YULE DAY
December 5, 2026
Join us for a holly-jolly celebration filled with festive fun! From the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt to our merry parade and sparkling tree lighting, there’s magic around every corner. Celebrate the season the Ouray way—where joy, laughter, and twinkle lights fill the day!
See below for our full list of festive fun for the whole family!
Schedule of Events for Yule Day
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Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt | 10 am - 4 pm
Get your map from the Ouray Visitor Center or the Ouray Library to start the hunt around Ouray to find all the elves!
If you complete the hunt, you turn in the map no later than 4 PM at Colorado West Jeeps to be entered in to win prizes!
Prizes will be drawn at 4:15 PM
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Sleigh All Day (For Adults) 10 am - 4 pm
Grab a blackout bingo card at Marmot’s Açai and make your way around Ouray, visiting participating local businesses and completing the challenges along the way. Fill out the ENTIRE card to qualify for an entry into our prize basket drawing!
Turn in completed card by 4 PM at Colorado West Jeeps. Drawing at 4:15 PM.
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Library Holiday Market | 10 am - 4 pm
Visit the Ouray Library to pick up your Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt and browse their Holiday Market.
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Photos with Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch
Looking to do a meet and greet with Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch? Take a look at the locations below on where they will be and when throughout the Yule Day!
11 am - 1 pm Visitor Center and Main Street
1 - 3 pm The Wright Opera House
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Christmas Tree Festival | 12 -8 pm
Come celebrate the 6th annual Christmas Tree Festival at the Beaumont Ballroom! final night is Saturday Dec 5th at 8 PM.
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Story Time with Mrs. Claus | 1 - 3 pm
Join Mrs. Claus at the Wright Opera House for a story time on this magical night.
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Hot Cocoa Bar for Kids and Adults | 12 - 4PM
Get a nice cup of Hot Cocoa from The Wright Opera House. There will be options for both kids and adults!
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Cookie Decorating & Letters to Santa | 12 - 4 pm
Head to the Wright Opera House to decorate Christmas cookies and to write letters to Santa!
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Craft Time | 3 - 5 pm
At the Wright Opera House, join in with making fun arts, crafts, and ceramics for the holiday season! OURAY PEACEJAM, is looking to bring on the Christmas spirit!
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Meet the Mighty Mini-Horses | 4-6 pm
Do you love animals? Especially mini-horses? Then you’re in luck. Stop by Colorado West Jeeps (where the Ouray Chamber is hosting the jeep raffle) from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.
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Ouray Chamber's Jeep Raffle | 4:00 - 5:15 pm
Head to the corner of Main Street and 7th Ave to celebrate with the Ouray Chamber! There will be food, mini-horses, the drawing of the Jeep winner, and music to celebrate right before the kick-off of the Yule Day Parade.
4:00 PM: Food from Mineshaft and Mini Horses appearance
4:15 PM: Scavenger Hunt drawing & Black out card drawing
4:30 PM: Nonprofit Presentation
5:00 PM: Winning Ticket Drawing for Raffle Jeep
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Yule Day Parade | 5:30 pm
Line the sidewalks of Main Street to watch the Yule Day parade! The parade will end at the Elks Lodge to kick-off our Tree Lighting Celebration.
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Caroling | 5:45 PM
Join in on caroling holiday tunes in Centennial Park after the parade and right before the Tree Lighting. This park is located next to the Elks Lodge.
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Tree Lighting | 6:15ish
Directly after the parade, head up to Centennial Park next to the Elks Lodge for our tree lighting ceremony.
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Meet Santa Claus | 6:45 pm
Meet Santa Claus at the Elks Lodge right after the Tree Lighting.
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Snow White Radio Show | 7 PM
Every holiday season, The Wright turns back the clock to the golden age of radio. This year, local actors will perform The Lux Radio Theatre’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” live on our stage, just as it first aired on December 26, 1938.
Hosted and produced by Cecil B. DeMille and sponsored by Lux, this radio adaptation of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tale is reported to be the first Lux broadcast from Hollywood with no studio audience. Every bit of applause listeners heard at home that night was recorded.
Bonus Activities Happening
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Alpenglow Treat Co
$1 Hot Chocolate Special to help everyone warm up while enjoying the festivities.
Free Christmas Ornaments for our first 20 customers as a little holiday thank-you!
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Ouray Clay and Co & Basecamp Ouray | 12 - 3 pm
Glaze your own mug and cocoa for $30 at Basecamp during Yule Night. We have a limited quantity of 24-30 mugs. This includes the mug, glaze, and firing. You'll get your mug back in time before Christmas if its a holiday gift!
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Realm Supply
Enjoy 25% off the entire store on Yule Day!
Any Purchase at Realm Supply can be gift wrapped for free this season. Just let us know at check out and we can show you our options.
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The Blue Pear
Opening early for our storewide sale from 9:00-10:00 am
Sales Sipping, and holiday cheer from 9:00am-6:30pm, draw for a discount all day
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Write Letters to Santa at Ouray Visitor Center
The Ouray Visitor Center would love to deliver any letters you write to Santa!
For Businesses
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Register for the Business Decoration Contest
The City of Ouray, Ouray Main Street, and Ouray Chamber invite local businesses to deck the halls, windows, and storefronts for the holidays and compete for prizes in our Best Decorated Business Contest!
Prizes for the Top Three Businesses:
1st Place – $250 Ouray Local Yiftee Card + 10 Single-Day Hot Springs Admissions
2nd Place – $150 Ouray Local Yiftee Card
3rd Place – $100 Ouray Local Yiftee Card
How It Works:
Businesses decorate their windows and/or exterior for the holidays.
Registered businesses will receive a $25 donation from the Ouray Chamber to help with decorations (must register before 11/23/26).
Visitors, residents, and guests can vote for their favorite businesses using QR codes provided by the Ouray Chamber, available on table cards or flyers.
Voting takes place November 24 – December 21, 2025.
Registration: Required to be included in the contest and receive the $25 decoration donation.
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Register for Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt
Bring some holiday magic to Ouray this season by joining the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt for kids!
How to Participate:
Place an elf anywhere in your business (we can supply one if you don’t have one).
Give your elf a fun, festive name.
Receive a window cling to show you’re an official participant.
Sign-Up Deadline: November 23, 2026
This is a fun way to bring families into your business, spread holiday cheer, and be part of a town-wide festive tradition.
Sign up today to make your business a magical stop on the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt!
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Sleigh All Day Adult Hunt
Looking to entice some adults to pay you a visit? Sign up for the Adult - Sleigh All Day scavenger hunt.
Sign-Up Deadline: November 23, 2026
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Register for the Parade
Join us for the festive Yule Parade and celebrate the season on Main Street!
Event Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Deadline to Register: 12.4.26
Parade Begins: 5:30 PM
Float Line-Up: 4:45 PM
Parade Contact: Zachary Root – ZRoot@cityofouray.com
Parade entry is free, and registration is not required to participate. However, to be considered for judging and prize awards, you must register in advance.
Prizes for the Top Three Floats:
1st Place – $250 Ouray Local Yiftee Card + 4 Annual Hot Springs Membership Passes
2nd Place – $150 Ouray Local Yiftee Card + 10 Single-Day Admissions
3rd Place – $100 Ouray Local Yiftee Card
Celebrate the holidays, showcase your creativity, and help make this year’s parade unforgettable!