10 Best Things to do in Big White Over the Holiday Season
Here are our top picks for events that are happening over the next few weeks. We can’t wait to see you there.
1. Santa Free Ski Day
When: 21st December, 8-10am
Cost: Free
Got a Santa suit or a Mrs Claus outfit? It’s time to break it out for your chance to win a free lift ticket for the day! The first 30 people to arrive at the VCM on the 21st of December dressed in full Santa gear will get to ride the lifts for free all day.
If dressing up isn’t really your thing, make sure you still gather the kids around the Hummingbird run or the Ridge Rocket lift to watch everyone coming down the run, all dressed up!
2. Breakfast with Santa
When: 23rd December, 8am – 10am
Cost: $12 (order breakfast off the menu at Loose Moose Lounge)
Santa has to fuel up for his big day of delivering presents to kids around the world – and what better way to do it than with a pancake breakfast at Happy Valley Day Lodge? Join him and Loose Moose as they eat their way through pancakes with maple syrup, and get the kids to throw in their last-minute requests for gifts.
3. Christmas Eve Service in the VCM
When: 24th December, 4:30pm
Cost: Free
Our non-denominational Christmas service is an incredible way to kick off the evening of your Christmas Eve celebrations. The best part, of course, is the Rookie Ski School choir, who provide all the music for the evening. Hundreds of people come along to Christmas Eve service, so make sure you get in early enough to grab a seat.
4. Christmas Eve Torch Light Parade
When: 24th December, 5:45pm
Cost: Free
Our traditional Christmas Eve Parade is a magical way to welcome in the evening. Starting at 5:30pm, Big White’s very own ski school pros speed down the mountain and through the village with their torches lighting up the night sky. There will be free roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate AND glow sticks to get everyone in the Christmas spirit, as well as an incredible fireworks display.
5. Photos with Santa
When: 19th December – 24th December, 12pm – 1pm, 3pm – 4pm
Cost: Free
Come and get your picture taken with the man in the big red suit! Santa’s workshop will be all set up in the VCM, and our Big White photographer will be there to snap the perfect FREE photo which is then emailed to you. You’ll also have an opportunity to pass on your last-minute Christmas wish list, and take part in our Christma craft corner.
6. Carnival Night
When: Every Thursday and Saturday nights, 6:30pm – 8pm
Cost: Free
Twice a week, the Village Center Mall is transformed into a carnival for kids of all ages to enjoy. Complete with a bouncy castle, inflatable obstacle and all the traditional carnival games (ring toss, anyone?), the kids will have a ball while nibbling on free cotton candy and popcorn.
7. Celebration of Trees
When: December 1st – December 31st
Cost: Free
It’s our latest competition on the mountain – celebration of trees – and it’s happening for the entire month of December! All around Big White, various businesses have put up themed trees. Your job is to pick up a passport from the Concierge desk in the VCM and visit each of the trees, stamping each location in your passport as you go. At the end of it all, you vote for your favourite tree and enter into a prize draw to win dinner at Kettle Valley Steak House.
8. FIREWORKS!
When: Every Saturday at 8:15, plus Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Cost: Free
We love any excuse for fireworks here at Big White. They happen every Saturday and the best view is from Happy Valley – grab the family, buy some hot chocolates and gather around the skating rink for the perfect family experience. And of course, we’ll have extra fireworks happening in the Village on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
9. Night skiing
When: Every night until January 3rd, 2015 (except Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve)
Night skiing kicks off on Friday the 19th December and runs every night until the 3rd. Both Plaza and Bullet chairs will be spinning until 8pm, giving you and your family the perfect opportunity to ride all day and night! With over 2569 metres of terrain open, we have the largest night skiing terrain area in Western Canada, as well as the highest vertical drop (596 metres) of all night skiing areas in North America.
10. Tubing & skating
When: Every night. Tubing will be open daily from 2pm – 9pm, skating will be available from 11am – 10pm (weather dependant)
If you’ve had enough of skiing or snowboarding for the day, why not try tubing or skating instead? Our skating rink is Olympic-sized and surrounded by beautiful snow-covered trees and breathtaking mountains. Or try our tube park, which offers tons of fun for all ages – no skills or experience required.
To keep up with all the daily events, visit our website here to add them to your calendar. You can also click here to follow us on Facebook – all our daily events will be regularly updated there.