new works of art, taste curated cocktails and hear about the creative process from the artists themselves.
Sofi Tukker Headlines Vail Apres Series
This winter, Vail transforms into a high-altitude haven for music lovers. Discover Vail, Vail Mountain, AEG Presents, and the Vail Valley Foundation have teamed up to fill the mountains with music on Dec. 13, with GRAMMY-nominated music duo Sofi Tukker headlining Vail Apres at Ford Park.
Season of Special Events
Vail will once again offer a full lineup of winter celebrations, bringing energy to the village throughout the season. Highlights include the season-long Vail Après festivities, the Kris Kringle Market Dec. 11–14, the Taste of Vail Wine + Food Festival April 1–4, and the popular Après at the Amp at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, with this year’s musical lineup to be announced. The Vail Recreation District will also bring back its annual Ugly Sweater Fun Run on Dec. 14 and the Vail Mountain Uphill on Feb. 8, giving guests even more ways to celebrate winter in the mountains.
Fresh Flavors & Après Vibes
Zuma Vail to Open at The Sebastian – Vail
Zuma, the globally celebrated contemporary Japanese restaurant brand, will open in the heart of Vail Village this December at The Sebastian – Vail. Founded in 2002 in London by acclaimed chef Rainer Becker, Zuma presents informal and authentic–but not traditional cuisine prepared using the highest quality ingredients. Characterized by bold flavors and simple, exquisite presentation, Zuma is inspired by the many years Becker spent immersed in Tokyo’s food culture and is informed by his reverence for the discipline, passion, heritage and innovation that characterizes Japanese cuisine. With 25 locations worldwide, Zuma Vail represents the group’s first U.S. alpine destination–introducing the brand’s signature izakaya-style dining, world-class bar program, and dynamic après-ski energy to one of North America’s most iconic mountain destinations.
Trails End: New Après Spot in Lionshead
Trails End opens this winter in the Lions Square Lodge building, directly across from the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Formerly El Sabor, the space has been reimagined as a lively après destination featuring an electric menu of tacos, tapas, and burgers, plus a craft cocktail program and a spacious deck for soaking up the mountain views. Locals can join the mug club and enjoy après specials in a welcoming, community-first atmosphere.
Retail Therapy Elevated
Cowboy Hat Craze Hits Vail
Cowboy hat popularity is soaring, with Google Trends showing a 40% increase in searches since 2020. Western style is trending in Vail, and cowboy hats are leading the charge.
- Alpine Kind – Locally owned and operated, Alpine Kind’s Hat Bar invites guests to design a custom hat they’ll actually want to wear. During a private 30-minute session, visitors work one-on-one with an in-house stylist to choose from a curated selection of premium hats and personalize them with vintage ribbons, feathers, branding irons, charms, and more. Each session accommodates up to two people—perfect for couples, friends, or solo adventurers looking to take home a piece of Vail style. Walk-ins are welcome when available, though advance booking is recommended for weekends and holidays.
- Maufrais Pop-Up at Four Seasons – Born in Austin in 2019,Maufrais was founded to keep the spirit of the West alive through craftsmanship, creativity, and connection. Each hat is custom-fitted, hand-shaped, and finished with meaningful details like bespoke hat bands, silver pins, and scarves. Maufrais is dedicated to creating something unmistakably personally while honoring Western heritage so that all customers walk away with a modern heirloom that feels unmistakably theirs.
- Kemo Sabe Vail – This Western wear boutique located on Bridge Street in Vail Village is known for its custom Stetson hats, Lucchese boots, and heirloom-quality accessories, the store offers a curated selection of cowboy boots, hats, buckles, and fine jewelry. Guests can enjoy personalized fittings and even sip a drink at the in-store bar while shopping for authentic Western style
Capranea & Dahu Open Locations in Vail & Lionshead
This winter, alpine luxury gets a boost in Vail with the arrival of three new boutiques from Swiss brands Capranea and Dahu, under Progression Brands Group. The openings include a dedicated Dahu ski boot store and a combined Capranea & Dahu boutique in Lionshead Village, plus a flagship location on Bridge Street in Vail Village. Shoppers can explore Capranea’s high-performance skiwear and Dahu’s revolutionary ski boots, enjoy personalized fittings, and browse curated lifestyle products from premium partners like Hestra Gloves and Yniq Eyewear. These immersive spaces bring European design and craftsmanship to Colorado’s premier ski destination, blending adventure with modern luxury.
Stay in Style – Luxe Lodging News
Antlers at Vail Cooks Up Complimentary Extras with the Antlers Pantry
Antlers at Vail hotel’s famously home-away-from-home condominium experience just got cozier with a free-for-guests loaner library of small kitchen appliances from the Antlers Pantry. Think crockpots, Italian espresso makers, air fryers, a waffle maker, juicer, bread maker – and much more. The luxe extras for Antlers’ already beautifully appointed kitchens allow guests to kick back, celebrate or even entertain in style – and add to the hotel’s long list of complimentary winter goodies, including on-slope ski and snowboard storage, Thursday wine-and-cheese socials, ride service within Vail Village, and loaner snowshoes and sleds.
New Chef & Elevated Wellness at Gravity Haus Vail
Gravity Haus Vail elevates the mountain experience this winter with refreshed après, wellness, and recovery offerings designed for the modern adventurer. Guests can indulge in new seasonal dishes and inventive cocktails at Slope Room, then unwind post-ski with cutting-edge treatments in the Spa and Recovery Lounge, featuring contrast therapy, guided mobility, and Normatec recovery. Exclusive member events and performance-focused fitness classes round out a community-driven, adventure-meets-luxury stay at the base of Vail Mountain.
- New Slope Room Executive Chef Taylor Frankel wants guests to feel comfortable, cared for, and satisfied. The food is colorful, abundant, and approachable, with options for every dietary need. Whether guests eat gluten-free, dairy-free, or none of the above, there’s something for them—and they’ll never leave hungry.
- Glass Skin Facial Series: The new Ultraceuticals facial series is designed to deliver a radiant, refined complexion with a luminous “glass skin” glow.
- Spa Party Specials: Gather a group for a relaxing celebration! Enjoy beverages, light snacks, and specialty pricing for parties of 6 or more.
Four Seasons Vail’s Winter Wonderland
From Thanksgiving through January, Four Seasons Vail offers festive programming like Tavernetta’s Truffle & Barolo Wine Dinner (Dec. 11) and a Gingerbread House event (Dec. 20). New retail includes luxury jeweler Piranesi and The Outpost boutique.
New Luxury Rentals by InvitedHome
InvitedHome introduces two stunning properties for the 2025/26 season. Vail Aspen Haven is a new 5-bedroom retreat in West Vail featuring 3,500 square feet of modern mountain design, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a private hot tub among the aspens. In Vail Village, the fully renovated Ski Haus offers three bedrooms, sleek finishes, and a private balcony overlooking Gore Creek—perfect for an elegant alpine escape.
Snowday Superstitions Package Returns to Grand Hyatt Vail
Back for the second year due to popularity and with a new twist, the Grand Hyatt Vail Resort and Spa’s Snowday Superstition package is ideal for families hoping to get Hallmark-worthy winter weather during their visit. In addition to your accommodations while in Vail, this package provides matching winter-themed pajamas for the entire family from luxury PJ brand, Petite Plume. (As the stories go, if you wear your pajamas to bed inside-out you’ll be sure to see fresh snow in the morning!)
This year, a special turndown service is also included that expands upon the many snowday superstitions. Turndown includes:
- Ice cubes to flush down the toilet: Each ice cube represents a snowflake.
- A spoon for under the pillow: A silver spoon, in particular, is said to bring snow dreams to life.
- A Snowday Summoning Dance Lesson: Similar to a rain dance, this silly, impromptu dance with the resident snow meister will assist in summoning snow for the next day.
- A white crayon for the windowsill: Symbolizes the color of snow and the hope for cold weather.
- A magical in-room kid’s glamping tent: Another quirky tradition to summon the perfect powder – this tent will incur an additional cost and will be based on availability. Either $100 for standard tent or $150 for a deluxe tent.
Fly Non-Stop to Mountain Adventure
Three New Non-Stop Markets into Eagle County Regional Airport
Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) will kick off its winter season the week of Dec. 15, offering 16 nonstop destinations, including three new markets for travelers this year.
- American Airlines will begin daily service to Charlotte, NC, from Dec. 18 – Jan. 5 and again Feb. 12 – April 6.
- United Airlines adds Saturday service to Washington, D.C. (Dulles), operating from Dec. 20 through April 4, 2026.
- Delta Air Lines will introduce daily service to Minneapolis–St. Paul from Dec. 20 through Jan. 5, continuing with Saturday only flights through March 28. Delta also will offer Saturday service to New York (JFK) during that same Dec. 20– March 28 window.
In addition, Alaska Airlines returns for its second winter season at EGE, with flights to Seattle on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and to San Diego on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
About Vail
There’s no place like Vail for year-round recreation, outdoor pursuits, and cultural experiences in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Nestled at the foot of Vail Mountain just two hours west of Denver, Vail’s fresh air, rugged beauty, and charm await visitors. At the heart of Vail is the iconic Vail Village, whose Bavarian design and pedestrian-first approach ensure seamless connectivity between events, dining, nature, and culture. The villages serve as a dynamic stage for concerts, seasonal festivals, and cultural events, all unfolding naturally in its plazas and walkways. Two gondolas link Vail Village and Lionshead to the mountain, providing easy access to hiking, biking, and snowsports. Vail’s layout encourages effortless exploration, with everything within reach. By day, it is a launch point for adventure; by night, it transforms into a lively gathering place. Whether it’s summer or winter, Vail offers a unique and welcoming atmosphere that makes every moment memorable. Learn more about Vail at DiscoverVail.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram.
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Media Contacts: Kristin Yantis or Amanda McNally, Malen Yantis Public Relations, [email protected], (970) 949-7919