How can the holidays be anything but happy in Jackson Hole? A myriad of merry abounds from beneath the twinkling lights encircling the famous elk antlers in Town Square to the steep slopes of the area’s trio of ski resorts — Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain and Grand Targhee.
Country Living magazine recently named Jackson Hole one of America's "31 Most Magical Christmas Towns For 2024." The article says of Jackson Hole: "No town lights up for the holidays quite like Jackson. The town at the base of the Tetons has a spectacular Town Square any time of the year, with monumental arches of elk antlers at the four corners. But around the holidays, the arches are wrapped in strings of lights to illuminate the nights with a festive glow. Stick around until New Year's Eve if you want to see the torch parade of ski instructors snaking down the mountain at the town's two ski resorts."
Here are a few activities to help make your seasonal vacation bright.
HORSE-DRAWN SLEIGH RIDE, ANYONE?
Oh, what fun you can have in a one-horse open sleigh, jingling and (slowly) dashing across the snowy expanse of the National Elk Refuge.
From December TBA and every day thereafter — except Christmas Day — visitors can get up close and personal with the thousands of wapiti who call the elk refuge home each winter. You will see other wildlife as well, such as foxes, bald eagles and coyotes. Rides are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Each red sleigh can carry up to 16 people. There are cushioned benches to sit on, though you may want to bring a warm blanket to drape over your legs. Dress warmly and bring your camera. Tickets are sold from a white trailer in the parking lot at the Jackson Hole Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center at 532 North Cache St., and shuttles to the refuge leave every 20 to 30 minutes. (Read More)
SANTA SIGHTINGS
Jolly Old St. Nick holds court in the StageStop Building on Town Square every night from December 14th, from 5 to 7 p.m., until Christmas Eve, when he then needs to depart to fly around the world. Generations of Jackson families and frequent travelers have pictures taken with Santa during "Santa on the Square." Christmas music, hot chocolate and cookies are all available.
Have breakfast with Santa at The Silver Dollar Grill on December TBA. Santa will be visiting from 9-11 a.m., spreading holiday cheer, and each little guest will leave with a festive gift bag. For tickets, click here.
Santa Claus will also be dropping by Jackson Hole Mountain Resort — he is scheduled to rappel out of the Aerial Tram! — on Christmas Eve at 4:30 p.m.
You and the kids can even ski with the big man in red at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Teewinot on Christmas Day between 10 a.m. and Noon. Look for him near the base of the gondolas on Teewinot around 10 and afterward on Casper and Apres Vous.
DO SOME LAST-MINUTE GIFT SHOPPING
Check out Jackson’s amazing list of locally-owned shops that are filled with curated collections of treasures that include everything from one-of-a-kind art to T-shirts for the kids. There are jeans and cowboy boots for all, or if you’re game, go for the locally crafted jewelry or a chic handcrafted cowboy hat. Most shops are owned by local characters or informed local outdoor experts who will help you choose something great as they share a love for Jackson Hole.
We suggest shopping local, buying local at Teton Mountaineering, MADE, Belle Cose, JD High Country Outfitters, Skinny Skis, Valley Bookstore, Teton Toys, Workshop, Two Grey Hills, JW Bennett, 3BIRD, and New West Knifeworks. You can also pick up the "Best Ski Gloves" — according to CNN Underscored — from homegrown company Give'r. The honored gloves are Give'r's 4-Season Gloves, available on its website and in MADE and New West Knifeworks. Snake River Roasting Co. offers a "Jackson Hole-iday Bundle:" Celebrate the essence of Jackson Hole and the spirit of adventure with their coffee gifts. For e-gift cards and more, click here.
Nora's Fish Creek Inn, located in Wilson, has coffee mugs, a bag of @jacksonholeroasters coffee beans, and/or Nora's famous pancake mix for the holidays; "only-from-Jackson-Hole" gifts.
CHANUKAH HAPPENINGS
Hanukkah begins this year (2026) at sundown on Friday, December 4th, and continues through Saturday, December 12th. Here's how to celebrate the Festival of Lights in and around Jackson Hole.
HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT
• The famous Jackson Hole Playhouse — named one of the "Top Attractions in Jackson Hole" by TripAdvisor — will present its annual Christmas show from December 10th through January 2nd, 2027. However, there will be no shows on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The dinner theater's musical comedy offering for the holidays is called "Merry Christmas Special." Tickets for dinner and the show in the Playhouse's Saddle Rock Saloon are $125 for adults, $110 for children ages 13 to 17, and $90 for children ages 5 to 12. The show-only (i.e., no dinner) costs less; tickets are available the day of the performance. Call the box office at 307-733-6994 between noon and 4 p.m. MST, or visit jhplayhouse.com.
• Cathedral Voices Chamber presents its free "Sounds of the Season" concert at The Center for the Arts Theater on December TBA at 7 p.m. The Jackson Hole Brass Quintet and the Teton Music School Youth Choir will also perform.
• The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and the GlowNights Lighting of "Electric Dandelions" by Liquid PXL and the Snow Castle opening in Teton Village is on December TBA. Bring the entire family and celebrate with free hot chocolate, cookies, and sparklers. The official light-up will begin at 5 p.m. Free skate rentals are also offered for this special occasion, or you can bring your own.
• The Jackson Hole History Museum will host a free "Family Old Time Christmas" holiday activities event on the 20th from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The Jackson Hole Community Band's Free Winter Holiday Concert will be held at 7 p.m. on December TBA at the Center for the Arts.
• Winter Fest at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will be held from TBA through the 31st, featuring free family apres ski events. For the full scoop and schedule, click here!
• Celebrate the Winter Solstice at R Park on December TBA from 4 to 7 p.m. Free chili, mac and cheese, hot drinks, and sledding will be available. Hot cocktails crafted by Wyoming Whiskey will also be available. As dusk approaches, check out the R Park Lantern Trail, a walkable path through R Park with solar lanterns decorated by local school kids.
• The Center for the Arts will be presenting two holiday films for the whole family's enjoyment. On the TBA, you can see "Elf " at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $13 and can be purchased here. And on the TBA, Frank Capra's Christmas classic "It’s a Wonderful Life," starring Jimmy Stewart, will also be shown at 6:30 p.m., and the tickets are $13, too. Click here.
• The Silver Dollar Showroom at The Wort Hotel is the go-to venue for a few special holiday events featuring music from several iconic Jackson Hole bands and musicians. "Holiday Cocktails and Music with Tasha & The Goodfellows" will be held starting at 7 p.m. on December 17th, with holiday-themed cocktails. No cover. Must be 21+ for this event. On Christmas Eve, come to the "Naughty or Nice Christmas Party" at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar — holiday pajamas, sweaters and costumes are encouraged — and Naughty or Nice drink specials will be available.
• New Year's Eve Celebrations will happen at both the Silver Dollar Showroom in the Wort Hotel and the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, as well as at The Bunker. The Mangy Moose in Teton Village is hosting a New Year's Eve rocker as well.
NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS AND PYROTECHNICS
• "Wish Papers and Free Skating with Pizza and Hot Chocolate" is the name of a new event to be held at South Cable at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on New Year's Eve from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Send 2026 off and welcome the new year with wish papers and free pizza and hot chocolate. Sponsored by the Art Association of Jackson Hole, write down your aspirations for 2027 and manifest them into existence. Afterward, enjoy free skating at the Village Commons Rink and fuel up at South Cable with pizza and hot chocolate.
• Top your New Year’s Eve off amazingly by viewing a mountain torchlight parade at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain or Grand Targhee. An equally awe-inspiring fireworks display follows each parade. Snow King hosts the oldest, longest-running citizen torchlight parade in the country. For more than 50 years, intrepid, expert Jackson Hole skiers have ridden to the top of the mountain and then — torches in hand — made their way slowly down the Town Hill in dramatic, fiery fashion. The parade starts at 6:15 p.m. and the fireworks follow at 7.
• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is set to host a “Glow Worm Parade” at 5:30 p.m. for children up to age 14. Glow sticks substitute for torchlights as the kids traverse down the Eagles Nest run from the top of the new Sweetwater Gondola. Around 6 p.m., the resort’s employees and guests will treat revelers to their traditional torchlight procession on Apres-Vous, with a fireworks show to follow over the Village's parking lot, facing Sleeping Indian.
• Over in Alta, Wyoming, at Grand Targhee Resort, the Kid’s Glowstick Parade starts the New Year’s Eve fun off at 4:30 p.m. The adult’s torchlight event fires up at 5:30. Fireworks follow at 6:15.
BONUS HOLIDAY FUN
• On December TBA, the Jackson Hole History Museum will host a free "Family Old Time Christmas" holiday activities event from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., as well as a Cowboy Christmas Market. Experience a true Western Christmas from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a festive market featuring handcrafted gifts made by artisans of the cowboy trades associations.
• Snow Cats and Avalanche Dogs at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - Kid's Ranch, 4:30 to 5:30 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.
• Cookie Decorating at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's Cafe 6311 - Enjoy decorating some freshly made sugar cookies; free
• Free skating on the Village Commons ice rink - Free skate rentals and hot cocoa from 4-5 p.m. on the Village Commons Ice Rink
• 23: Ornament Making at the Base of Sweetwater Gondola. From 4:30-6:30 p.m., sip hot cocoa and snack on cookies while creating your own festive ornaments.
• 24: Santa Claus visits Jackson Hole Mountain Resort - The jolly old elf will appear Jackson Hole-style by rappelling out of the Aerial Tram at 4:20 p.m.
• 25: Ski/ride 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.
• 25: On Christmas Day, partake in a very special "Carols and Candlelight" event with the view of a lifetime in the historic and rustic Chapel of the Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park.
• Live-action Christmas Story from Jackson Hole Playhouse on Teton Village Commons. This delightful family-friendly performance is packed with festive cheer and holiday wonder, perfect for kids and parents alike. Time: 4-4:30 p.m.
• Holiday Maker's Market at the Jackson Hole Art Association in the Center for the Arts is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. from December 7th through 23rd.
For a complete list of local events, check out our Calendar!