Aspen’s The Little Nell announces holiday happenings
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The Little Nell, Aspen’s luxury hotel and winter retreat, has unveiled a lineup of events for the 2025-26 winter season that promise mountain adventures, tailored luxury, and lively celebrations.
The winter lineup runs from Aspen Mountain’s opening day on Thanksgiving through the close of the festive season, according to a press release, welcoming both guests and locals alike.
The prices listed below do not include tax and gratuity.
Thanksgiving Dinners
Kicking off the holiday season, The Little Nell will offer its annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Element 47 and Ajax Tavern, and a Thanksgiving To-Go menu on Nov. 27.
Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and brunch
Element 47
Element 47 will host a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Thursday, Dec. 25, at Element 47. Chef Keith Theodore has created a menu featuring an elevated spin on classic holiday dishes, along with optional wine pairings from Wine Director Chris Dunaway. The special four-course prix fixe menu is $375 per guest, with an optional $250 wine pairing menu, and $95 for children ages 4 to 12.
Element 47 will also be hosting one of Aspen’s most refined New Year’s Eve Dinner, featuring a multi-course dinner with two seatings, from 5 to 7 p.m. or 8:15 to 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. The menu will showcase an array of locally sourced ingredients, rare wines, and festive touches ahead of the midnight toast. Reservations require a minimum food and beverage spend of $1,500 per guest.
The Little Nell’s New Year’s Day Brunch, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Element 47, features a three-course menu complete with bottomless brunch cocktails and lively DJ sets. Brunch seatings are priced at $160 per person, and $55 for children ages 4 to 12 years old.
Ajax Tavern
Ajax Tavern will also host Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, served from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Thursday, Dec. 25. Guests can choose from an à la carte menu featuring signature Ajax favorites, elevated seasonal specials, and a curated selection of wines — all in a cozy alpine setting. Reservations require a minimum food and beverage spend of $275 per guest, with a rate of $85 for children ages 4 to 12.
A New Year’s Party Ajax Tavern will also offer a festive New Year’s Eve dinner. The early seating is from 5 to 7 p.m. for $225 per person, and the later seating is from 8:15 to 10:15 p.m. $325 per person, with $95 per child for either seating.
Little Nell’s New Year’s Eve party with Dom Pérignon
The Little Nell is hosting an exclusive New Year’s Eve with Dom Pérignon celebration. Guests are invited to an evening filled with live performances, astrology and tarot card readings, rare wines, gourmet bites, and a glam sparkle bar. The party is hosted from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Guests must be 21 years old, and older, with tickets priced at $1,000 for General Admission, $1,500 for VIP, and $15,000 for VIP tables of up to eight guests. Dinner and party packages will also be available. Dinner, plus general admission is $2,250, while dinner and a VIP ticket is $2,625.
New Year’s Eve Clicquot Cats, Dec. 31
For adventurous guests, the luxurious New Year’s Eve Snowcat Tour during New Year’s fireworks will run from 5:45 to 9 p.m., starting at the Aspen Collection in Gondola Plaza with cocktails and appetizers before boarding a snowcat for a scenic ascent. The exclusive event will offer a Veuve Clicquot champagne toast, raw seafood bar, caviar, truffle and brie grilled cheese, and chocolate-covered strawberries, next to a firepit reserved for your group. This over-the-top experience is priced at $15,000, with a maximum group size of 10.
December special events with an Indian dinner, tree lighting, and local children’s author
A longtime local’s favorite returns — Chef Biju Thomas’s Indian Dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Element 47. Since 2016, the vibrant one-night-only, three-course curry dinner offers “chaat-style creations, community, and charitable giving” with a menu inspired by his South Indian roots. For 2025, the dinner is $155 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Tickets are available at ChefBijuThomasIndianDinner.
Local author Jill Sheeley will host a Children’s Storybook Hour for guests and local families from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays, December 5, 12, and 19 at the Wine Bar at The Little Nell. During this free reading event, Sheeley will share her latest tale, “Adventures of Fraser the Yellow Dog — Rescue on Independence Pass,” while her audience snacks on complimentary milk and cookies. For additional information, contact dine@thelittlenell.com or 970.920.6331.
In partnership with the Aspen Animal Shelter and The Buddy Program, The Little Nell will host the annual Tree Lighting Celebration beginning at 5 p.m. Dec. 7 in The Little Nell Courtyard, with the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. The festival event includes classic caroling, complimentary hot cocoa, warm apple cider, Aspen High School’s choir, and maybe even a special visit from Santa.
Complimentary early morning skiing for guests
The Little Nell will offer a complimentary First Tracks early morning ski experience daily at 8 a.m. from December to April 2026. Participants will have the opportunity to carve out the first turns of the day on untouched snow, depart from the Ski Concierge and board the Silver Queen Gondola before the mountain officially opens, and enjoy pristine corduroy and fresh powder runs from top to bottom.
Snowcat Powder Tours
Experience The Little Nell’s exclusive Snowcat Powder Tours. These exclusive Friday excursions are limited to 12 hotel guests, ensuring an intimate and personalized adventure. Beginning at 8:15 am, each full-day excursion will take skiers deep into Aspen’s backcountry for 10 to 12 untracked runs, guided by expert hosts from The Little Nell team. The tour concludes with a fireside lunch at a secluded cabin in the Elk Mountains, paired with fine wines hand-selected by the property’s sommeliers. Snowcat Powder Tours are priced at $950 per person. All ski adventures are dependent on the weather and the conditions.
Join Ski Patrol sweep
The Aspen Mountain’s Ski Patrol will offer a rare, behind-the-scenes experience with Last Tracks. Guests can join ski patrol on their final “mountain sweep,” ensuring all skiers are safely down for the day. Offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from December through March, this private tour is priced at $150 per group (up to four guests), with proceeds supporting the Ski Patrol Fund. Intermediate and advanced skiers only.
More snowcat ride opportunities
For the 2025-26 winter season, Groom the Mountain snowcat rides will be offered Wednesday through Friday at 5:30 p.m. from December through March, meeting at the ski concierge. Guests are escorted to the base of Aspen Mountain in front of Ajax Tavern. The tour covers two laps on Little Nell run. The 45-minute experience accommodates two guests and a guide, and is priced at $200 per outing.
Snowshoe with the Little Nell
Partnering with Audi, guests will have the opportunity to receive complimentary snowshoes and an all-electric Audi Q6 e-tron vehicle for self-guided exploration of Aspen’s snow-covered trails. With the Audi Snowshoe Adventures, the all-electric Audi Q6 e-tron will provide an opportunity to visit “the serenity of Aspen’s snow-covered trails, the panoramic Richmond Ridge views, Ashcroft’s alpine serenity, and the famed Maroon Creek Trail beneath the Maroon Bells,” according to a press release.
For guided outings, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies offers expert-led tours daily.
The Little Nell’s Ski Concierge assists with personalized rentals, private fittings, and Carv Digital Ski Coach technology are available through Aspen Collection.
For more information on The Little Nell’s 2025 holiday programming, visit the website here.
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