Steamboat Springs and Routt County locals share some of their favorite holiday traditions.

“Our family tradition is to go to Rabbit Ears and sneak up on a Christmas tree. You have to be vewy, vewy quiet. We try to improve the gene pool by hunting the ugliest tree we can find.” — Kris Hammond, Steamboat Springs

“We always make Eggs Benedict on Christmas morning then everyone opens their stockings. In the late morning, we have a snowy adventure (snowshoeing or cross-country skiing) and open presents when we get back in the evening. This year, we have a brand-new baby, and we’re looking forward to creating new traditions with him.” — Beth and Will Melton, Hayden

“My favorite holiday tradition is really just getting together with friends, enjoying a good meal, playing games and laughing. A lot of people in Steamboat have to work through the holidays or don’t have family near by, so it’s fun to make new traditions, celebrating the holidays with friends.” — Maggie Griffith, Steamboat Springs

“As soon as we wake up, the kids can open all of Santa’s gifts. They can play with their stuff while we eat breakfast and get ready for skiing. We ski most of the day then return home and have a big dinner with any family that’s in town. After dinner is over and cleaned up (phew!), we open the gifts from family and each other.” — Gretchen Van De Carr, Steamboat Springs

“Each year we create a little snowman village that we make in our living room. It even has trains that we set up around the village and house. Over the years we’ve just collected lots of little buildings and snowmen at craft fairs and make little towns out of it. We’ve been doing it for a long time, and I guess it comes from our childhood. We both had trains around the Christmas tree when we were growing up. We’ve also been inspired by things like displays in department stores and some stores here in Steamboat even. But we also like to do a lot of cooking at Christmas and get together with friends, have great meals, drink wine and sing.” — Arty Smith, Steamboat Springs

“The Lukens family Christmas always involves plenty of food, family and fun. Decorating Christmas cookies is a favorite family activity. They aren’t pretty but they taste good to us. The Christmas Eve service at the United Methodist Church kicks off the evening. Being in radio, our family likes to contribute by reading the Christmas Bible passages at the 5 p.m. service. We enjoy dinner with friends and then go home to see what animals are in our yard. One year, it was a family of bears in the crabapple tree. Another year, a trio of moose were peeking in our windows Christmas morning. Before going to bed Christmas Eve, the kids take jumping pictures in front of the tree, to see who can jump the highest and make the craziest faces. No one is quite sure how this tradition started. We spend Christmas morning together opening presents and then getting ready for skiing. We’re out the door and headed to the mountain no earlier than noon, where we typically see other large families in town, just getting to the gondola at about the same time. Christmas dinner is a delicious Swiss Raclette with the family.” — Shannon Lukens, Steamboat Springs