Salida

Salida, a mountain town, celebrates Christmas a little differently from other cities by deciding to decorate a mountain rather than a Christmas tree. During this most magical time of year, main streets across the state are all aglow in beautiful Christmas lights, creating traditions people look forward to all year.

Salida abounds in cool festivals year-round from a New Year’s Day 5K run through a New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade & Fireworks at Monarch Mountain. Festivities include golfing, America’s oldest whitewater festival, a beer brewers’ rendezvous, fine arts festivals, fair & rodeo, Colorado wine fest, bike festivals, fiber festivals, and music festivals. Every year during the holiday season, Tenderfoot Mountain's 750-foot-tall Christmas tree is highlighted by hundreds of colorful lights that are strung up. An outdoor and indoor festival with free cookies and hot chocolate is part of the lighting ceremony, which also features a display of fireworks. When Santa makes a ski visit on Christmas Eve and the day before, there is another celebration at the nearby Monarch Ski Area. Children can visit Santa while the mountain is open for skiing and riding.