Christmas is supposed to be about giving and spending time with the important people in your life so here at The Insider we’ve compiled a list of fun things to do with your loved ones, while also giving yourself a bit of a thrill. These are the 12 days of Christmas, Whistler-Style – so strap in and get ready for snow, excitement, twinkling lights, good times, great food and fantastic winter enjoyment.
No partridges, no pear trees (although there may be some tree skiing.) Happy Holidays.
1. The First Day of Christmas – Holiday Markets
The popular song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” starts with someone getting a partridge in a pear tree. Here in Whistler, that isn’t really an option— the kind of climate and elevation that makes for a white Christmas and world-class skiing is not that conducive to growing fruit trees. We do have ptarmigans, which are like partridges, but they turn ghost-white in the winter and are pretty tough to spot.
So rather than follow the lyrics too literally why not just get into the general spirit of the season and see if you can find a Whiski Jack or Stella Jay-inspired Whistler gift at one of the upcoming holiday markets?
The Whistler Holiday Market is at the Westin Resort & Spa on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 from 10 AM to 5 PM. You’ll find over 65 curated vendors along with a cohort of young entrepreneurs at the Bratz Biz Youth Artisan Market. There’s artisanal food and drink, fine art, handcrafted jewellery, ceramics, apparel, accessories and so much more.
This year, the Whistler Children’s Chorus returns performing a festive mix of songs from their upcoming Winter Holiday Concert alongside beloved holiday classics – singing along is encouraged! Plus, Bratz Biz’s ever-popular face painting and craft table will be back for even more family fun.
It’s $5 to enter, which goes back to arts and culture programming, and kids under 10 are free. If you’re on a holiday market roll head to Creekside Village for The Mom Market, which is also happening that weekend on Sunday, December 1.
On December 8, head to the Audain Art Museum for the incredible art of course, but also because it’s the Bespoke Market which showcases creative entrepreneurs including designers, small shop owners, and makers. Find a selection of items such as handcrafted jewellery, one-of-a-kind art, natural skincare, artisanal foods and beverages, slow fashion and home goods from 30+ vendors.
Who knows, maybe you will find a partridge amongst all the arts and crafts!
2. The Second Day of Christmas – Tube Park
Okay, it’s the second day of Christmas in Whistler, you definitely won’t find two turtle doves floating around but we do have a Tube Park! There are seven lanes of icy, sliding fun from more gentle slopes, including two lanes for the little kids, all the way to fast lanes for those after an adrenaline rush. And the best part? You don’t have to lug your tube far as they have a conveyor belt, or what we like to call a magic carpet.
“We have one of the longest Tube Parks around,” says Steve McFadden Tube Park Manager. “it’s almost 1,000 feet long and one of the steeper tube parks out there. It can really get exhilarating.”
The bubly Tube Park is located at Blackcomb Base 2 and they start their season as soon as they’ve got enough snow to slide on (typically around mid-December). It’s accessible by taking the Excalibur Gondola at the base of Whistler Mountain (free for foot passengers) up to Base 2 and walking across the ski slope and up some stairs.
Those who are not comfortable with stairs or require direct access (i.e. strollers, wheelchairs, etc.) should go by car up to Lot 8 (free parking) where they can directly access the park.
It’s family-friendly (Steve doesn’t build jumps in the middle) although children must be three years old and taller than 91 centimetres (three feet/36 inches) to partake. You need a “mini ticket” for the little ones, which are only sold at the window (not ahead online). It’s good to note that kids under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult, so this could be something teenagers could do on their own, although you will need to sign their waiver.
“Make sure you wear decent winter boots, not ski boots,” Steve adds. “We have a conveyor belt to get you up the slope but there is still a bit of walking around and ski boots are no good for that.”
We’d suggest wearing your warm, winter snow gear and for the kiddos, their helmets.
Admission tickets are sold in one or two-hour chunks, you can pre-book tickets online three days prior but you will need to grab the physical tickets from the Tube Park Hut at Base 2 when you enter. Visit Whistler.com for hours and more info.
3. The Third Day of Christmas – Fire & Ice Show
A 45-foot ski jump is nerve-wracking to most people, toss in a flaming ring and a live audience and it gets downright terrifying. For the men and women of Whistler’s weekly Fire & Ice Show, however, it’s just another day at the office. At least, it is once they get the first jump of the season out of the way.
At 7:30 PM the Fire and Ice performance will take place on the lower slopes of Whistler Mountain in Skier’s Plaza (right beside the Garibaldi Lift Co.) The stars of the show are Whistler Blackcomb ski school instructors, with a few pro-athlete ringers, who will take the skies and launch tricks through flaming hoops as the crowd “oohs” and “awes” below.
The show is not as dangerous as it sounds, these people are professionals, and in over a decade of performances pro-skier Myles Ricketts is the only guy to ever actually hit the flaming hoop and crash. He escaped unscathed though, and now works as a coordinator on the event to make sure no one else suffers the same fate.
“You’re definitely nervous the first time but it’s also really fun. You’re concentrating on the fire but once you get into the air you can’t really see anything anyhow so instinct and training take over,” Myles says.
A newer component of this free event is the telling of the legend of Spo7ez, a village shared by the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Natione along with a performance by world champion hoop dancer, Alex Wells. Dress warmly, grab a hot chocolate and prepare to be amazed! Given that French hens can’t fly we don’t think any of them will be at the show.
4. The Fourth Day of Christmas – Ziplining
Reindeer aren’t the only things flying over the Whistler treetops this holiday season. Instead of four calling birds, we want you to be the bird on a Whistler Zipline tour. Click into a steel cable and fly through the coastal rainforest treetops at speeds that can only really be described as “exhilarating plus.”
Whistler offers plenty of different zipline options but the key tour this holiday season is the Winter Aprѐs Tour from Ziptrek Ecotours, which includes a 2,000-foot monster zipline that drops over 20 stories. As dusk settles and the moonlight begins to hit the snowy trees, this is one way to get the adrenaline pumping and the good times rolling.
With platforms and bridges perched high in the forest between ziplines and LED lights twinkling in the night, this is one of the most memorable holiday experiences Whistler has to offer. Plus, these tours are $20 less than the busier daytime trips and, with darkness coming early as the shortest day of the year draws near, you can still make it back to the Village in time for dinner.
5. The Fifth Day of Christmas – Speed Sliding
Five golden rings? We’ll give you the Olympic rings instead, how’s that? Winter in Whistler is certainly never boring but perhaps this holiday season could use a full-blown shot of pure adrenaline and that fear-fuelled mental clarity that only the most unique and exhilarating activities can deliver. Well, how does rocketing headfirst down a frozen track of ice at speeds up to around 100 KM/hour sound?
Anyone with a serious need for speed should hit up the Public Skeleton and Bobsleigh rides offered at the Whistler Sliding Centre throughout the holidays and into the New Year. Whistler boasts the fastest ice track in the world and anyone over 16 years old that meets the health, height and weight requirements can hop in for the ride of a lifetime.
Skeleton participants slide solo on what essentially looks like a large cafeteria tray on skates. Your nose is inches from the ice as you rocket down the track. Bobsleigh riders pile in with a professional driver and both activities offer the exhilaration of reaching highway speeds while experiencing one of Whistler’s great Olympic Legacies firsthand.
You know the ride will be a once-in-a-lifetime when the official Sliding Centre Know Before You Go handout reads, “Participants should use the washroom before the start of the run (due to gravitational pressure on bladder during runs).”
6. The Sixth Day of Christmas – A Snowmobile Fondue
Although the geese have flown south for the winter, the snow continues to fly in the mountains around Whistler and our sixth day of Christmas is all about discovering a new way to shred pow. Ditch the skis, snowboard and/or snowshoes and hop on a snowmobile – it’s a fresh, new world of good times.
Whistler snowmobile tours range from three-hour afternoon trips in the local forests or ski hill to epic full-day powderhound journeys into the wilderness of the incredible Callaghan Valley. Regardless of where you go, there’s something really fun and awesome about being able to access the vast alpine and fresh powder in a way you never will on skis or boards.
The must-do sled adventure this holiday season is the Mountaintop Fondue. Guides from Canadian Wilderness Adventures lead a convoy up Blackcomb Mountain to the Crystal Hut for a candlelit fondue dinner accompanied by live acoustic melodies at 6,000 feet above sea level.
Few things are as magical as being in the high alpine after dark with Whistler Village twinkling below and the winter moon reflecting off the sea of glaciers and peaks. Throw in a cheese fondue, charcuterie and a guided snowmobile ride to get you there and back and the experience becomes “all-time.”
Or you can travel in a snowcat to the top rather than a snowmobile, making it more accessible. The Mountain Top Fondue has two seatings on New Year’s Eve, and trust me, this would be the most spectacular way to celebrate it.
If you fancy going a little further afield then there’s always the Callaghan backcountry Steak Night dinner option. As dusk falls you venture up Sproatt Mountain for a three-course steak dinner cooked on an old-fashioned wood stove and grill in a rustic cabin. How Canadian is that? Your Angus beef sirloin is served with garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and a feature dessert (vegetarian and vegan options are available).
Book the New Year’s Eve Fondue or any other snowmobile trip on Whistler.com.
7. The Seventh Day of Christmas – XC Adventure
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than a peaceful glide through a winter wonderland?
Lost Lake Cross Country Ski & Snowshoes trails offer the perfect wilderness winter experience just minutes walk from Whistler Village. The 525-acre park has 40 kilometres of trails (skiing and snowshoeing) crisscrossing throughout the coastal rainforest and around one of Whistler’s most treasured lakes.
“Lost Lake Park is an absolute gem of wilderness,” says Ian Goldstone, owner of Cross Country Connection, the Whistler Valley’s epicentre of Nordic skiing. “It’s an urban park, vibrant, but still very full of nature. And it’s literally a four-minute walk from the Village.”
Cross Country Connection is located at the entrance to Lost Lake Park and Ian and his team are always ready to set you up with rentals or instruction. Ski trails are groomed for either skate or classic style and the 3.5 kilometre “Lost Lake Loop” is lit at night until 8 PM.
To get there from Whistler Village Square you walk north along the Valley Trail which follows the Fitzsimmons Creek downstream. You’ll be between the creek and the public parking lots. Pass under the bridge where Lorimer Road runs on top and then turn right to cross a footbridge to Lost Lake PassivHaus. It should take you about five to ten minutes. The closest parking are Day Lots 4 and 5.
Check out the map, grooming report and on-trail webcam for a real-time look at conditions. You probably won’t find seven swans a swimming on this 7th Day of Christmas, but frozen-over Lost Lake is certainly beautiful this time of year. Enjoy.
If you love cross-country skiing, make sure you will want to head to Whistler Olympic Park, which has over 55 kilometres of groomed trails. They are also hosting a Solstice Ski on December 18 where they’re decorating their trails with 100s of candles and lights.
8. The Eighth Day of Christmas – Here Comes Santa
Santa likes to visit Whistler, not just for Christmas, but to get a few laps on the ski hill. Every December there’s an annual “Dress like Santa Day” on Whistler Blackcomb. That morning, the first 75 people to show up at the Garibaldi Lift Company dressed as Mr or Mrs Claus will receive a free lift ticket. Those early risers will then meet up with a bunch more seasonally clad rippers and upload the Fitzsimmons Express chair at 8 AM. Once they reach the top the Santa-posse will gather and ski en-mass down to the Emerald Chair.
While you might not find any maids a-milking, you will see 100+ Santas bombing down the slopes together may require some explaining to the younger spectators, the event is a lot of fun and the perfect way to “out-Christmas” your friends back home. “Oh, you got a photo sitting on Santa’s knee at the mall?… Cute, now check out this shot of me and Santa throwing 360’s in the terrain park.”
9. The Ninth Day of Christmas – Bouncy Castles
Never mind just nine ladies dancing, we’ll have the whole family bouncing around at Wintersphere. In late December, the Whistler Conference Centre transforms into a bouncy castle playroom with visits from Santa, entertainers, a holiday café, kid’s crafts, and a holiday maze.
“Everyone loves a bouncy castle,” says Sue Eckersley, who conceived the concept with her team at Watermark Communications. “That is our main draw and the younger kids go bananas for them along with the craft table. Then we have ping pong and other table games for the older kids.”
With food and warm indoor activities for all, this place can be a true day-saver for exasperated parents who just want a warm, safe place to let their kids run around, have fun, and burn off some of that youthful exuberance.”
Cool, fun, safe, free. And most importantly, kid-approved.
10. The Tenth Day of Christmas – Ice Skating
A public, outdoor skating rink right in the heart of Whistler Village gives everyone a chance to skate under a disco ball with the pristine alpine peaks of North America’s premier winter resort as the backdrop. Maybe some skating lords will be “a-leaping” as they throw down some axels on the ice.
From the distinct sound of cold steel gliding across the ice to watching your breath fog in the crisp winter air, skating at Olympic Plaza is more than just free family fun, it’s a chance to glimpse what it means to be Canadian. Grab a hot chocolate from one of the nearby cafes, enjoy the music and look up at the stars above.
11. The Eleventh Day of Christmas – Eat, Shop, Sing and Laugh
The day before Christmas can be hectic as procrastinators and the unprepared rush to and fro attempting to squeeze in an entire holiday season’s worth of last-minute shopping. Luckily, most everything in Whistler Village is within walking distance of each other so that makes for a much more civilized (and scenic) day of running around.
With more than 200 shops in the Village, last-minute gift-givers have options on everything from shiny jewelry to vintage t-shirts, to ice axes to toques. And while there’s nothing wrong with shopping till you’re dropping, Whistler is also about having fun and appreciating the finer things in life so don’t forget to throw a few snowballs around, check out the free skating rink, or partake in a fine meal at one of Whistler’s many world-class dining establishments.
Araxi Restaurant is world-renowned for its fine wine, inviting atmosphere and delicious, locally sourced menu. While their nighttime reservations book fast, Araxi offers an incredible Après Ski Fondue every day from 3 to 6 PM. Ski towns and fondue go together like chocolate and cheese and Araxi’s central location in Whistler’s Village Square makes it the perfect spot for a pit stop. Take a read of our après post for more ideas.
If you’re looking for Christmas cocktails we suggest heading to The Raven Room from November 22 onwards over the festive season. At this time of year, this local favourite is decked with boughs of holly and so, so, so much more. They host the fun and kitschy MIRACLE pop-up cocktail bar that serves cocktails with names like Elfin’ Around, Christmapolitain and Run, Run Reindeer. It’s a trip to be in a room that looks more like Santa’s grotto than a bar!
Talking of pipers piping, for festive singing, check out Arts Whistler’s O Come All Ye Soulful, happening at the Maury Young Arts Centre on December 12. Two award-winning powerhouses, vocalist Dawn Pemberton and bassist/bandleader Jodi Proznick, perform with an all-star band for a joyful, soulful twist on your favourite holiday classics. Get ready to sing your hearts out to timeless tunes made famous by legends like Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, John Legend, Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding, Darlene Love, Vince Guaraldi and more. It’s a soulful experience that will definitely get you in the festive mood.
The Laugh Out Live comedy crew are doing four shows over festive on December 27, 28, 29 and 30. This is the third Resting Grinch Face show series with a merry mix of high-energy improv, side-splitting sketch and uproarious stand-up comedy. Their Whistler holiday-themed show is the perfect blend of humour and entertainment that promises something for everyone! It’s Saturday Night Live meets Whose Line Is It Anyway? meets the Price is Right meets Whistler! And it’s a hoot.
12. The Twelfth Day of Christmas – Merry Christmas!
Can one of the 12 drummers give us a drum roll, please! One awesome thing about Christmas in Whistler is that Santa or Ullr (the unofficial god of Snow) or whoever is in charge usually blesses us with fresh snow. Many Christmas mornings in Whistler have seen fresh snowfall and skiing on Christmas is how most true locals celebrate the big day.
“While everyone else is back home opening presents we are out ripping and empty hill,” says late Whistler artist Chili Thom. “And it’s usually covered in fresh pow so you just get up and enjoy being with your family or friends.”
And here’s the kicker, the real meaning of Christmas. Snowboard photography pioneer Dano Pendygrasse has been riding Christmas Day in Whistler for as long as he can remember and he summed it up perfectly for us:
“When I was young,” Dano says. “Skiing on Christmas was a pain because I just wanted to get back to the presents but as I got a little older I recognized the light crowds and started to appreciate that. Later on, when life got really busy it became the only day I got a chance to ski with both my parents and my brother so I really looked forward to it.
Real locals always ride on Christmas. I distinctly remember catching one of the first few chairs on the Peak one Christmas day—dropping into untracked just under mid-station and hearing (former World Cup Downhiller and local legend) Robby Boyd and his wife Sherry cheering me on from the chair. In the end, I don’t remember the socks and sweater I got as presents that year, but I’ll always have that memory, and that’s the best present you can get.”
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth to all. (Now get off the computer and go enjoy a day on the hill with the people you love.)
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally written in 2012. We enjoyed the festive puns so much that we updated a few things and added some more!