Vail's Tannenbaum Christmas Festival is being planned in Vail from November 26 through December 7, 2008.  Tannenbaum is the German word for Christmas tree and Vail’s European inspired villages will be transformed into a sparkling holiday setting…the perfect inspiration to get all the family into the Christmas spirit! 

This new festival will officially kick off the pre-holiday shopping and dining season in Vail with the Lighting of the Trees at dusk on Wednesday November 26th when the Town of Vail turns on its holiday lighting displays. Each shop, restaurant and lodge will be encouraged to decorate their outside windows to augment the beautiful lighting displays the Town of Vail Public Works staff designs for the town each year.  Judging will occur for holiday decorations throughout Vail with 1^st , 2^nd and 3^rd place recognition in the retail, restaurant and lodging categories.  Winners will be given certificates of recognition and publicized!

Along with celebrating the beautiful holiday lighting displays, the first annual  Tannenbaum Festival will also feature restaurant specials, an appearance by the Rocky Mountain Bernese Mountain Dog Club, holiday music, a decorated wreath silent auction, and a holiday sale of custom art, both bells and ornaments.

Thanksgiving weekend…from Wednesday, November 26^th through Sunday November 30^th the Ski Museum will host a sale of custom art; bells, Christmas ornaments and holiday wreaths. Art in Public Places (AAIP) will have bells for sale; twenty-five limited edition, custom made, bronze bells are being offered for sale; each hand made 6-1/2” bell has been individually finished by an artist.   The Vail manhole cover image is part of the bell and includes the elevation, 8150 and the date Vail was founded, 1962.  The bells cost $250 each.  A specially designed glass Christmas ornament, hand painted on the inside, featuring Vail winter scenes will be on sale at the museum and at select retailers around Vail. In addition the museum will be having a silent auction for holiday wreaths decorated by Vail residents and businesses. Stop by and see the beautiful bells, ornaments and wreaths…all proceeds benefit the Colorado Ski Museum and AAIP.

And don’t forget to watch the Bernese Mountain Dog Club parade in Vail Village on Saturday, November 29th from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm.  The herd of stunning and very lovable mountain dogs will "strut their stuff" through the Village and be available for photo opportunities. 

Details of the Tannenbaum Festival and its schedule of events, restaurant specials and special sales will be advertised in the Vail Daily and on the festival website, www.vailtannenbaumfestival.com.

For more information call Susie Tjossem at the Colorado Ski Museum at 970-476-1876.