Beaver Creek Loves Kids Returns with the 1st Annual Winterfest this Holiday Season
Beaver Creek, Colo., Nov. 22, 2011 – Beaver Creek Resort presents the 1st annual Winterfest celebration this holiday season as part of the popular family program, Beaver Creek Loves Kids. Winterfest will take place from Dec. 19, 2011 – Jan. 1, 2012 and will be a grand celebration of all that is magical about the holidays and winter in the mountains. The two week event will feature theatrical elements and decoration, and interactive family events and activities that are designed to animate Beaver Creek Village and bring the winter and holiday spirit to life.
“We are incredibly excited about this holiday season at Beaver Creek,” says Tim Baker, executive director of the Beaver Creek Resort Company. “It is a time when our guests visit with their families and celebrate the traditional holidays as well as creating special traditions with Beaver Creek as their back drop. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to create an amazing memorable Winterfest celebration by creating a spectacular holiday setting for all of our guests.”
Beaver Creek Resort Company, along with Blue Creek Productions, will create the Winterfest wonders that will be showcased in the village this season. One of the featured attractions will be the Animals of Winter Ice Menagerie at the main fountain area where guests will find a collection of ice sculptures in a winter animal theme including polar bears, penguins, mountain lions and more, along with special lighting and decorated Christmas trees. Ice sculptor Paul Wertin, a Vail resident and owner of Alpine Ice, will create the beautiful animal zoo which will be a must-see attraction at Beaver Creek. There will also be an interactive ice sculpture component, the Mystery of Five Runaway Penguins, where kids and families can search the village to find all five missing penguins.
“This is going to be a truly magical event,” states Brian Hall of Blue Creek Productions. “We have taken all the elements of theatre and brought them together to create a wonderful and exciting experience for families. The entire Beaver Creek Plaza will become a theatrical setting with all the lights, sounds, colors and characters of the holidays and winter coming to life for the kids. It will be a great experience for everyone and we can’t wait to kick it off.”
Beaver Creek Loves Kids Winterfest also will feature a great lineup of family events and activities including daily appearances from Santa, a Kids Winter Wonder parade, Disco Skate Nights, figure skating performances, an educational presentation of Animals of Winter, torchlight ski downs, fireworks and more.
Winterfest 2011 Events Schedule
Santa’s Cottage
Santa and his elves will set up shop to hear the Christmas wishes of children.
Santa and his elves will set up shop to hear the Christmas wishes of children.
Date(s): Monday, Dec. 19 to Saturday, Dec. 24
Time: 3:30pm to 6:00pm
Location: By the Zamboni House, Beaver Creek Plaza
Winter Characters
Join the Snow Princess, Old Man Winter, Scurry and Snowflake as they lead the Kids’ Winter Wonder Parade, skate around the ice rink and delight the entire family with their appearances throughout Beaver Creek Plaza.
Date(s): Monday, Dec. 19 to Saturday, Dec. 24; and Monday, Dec. 26 to Sunday, Jan. 1
Times: 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Plaza
Kids’ Winter Wonder Parade
Each day kids can join the Snow Princess and Old Man Winter for a parade to the center of the Plaza to light the Fountain.
Date(s): Monday, Dec. 19 to Sat. Dec. 24; and Monday, Dec. 26 to Sunday, Jan. 1
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Plaza
Disco Skate Night
Enjoy music as you and your family dance and skate around the ice rink. Keep your eye out for some of the Winter Characters who will join in as you skate the night away!
Date(s): Monday, Dec. 19 and Monday, Dec. 26
Time: 6 p.m. to close
Location: Beaver Creek Village Ice Rink
Figure Skating Performances
Come see an outstanding figure skating performance in the village featuring some of the best skaters in Colorado as they bring the ice to life in Beaver Creek.
Date(s): Friday, Dec. 23 and Tuesday, Dec. 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Village Ice Rink
The Kids’ Winter Discovery Zone Presents “The Animals of Winter”
Learn about the animals that call Colorado home and hear stories of Rocky Mountain wildlife in their natural communities. Have fun and learn about mountain lions, lynx, bobcats and foxes and their lives as predators of the mountains. And also investigate birds of prey and learn about Red Tail Hawks, Bald Eagles, snowy owls and the predators of the Colorado skies. It's a fun and hands on adventure at the Kids' Winter Discovery Zone.
Date(s): Tuesday, Dec. 20 and Wednesday, Dec. 28
Time: 3 - 6 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Plaza
Beaver Creek Has Talent Contest
This is your chance to be a part of the show. Auditions will be held and contestants will move through qualifying rounds to the finals.
Semi-Finals
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 28
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Fountain Stage
Finals
Date: Thursday, Dec. 29
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Fountain Stage
Thursday Night Lights Ski Down and New Year’s Eve Glow Worm Ski Down
Be a part of the tradition as you ski down Beaver Creek Mountain illuminating the trail with glow sticks. After the ski down enjoy a spectacular fireworks display that lights up the entire Village. This event is intended for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Date: Thursday, Dec. 22
Time: Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Meet at Children’s Ski School at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain
Date: Saturday, Dec. 31
Time: Registration begins at 6:15 p.m.
Location: Meet at Children’s Ski School at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain
Drums of the Mountains
Peaks Rhythms packs in their drums and everyone has a chance to pound on these percussion instruments. Don’t miss out on your chance to become a part of this drum ceremony!
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 21 and Tuesday, Dec. 27
Time: 3-6 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Plaza
Torches of Fire Jugglers
Watch in awe as jugglers toss sticks of fire high into the air and light up the Village Plaza.
Date(s): Thursday, Dec. 22 and 29
Time: 3-5 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Plaza
Ice Sculpture Demonstrations
Observe Paul Wertin, a local ice sculptor who created the incredible Animals of Winter Ice Menagerie in the village fountain, as he transforms a solid block of ice into an amazing work of art right before your eyes.
Date(s): Monday, Dec. 19 and 26
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: St. James Place
Family Friday Afternoon Club
An après ski activity for families that teaches safety and promotes fun! Come join us outside of McCoy’s, just left of the Centennial Express lift (#6), to meet Ski Patrol and the Beaver Creek Avalanche Dogs, launch an avalanche “grenade” and much more! Also enjoy food and drink specials from McCoy’s.
Date(s): Friday, Dec. 23 and 30
Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Mountain base area
Saturday Family FunFest
A village-style street-fair complete with music, games, food and fun!
Date(s): Saturday, Dec. 24 and 31
Time: 4-5:30 p.m.
Location: Beaver Creek Plaza
*Events and activities are subject to change.
In addition to Winterfest, Beaver Creek Loves Kids will take place during other holidays throughout the season including President’s Week Feb. 18-25, 2012, Spring Break March 10-31, 2012 and Easter week April 1-7, 2012.
For more information on Beaver Creek Loves Kids and the 1st annual Winterfest visit www.beavercreek.com or call (877) 204-7883.
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About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, and the Heavenly Ski Resort and Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort property and hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and in the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.