Highlights for the season commence this week
BY DANA DUGAN
People often ask residents of the Wood River Valley if they’re traveling for the holidays. The answer is always a resounding, “No! Why would we leave Christmas Central?”
And that’s because there are a variety of things to do over the next couple of weeks, and besides, where would be a more beautiful place to celebrate the holidays?
Sun Valley itself covers a lot of the basics, but the entire Wood River Valley will bring the party to the season. Besides skiing on Bald Mountain, there is an extensive Wood River Valley trail system for cross-country and skate skiing as well as plentiful trails for snowshoeing. There is also free ice skating at the Christina Potters Ice Rink in Ketchum, daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rink offers free skates, hockey stick rentals and pucks. But the area has more than outdoor recreation over the holidays.
On Thursday, Dec. 20 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., the 11th annual Classic Christmas Concert will be staged at the Sun Valley Opera House. The show will be directed by Melodie Mauldin with music direction by R.L. Rowsey.
The annual variety show will feature performances by Lady Luck, Colla Voce, and the B-Tones. There will be singing, playing and storytelling, along with surprise visits from special guests. Admission is $25 and free for children 2 years old and younger. If you’ve got a passel of family in town, there’s a group rate for 10 or more people. Tickets are available at the Sun Valley Guest Information Center or sunvalley.ticketfly.com.
“The Promise” will be presented by the Sun Valley Hallelujah Chorus, directed by Patty Parsons, along with Hilarie Neely’s Footlight Dance Centre, from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum.
“This popular Christmas program aims to open hearts and fill them with the spirit of peace, love and unspeakable joy,” said Parsons, who has directed some version of “The Promise” for 30 years in the Wood River Valley.
“I’m excited about being in The Argyros,” Parsons said, referring to the new performing arts center in downtown Ketchum. “I’m all in.”
The music of Kirk Franklin, a renowned gospel artist, is where Parsons goes for much of her inspiration. As well, there will be several medleys of Christmas and holiday music.
Soloists for the evening will include Sara Berquist, Dean Cerutti, Heather Johnston, Amy Nelson, Sue Noel and John Primrose. Children from Cintia Scola’s Mountain School of Music in Hailey will sing and play three Christmas songs that they’ve written themselves, Parsons said. Accompanying the singers will be Paul Gregory on piano, Brad Hershey on bass and Beck Vontver on percussion.
“This is what I do and I love it,” Parsons said, laughing. “Organizing, making sure we have enough tenors, and moving stuff like pianos.”
On Sunday, Dec. 23 at 5:30 p.m., the Halleluiah Chorus will perform selections from Handel’s “Messiah,” with a sing-along on the choruses. The concert will be accompanied by the Chia-Li Ho string quartet from Boise.
Soloists will include Joyce E. Greene, Meredith Skillman, Robert Newman, and Jonathon Hill, tenor with Opera Idaho.
More music can be found at the Duchin Lounge at Sun Valley Lodge with Joe Fos tickling the ivories on Friday at 7 p.m., and there’s après-ski music, available to everyone, at River Run Lodge from 2:30-5:30 p.m. most days.
On Saturday, Dec. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sun Valley will celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Warm Springs Lodge. There will be a ribbon-cutting and Sun Valley’s famous fresh-from-the-oven cookies.
On Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24, the celebrations will continue with Sun Valley’s annual ice show, torchlight parade on Dollar Mountain and fireworks.
Sun Valley ice rink gates will open at 3 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. “Skating in a Winter Wonderland” ice show. The show will highlight modern renditions of classic holiday music and will feature performances by Frank Sweiding and Anita Hartshorn, Ashley Clarke, and other professional skaters. Group numbers will be performed by the Sun Valley Figure Skating Club and visiting holiday guests. There will be traditional appearances by the Sun Valley Carolers and a visit from Santa Claus.
While the ice show takes the spotlight, Sun Valley ski instructors will have made their way up Dollar Mountain, visible from the bleachers and deck at the Sun Valley Lodge. The spectacular torchlight parade finishes the evening off under a hail of festive fireworks.
But fear not, it’s not over yet. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is chock-full of more holiday fun. Happy holidays to all.
