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HOLIDAY BREAK IS HERE
December 22nd, 2025 – January 2nd, 2026
Holiday Break at Buck Hill is when winter hits full stride. The hill is fully open, the energy is high, and the calendar is packed with skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, live music, and one of the most anticipated New Year’s Eve celebrations in the region. For seasoned skiers and riders, it’s a chance to rack up laps from morning through night. For families and first-time guests, it’s the perfect window to step into winter sports with structure, support, and plenty of off-snow fun.
Holiday Break is also the busiest time of the season which is why planning ahead makes all the difference. With extended hours, all trails open, multiple freestyle parks, snow tubing, lessons, live entertainment, and fireworks, Buck Hill offers more ways to enjoy winter than ever. This guide breaks it all down so you can spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying the snow.
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Holiday Break Extended Hours: Ski More, Ride Longer
Winter Break is all about maximizing time on snow, and Buck Hill delivers with extended daily hours throughout the holiday period. Weekend laps are already underway, and starting Monday, December 22, 2025 Holiday Break hours officially begin.
Holiday Break Hours (12/22/2025 – 1/2/2026):
Daily: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Christmas Eve (12/24/2025): 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Christmas Day (12/25/2025): 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
New Year’s Eve (12/31/2025): 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM
These extended hours give guests the flexibility to ski early, take a midday break, or enjoy night skiing under the lights. New Year’s Eve stands out as a late-night celebration, combining skiing, snowboarding, tubing, live music, and fireworks show all in one place.
Planning Tip: Holiday Break is peak season. Arriving earlier in the day and purchasing tickets online (Buy Area Lift Tickets HERE and Snow Tubing Tickets HERE) helps avoid lines and ensures access to your preferred activities.
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Terrain Update: Every Trail Is Open
One of the biggest milestones of the season is simple but significant: all trails at Buck Hill are open! With every run ready for action, guests have access to a full range of terrain designed to serve everyone from true beginners to advanced skiers and riders chasing speed, steeps, and repetition.
Buck Hill’s trail layout allows new skiers and snowboarders to progress comfortably while giving experienced guests the opportunity to link laps efficiently.
Beginner Terrain (Green Circle) | Perfect for first-timers and those building confidence, these trails focus on consistent pitch and wide spaces for learning: Rail Yard, Mouse Pass, Little Jibber, Woodchuck Way, Coyote Cutoff, and School Yard
Intermediate Terrain (Blue Square) | A step up in pitch and length, ideal for skiers and riders ready to advance their skills: The Knob, Warner’s Way, Sailer’s Chute, Olympic Dreams, Dash’s Drop, Red Tail Ridge, and Teacher’s Pet
Advanced Terrain (Black Diamond) | Designed for experienced skiers and snowboarders who want steeper terrain and faster laps: Crossroads and Milk Run
With the entire hill open, guests are encouraged to choose terrain that matches their ability and progress gradually. Make sure to read through the Responsibility Code & Park Smart information HERE. Trail signage and the Buck Hill Trail Map (HERE) help guests navigate confidently throughout the resort.
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Freestyle Terrain & Halfpipe: Built for Progression
Freestyle skiing and snowboarding are central to Buck Hill’s identity, and Holiday Break delivers a full lineup of terrain parks designed with progression and safety in mind. Each park is maintained daily, clearly signed, and built to provide appropriate challenges for different ability levels.
Open Freestyle Terrain Parks:
Never-Ever: Extra-small and small features, ideal for first park experiences
The Knob: Small and medium features
Redtail Ridge: Medium and large features
Little Jibber: Small, medium, and large features
Each park has its own layout and flow, allowing riders to choose features that align with their comfort level and skill set. Guests should always follow posted signage, inspect features before riding, and progress gradually.
The Halfpipe
Buck Hill is home to the first halfpipe open to the public in North America, a point of pride that continues to draw riders from across the region. The halfpipe remains a cornerstone of Buck Hill’s freestyle offering and is complete, ready for riding, and in great shape!
Note: The Rail Yard trail is fully skiable, but the Slopestyle Park is not yet built.
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Snow Tubing: Winter Fun Without Skis or Boards
Snow tubing is one of the most popular Holiday Break activities and for good reason. It’s fast, exciting, and requires no experience, special equipment, or technical skills. Guests simply grab a snow tube, hop on the lift, and enjoy the ride.
Snow tubing is ideal for: families and groups, first-time winter guests, groups looking for a shared activity, and anyone who wants winter fun without skis or a snowboard
Holiday Break tubing sessions fill quickly, especially on weekends and evenings. Booking Snow Tubing Tickets online (HERE) in advance is strongly recommended to secure your preferred time slot.
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Winter Break Live Music: Après, Buck Hill Style
When the lifts slow down, the music turns up. Buck Hill’s Winter Break Live Music Series brings together great local artists, festive energy, and a family-friendly après-ski atmosphere at Buck Hill and Buck ’54 Bar & Grill.
From December 26th through January 2nd, guests can warm up, refuel, and unwind with nightly live performances – all with no cover charge.
Live Music Schedule:
Friday, Dec. 26th: Bruce Burniece | 3:00–6:00 PM
Friday, Dec. 26th: Mike Poot | 6:30–9:30 PM
Saturday, Dec. 27th: Preston Gunderson | 4:00–7:00 PM
Sunday, Dec. 28th: Jud Hailey | 4:00–7:00 PM
Monday, Dec. 29th: Tony Sammis | 4:00–7:00 PM
Tuesday, Dec. 30th: Vinnie Rose | 4:00–7:00 PM
Wednesday, Dec. 31st: Mike Poot & Justin Burk | 5:00 PM–12:00 AM
Wednesday, Dec. 31st: DJ Gavin Boss | 8:00 PM–1:00 AM
Friday, Jan. 2nd: Jud Hailey | 6:00–9:00 PM
With holiday décor, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere, Winter Break Live Music is the perfect way to cap off a day on the slopes or to enjoy Buck Hill even if you’re not skiing.
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New Year’s Eve at Buck Hill: Slopes, Sparks, and Celebration
Buck Hill’s Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration is a signature event that blends winter sports, live entertainment, dining, and fireworks into one unforgettable night!
On Tuesday, December 31st, guests can ski, snowboard, and snow tube late into the evening, with slopes open until 11:30 PM. As the night unfolds, the celebration expands across the resort with dining options, kids’ activities, live music, and a midnight fireworks show.
What to Expect:
Late-night skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing until 11:30 PM
Live music from Mike Poot & Justin Burk from 5:00 – 8:00 PM
DJ Gavin Boss spinning high-energy sets into the night from 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Family-friendly activities including hot cocoa, s’mores, crafts, and games
A free fireworks show at midnight welcoming the New Year
Dining options range from quick bites to a reservation-only Prime Rib Dinner, complete with classic sides and a complimentary champagne toast. Get more information on the NYE Celebration and how to make Prime Rib Dinner reservations HERE.
Plan ahead for New Year’s Eve:
Carpool or use free offsite shuttle parking
Purchase Area Lift Tickets (HERE) and Snow Tubing Tickets (HERE) online
Reserve dining experiences early
Arrive early to enjoy all activities
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Ski & Snowboard Lessons: Book Early for Best Availability
Holiday Break is one of the most popular times of the year for lessons and availability goes fast. If it’s a child’s first day on snow or an adult learning later in life, Buck Hill’s professional instructors create a structured, supportive environment that builds confidence quickly.
Lessons are available for first-time skiers and snowboarders, kids and teens, and adults at any experience level!
From learning the basics (“pizza”) to linking parallel turns, lessons are designed to be encouraging, safe, and fun. Pairing lessons with rentals simplifies the experience and allows guests to focus on learning rather than logistics.
Planning Tip: Book lessons well in advance to secure your preferred date and time during Holiday Break HERE.
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Shuttle Service: An Easy, Stress-Free Way to Get to Buck Hill
Holiday Break is one of the busiest times of the season, and Buck Hill’s shuttle service is a simple way to skip parking congestion and arrive ready to enjoy the slopes. If you’re visiting for a full day of skiing or heading up for night laps, the shuttle offers a reliable, convenient option throughout Holiday Break.
Weekend Shuttle Service (MVTA)
MVTA weekend shuttle service begins at the start of Holiday Break and operates on a predictable, easy-to-plan schedule.
Runs on the hour, every hour
Operating approximately 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Multiple pickup locations available
Guests can view the full MVTA guide, route details, and pickup locations HERE.
Weekday Shuttle Service (Holiday Break Only)
During Holiday Break weekdays, Buck Hill will utilize Northfield Lines Shuttle Service, offering increased frequency for added convenience.
Runs 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Shuttles arrive approximately every 15 minutes
No shuttle service on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve Shuttle Service
To support late-night celebrations, shuttle service will be extended on New Year’s Eve. Runs 10:00 AM – 12:30 AM.
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Travel Tip: Using the shuttle helps reduce parking demand, keeps traffic moving smoothly, and allows guests to focus on enjoying Holiday Break—not navigating the lot.
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Planning Tips for a Smooth Holiday Break Visit
A little preparation goes a long way during peak season. These tips help guests spend more time enjoying the hill and less time waiting.
Be Cool, Carpool | Parking fills quickly on peak days | Carpooling helps reduce congestion | Arriving earlier improves the experience
Buy Tickets Online & Save | Area Lift Tickets and Snow Tubing Tickets are discounted online | Advance purchase helps avoid ticket lines | Buy Area Lift Tickets HERE and Snow Tubing Tickets HERE
Season Passholder Lift Ticket Redemption | Redeem tickets at the Ski School Snowsports Center or Ticket Office | Allow extra time on peak days
Dress for the Weather | Wear layers and waterproof outerwear | Gloves, helmets, face coverings recommended | Hand warmers are a smart add-on
Plan Ahead, Have More Fun
Holiday Break at Buck Hill is busy, vibrant, and worth it. With extended hours, all trails open, freestyle parks, snow tubing, live music, lessons, and New Year’s Eve fireworks, there’s something here for everyone – especially if you live for winter or are just discovering it.
Plan ahead, arrive ready, and enjoy everything Buck Hill has to offer this Holiday Break.