9 Magical Ways to Experience the Holidays at Pennsylvania’s Ski Resorts

If you’re dreaming of a white winter wonderland filled with snowy mountain slopes, dazzling holiday lights and cozy bonfires, then a holiday getaway to your favorite Pennsylvania Ski Resort is a great choice. Not only will you find plenty of powder amidst picturesque landscapes, but some of the region’s best holiday festivities, too. There is something for everyone to enjoy from traditional holiday gingerbread and light celebrations to thrilling New Year’s Eve skiing and tubing parties and you might even catch a glimpse of Santa on the slopes, too.

For starters, here are a few options, organized by region from our friends at SkiPA.

EASTERN PA

1. 1. Gingerbread House Workshop & Photos with Santa

   Palmerton
   
   

2. Blue Mountain Resort is offering families a chance to dust off their creative juices and enjoy a fun afternoon of Gingerbread house making in the Vista Ballroom at the Summit Lodge. Guests can enjoy live acoustic Christmas music and even meet Santa Claus, too. Children 12 and under will receive a special gift from Santa. Families should bring their own cameras and phones to take pictures.

   When: Dec. 15, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
   Where: Blue Mountain Resort
   Cost: $5 per person includes one hot chocolate bar visit per person, meet and greet with Santa and special gift and entertainment. $25 for a complete Gingerbread making kit.

3. 2. Breakfast with Santa & Snow Tubing

   Scranton
   
   

4. Montage Mountain is hosting its 6^th Annual “Breakfast with Santa.” This year families can choose a breakfast session from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. or a brunch session from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Round up the kids for breakfast, crafts, a photo opportunity with Santa and then use the snow tubing voucher for a fun-filled day on the mountain.

   When: Dec. 15, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
   Where: Montage Mountain Resort
   Cost: Ages 12 and up: $20. Ages 3-12: $10. Ages 2 and under are free.

5. 3. Ski with Santa

   East Stroudsburg
   
   

6. This year Santa, an accomplished skier and snowboarder, will be dashing down all the ski trails at Shawnee Mountain in true holiday spirit. It’s a perfect time to grab the kiddos small and big alike and spend the afternoon hitting the slopes with the Jolly old elf himself.

   When: Dec. 22, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
   Where: Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort
   Cost: Free with Lift Ticket

7. 4. New Year’s Eve Tubing, Fireworks & Torchlight Parade

   Blakeslee
   
   

8. Kick off the New Year at Big Boulder for a night to remember. Enjoy a torchlight parade starting at 8:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. Tube under the stars with your friends and family and celebrate the New Year in style.

   When: Dec. 31, 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
   Where: Big Boulder
   Cost: Lift Tickets for Skiing and Tubing

CENTRAL PA

5. 5. ULLR Fest

   Lewisberry

   

6. Roundtop is kicking off the ski season with their Annual ULLR Fest. There will be a huge bonfire to appease ULLR, the Norse God of Winter. Enjoy the cool mountain air and starry skies via Roundtop’s dual zip lines. Enjoy a great selection of Troegs winter seasonal beers, food specials and music with Riff Mountain. Doors open at 6 p.m. Fire lighting at 7 p.m.

   When: Dec. 7, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
   Where: Roundtop Mountain Resort
   Cost: $10 for two dual zip line rides

7. 6. New Year’s Family Celebration at Blue Knob

   Claysburg

   

8. If you'd rather spend New Year’s Eve with the family this year, then spend it at the summit of Blue Knob All Seasons Resort. Blue Knob is kicking off the New Year with a family-friendly evening filled with plenty of activities for the kids, live music, fireworks and plenty of powder time on the mountain. The slopes will be open until 10 p.m. and there will be an extra snow tubing session from 10 p.m. until midnight.

   When:Dec. 31, 9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
   Where: Blue Knob All Seasons Resort
   Cost:Free with Lift Ticket

9. 7. Ring in the New Year at Liberty Mountain

   Carroll Valley
   
   

10. Liberty Mountain is ringing in the New Year with late-night skiing and snowboarding until 1 a.m., fireworks at midnight and a variety of special events happening around the resort. Special Lift Tickets will be available from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. and 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. There is also a reservation only Late-Night Snow Tubing Bash at Boulder Ridge, which features a fun night of snow tubing complete with an all you can eat late night buffet, DJ, photo booth and fireworks.

    When: Dec. 31
    Where: Liberty Mountain Resort
    Cost: $56 per person for Tubing Bash. See resort website for lift tickets.

WESTERN PA

8. Light Up Nemacolin

Farmington

8. Take in the gorgeous lighting and decorations that grace Nemacolin Resort and catch the holiday spirit. Join in as we Light up Nemacolin and celebrate the holiday season, Festivities include Christmas carolers, ice carving demonstration in front of the Chateau Lafayette, food truck, holiday characters and holiday celebrations that are sure to impress. In addition to over 2 million lights, and the debut of the newest light show “Twas the Night Before Christmas” there will also be train rides and a variety of holiday workshops.

   When: Dec. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
   Where: Mystic Mountain at Nemacolin
   Cost: $5 per person for train rides

9. 9. Holiday in the Highlands

   Seven Springs
   
   

10. Holidays in the Highlands at Seven Springs has become a popular winter tradition. Guests enter through the tree-lined resort entrance where more than one-million lights brighten the night, then hop aboard the Santa Express Holiday Train to take a ride through the Holiday Village. Santa Claus is available for photos with the whole family and there is a craft zone to make special holiday creations. Grownups can find the perfect gifts for everyone on the list from more than 30 local craft vendors and listen as carolers fill the room with holiday cheer. After experiencing the lights, visitors can check out the special holiday concert line-up.

    When: Holiday Village: Nov. 29 through Dec. 7 (Fridays and Saturdays)
    Light Display: Nov. 29 through Jan. 19
    Where: Seven Springs Mountain Resort
    Cost: Free. There is an admission for holiday concerts

11.  

For more great winter vacation ideas at Pennsylvania Ski Resorts, visit SkiPA.com. To see what other winter experiences PA has to offer, check out the visitPA website and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on even more great ideas and places to visit around our state.