The holiday break is a great time to head up to Oregon ski areas. The resorts feature activities from Santa sightings on the slopes to torchlight parades, fireworks, tree lightings and celebratory dinners, plus extended night skiing hours to make the most of every hour of vacation. Whether you’re looking for new family traditions, complete alpine New Year’s celebrations for the whole family, or simply an opportunity to ski and snowboard massive amounts of vertical over the holidays, Oregon’s ski areas have you covered.
If you’re heading up to the mountains, be sure to consider utilizing shuttles and bus services offered by Mt. Hood Resorts and Mt. Bachelor to make your trip a breeze.
Mt. Hood Meadows
Holiday Festivities & Activities
Mt. Hood Meadows turns it on over the holidays, with fun happenings throughout the holiday season. The resort will kick off night skiing featuring 140 acres of night-lighted terrain on December 17, 2023 with Celebrate the Season happenings from Dec. 16–31 presented by pFriem family brewing. Extended hours will be offered during the holidays, which will be dotted with festive events. For families Breakfast With Santa will be presented December 21 and 22.
Timberline Lodge
Classic Christmas Traditions & New Year’s Celebrations
Few places effortlessly capture the holiday season as the historic Timberline Lodge on the slopes of Mt. Hood. The season kicks off with the annual Christmas tree lighting and caroling December 14, 2023.
Christmas Eve at Timberline Lodge is full of wonder as Santa makes an appearance with the sounds of reindeer hooves on the rooftop and his emergence from the chimney. Guests sing carols by candle light around the fireplace and enjoy a sumptuous meal (by reservations) in the historic Cascade Dining Room.
The season continues on Christmas Day with Santa sightings on the slopes and a celebratory Christmas Meal served in the Cascade Dining Room and Main Lobby Headhouse.
New Year’s Eve at Timberline includes skiing with the lifts running late, plus late-night fireworks. Guests are invited to warm up in the Ram’s Head bar with live music, drink specials and incredible views of the fireworks. The New Year’s Eve celebration also features a memorable Northwest Alpine-inspired dinner in the Cascade Dining Room (by reservation) with live music, dancing and a champagne toast.
Advanced planning is key as holiday event reservations begin in early October and usually sell out.
Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort & Mt. Bachelor
Ski with Santa on Christmas Eve
Santa hits the slopes at Anthony Lakes on Christmas Eve. Jolly Old Saint Nick is more than happy to stop for photos and to hear children’s wishes.
At Mt. Bachelor, be on the look out for Santa on the Slopes. No word on how he manages to appear at both ski areas, but that is the magic of the season!
Mt. Hood Skibowl
New Year’s Eve Party With Fireworks and Torchlight Parade
Ring in the New Year mountain style at Mt. Hood Skibowl’s Annual New Year’s Eve Extravaganza. The resort, renowned for the most night skiing in North America, keeps the lifts running until late with winter games, cosmic tubing, DJs and fireworks. The resort offers a family-friendly fireworks show earlier at Skibowl East, while the party at Skibowl West is renowned for dancing in the Stube, a torchlight parade and a fireworks show.
Hoodoo Ski Area
All Day New Year’s Eve Celebration
Hoodoo has earned a reputation as the place to be on New Year’s Eve. The mountain hosts an all-day party on the mountain with lifts running late, a special dinner menu and live music in the lodge, plus a professional fireworks show on the mountain.
