Your full 2026/2027 season calendar, opening day through closing
Steamboat packs its winter with events, and several of them are worth timing an entire trip around. Balloons glowing over the base village, professional rodeo cowboys racing on skis, a 114-year-old carnival that shuts down Lincoln Avenue, and a bluegrass festival celebrating a decade in the Boat.
The 2026/27 season opens Saturday, November 21, 2026 and runs into spring. Here is everything happening between now and closing day.
Quick note: outdoor events are weather dependent and the resort adds programming through the fall. Check the Retreatia events calendar and the Steamboat Resort events page closer to your trip.
At a Glance
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | Opening Day | Steamboat Resort |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Holiday Balloon Glow | Resort base area |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Santa Saddles Up | Steamboat Square |
| Dec 31, 2026 | NYE Snow Cat Parade & Fireworks | Resort base area |
| Jan 5-10, 2027 | The MusicFest | Resort & town venues |
| Jan 18, 2027 | 52nd Busch Light Cowboy Downhill | Steamboat Resort |
| Feb 2-7, 2027 | 114th Winter Carnival | Howelsen Hill & Lincoln Ave |
| Feb 13, 2027 | Light Up The Night | Resort base area |
| Mar 5-7, 2027 | WinterWonderGrass | Upper Knoll, Steamboat Resort |
| Mar 13 - Apr 11, 2027 | Rocks the Boat concert series | Steamboat Square |
| Apr 10, 2027 | Cardboard Classic | Steamboat Resort |
| Apr 11, 2027 | Splashdown Pond Skim | Steamboat Resort |
November: The Season Begins
Opening Day, Saturday, November 21
Festivities begin at 7:30 a.m., lifts start turning at 8:30 a.m., and all passes are valid from day one including Ikon and Ikon Base.
Free for everyone: the first 100 guests on the mountain get a limited-edition Opening Day tee designed by local shop Ohana plus Smartwool socks. Add complimentary Powder Day donuts, coffee, and mimosas, the countdown and ringing of the Champagne Powder Snow Bell, and on-mountain prizes stashed around the slopes.
Want the shirt? Be in line by 7:00 a.m.
December: Balloons, Santa, and Fireworks
Holiday Balloon Glow, Saturday, December 12
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., resort base area. Free.
Four hot air balloons inflate and illuminate the base village after dark. Walk among the standing balloons, talk to the pilots, or watch from a warm table. Night skiing runs alongside it, and Timber & Torch and The Range are open for dinner.
Highly weather dependent, so check before you make it the plan.
Santa Saddles Up, Saturday, December 19
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Steamboat Square. Free.
Only in a ranching town does Santa arrive on horseback. He rides in from the Torian Plum area, down the slopes, and into Steamboat Square, escorted by local legends Bob Dapper and Dean Vogelaar.
Be early. The procession runs promptly at 1:00 p.m. and takes just a few minutes. Photos with Santa follow on the Steamboat Stage, with complimentary hot chocolate.
New Year's Eve Snow Cat Parade & Fireworks, Thursday, December 31
Programming 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the mountain base. Free.
A Light Up Snow Cat parade kicks things off, followed by Steamboat Snow Sports Instructors performing synchronized skiing lit only by torches. Fireworks close it out to ring in 2027.
Two things worth knowing: the whole thing wraps by 6:00 p.m., which is excellent news with kids. And December 31 falls on a Thursday with New Year's Day on Friday, making this a natural four-day weekend. Lodging for that stretch books out early.
January: Music and Cowboys
The MusicFest, January 5 to 10
Steamboat Resort and venues around town.
Six days, dozens of bands, ten venues, and the largest group ski trip in the United States. What began in 1986 as a few friends and musicians is now one of the most beloved festivals in the country, mixing Texas country, Americana, and acoustic shows with a full week of skiing.
Tickets at themusicfest.com. This week fills Steamboat lodging faster than almost anything else on the calendar.
52nd Annual Busch Light Cowboy Downhill, Monday, January 18
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Steamboat Resort. Free.
Part ski race, part rodeo, part beautiful chaos, and the most Steamboat event on the calendar.
It started over 50 years ago when Billy Kidd, Steamboat's director of skiing, and Larry Mahan, a six-time all-around World Champion cowboy, invited a few ProRodeo stars up for a day of skiing. Most had never skied and loved it anyway. Today over 100 professional rodeo cowboys tackle a dual slalom, then lasso a person and saddle a horse before crossing the finish line, capped by a mass-start stampede down Headwall.
Always scheduled to coincide with the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
February: Carnival Month
114th Steamboat Winter Carnival, February 2 to 7
Howelsen Hill and Lincoln Avenue, downtown.
The oldest continuing winter carnival west of the Mississippi, running since 1914 and hosted by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. For six days the whole town gives itself over to it.
- Street events on Lincoln Avenue, including ski jöring, where children on skis get towed down a snow-covered main street behind horses, plus the adult shovel race and the Dog Dash.
- A parade featuring the only skiing high school marching band in the United States.
- Family events at Howelsen Hill Tuesday through Sunday.
- The Saturday Night Extravaganza, with athletes lit by flares and LED lights, the legendary Lighted Man and his 70-pound pyrotechnic suit, jumpers through a flaming hoop, and one of the largest fireworks displays in the country.
Important: a Winter Carnival button is required to spectate or participate at all events. Buttons typically go on sale around town in mid-January and also get you a free Howelsen Hill lift ticket during carnival week. Confirm details at sswsc.org and wintercarnivalsteamboat.com.
Light Up The Night, Saturday, February 13
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., resort base area. Free.
The biggest of the balloon glows. Hot air balloons illuminate the base village up close, with a grand finale of fireworks and a torchlight parade together.
Note: night skiing has a delayed 6:30 p.m. opening that evening.
March: Bluegrass and Spring Sun
WinterWonderGrass, March 5 to 7
Upper Knoll, Steamboat Resort. Free Thursday kickoff March 4, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the base.
The 14th annual WinterWonderGrass and the 10th at Steamboat, billed as "A Decade in the Boat."
- 30 artists across 4 stages, three of them in heated tents
- Complimentary beer and spiked seltzer tastings daily, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. for guests 21 and over
- Grass After Dark late-night shows at venues around town, separate tickets, 21 and over
- Kids under 12 and seniors over 75 get in free
The 2026 festival sold out all three days. Parking at the venue is extremely limited, so walking or the free bus is strongly recommended. Tickets and lineup at winterwondergrass.com.
Rocks the Boat Free Concert Series, March 13 through April 11
Saturdays and Sundays: March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3, April 10, and April 11. Concerts begin 3:30 p.m. in Steamboat Square. Free.
Now in its 26th year and still the best free après in Colorado. Bluegrass, New Orleans rhythm and blues, Celtic, classic rock. You come off the mountain, grab a beer, and stand in the spring sun listening to a band. Please leave pets at home.
April: The Season Goes Out Laughing
Cardboard Classic, Saturday, April 10
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Steamboat Resort. Free.
Homemade sleds built entirely from cardboard, glue, string, and questionable engineering, launched down a snow slope in a chaotic race to the bottom. Expect crashes, wild costumes, and real creativity. Worth watching even if you are not building one.
Registration opens April 1. Start hoarding cardboard.
Splashdown Pond Skim, Sunday, April 11
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Steamboat Resort. Free.
The definitive end-of-season party. Skiers and riders in retro gear and outrageous costumes send it across an icy pond with varying degrees of speed, style, and commitment. Some make it. Most do not. All of it is entertaining.
Registration opens April 1. Closing weekend typically follows shortly after, so confirm the resort's closing date if you are planning a final trip.
All Season Long
- Night skiing on five lit trails off Christie Peak Express, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on eligible evenings, typically Thursday through Sunday from mid-December through late March.
- Sunset Happy Hour at Thunderhead Lodge. Ride the gondola up for culinary bites, live music, a full bar, and a toast to the sunset. Free for 26/27 Ikon passholders, $30 for others ages 5 and up.
- Strings Music Festival runs live performances throughout the winter at the Strings Music Pavilion. See our Strings concert calendar.
- Live music around town at Schmiggity's, the press., Old Town Pub, and Snow Bowl. See our Steamboat nightlife guide.
Lift Tickets & Passes
Buy in advance. Window prices on the day are always the most expensive option.
As a Steamboat Resort preferred partner, Retreatia guests get access to discounted lift tickets when purchased ahead of arrival. See current terms and savings on our lift tickets page or call a vacation specialist.
On the Ikon Pass: the full Ikon Pass gives unlimited skiing at Steamboat with no blackouts, plus unlimited night skiing, where a day and night session at the same destination counts as one day rather than two. Ikon Base Pass holders get up to 5 days with blackout dates covering December 26 to 30, January 16 to 17, and February 13 to 14. Read those before you buy if your trip falls over the holidays or Presidents' Day.
Ikon First Tracks dates for 26/27: December 18, January 15, February 8, March 8, and April 3, boarding the Wild Blue Gondola between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m.
Ski & Snowboard Rentals
Retreatia guests save on equipment rentals through our partners, including Ski Butlers, who deliver gear straight to your rental door and will adjust boots or swap equipment without a shop visit. Particularly useful for families and anyone staying away from the base.
See all current partners and savings on our discounted ski rentals page.
Where to Stay
Location shapes the whole trip. Staying at the mountain puts you at the base for the balloon glows, the NYE fireworks, the Cowboy Downhill, and WinterWonderGrass. Staying downtown puts you on Lincoln Avenue for Winter Carnival and the nightlife.
- Ski-in / ski-out rentals, closest to the base area events
- Walkable to the lift
- Downtown rentals, best for Winter Carnival week
- Luxury lodging
- Large group rentals for festival weekends
- Pet friendly rentals
Book early for the big weeks. Christmas and New Year's, MusicFest in early January, Presidents' Day, and WinterWonderGrass weekend all sell out, and the larger properties go first.
Browse all properties, check current specials, and see why booking direct with us gets you the best rate. Repeat guests and added nights both qualify for additional savings, so mention it when you call.
Contact Retreatia
Phone: 970-871-6253
Toll Free: 800-848-1960
Email: Contact us here
Office: 1585 Mid Valley Drive, Unit 12, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
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Event dates, times, and details are sourced from Steamboat Resort and event organizers and are accurate as of publication. Outdoor events are weather dependent and subject to change or cancellation. Lift ticket and rental discounts are subject to change and conditions. Confirm before finalizing plans.