By Bob Schwartz.
Ten themed Christmas trees, caroling, reindeer and old-fashioned Vermont traditions welcome the holiday season to the hills above Stowe.
There are few places that seem quite as naturally suited to Christmas as the hills above Stowe. Add fresh snow, glowing fireplaces and the Austrian character of von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort, and the setting can feel like a holiday postcard come to life.
This season, the resort will once again transform into a festive retreat filled with lights, greenery, music and 10 uniquely themed Christmas trees. Each tree has its own personality and decorations, inviting guests and visitors to explore the Lodge and discover them all.
The holiday season officially begins with the resort’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting on November 27, a tradition that brings together resort guests, local families and visitors to Stowe for an afternoon of classic Christmas festivities.
Santa’s reindeer make a special appearance, while carriage rides, cookies, hot chocolate and s’mores add to the celebration. As daylight fades, carolers gather before the resort’s outdoor Christmas tree is illuminated, officially welcoming the holiday season.
Music has special meaning here. The von Trapp family’s remarkable musical heritage has been part of the property since the family settled in Vermont in the 1940s. During the holidays, that connection between family, music and tradition feels particularly fitting.
Ten Trees, Ten Holiday Stories
Inside the Lodge, 10 themed Christmas trees create a holiday experience of their own.
Rather than decorating only one grand tree, the collection spreads Christmas throughout the property. Each features its own theme and ornaments, turning a stroll through the Lodge into a holiday scavenger hunt of sorts for families.
Surrounded by Austrian-inspired architecture, historic furnishings and views of Vermont’s Green Mountains, the trees also reflect the European traditions that have long been part of the von Trapp experience.
In Austria, Christmas is a season centered around music, family gatherings, handmade decorations, food and gemütlichkeit, a feeling of warmth, comfort and belonging.
High above Stowe, the von Trapps have created their own Vermont interpretation.
Christmas Week at the Lodge
The celebration continues throughout December and into Christmas Week, when the resort offers special activities and entertainment for families.
Holiday programming includes choral performances, Santa’s reindeer, Curious Creatures, Marko the Magician and No Strings Marionettes, along with other seasonal activities.
Christmas Eve brings a more intimate tradition for resort guests with a holiday cocktail reception featuring live piano music and an appearance by Kristina von Trapp Frame and her husband, Walter Frame.
On Christmas Day, attention turns to the table. The Main Dining Room hosts a festive Christmas buffet, bringing together New England and Austrian flavors. Holiday favorites are joined by dishes such as schnitzel and goulash, while Sachertorte, Linzertorte and Apfelstrudel provide a taste of Austria in Vermont.
Of course, Christmas at von Trapp isn’t only celebrated indoors.
When winter conditions cooperate, guests can explore the resort’s trails on cross-country skis or snowshoes, walk through the woods, visit the family’s stone chapel or find a comfortable spot by the fire and watch the snow settle over the mountains.
Perhaps that is what makes the holidays here so memorable. Amid the rush that often surrounds the season, the celebration focuses on wonderfully simple traditions: singing carols, sipping hot chocolate, taking a carriage ride, making s’mores and spending time together.
When the lights come on and the Lodge’s Christmas trees begin to glow, another holiday season in the Green Mountains has arrived, and the hills above Stowe are once again filled with music.
