# Wintersköl 2026: Aspen's 75th

> Wintersköl 2026 runs December 10–13 for its 75th year: torchlight descent and fireworks Saturday at 7pm, opening day at Highlands and Buttermilk, beer festival and Soupsköl.

Canonical page: https://aspenprive.com/winterskol-aspen/  
Updated: 2026-10-02 · Publisher: Aspen Privé (local Aspen stay planning and concierge)

Wintersköl, Aspen's winter carnival, celebrates its **75th year on December 10–13, 2026**. The night to plan around is **Saturday, December 12**: **Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk open** that day, the beer festival and Soupsköl fill the afternoon, a bonfire burns in town, and at **7pm the torchlight descent and fireworks** light Aspen Mountain.

Schedule from the Aspen Chamber Resort Association's Wintersköl page, checked October 1, 2026. Times can change; confirm on the day.

## The Wintersköl 2026 schedule

- **Thu, Dec 10**: Icebreaker Bash (3:30–5:30pm), s'mores in Snowmass (3:30pm), an Aspen Extreme screening (7:30pm).
- **Fri, Dec 11**: KIDSCULPT (9am–noon), Game of Stones (2–4pm), Holiday Market (5–8pm), Rail Jam (6:30–7:30pm).
- **Sat, Dec 12**: Opening day at Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk; holiday markets; Beer Festival (2–6pm); Soupsköl (3–5pm); bonfire (4:30–7:30pm); torchlight descent and fireworks (7pm); concert (9:30pm).
- **Sun, Dec 13**: Sound healing and pup portraits (4–6pm) to close the weekend.

## How to do the 75th well

- **Arrive by Friday**: Saturday is the day: two mountains open, the town is full by afternoon and the fireworks are at seven. Arriving Thursday or Friday turns it into a ski weekend rather than a rush.
- **Dinner after the fireworks**: Saturday-night tables in town go quickly that weekend; booking an 8:30pm or later table, or a chef at the house, keeps the evening easy.
- **Early-season skiing**: Mid-December is early season: Aspen Mountain and Snowmass are open, and Highlands and Buttermilk open that Saturday. Rentals delivered to the house save the first-morning queue.

## Questions

**When is Wintersköl 2026?**  
December 10–13, 2026, the festival's 75th year.

**What time are the Wintersköl fireworks?**  
Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 7pm, after the torchlight descent of Aspen Mountain.

**What else happens that Saturday?**  
Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk open for the season, plus the Beer Festival (2–6pm), Soupsköl (3–5pm) and a bonfire (4:30–7:30pm).

## What Aspen Privé can arrange for this

Skis at the door, a table after the fireworks, a driver for the evening and the house warm when you arrive.

- [Private airport transfer](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-airport-transportation/) (From $195 per vehicle): From Aspen's airport to the door in a private SUV, timed to your actual landing.
- [Residence ready on arrival](https://aspenprive.com/first-evening-in-aspen/): Heat, lights, beds and the first evening sorted before you walk in.
- [A driver for the evening](https://aspenprive.com/contact.html?service=evening-driver) (From $210 per hour): A car and driver on call for dinner and the night out, so nobody hunts for a taxi at midnight.
- [Private chef](https://aspenprive.com/private-chef-aspen/): Dinner at the house, menu agreed in advance.

## Sources (checked October 1, 2026)

- [Aspen Chamber Resort Association: Wintersköl](https://aspenchamber.org/events/winterskol)

## Related

- [Aspen winter events](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-winter-events/): The 2026–27 calendar.
- [Christmas in Aspen](https://aspenprive.com/christmas-in-aspen/): What books first.
- [Ski season dates](https://aspenprive.com/aspen-ski-season-dates/): When each mountain opens.

To plan or request any of this: https://aspenprive.com/plan-your-trip/ · https://aspenprive.com/contact.html