Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is celebrating its 80th anniversary this winter with a three-day birthday bash featuring discounted lift tickets, free equipment demos, live music, a special mountain dinner, and plenty of throwbacks to the Colorado ski area’s history.
Known affectionately as A-Basin, the Summit County resort will host its 80th Anniversary Weekend from December 4th through December 6th, 2026. The celebration honors eight decades of skiing while embracing the laid-back, community-focused atmosphere that has helped define the mountain since it first opened in 1946.
Three Days of Anniversary Events
The festivities kick off Friday, December 4th, with A-Basin’s popular Uphill and Chill breakfast events. Guests can skin or snowshoe to Black Mountain Lodge before lift hours for a chef-prepared breakfast. Two start times are available at 7:30am and 8:30am, though the resort warns that the popular experience is expected to sell out.
Saturday, December 5th, brings a full day of free ski and snowboard equipment demos in the base area from 8am to 3pm Visitors can test the latest gear by bringing a valid ID.
The afternoon continues with an après-ski party featuring Don Fuego at The 6th Alley from 2pm to 5pm. The celebration then moves uphill for a special 80th birthday dinner at Black Mountain Lodge from 7pm to 10:30pm. Guests can skin, snowshoe, or take the lift to the midmountain lodge for a multicourse meal prepared by the resort’s chefs.
The evening will also feature the premiere of A-Basin’s 80th anniversary film, special celebration gifts, and the burial of a resort time capsule. Vintage ski attire is encouraged. Free equipment demos will return Sunday, December 6th, running from 8am to 3pm.
$80 Lift Tickets and Anniversary Deals
A-Basin is extending the celebration beyond its scheduled events with special offers available throughout the weekend. Lift tickets will cost $80, while the resort’s Ski and Ride School will offer $80 tune-ups. Guests can also receive an additional 20% off 80th anniversary merchandise at Arapahoe Sports.
Birthday cakes, giveaways, and commemorative dashboard skiers for the first 500 guests each day will add to the festivities. Since opening in 1946, A-Basin has maintained its reputation as an independent-minded mountain with a strong local following. Its 80th anniversary weekend offers skiers and snowboarders an opportunity to celebrate that history while looking ahead to the next chapter of the Colorado ski area’s story.