"It really came down to the weather," Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham told The Mountain Jackpot in its October 15 report on why the Ice Castles chose not to return for a fourth season.
Since 2023, winter in Cripple Creek has had one big draw that ran for weeks. That ends this year. In its place, the city has spread the season across a few set evenings, and it moved the biggest one to a time that lines up with the way neighboring towns celebrate. If you live in the district, plan your weekends from late November to New Year's Eve around specific dates on the calendar.
Why the ice isn't coming back this winter
The Mountain Jackpot reported that the 2025 season was hard on the attraction. A record-warm, dry winter pushed back its opening by several weeks and closed it a week ahead of schedule. That was a big change from its first Cripple Creek season, when the cold weather let it stay open longer than at its other sites.
Water was the second factor. A city press release quoted in the same story said Cripple Creek has enough water to host the event, but other parts of Teller County are facing significant water problems, and both City Council and Ice Castles weighed that when deciding about this season. The paper also noted that no Colorado locations appear on the company's 2026-2027 list.
Both sides call this a pause and not a breakup. Ice Castles CEO Kyle Standifird thanked the city "for being great partners over the past few years," and the mayor said she hopes for a snowy winter that could bring the attraction back.
What the city moved, and why it matters for your weekends
The Mountain Jackpot reported three changes to the city's holiday events.
- The Christmas parade moves to a Saturday evening, for the first time in recent memory. The paper compared the new format to Woodland Park's and Colorado Springs'.
- The tree lighting is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
- New Year's Eve gets a fireworks show at 7 p.m.
The parade is the biggest change. Last year the city's Gold Camp Country Christmas Parade was a midday event. It lined up at 11:30 a.m. on East Carr Avenue by the train depot, stepped off at noon, and went up Bennett Avenue from Fifth Street to the Aspen Mine Center. This year's Parade of Lights is on Saturday, December 12, after dark. As of mid-October, the city had not posted a start time, route, or entry instructions for 2026. Last year's daytime details are only a precedent, so check the city's events page closer to the date.
The tree lighting also gets better timing. The city's 2026 calendar puts it on Saturday, November 28, the same day as Small Business Saturday. That means the Bennett Avenue shops and the lighting can share one afternoon and evening. The city hasn't announced 2026 times yet. Last year the event ran 6 to 9 p.m. at Pocket Park on Bennett Avenue. Santa posed for photos, and there were carolers, fire pits, s'mores, and warm drinks. The Teller Times reported that the Two Mile High Club donkeys came too.
The season, date by date
These dates come from the city's 2026 calendar, the Butte Theater's season page, Victor's official events listing, and the Community of Caring program. The city notes that all dates are subject to change.
- Friday, November 20: "Winter Wonderettes" opens at the Butte Theater, 139 E. Bennett Ave., and runs through December 27.
- Thursday, November 26: Community of Caring Thanksgiving. Chamonix is also serving a Thanksgiving meal at 980 Prime from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at $65 for adults and $35 for children.
- Saturday, November 28: Cripple Creek Christmas Tree Lighting and Small Business Saturday. Victor's Holiday Headframe Lighting also starts that day.
- Friday, December 11: Winter Wonderland at the Aspen Mine Center, plus Victor's Parade of Lights & Santa at the Elks.
- Saturday, December 12: Cripple Creek Parade of Lights.
- Sunday, December 27: last performance of "Winter Wonderettes."
- Thursday, December 31: New Year's Eve fireworks at 7 p.m.
The two Saturdays carry most of the season. The rest of the list fills in the weeks around them.
The Friday before the parade
December 11 is the busiest night of the season, because Cripple Creek and Victor both have events that evening.
In Cripple Creek, Winter Wonderland at the Aspen Mine Center is a holiday reception and fundraiser connected to the Community of Caring's Christmas program. In 2025 it had decorated trees, wreaths, and gift baskets up for silent auction, plus food, hot drinks, and music from the SilverWood Flute & Guitar Duo. The 2026 program and hours haven't been posted yet, so the Community of Caring's Christmas program page is the place to check.
Six miles away in Victor, the same night brings the Parade of Lights & Santa at the Elks. With Cripple Creek's own parade the next evening, families in the district can see one parade each night that weekend.
The Aspen Mine Center has been busy that weekend before. In 2025 it hosted a Soup for the Soul and Cookie Contest on Friday, December 12, with $5 entry, and a Parks and Recreation craft fair the next day with more than 30 vendors. Those were last year's events. If they come back, the Bennett Avenue end of town will be full both days.
A weeknight anchor on Bennett Avenue
The Butte Theater's holiday show gives you something to do on nights without an event. "Winter Wonderettes" is a holiday musical about four friends performing at the Harper Hardware Christmas party, and it runs from November 20 to December 27. The theater's November and December schedule lists 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows. For groups of 12 to 25, tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for students, and children five and under get in free. Check the theater directly for individual ticket prices and the date you want.
What's closed until spring
The holiday events are easier to plan around once you know which year-round staples are shut down.
- The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad has ended its 2026 season and expects to reopen in May 2027 at its depot, 520 E. Carr Ave.
- The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine says on its website that it is closed for the foreseeable future and gives no reopening date.
- The Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine tours came back on September 10 after a six-year break, KKTV reported. Victor's listings show the season running only through the end of October, weather permitting.
Some places stay open. The Victor Lowell Thomas Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November weekends and on December weekends through January 2, 2027, weather permitting, and admission is $10 for all ages. The Trails of Gold between the two towns are open all year, but the trail group warns that neither the trails nor the access roads get winter maintenance.
February is next
The city plans to keep the momentum going past New Year's. Officials promise Ice Fest will be "bigger and better than ever," and The Mountain Jackpot reports it runs February 12 to 20. In October the city's Ice Festival page still showed the 2026 festival, so confirm the dates there before you book anything.
Wondering what a home near Bennett Avenue or anywhere else in the district is worth this winter? High Country Realty works in Cripple Creek and Victor all year, and our team can give you a current local valuation before the parade. Get Your Home Valuation.
