Kids activities in Beaver Creek
With many kids not returning to school until next week, the holiday spirit is still shining throughout the Vail Valley. Beaver Creek Extraordinaire presents Cheer, which is a celebration of the holiday season with a variety of family friendly activities in the village.
After the slopes close today, head to the plaza level and ice rink to enjoy Sounds of the Season, featuring live music by Por La Paz on the Fountain Stage. Based in Denver, this trio has traveled the globe and will bring world beats to Beaver Creek with two shows at 4:30 and 6 p.m.
On Saturday, fans of the movie “Frozen” will be treated to a special event that features princess dancing lessons with characters from the movie, Anna and Elsa. Following the dance lessons, the film will be shown on a huge screen next to the ice rink. Blankets and snacks will be provided. The event runs from 4-7 p.m. with the dance lessons beginning at 4:30 p.m. and the movie starting at 5:15 p.m.
Also on Saturday, Beaver Creek hosts the weekly FunFest, where kids can earn tokens to redeem prizes after running from one game tent to the next. Kids can also work off some energy in the bounce house, learn about dinosaurs that once roamed the area, see how they look as a caricature plus other activities.
The complimentary event begins at 4 p.m. and last call to exchange tokens for prizes is at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.beavercreek.com.
10th Mountain Legacy Parade
To honor Vail’s heritage, Vail Mountain and the Town of Vail will host the 10th Mountain Legacy Parade along with fireworks. Tonight at 6 p.m. guests are invited to watch skiers dressed in traditional 10th Mountain Division ski trooper uniforms as they weave down the hill in a torchlight ski down to the base of Gondola One.
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Following the torchlight ski down, a parade of military veterans, also in traditional uniforms, will march from Gondola One down Bridge Street, across the Covered Bridge and will finish at the 10th Mountain statue along Gore Creek.
From there, guests are welcomed to the newly renovated Colorado Snowsports Museum, which will stay open after the parade for guests to visit and learn about Colorado’s ski history through the new 10th Mountain Division exhibit, the most comprehensive of its kind in the world. There will also be a showing of the film “Climb to Glory.”
The 10th Mountain Division is the winter warfare unit created by the United States Army during World War II that trained just south of Vail at Camp Hail. Comprised of mountaineers and expert skiers, the soldiers of the 10th fought in the northern Italian Alps. After the war, these outdoor enthusiasts became involved with the ski industry, which was quickly growing in America.
Pete Seibert, a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, along with Earl Eaton, who worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Glenwood Springs, first climbed Vail Mountain during the winter of 1957 and looked down at the future Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls and the rest is history.
EpicMix Photographers will be available to take pictures of guests with the soldiers and hot chocolate and commemorative Legacy of Vail pins will be offered while they last. For more information, please visit http://www.vail.com.
Women’s Social Ski Tour
The Women’s Social Ski Tour has been a popular amenity at Beaver Creek for the past several seasons. This complimentary tour provides a casual environment that is led by women from the Beaver Creek Ski School Ambassador team. Ladies enjoy a fun, relaxing atmosphere while building skills and confidence for the intermediate to advanced skier and snowboarder.
The group meets at the base of the Centennial lift at 10 a.m. and heads up the hill around 10:15 a.m. This start time allows for morning ski school drop-offs for kids or exercise time. The tour wraps up at noon, so ladies can still enjoy lunch with their families or if they’ve made a few friends on the tour, they can go to lunch with them.
Although it is not a lesson, the ambassadors do offer tips on technique. Maybe it’s pole placement, getting your weight forward or how to navigate the terrain for the conditions that day.
The tour concludes at the base of Centennial and is offered Tuesdays through Fridays. For a full schedule visit http://www.beavercreek.com.
12th Night Christmas tree bonfire
A tradition in Eagle since 1953, the 12th Night Christmas tree bonfire will light up the night on Sunday at the Eagle Town Park. In medieval and Tudor England, the twelfth night after December 25 signified the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Epiphany, when the wise men made it to Bethlehem. The Eagle Lions Club will serve up hot chocolate while friends and neighbors gather around the fire starting at 5:30 p.m. Free ice skating will also be available.
Bring your undecorated Christmas trees to the south side of the Eagle Town Park before 6 p.m. All ornaments, tinsel and lights must be removed before you drop your tree off. Please make sure the tree is on the park lawn and not the road, spread your trees out along the south and west corner of the park and don’t pile them too high as it could create some difficulties for the firefighters.
The 65th annual 12th Night Christmas tree bonfire draws a crowd, so drop off your tree early and then bundle up if you live close enough and walk over as parking is limited around the park. If you have any questions, call (970) 328-9625 or email events@townofeagle.org.
Minturn will also host their annual Christmas tree bonfire today from 6-8 p.m.
The event will include hot cocoa and s’mores at Little Beach Park. For details visit http://www.minturn.org.
The bonfires are one way to get rid of your Christmas trees after you’ve enjoyed them, but check with your local trash removal company, property owners association or metro district to see if you have curbside pick up or need to bring the trees to a drop site where they will be turned into mulch. As with the bonfires, make sure that the tree is free from all decorations, lights, tinsel and anything else you put on the tree.
Post-holiday recycling event
You’ve decked the halls and wrapped all the gifts but with the holidays coming to a close, what do you do with all the bubble wrap and tree lights that don’t work anymore?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans send an additional 1 million tons of trash a week to our landfills over the holiday season. To help alleviate some of those items going to the landfill, Walking Mountains Science Center, Vail Honeywagon and the town of Avon are hosting the Post-Holiday Recycling Event this Saturday.
Residents of Eagle County are encouraged to take advantage of this easy and affordable option to dispose of unwanted recyclables. A wide variety of items will be accepted, including:
- Bulbs and batteries
- Christmas lights
- Electronics
- Paper shredding
- Styrofoam
- Textiles
Please note that fees will apply for electronics, bulbs, batteries and paper shredding. Electronic recyclables include electronic devices that are used for entertainment media such as movies, music, video games and their accessories. Computer monitors, CPUs, CD/DVD/VCR players, radios, printers, keyboards, televisions, stereos, speakers, game stations and other similar items will be accepted.
The event will take place at the old Avon Town Hall, located at 1 Lake Street, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. For questions about the event or for more information about recycling, please call 970-476-3511 or visit http://www.walkingmountains.org.