11/28/2026
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AT A GLANCE
When: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 12:30-5 p.m.
Where: The Village at Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley
Cost: Free
Welcome to Winter is Palisades Tahoe's free kickoff to the ski season, held Saturday, November 28, 2026 from 12:30-5 p.m. in the Village at Palisades Tahoe in Olympic Valley. The resort hosts the afternoon over Thanksgiving weekend, three days after its targeted November 25 opening day, and it's open to all ages.
What Welcome to Winter Is Like
Picture the Village on the Saturday after Thanksgiving: families wandering the pedestrian plaza between shops and restaurants, the base area busy with the first weekend of the season, and the peaks above Olympic Valley catching the last of the afternoon light. Palisades bills it as a full afternoon of activities for all ages, and you don't need skis to join in. The 2025 celebration gives a good sense of the mood, with live music, alphorn performances, a raffle, festive games and kids activities, all leading up to the Village lighting ceremony. Some people come straight off the slopes in their ski boots, while others drive up just for the afternoon. It feels more like a hometown gathering than a big resort production, and it's a fitting way to mark the start of winter in the valley that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Event Highlights
The heart of the day is FORGED, an annual ceremony from 4-5 p.m. at the Tram Plaza in the Village. FORGED is a sculpture by local artist Toni Standteiner, made from local granite, steel, bronze and copper and built around the idea that it takes a valley to raise great athletes. It was unveiled in November 2024 during Palisades' 75th season, and each year new names are added to honor the athletes, coaches, families, mentors and community members who have shaped the mountain's story. In 2025 the new honorees were kept secret until the ceremony, which made the reveal part of the fun. In past years Welcome to Winter has also included the Village lighting ceremony, so it's worth sticking around as it gets dark.
2026 Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 28: Welcome to Winter runs 12:30-5 p.m. in the Village, and the FORGED ceremony takes place from 4-5 p.m. at the Tram Plaza.
Palisades hasn't posted a detailed activity lineup for 2026 yet, so check the event page closer to the date.
Cost and What to Bring
Welcome to Winter is free and open to everyone, with no tickets or registration listed. Shopping, food and drinks in the Village are pay as you go. The base of Olympic Valley sits around 6,200 feet, and late-November afternoons turn cold quickly once the sun drops behind the ridgelines, so bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves, plus boots with good grip for snowy walkways. If you plan to ski first, check the lift and terrain report, since early-season terrain depends on snow and conditions.
Parking and Getting There
Palisades Tahoe is at 1960 Olympic Valley Road, off Highway 89 between Tahoe City and Truckee. Thanksgiving Saturday falls before the resort's 2026-27 parking reservation program begins on December 5, so parking is first come, first served. It's a holiday ski weekend, so carpooling and giving yourself extra time both help. Placer County prohibits parking on Olympic Valley Road and nearby side streets from November 1 to May 1, so plan on using the resort lots. If you'd rather leave the car behind, TART's Highway 89 route runs between Tahoe City and Truckee with stops in Olympic Valley.
Local tip: FORGED starts at 4 p.m. and runs about an hour, so head to the Tram Plaza a few minutes early if you want a good spot. Palisades kept the 2025 honorees under wraps until the ceremony itself, so if it does the same this year, you'll hear the new names right there in the plaza.
See the latest details on the Palisades Tahoe Welcome to Winter page.
Kick Off Winter at Palisades
Make Thanksgiving weekend a family trip. Our North Shore vacation homes are a short drive from Olympic Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Welcome to Winter at Palisades Tahoe 2026?
Welcome to Winter is Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 12:30-5 p.m. in the Village at Palisades Tahoe. The FORGED ceremony takes place from 4-5 p.m. at the Tram Plaza.
Is Welcome to Winter at Palisades free?
Yes. Welcome to Winter is free and open to all ages, and you don't need to ski to join in.
What is FORGED at Palisades Tahoe?
FORGED is a sculpture by local artist Toni Standteiner that honors the athletes, coaches, families and mentors who shaped Palisades Tahoe. New names are added each year at a ceremony, held from 4-5 p.m. on November 28, 2026.
Do you need a parking reservation at Palisades over Thanksgiving weekend?
No. Palisades' 2026-27 parking reservation program starts December 5, so parking on Saturday, November 28 is first come, first served.
Is Welcome to Winter good for kids?
Yes. Palisades describes it as an afternoon of activities for all ages, and past years have included kids activities, games and the Village lighting ceremony.