Industry News
Holiday magic comes alive in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains as Camelback Resort and Blue Mountain Resort announce a festive lineup of events, activities, and dining celebrations for the 2025 holiday season. From Santa sightings and family-friendly fun off the slopes to indulgent Christmas and New Year’s Eve buffets, both destinations invite guests to celebrate the season surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Poconos.
The two resorts were recently recognized among the Top 30 Ski Resorts in the U.S. by the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards–with Blue Mountain Resort ranked No. 10 and Camelback Resort ranked No. 21. These premier mountain getaways promise unforgettable winter holiday experiences for all ages.
- Related: Old Farmer’s Almanac Christmas Weather Prediction for North America: Snow, Storms, and Sunshine
Blue Mountain Resort’s Early Season Events
Breakfast Buffet with Santa at Blue Mountain Resort: Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Santa will be hosting a special Holiday Breakfast Buffet in the resort’s Vista Ballroom, spreading good cheer and merrily posing with the kids. The delicious brunch features everyone’s favorite cozy breakfast fare such as scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, French toast, home fries, bagels and assorted breads, coffee, tea, juices, and hot chocolate with toppings. The cost is $30 per person for ages 13 and over; $18 for kids ages 5 to 12; ages 4 and under are free; exclusive of tax and gratuity.
Snow Tube with Santa at Blue Mountain Resort: Every Thursday in December from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Guests can enjoy snow tubing under festive holiday lights set to seasonal music, with Santa making special appearances on Thursdays during the same hours. Tickets start at $29.
Gingerbread House Workshop at Blue Mountain Resort: Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Families can enjoy gingerbread house decorating at Blue Mountain Resort, creating festive masterpieces while listening to holiday music. Guests are provided candy decorations and hot chocolate, and Santa Claus will make a special drop-in to admire the creations. The cost is $50 per session for a table of up to eight people (includes one gingerbread house kit); each additional gingerbread house is $25.
Ugly Sweater Party at Blue Mountain Resort: Saturday, December 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Blue Mountain Resort will host an Ugly Sweater Party at Last Run Lounge, featuring live music from Toolshed Jack. Guests 21 and older are invited to wear their most outrageous holiday sweaters, with prizes awarded for the ugliest looks. The event is free and promises a night of festive fun and holiday cheer.Â
New Year’s Eve Party at Blue Mountain Resort: Wednesday, December 31, from 9 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Blue Mountain Resort will host a New Year’s Eve Party at Last Run Lounge featuring an evening of dancing and music for guests 21 and older. A DJ will provide the soundtrack, and the celebration will include a champagne toast, midnight breakfast sandwiches, and party favors. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are $40 per person in advance and $45 at the door.
Camelback Resort’s Early Season Events
Santa Arrives at Camelback Resort: Friday, December 5, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their grand arrival at Camelback Resort, joined by their elves and friends from the Pocono Township Fire Department, who will help the jolly duo light the resort’s Christmas tree. In partnership with Toys for Tots of Monroe County, guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy valued between $10 and $30; in return, they will receive a custom reindeer pillowcase keepsake. The free, family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, children’s activities, a hot cocoa bar, and holiday treats.
Santa Monday at Camelback Resort: Monday, December 22, from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the slopes
Camelback Resort will host a slopeside Santa Group Photo at 11 a.m. at the base of the mountain. Participants dressed head to toe in full Santa Claus attire will receive 50% off a lift ticket available at guest services. After the festive group photo, Santas can take a few runs down the slopes together – Santa-style.
Ugly Sweater Party & Christmas Karaoke at Camelback’s Thirsty Camel: Tuesday, December 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Guests are encouraged to wear their most outrageous holiday sweaters and sing along during a festive night of Christmas karaoke. Prizes will be awarded for the best – and worst – sweaters, sponsored by Resort Beverage Company. The event will feature holiday fun, laughter, and seasonal cheer. A valid lift ticket is required to access the snow.
Noon Years Party at Camelback’s Thirsty Camel Patio: Wednesday, December 31, from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Revelers will enjoy a Noon Year’s celebration with the resort’s DJ spinning upbeat tracks. At noon, guests will raise their glasses for a celebratory toast and have the chance to win resort swag. Attendees will receive a black-and-gold lei upon entry, adding to the festive atmosphere. An LED screening of vintage mountain videos will provide a nostalgic highlight to the event.
Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner at Camelback’s Hemispheres: Wednesday, December 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Camelback Resort will celebrate Christmas Eve with a buffet dinner at Hemispheres restaurant, featuring festive, chef-inspired dishes for the whole family. The buffet includes salads, soups, a seafood station with oysters and shrimp, carving stations with prime rib and rack of lamb, and entrees like Honey Pineapple Glazed Ham and Butternut Squash Lasagna. Guests can enjoy vegetarian sides, a kid-friendly station, a gluten-free table, and desserts including apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies, along with assorted pastries, all in a joyful holiday atmosphere in the Poconos. The cost for adults (13 and up) $59.99; for children (6 to 12) $32.99; children 5 and under are free, exclusive of tax and gratuity.
New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner at Camelback’s Hemispheres: Wednesday, December 31, starting at 4:00 p.m.
Camelback Resort will ring in 2026 with a New Year’s Eve Buffet at Hemispheres Restaurant, featuring a variety of festive dishes for all ages. Guests can enjoy salads and appetizers, including Greek pasta salad, shrimp gazpacho shooters, and a charcuterie and cheese display. The buffet also includes a poke bowl station, taco stop, pasta bar with signature dishes, a hibachi station with a choice of protein and vegetables, and a butcher’s station with herb-roasted beef ribeye and honey-glazed ginger pork loin. Desserts include petite pastries, ice cream, a waffle station, and a chocolate fountain, along with kid-friendly favorites. Costs for adults (13 and up) $69.99; children (6 to 12) $22; children 5 and under are free; exclusive of tax and gratuities.
The season is about to begin, and it won’t be long till these two resorts are open for the season. There are plenty of events for the whole family to enjoy in the next two months, like sharing a cozy breakfast with Santa, or toasting the New Year beneath twinkling lights. The Pocono Mountains’ top-ranked resorts — Camelback and Blue Mountain — are pulling out all the stops to make the 2025 holiday season unforgettable. From family-focused festivities and creative workshops to indulgent holiday buffets and adults-only parties, there’s truly something for everyone wrapped up in the region’s breathtaking winter wonderland.
