Every year Ruby’s Inn hosts the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival, usually in mid-February. The festival brings thousands of visitors to enjoy winter in and around the national park just before the spring and summer tourist season begins to ramp up.
This year, Ruby’s is expecting over 2,000 guests for their 39th annual Winter Festival on February 17-19, 2024.
The festival will feature free clinics, demos and tours, along with snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating at the Ice Ribbon, crafting workshops and geology classes. “Events may be subject to change due to snow and weather conditions,” says the Ruby’s Inn website, which is not yet updated for 2024, “but the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival will be held regardless of snow conditions.”
Bryce Canyon National Park’s visitation numbers continued to rise last year, though most months did not quite reach pre-COVID numbers. January is typically the slowest tourism month of the year, and both Bryce Canyon and Ruby’s Inn are trying to boost these numbers during the winter months. The Winter Festival is part of Ruby’s Inn’s efforts.
Organizers at Ruby’s also hope families near and far will participate in the events.
“The Winter Festival allows Ruby’s to introduce families from all over Utah to the adventures we have in the colder months – perhaps beginning new traditions for visitors,” said Lance Syrett, hotel general manager at Ruby’s. “We want to remind people that Ruby’s Inn and Bryce Canyon are more than just summertime destinations. Families need vacations in winter too – and we are much more affordable than an expensive downhill ski trip!”
– The Byway
Feature image courtesy of Ruby’s Inn.