Breckenridge ups the ante on small town holiday charm with the return of Lighting of Breckenridge and Race of the Santas. The first weekend of December kicks off a festive holiday scene in the streets of Breckenridge. Hundreds of Santa look-alikes will run down Main Street in a race to kick-off the holiday season. Hang out post-race to watch the town transform into a real life holiday card thanks to more than 13,000 feet and 250,000 LED holiday lights. The iconic holiday lights in downtown Breckenridge are one of the most photographed sights during the snowy months and continue to shine and spread hope all winter long.
Event Highlights
Watch town transform into a real life holiday card thanks to more than 13,000 feet and 250,000 LED holiday lights.
Come in costume to join hundreds of other Santas running down Main Street.
Start the winter festivities in Breckenridge by lacing up your running shoes for the Race of the Santas! The Race of the Santas is a .5 mile fun run on Main Street Breckenridge. There are some very competitive Santas, but most are just out for the fun on Main Street. The first 700 registrants receive commemorative socks with registration. The first 150 youth registrants for the Moose March receive a moose beanie with registration. Races are not age-restricted — please select Race of the Santas (running) or Moose March (walking/kids) when registering.
Fees
$30 Adults 18+
$10 Kids 10-17
Come back soon for registration information!
Santa Suits & Costumes
Santa suits ($35) or Santa hats ($15) can be purchased with registration — or bring your own!
Bib Pick Up
Bib pick up is Saturday, December 2, 2:00pm – 4:00pm at The Canteen in Breckenridge
Registration closes Saturday, December 2 at 8:00am
Prizes
Gift cards will be given to top three male and female racers.
Dogs who’ve made Santa’s nice list are welcome to parade Santa down Main Street in Breckenridge’s Holiday Dog Parade! This parade is open to all dog breeds.
We love our pets, so please make sure the health and safety of your dog and all other dogs in the parade remains your first priority! Please read the recent guidance from CSU Veterinary about the canine respiratory virus affecting Colorado dogs. It is recommended to make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations, especially for respiratory viruses. If your pet is showing any sign of illness, please keep them home. Participation in the Holiday Dog Parade is voluntary and we encourage you to make the choice that is best for you, your pet, and all other pets in Breckenridge. (Remember, there’s always next year!)
Fee: Free to participate
Come back soon for registration information!
As an extension of its award-winning B Like Breckenridge™ campaign, the Breckenridge Tourism Office has partnered with Summit Rotary Club to host an Adopt an Angel toy collection for local families. Donate new, unwrapped toys, sporting goods, books or games at the Blue River Plaza from 3:00pm – 6:00pm.
New items only please, we are not able to accept gently used items. Visit Summit Rotary’s Adopt an Angel page for donation details.
Get ready to embrace your inner Norse god and make a grand entrance at Ullr Fest in style! Ready Paint Fire invites you to it’s Ullr Helmet Decorating Party, where you can craft your very own unique Ullr Helmet that’s sure to turn heads. This is your chance to stand out in the crowd and celebrate the spirit of Ullr in the most creative way. Cost includes (1) one-size-fits-all Viking helmet + a vast selection of supplies, so you can let your imagination run wild and design a helmet that truly represents you and the Ullr spirit. Drinks, snacks and great music add to the fun!
Date: Dec 2-3
Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Ready, Paint, Fire!
NEW LOCATION – 112 S Ridge St.
Cost: $35
ExploriumFest is 4-days of free exploration and adventure at Mountain Top Explorium. From November 29 to December 2nd, we invite local & visiting families to discover the wonders of the Explorium absolutely free of charge. Experience the countless opportunities available within the Explorium and learn about our vision for an exciting future which includes a complete reimagination of our current space. Each day will be packed with engaging activities for both children and adults. Join us as we look to the future!
Dates: November 29 – December 2, 2023: 4-Days of Free Access
Cost: Free
More Info
The most convenient free parking will be at the Airport Road lot, which will be serviced by Breck FreeRide Red Route. The Tiger Dredge, Wellington, and East Sawmill lots are FREE after 3 p.m. Visit BreckPark.com for in-town parking options and rates. Breckenridge residents are encouraged to carpool, bus, bike and walk into town to avoid additional congestion.
Hang out post-race to watch the town transform into a real life holiday card thanks to more than 13,000 feet and 250,000 LED holiday lights.
During the lighting of the town tree, the real Santa will emerge and illuminate nearly 250,000 LEDs throughout Breckenridge’s Blue River Plaza. That’s more than 50 lights for each Town of Breckenridge resident. If strung end to end, the lights could reach from downtown Breckenridge to tippy top of the highest chairlift in North America, the Imperial Express, almost four times. By using some of the most energy-efficient lights available, the town of Breckenridge saves approx. 155,663 kWh of electricity. That’s enough to power a Tesla around the earth’s circumference approx.17 times.
The most convenient free parking will be at the Airport Road lot, which will be serviced by Breck FreeRide Red Route. The Tiger Dredge, Wellington, and East Sawmill lots are FREE after 3 p.m. Visit BreckPark.com for in-town parking options and rates. Breckenridge residents are encouraged to carpool, bus, bike and walk into town to avoid additional congestion.
YES! Dogs who have made Santa’s nice list are welcome to parade down Main Street in Breckenridge’s Holiday Dog Parade.
We love our pets, so please make sure the health and safety of your dog and all other dogs in the parade remains your first priority! Please read the recent guidance from CSU Veterinary about the canine respiratory virus affecting Colorado dogs. It is recommended to make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations, especially for respiratory viruses. If your pet is showing any sign of illness, please keep them home. Participation in the Holiday Dog Parade is voluntary and we encourage you to make the choice that is best for you, your pet, and all other pets in Breckenridge. (Remember, there’s always next year!) Parade registration and rules can be found here.
The fun run is .7 miles down Breckenridge’s historic Main Street. Santas will cross the finish line in Blue River Plaza, where the Lighting of Breckenridge will commence at 5:00pm.
No! Anyone is welcome to walk, jog or skip through the .7 mile course. This race is for anyone who is ready to get in the holiday spirit! Ages 13 and up.
Please select Race of the Santas (running) or Moose March (walking/kids) when registering.
No. Registration saves you a spot in the fun run. Santa Suits are not included. Santa Suits are available for purchase on the race registration webpage or in person at the Breckenridge Rec Center.
Yes. On Saturday, December 2nd Main Street will be closed for parts of the day.
Closure Details
BLike Breckenridge™️ is a movement born of the spirit of our historic mountain town for those who call it home—whether for a weekend or a lifetime—to live by. It is a cause that connects us to each other, that we can all be a part of.
