Ski season kicks off on Thanksgiving or the weekend preceding it with Grand Targhee opening on November 17th and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on November 24th. Snow King's opening day will be December 2nd. But aside from the obvious thrills that late November and December bring to powder hounds, there is a lot of non-skiing fun going on, too. You can take in a live show at the Center for the Arts or Jackson Hole Playhouse, duck into a holiday craft fair, or watch Santa bring smiles to young and old alike in Town Square and out in Teton Village.
Check out the offerings that are happening over the next two months!
November Events
Ongoing throughout the month:
• Jackson Hole Moose Hockey games in the Snow King Sports & Events Center will be held November 3, 4, 17 and 18. The team is back in action for their 26th season of hard-hitting ice hockey in Jackson Hole. Visit snowkingsec.com.
• Honky Tonk Wednesdays at the Stagecoach Bar in Wilson - Pete Muldoon & The Pilgrims; 5-8 p.m.; floor show and dancing - stagecoachbar.net
• Wyoming Stargazing offers free, year-round, public stargazing events on clear Thursdays of each month (when the temperature is above zero degrees Fahrenheit!) in the northwest corner of the Stilson parking lot off Hwy. 390 and 22, behind the bus hut where there are no lights. There is $10/person recommended donation. Astronomy educators use one of their large aperture telescopes to show you planets, stars, planetary nebulae, galaxies, and more. There is no need to reserve your spot in advance; just come and go as you please.
• Bluegrass Tuesdays in the Silver Dollar Showroom at the historic Wort Hotel has been bringing locals and visitors together for 15 years, year-round, through the music of One Ton Pig; 7-10:30 p.m.
• The Virginian Saloon in the iconic Virginian Lodge offers live music Thursday through Saturday nights starting at 9 p.m., plus karaoke on Wednesday - virginiansaloon.com
• An open mic night is held at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday at Cowboy Coffee on Town Square
1: Yellowstone National Park closes its east, west and south entrances.
2-4: Teton Mudpots Holiday Sale - Sponsored by the Art Association of Jackson Hole at the Center for the Arts, featuring local artisans - artassociation.org
4: "Flying High Again": A snowboard film by Teton Gravity Research - presented by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center Foundation at the Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. - jhcenterforthearts.org
17: Grand Targhee Mountain Resort opens - weather dependent - grandtarghee.com
23: Annual Turkey Trot - 5K run/walk at 9 a.m., starting at the Wilson Boat Ramp access road off Hwy. 22. To register in advance, visit runsignup.com.
24: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opens - weather dependent - jacksonhole.com
24: Annual Town Square Lighting - Sip on hot cocoa, snack on local treats and drop off a letter to Santa in the Stage Stop Building (every night until Dec 25). The event is truly a sight to behold! - jacksonholechamber.com
25: Small Business Saturday - Shop local and pick up handmade-in-Jackson Hole holiday gifts or a special souvenir for yourself.
27: Hootenanny at the Pink Garter Theatre - Exclusive one-night-only engagement of the Jackson Hole Hootenanny, from 6-9 p.m.; door opens at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5 in advance or at the door.
Wort Hotel Annual Street Lighting and Holiday Street Party - Live music, Santa, complimentary food and drink; 5-7:30 p.m.
December Events
Ongoing throughout the month:
• Holiday musical at Jackson Hole Playhouse - Begins December 14th. Christmas dinner and show at 6 p.m.; show only at 9 p.m. Continues through January 6th 2024. Call the box office between noon-4 p.m. at 307-733-6994. - jacksonholeplayhouse.com
• Wyoming Stargazing offers free, year-round, public stargazing events on clear Thursdays of each month (when the temperature is above zero degrees Fahrenheit!) just after sunset in the northwest corner of the Stilson parking lot off Hwy. 390 and 22, behind the bus hut where there are no lights. There is $25/person recommended donation. Astronomy educators use one of their large aperture telescopes to show you planets, stars, planetary nebulae, galaxies, and more. There is no need to reserve your spot in advance; just come and go as you please. In the event of inclement weather, visit Wyoming Stargazing offices at 1135 Maple Way, unit 1, for a sci-fi movie screening. Popcorn, apple cider and hot cocoa are provided.
• Bluegrass Tuesday's in the Silver Dollar Showroom at the historic Wort Hotel has been bringing locals and visitors together for 15 years, year-round, through the music of One Ton Pig; 7-10:30 p.m.
• Jackson Hole Moose Hockey games will be held at 7 p.m. in the Snow King Sports & Events Center on December 1, 2, 15, 16, 29 and 30. The team is back in action for its 27th season of hard-hitting ice hockey in Jackson Hole. You must reserve your tickets in advance; no walk-ups. Visit snowkingsec.com.
• The iconic Jackson Hole Hootenanny takes place every Monday night at 6 p.m. in the Silver Dollar Showroom in the Wort Hotel. There will be a special "Holiday Hoot" on December 4th
• An open mic night is held at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday at Cowboy Coffee on Town Square
• The Art Association's Holiday Makers' Market takes place from Dec. 6th-22nd at the Center for the Arts and celebrates local makers of all types, offering a fun holiday
atmosphere where customers can find handmade gifts for young and old.
2: Art Association's 59th Annual Holiday Bazaar - Arts and crafts show, ideal for made-in-Jackson Hole holiday shopping, held at Snow King Hotel's Grand Teton Ballroom and mezzanine; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; $6 entry fee. - artassociation.org
8-10: "The Wizard of Oz" by Dancers' Workshop - Center for the Arts; Join the school at Dancers' Workshop down the yellow brick road for their 2023 Winter Production of "The Wizard of Oz;" features local student performers, ages 8-18 - jhcenterforthearts/org
9: Ski in Jeans Day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - Kick off the season and celebrate the most famous pants in the West as the resort attempts to break the world record for the most people skiing and riding in jeans; $25 lift tickets, $25 rentals, live music and more. - jacksonhole.com
9: Snow King Mountain Opens - snowkingmountain.com
9: Town Square Giant Menorah Lighting - Menorah lighting, Hanukkah songs and treats; menorahs and dreidels will be available; 7 p.m.; hosted by Chabad Jewish Center of Wyoming
14: Celebrate the Winter Solstice at R Park - Held from 4-7 p.m. Free chili, mac and cheese, hot drinks and sledding. As dusk approaches, check out the R Park Lantern Trail, a walkable path through R Park with solar lanterns decorated by local school kids.
16-24: Visit Santa on the Square - The jolly big guy in the red suit will be holding court in the StageStop Building from 5 to 7 p.m. nightly
16: Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides open - Weather dependent. Tickets are sold in the National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center in the parking lot. - fws.gov/refuge/national_elk_refuge
16: Jackson Hole Community Band's Winter Holiday Concert - Center for the Arts; free festive concert with traditional holiday favorites. - jhcenterforthearts.org or jhcband.org
16: Winter People's Market - Farmer's market held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the conference center in the Lodge of Jackson Hole - tetonslowfood.org
Holiday Gallery Art Walk - Galleries will be open late, with many serving cider and other festive refreshments, along with special show openings, and holiday events; 5-8 p.m. - jacksonholegalleryassociation.com
17: Old Tyme Christmas at the Wort Hotel - Presented free by the Jackson Hole Historical Society featuring local musicians; cookies, cocoa and holiday drink specials; audience sing-a-long
17: Cathedral Voices Chamber presents its free "Sounds of the Season" concert at The Center for the Arts Theater - The Jackson Hole Brass Quintet, Jackson Hole Symphony Orchestra and Star Valley Voices and the Teton Music School Youth Choir will also perform; 4 p.m.
20: "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," presented by Grand Teton Music Festival; Center for the Arts at 7 p.m.; featuring a talented cast of Broadway and cabaret performers; a family-friendly celebration of all things holiday - jhcenterforthearts.org
22, 2023/Free skating on the Village Commons ice rink - Free skate rentals and skating between 4-5 p.m.
23-24: Ice Skate with Santa in Teton Village - The big jolly guy in red will be ice skating on the rink in the Village Commons from 3-4 p.m.; skate rentals are available in the warming hut.
24: Santa Claus visits Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - The jolly old elf will appear Jackson Hole-style by repelling out of the Aerial Tram at 4:20 p.m.
24: Naughty or Nice Christmas Party at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar - Holiday fun for Christmas Eve, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. No advance tickets, first come, first serve. Must be 21+ for this event.
25: Ski with Santa at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - Santa will strap some skis on and conquer some of the greens on Teewinot around 10 a.m. and then at Casper and Apres Vous until noon.
26, 2023/ Free skating on the Village Commons ice rink - Free skate rentals and skating between 4-5 p.m.
27, 2023/ Snow Cats & Avalanche Dogs at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - Kid's Ranch, 4-5 p.m. A behind-the-scenes look at the resort's coolest stuff. Meet an avalanche dog and handler and take a tour of a snowcat - jacksonhole.com
31: Zoso: America's Premier Led Zepplin Tribute Band at the Mangy Moose - For tickets, click here
31: New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parades - Dusk torchlight parades and fireworks at Jackson Hole Mountain, Snow King and Grand Targhee ski resorts. - jacksonholechamber.com
More Fun Things To Try
• TAKE A LOCAL LIBATIONS TASTING TOUR
Get in out of the early winter's cold and spend an afternoon on a tasting tour of some Teton-grown libations. Savor and then stock your bar with some of Jackson Hole’s best liquid “souvenirs”—as heady, wild and glacially pure as Wyoming itself.
- Jackson Hole Still Works; Produces Wyoming-sourced, handcrafted, artisanal grain-to-bottle vodka. Tours and tastings take place Monday through Saturday at its distillery just south of the town of Jackson on Hwy 89. Call 307-699-8998.
- Snake River Brewing: Wyoming’s oldest and largest craft beer brewery, the “Brewpub”—as it is fondly known —has for the past 25 years won countless awards for its beers and established itself as a staple on the Jackson Hole dining scene. Brewing essentials are visible from every angle in the large, bright, two-story venue. We recommend trying the beer sampler. The Brewpub is located at 265 South Millward St. Call 307-739-2337.
- Melvin Brewing: For a tour of Melvin Brewery’s facility and taproom in Alpine (approximately 45 minutes south of Jackson Hole) visit melvinbrewing.com/taproom or call 307-654-0427.
- Roadhouse Brewing Company: Located at 1225 Gregory Lane. Taproom hours are from 4 to 9 p.m. The Roadhouse Pub and Eatery is on Town Square.