As ski areas begin to open across the county, locals and visitors are preparing for tourism and activity in the county to ramp up.

Though the autumn lull of the off-season is shorter than its spring counterpart, most Summit County residents and guests have plenty to look forward to as events begin to ramp up.

Here are some of the events to expect throughout Summit County over the next two months:

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Keystone

With Keystone Resort opening on Saturday, Oct. 25 — claiming the title of the first ski area in North America to open for the season — the popular ski village has a wide range of events coming soon. 

On Saturday, Nov. 1, Keystone will host its winter comedy kickoff event at Warren Station. Justine Marino — who hosts “The Funny Dance Show” on E! — will headline the night with tickets costing $35 to $40. The event is expected to last from 7:30-10 p.m.

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On Saturday, Nov. 8, Keystone will have another Keystone Kickoff event and will be screening Warren Miller’s “Sno-ciety” at Warren Station from 3:30-8 p.m. 

The next event will be a concert at Warren Station on Saturday, Nov. 15. The Fuzzheads and Tiny Pockets will both take to the stage from 5:45-10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $5 to $8. 

Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, Keystone will have its final kickoff event on Saturday, Nov. 22. The event will feature a screening of Matchstick Productions’ “After the Snowfall” at Warren Station. Tickets will range $10 to $15, and the event will last from 3:30-8 p.m. 

Keystone will ring in the holiday season with the Winter Carnival and the Lighting of River Run on Saturday, Nov. 29. The festive event is free and will feature live music, drink specials, free hot cocoa, kids’ craft tables, a free photo booth and the lighting of the River Run Tree. The event will last from 2-5:15 p.m.

Midway through December, Keystone will host its annual Goods in the Woods holiday market. Like previous years, the event will allow guests to shop for unique gifts from local artists. 

Keystone will cap the year with its New Years Eve celebration at Warren Station. The celebration will include performances from DJ Drake and the Goonies, tropical cocktails as well as vibrant decor. 

For a full schedule of Keystone events, visit KeystoneFestivals.com.

Breckenridge  

Breckenridge will kick off the fresh winter season with Wake Up Breck on Thursday, Nov. 6. The annual community tradition helps stoke excitement for the season prior to Breckenridge Ski Resort’s opening day on Friday, Nov. 7. Guests will once again have the opportunity to collect a free commemorative coffee mug and a free cup of coffee at participating coffee shops around town. The event will begin at 7 a.m. and will last until mugs run out. Mugs typically run out within the hour, so guests are encouraged to arrive early. Mugs are limited to one per person. 

Following Breckenridge Ski Resort’s opening day on Nov. 7, the town and resort will prepare for a very busy December. 

In celebration of the holidays, Breckenridge will host the Lighting of Breckenridge and the Race of the Santas on Saturday, Dec. 6. The popular event will kick off with the holiday dog parade before people dressed as Santa dash through downtown during the Race of the Santas footrace. The evening will conclude with the Lighting of Breckenridge, transforming the town into a glowing winter wonderland. For more information, visit GoBreck.com.

One of the most notable events to take place at Breckenridge Ski Resort this season will be the Rockstar Energy Open from Dec. 19-21, coinciding with Ullr Fest.

The three-day competition is free and open to the public. The event will combine world-class snowboarding competitions with live music, art installations and an interactive fan village. The inaugural snowboarding edition of the Rockstar Energy Open will include both men’s and women’s divisions, with Summit County local Red Gerard slated to compete. 

The Rockstar Energy Open will coincide with this year’s Ullr Fest from Dec. 18-20. The 62nd annual event will once again welcome visitors and locals alike to praise Ullr, the Norse god of snow, in hopes of a powder-filled season. 

Ullr Fest will include a Main Street parade, an unofficial longest shotski World-Record attempt and a bonfire. 

For a full schedule of events, visit Breckenridge.com. 

Copper Mountain 

Copper Mountain knows a thing or two about hosting events, and this winter will be no different. 

Copper Mountain will host its opening day on Friday, Nov. 7. To celebrate, Copper will host its winter kickoff festival — Snowsation — on Saturday, Nov. 8. The event will include musical, games, giveaways and more.

During Thanksgiving weekend from Nov. 27-30, Copper will host the world’s top Alpine skiers for the Stifel Copper Cup. The competition is an Audi FIS World Cup event and marks a key milestone on the road to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The event is free for guests to spectate and will feature live music, fireworks, bib draws and a buzzing festival village. For more information, visit CopperColorado.com.

A few weeks later, Copper will host its second World Cup event of the season — the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix. Similar to the Alpine ski event, the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix will feature some of the world’s best halfpipe freeskiers and riders. All of the competing athletes will take to Copper’s 22-foot superpipe located steps from Center Village. The event is free to the public and includes a vendor village. 

Copper will conclude the calendar year with a holiday celebration on Dec. 24 and a New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31. Both events will include fireworks, a torchlight parade, live music and more. 

Frisco 

The town of Frisco will have several beloved events leading up to the holidays.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, Frisco will have the 12th annual Frisco Turkey Day 5K. The fun race will allow families, friends and avid runners to get their steps in before enjoying Thanksgiving grub or heading to the mountain for a few turns. 

Immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday, Frisco will host Wassail Days from Nov. 29 through Dec. 7. The event celebrates all things winter and the holidays with local businesses offering unique wassail recipes to sample. Wassail Days is also a competition among businesses serving the popular hot, spiced cider. 

For a full schedule of Frisco events, visit TownOfFrisco.com.

Dillon 

The town of Dillon will mainly host events throughout the month of December. 

As a kickoff to the holidays, the town will have the Lighting of Dillon on Saturday, Dec. 6, lasting from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Dillon will have a holiday market from Dec. 19-21. The market will allow people to stroll through a winter wonderland in the heart of Dillon and will include artisan crafts, seasonal goodies and more. 

Silverthorne

Silverthorne will have two First Friday events spread across November and December. 

On Friday, Nov. 7, Silverthorne will have a Dia de los Muertos celebration. The fun and educational event has been created to promote cultural diversity within the Summit County community. Attendees can enjoy face painting, live music, dancing, traditional food and drink, crafts for kids and a pinata. The event will take place at the Outlets at Silverthorne’s Blue Village from 5:30-8:30 p.m. 

December’s First Friday will take place on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Silverthorne Pavillion and will be a holiday lighting and art market. The event will include the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony. The tree lighting ceremony will be held in front of the main Silverthorne Pavilion entrance at 6 p.m. The First Friday will last from 4:30-8:30 p.m.

For a full lineup of events, visit Silverthorne.org.