When travelers are looking for a place to enjoy a holiday away that’s filled with beautiful scenery and festive charm, planning a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a sure way to check every box on the list. This beautiful destination is loved by travelers year-round but when the fresh powder begins to fall and holiday festivities are top of mind, there’s a little something extra for everyone who heads this way to enjoy. Jackson Hole’s prime location in the Teton Range means there’s no reason you can’t add incredible outdoor adventures to your holiday lineup of activities while you’re here this time of year. From skiing and snowboarding to snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and more, spending time in the winter wonderland of your surroundings makes it easy to embrace the best of the holiday spirit. Over at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the holiday fun is in full swing, and downtown, shops, and restaurants are topped off with wreaths, bows, and lights. There are even opportunities to take a sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge when you want to add a truly unique activity to your holiday list. All that said, one of the most highly anticipated holiday events in Jackson Hole each year for locals and visitors alike to enjoy is the Jackson Hole Annual Town Square Lighting. It’s a fun-for-everyone experience that just might end up being the highlight of your holiday getaway!
A Beloved and Illuminating Annual Event in Jackson Hole
The holiday season in Jackson Hole gets started long before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day roll around each year. Here, residents and those who are traveling this way in the name of holiday fun alike are treated to an annual Town Square tree lighting event to attend as early as the day after Thanksgiving! This gathering is one of the longstanding traditions that defines Jackson Hole’s local culture, and it’s a great moment to gather in good company and celebrate the arrival of the festive season. The annual Town Square lighting is always well attended and an event everyone looks forward to enjoying together. Town Square sets a vibrant scene this time of year and puts everyone within easy reach of shops that begin offering up holiday goods that can be browsed before and after the lighting as well.
What to Expect When You Attend the Jackson Hole Annual Town Square Lighting
When you’re planning to attend the annual Town Square lighting in Jackson Hole, there’s always a lot to look forward to enjoying. On a typical year, attendees are asked to gather in George Washington Memorial Park with the fun getting started around 4:30 pm. Of course, starting times are prone to change so you’ll want to be sure to check the city calendar before setting your plans in stone. Upon arrival, guests are invited to enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies that are served up in abundance by the local Boy Scouts troops. It’s a tasty way to get things started and a sure way to put you in a holiday mood before the lighting has even begun. Early in the evening, the Jackson Hoole Community Band in tandem with the Jackson Hole Chorale typically performs seasonal songs, much to the delight of audience members of all ages. Singing along is encouraged as a way to elevate the festive vibes and enhance the fun of the experience for everyone!
As the performances begin to wind down, the anticipation for the spectacle ahead rises. That’s because there’s always a countdown to the official lighting moment when the entire Town Square is illuminated in holiday style as Christmas lights and décor begin sparkling just about everywhere you look simultaneously. Once the Town Square is lit up, Santa Claus is scheduled to make his first appearance of the season. On a typical year, he might arrive to Town Square on an ATV, accompanied by a sled dog team, or he might even ride in on a local Fire Truck. Every year is a one-of-a-kind arrival making the event that much more exciting for those who attend. If one meet-and-greet with Santa at the annual Town Square Lighting isn’t enough, not to worry because he’s scheduled to appear at the old Stage Shop shack on the corner of Broadway and Cache each evening from the lighting through Christmas Eve.
Bring Your Camera to Commemorate the Moment
A trip to Jackson Hole any time of year is an opportunity to take a commemorative picture in front of one of the four iconic elk antler arches that adorn Town Square. When you attend the annual Town Square Lighting event, you’ll enjoy the added benefit of being able to capture those moments with the arches lit up in holiday lights! Each of the four archways is worth checking out as they’re built entirely from local elk antlers that are naturally shed each season by the elk that inhabit the National Elk Refuge. Each individual arch is supported by a steel framework and requires over 2,000 antlers to construct in its entirety. They weigh about 14,000 pounds each and when they’re sparkling in holiday lights, they make for an even more impressive sight.
Book Your Holiday Stay with Family and Friends in Jackson Hole Today
When holiday travel plans bring you to Jackson Hole, the team at Abode Jackson Hole has the luxury accommodations in place that you need to stay close to the festive fun and living in style. Reach out today to learn more!