On Wednesday, November 25, a banner stretched across Chair 6 at the top of Centennial Lift is scheduled to come down. That marks the start of Beaver Creek's 2026-27 season. DJ Pippen will be at the base, there will be free hot chocolate and cookies, early arrivals get swag, and some gondola cars will have surprise treats inside. Eighteen days later, on December 13, the women's super-G finishes in Red Tail Stadium. Between those two dates, the village has almost no quiet stretch.
That's because Birds of Prey no longer fits in one weekend. In May, organizers added a second women's downhill. That brings this December's total to seven World Cup races on the Beaver Creek course, more than at any Birds of Prey since the course's World Cup debut in 1997. The four-day gap between the two weekends has its own events, so race week now covers the whole first half of December. Opening Week is the run-up to it.
Opening week, November 25 through 29
The resort's announced opening date is Wednesday, November 25, 2026, the day before Thanksgiving. Beaver Creek notes that the date can change with weather and conditions. The annual Beaver Creek Cookie Competition is also part of Opening Week. Five finalists' chocolate chip cookies go in front of guests who sign up to judge, and kids can take part as "Judges in Training." Judging spots are limited, and the resort tells people to arrive early.
Over Thanksgiving weekend the events move into the village. A Holiday Market runs November 27 and 28. The Tree Lighting & Ice Spectacular takes up a full day, with free ice skating, Santa visits, holiday crafts and family entertainment. In the evening there's a skating performance at the rink, then fireworks and the lighting of the village tree. The rink stays busy for the Retro Skate Party, which has a live DJ and free hot cocoa. The Vail Resorts press kit dates Opening Week from November 25 to 29. The first men's downhill is four days after that.
Seven races, two weekends
The race calendar is the backbone of the month. Every race below finishes at John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium, where general admission is free.
| Date | Race | Also in the village |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Dec. 3 | Men's downhill, 11 a.m. | The Hip Snacks, 4 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 4 | Men's downhill, 11 a.m. | Men's Award Ceremony and Bib Draw, 6 p.m., fireworks 6:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 5 | Men's super-G | Nathaniel Rateliff at the Vilar, 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 6 | Men's giant slalom | Nathaniel Rateliff at the Vilar, 7 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 11 | Women's downhill | Women's team autograph signing, 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | Women's downhill | Women's Award Ceremony and Bib Draw, 6 p.m., fireworks 6:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec. 13 | Women's super-G | Scott Rednor Band, 12:30 p.m. |
Women first raced the Birds of Prey downhill course in 2024, and Vail Daily covered this year's addition of a second women's downhill. When organizers announced the change, Sarah Franke, senior vice president of operations for the Vail Valley Foundation, described it this way:
"Seven World Cup races across two weekends is a reflection of how far this festival has come and where it's headed."
So the second weekend now has three races and gets its own full schedule: a team signing, a bib draw, fireworks and free afternoon music. Before the second women's downhill was added, that weekend had two races.
The men's weekend, December 3 through 6
The free music happens on Birds of Prey Way, the expo strip in the village. The Hip Snacks play Thursday at 4 p.m., after the first downhill. On Friday the village schedule fills up. The Great North Special plays at 2 p.m., the men's Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team autograph signing is at 3 p.m., and The Staples play at 4 p.m. Warren Miller's "DAYS OFF" screens at the Vilar Performing Arts Center at 5 and 8 p.m. The men's bib draw is at 6 p.m. on the CELSIUS Music Stage, with fireworks at 6:30.
Saturday has Parton Me at 2 p.m. and Future Joy at 4:15 p.m. Beers of Prey runs 2 to 5 p.m. for $45. Nathaniel Rateliff plays the Vilar that night and again Sunday at 7 p.m., the two headline nights of the men's weekend. On Sunday, giant slalom day, The Runaway Grooms play at 1:30 p.m.
The four days between
Once the giant slalom ends, the festival keeps going. The calendar picks back up Wednesday, December 9, with the Birds of Prey Game Show at 4:30 p.m. and The Laughing Bones at 5:30 p.m. On Thursday, December 10, a Pop-Up Après starts at 3 p.m. and Rumours Colorado plays a free set at 4:30. In the evening, Mountains of the Moon x Music of the Grateful Dead Live is at the Vilar at 7 p.m.
These two nights are the smallest part of the festival, and they fall in the middle of the work week, when village events are usually lightest. The ice rink, the expo on Birds of Prey Way and the Vilar all stay in use, so the village never fully goes back to normal between the two race weekends.
The women's weekend, December 11 through 13
Friday starts with the first women's downhill. Big Richard plays at 2 p.m., the women's team signing is at 3 p.m., and the Sam Grisman Project plays at 4 p.m. Saturday follows the same pattern as the men's Friday. After the second downhill, Rattlesnake Milk plays at 2 p.m. and Moonlght at 4 p.m. Cheers of Prey runs 3 to 4:30 p.m. for $25. The Women's Award Ceremony and Bib Draw is at 6 p.m. on the Beaver Creek Music Stage, with fireworks at 6:30.
On Sunday the super-G closes out the festival. The last free set is the Scott Rednor Band at 12:30 p.m. The organizers note that set times can change.
Getting to Red Tail Stadium
With seven race days, the parking and shuttle routine repeats seven times, so it helps to settle it early. Here's what the Birds of Prey race-day page lays out:
- Fill the car. The Elk and Bear lots at the base are the suggested lots for spectators. Parking is limited, and on race days the resort is offering free parking in those lots to vehicles with five or more occupants. The resort's standard winter rate for those lots is $13 per vehicle before 1 p.m., and parking is free after 1 p.m.
- Go to the Covered Bridge. Free race shuttles leave from the Covered Bridge in Beaver Creek Village throughout race days. Other free shuttles run from the base lots to the Vilar and the Birds of Prey Way expo.
- Plan for the walk uphill. From the race-finish drop-off it's a five-minute walk uphill on snow to the stadium. Organizers recommend allowing an hour from the resort base to Red Tail Stadium. ADA access is available on request at 970.470.2269.
- For the evening events, park in the village garages. Parking in the Villa Montagne and Ford Hall garages is free for three hours after 3 p.m., which covers a 4 p.m. set on Birds of Prey Way.
Core Transit is the other option. Its winter schedule starts November 22, three days before opening day. The race page sends riders from the Vail Transportation Center or Avon Station to the Vail/Beaver Creek Express, which runs every 20 minutes at peak times. The Town of Avon Skier Express also runs from Avon Station to the village. From Edwards, park at the Mountain Rec Field House at Freedom Park and take the Valley or HWY 6 route to Avon Station. If you'd rather watch from the village, a big screen at the ice rink shows the races.
After December 13
After the women's super-G, the schedule settles into a weekly pattern. Thursday Night Lights starts December 17 and runs every Thursday through April 8. Skiers rated Level 5 and above carry light-up batons down Haymeadow, and the night ends with fireworks over Beaver Creek Mountain. Registration opens at 4:30 p.m.
If you're expecting guests for either race weekend, or you're thinking about how a Beaver Creek home fits into your own winter calendar, Viola Realty can help with hosting, rentals and care for your home through race week. When you want to know what your place is worth this season, ask us for a free home valuation.
