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The 7 Best Ski Resorts for New Year's Eve 2024

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Dec 26, 2024 5:34 AM ET

There's no better way to ring in the New Year than spending it on the slopes.

Whether you're closing out 2024 with blower pow or a bluebird groomer day (or anything in between because skiing is skiing!), save a little energy for your après. Many ski resorts have amazing New Year's Eve celebrations with torchlit parades, firework shows, live music, and so on.

Set that New Year's resolution to do more squats so you can ski more laps or finally buy those skis you've been eyeing since last season and celebrate with some free cookies at Stowe or a pool party at Park City. Here's some of the best places to ring in the New Year once the lifts have closed for the day.

1. Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Where better to toast champagne to the New Year than the home of Champagne Powder?

When you're done all done night skiing at Steamboat Resort, you can head to the base for their annual New Year's celebration which features a torchlit parade, champagne toast, and more.

Ahead of a parade of synchronized torch-wielding Steamboat Ski instructors, you can watch five snowcats, decked in holiday lights make their way down Mt. Werner this New Year's Eve. Following the parade, fireworks help to ring in the New Year above the mountain.

Once you've swapped your gore-tex for a mask and ball gown, you can head to the Masquerade Ball and dance the night away. Or head downtown to one of Steamboat's many bars and music venues and take your pick of fun New Year's parties. Drink too much champagne or ski too many laps? Spend your New Years Day recovering at nearby Strawberry Park Hot Springs and getting ready for whatever 2025 has in store.

2. Heavenly Resort, South Lake Tahoe, California

South Lake Tahoe’s state line paradise, Heavenly Resort, knows how to throw a good New Year’s Party. Festivities start around 4:30pm with live music that continues throughout the evening until the Times Square Ball Drop on the east coast.

Alongside live music, you can find fire dancers and other performances up until Heavenly’s own Ball Drop –Gondola Ball Drop, that is. A firework show follows close behind and for those looking to keep the night going, South Lake Tahoe is home to lots of bars as well as casino and nightclub parties on the Nevada side of the border.

3. Snow King Mountain, Jackson, Wyoming

While its larger neighbor gets all the hype, Jackson, Wyoming’s town hill puts on one of the most fun ski town New Year’ Eve Celebrations around.

Expert skiers can participate in a torchlit parade down the face of Snow King Mountain, which can be seen all around town. Spectators can watch from the base of Snow King where the parade skis right down to them. Following the parade, there’s a spectacular firework display set off from mid-mountain –talk about a good view! Bundle up and bring some hot cocoa with you or better yet, watch the festivities from the balcony at Still West Brewery, just across the street from the base of Snow King.

4. Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler, British Columbia

There’s pretty much always a party to be found in Whistler Village, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. Ringing in the New Year by skiing at one of the best resorts in North America is a great way to start your day.

If your legs aren’t too tired from skiing more than 5,000 feet of vertical drop, you can find live entertainment, games, and ice skating. Whistler’s famous Fire & Ice Show gets a little extra holiday magic and features big air ski and snowboard displays, fire spinners, and fireworks for New Year’s.

For families and kids, there’s pre-midnight countdowns and a 9pm firework show. For those looking to celebrate late into the night, Whistler is known for its many nightclubs equipped with world-class DJs.

5. Telluride, Colorado

A loud explosion right around 6:25pm will tell you you’re in the right place if you’re spending New Year’s Eve in Telluride, Colorado.

An homage to the town’s mining roots, dynamite is used to signal the beginning of Telluride’s torchlit parade, which has Telluride Ski Patrollers carrying lit torches down the mountain and into the Mountain Village.

With Telluride’s canyon-esc topography, the parade can be seen from pretty much anywhere in downtown. Following the firework show that caps the torchlit parade off, make your way to Colorado Avenue to ring in the New Year in front of Telluride’s historic courthouse with tourists and locals alike.

6. Stowe, Vermont

East coast ski staple, Stowe, is not to be overlooked for a great New Year’s celebration. Spruce Peak Village offers free cookies and hot chocolate (reason enough on its own, if you ask me), ice dancing performances, and live music.

An on mountain firework show at 7pm keeps the festivities going and offers an early celebration for the family-friendly resort. A pub crawl is the perfect way to keep the night going in Stowe with lots of breweries to visit and the craft beer Vermont is known for.

The Trapp Family Lodge’s Austrian Bierhall is a great option to grab some food and more beer before ringing in the New Year at one of Stowe’s many bar and restaurant parties.

7. Park City Mountain Resort, Utah

Park City’s Canyons Village hosts the mountain’s New Year’s Celebration. Skiers can enjoy Canyons 4,000 acres of skiable terrain from 3-5pm before heading into Canyons Village to enjoy live music throughout the night.

Parents can drop their kids off at Pendry Park City’s New Year’s Eve kids night which has a full on celebration with a dance party, crafts, games, dinner, and a movie showing at the end. While the kids are taken care of, parents (and non parents!) can enjoy Pendry’s Pool House Party and aprés from 6pm to 12:30am.

Nearby, the Park City Ice Arena offers public skate lessons on the 30th and 31st throughout the day. Just up the road from Park City, is the Heber Valley Railroad’s special North Pole Express train ride. One of the most family friendly attractions in the area, you can listen to carols, enjoy holiday treats, and meet Santa all while aboard the train. Downtown Park City also has plenty to offer with many of its restaurants and bars hosting New Year’s parties and in true Park City fashion, elegant multi-course meals to wine and dine your way into the New Year.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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