From a torchlight parade to sled dog race, there are plenty of activities in the mountains this year
Winter/Spring 21-22
Written By: Evie Carrick
| Images: Courtesy
Holiday Musical at Jackson Hole Playhouse
December 10-January 8: The annual musical at the Jackson Hole Playhouse is a must for any holiday visit to Jackson. You can either show up for dinner and a show (a must for first timers!) or reserve tickets for the show only.
Santa Drops From the Tram
December 24: Santa, as you might expect in a place like Jackson Hole, doesn’t show up on a sleigh — he rappels from the tram. The annual event kicks off in Teton Village at 4:30 p.m. providing a celebratory start to the Christmas holiday season.
New Year’s Eve
December 31: Those staying in Teton Village over the New Year will end 2021 with a torchlight parade down the mountain and an impressive firework show. Grab an après-ski cocktail and watch the lights snake down the mountain, then shift your gaze toward the Sleeping Indian and Gros Ventre mountains to catch the firework show, which begins around 6 p.m. If you’re up for it, hop on the Bridger Gondola and make your way to Rendezvous Lodge to ring in 2022 at the Gondi Gala. (If you find yourself in Jackson or Alta on New Year’s Eve, keep an eye on the local slopes for a glimpse of their torchlight parade.)
Public Stargazing
January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7: The first Thursday of every month (assuming the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit), you can join a free. The event’s astronomy expert will have a large aperture telescope as well as iPads with the Star Walk application so you can see and identify objects in Jackson’s starry night skies. Meet at the Village Road Transit Center in Wilson.
Sled Dog Race
January 28: Watch as highly trained sled dogs head out on Stage 1 of the Annual International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, leading their mushers on a wild 2-mile ride. Stage 1 kicks off in Jackson Town Square at 6:30 p.m. (although the event starts at 5 p.m.). If you want more, catch the Alpine leg of the stage at the entrance to Greys River Trailhead south of Jackson the morning of January 29.
Kings & Queens of Corbet’s
February 11-18: Each year, athletes from around the world come to ski and snowboard the iconic Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Watch the athletes drop into the couloir from the Tensleep Bowl or settle in at home and watch the competition go down online.
Special Olympic Winter Games
February 21-25: Over the course of five days, Special Olympic athletes will gather in the area to train and compete in winter sports like snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and cheer the athletes on from the sidelines.
Jackson Hole Food & Wine — Winter Fest
March 10-12: You’ll ski a little harder if you know an impressive spread of food and drinks are waiting for you at the bottom. This three-day Winter Fest from Jackson Hole Food & Wine includes dishes from special guest chefs and drinks from winemakers, brewers, and cocktail experts.
Snowmobile Hill Climb
March 24-27: Back in 1975, a small group of Jacksonites started a snowmobile hill climb competition that has since grown into an annual world championship event at Snow King Mountain Resort. The four-day event is part of a series of snowmobile hill climb races in the region and is a must for anyone interested in watching snowmobilers speed up the notoriously steep Snow King face.
Jackson Hole Rendezvous
April 1-3: There’s no better way to close out the ski season than with a three-day music festival at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and in downtown Jackson at the Jackson Town Square. And since the iconic spring event is free, that means you can put a little extra cash toward next year’s ski setup.
