Top Ways To Mark The Start Of Whistler’s 60th Winter

Morning light filters through low clouds as gondolas begin their slow climb up Blackcomb Mountain. From our room at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, I watch another ski season take shape. Below, skiers move past the hotel toward the lifts, gear on shoulders, navigating the drizzle with the kind of optimism that defines opening weekend. Beyond, the mountain disappears into mist—only a few runs open, but enough to draw people upward.

We arrived on November 21 to find the hotel already dressed for the season. The lobby trees glowed, garlands wrapped the staircases, and guests moved through with that particular mix of ski layers and winter anticipation that signals the start of something new. We hadn’t planned to ski. This trip was about easing into winter rather than logging vertical. —Mark Sissons

A Look Inside Celebrate Season

This year, Celebrate Season at the Chateau runs until December 18, and during our stay, the program was already in full swing. The day’s schedule included activities for kids, small-group sessions, and guided outings—families carrying craft supplies to crafts sessions, guests in robes heading to the pools, and people gathering near the entrance for outdoor events.

We spent the first afternoon in and around the pool area. Our ten-year-old son alternated between the indoor pool and the outdoor hot tubs while my wife and I relaxed nearby, watching low clouds shift along Blackcomb. The hotel maintained a steady flow of activity without feeling crowded—that brief window when everything is set up but the resort hasn’t yet filled.

The Grill Room at the Chateau

On our first night, we ate at the Grill Room Steakhouse downstairs. After the drive up and getting settled, neither of us felt like heading back out into the village.

The Grill Room was running a four-course special for $59—early season pricing. My son and I both ordered steak, and my wife went with the Fraser Valley chicken. We sat by the fireplace and let the meal stretch out, the kind of easy evening that comes from not having to go anywhere.

The restaurant sources locally—BC beef, Fraser Valley poultry—which seems standard for Whistler now. It worked well as a first night-in meal, the sort of dinner that eases you into a trip rather than demanding anything of you.

Into the Misty Forest

Late November is my wife’s favourite season in Whistler. The next morning, we walked the Valley Trail toward Lost Lake, where mist moved through the cedars and hemlocks in slow drifts. The forest was quiet—just the drip of water from branches overhead and our footsteps on the needle-covered trail.

We’ve made these walks a ritual over the years. It’s a different side of Whistler, away from the lifts and the village energy. Out here, it feels more like the coastal rainforest it is than the alpine resort most people come for.

The trail winds through old growth stands before opening onto Lost Lake. The water was dark and still, reflecting the grey sky. We walked the perimeter slowly, stopped to watch a raven working through the shoreline brush. By the time we looped back, the mist had thickened, softening everything.

Around the Village

Later, we walked into the Village. The lights were fully installed for the season—trees wrapped in colour, bridges glowing, the whole stroll washed in cool winter tones. Shops were stocked and ready. Restaurants had their patios enclosed and heaters running. At Olympic Plaza, crews were preparing for upcoming winter events.

Late November in Whistler offers something particular: everything is ready for the holidays, but you can still move around easily, find a table without waiting, and let the evening unfold without a plan.

A New Taste of the Town

That night, we ate at Lorette Brasserie, a recently opened French and Quebecois brasserie from the team behind Caramba and Quattro. The Paré family opened the restaurant in April, drawing on their francophone heritage to bring something different to Whistler’s dining scene—rich, hearty dishes you don’t typically find in the village.

The dining room is modern and understated, with bare wood tables, simple chairs, framed photos on the walls, and a long dark-toned bar with soft backlighting. The space is warm, relaxed, and aligned with the Paré Restaurant Group’s contemporary style rather than a traditional linen-dressed brasserie.

We chose the three-course menu at $36, which represents substantial value in Whistler. The ahi tuna tartare arrived topped with smoked tuna mayo and a duck-fat tater tot—an unexpectedly good pairing. My son and I both ordered the steak frites for our mains, while my wife had the honey-roasted Pemberton carrots followed by the house rigatoni with morels, sourdough and brandy cream.

The kitchen handles the classics well; the kind of straightforward French brasserie cooking they’ve been refining since launch. Even on a bustling Saturday evening, the room felt cozy and relaxed, and the pacing worked well after a day of forest walking and village wandering.

Whistler’s 60th Anniversary Season

Our time in Whistler stayed simple: walks under the village lights, time in the pool, mellow meals, and the slow build-up to winter all around. But the resort is gearing up for something bigger. This season marks Whistler Mountain’s 60th anniversary, and the celebrations are woven throughout the winter ahead.

Wonder Routes—curated ski journeys with themed stops like “Alpine Sampler,” “Going for Gold,” and “Glade Stashes”—will help visitors link together viewpoints, groomers, tree zones and après stops without fuss. The Whistler Film Festival will return in early December, followed by a run of holiday markets across the village. The season also marks the 40th Annual Peak to Valley Race, part of a world-class roster of signature events that includes weekly Fire & Ice shows. New experiences are slated to roll out too, including the pilot-your-own bobsleigh program at the Sliding Centre and the Neverland Starlight cross-country loop in the Callaghan Valley.

For us, this late November Whistler getaway served its purpose—a quiet start to the season in a place that shifts into winter earlier than most, and this year, with six decades of mountain history to celebrate.

IF YOU GO — Celebrate Season at Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Celebrate Season runs until December 18, 2025. Guests have access to:

• Daily activities and family programming
• Seasonal seminars and culinary sessions
• Guided outings, including photo walks
• Portobello After Dark comedy nights with bottomless ribs (December 5 & 12)
• Tour of the Best Photo Spots in Whistler (December 2 at 4:00 p.m.)
• Holiday Market curated by SEEK Bespoke Market (December 12 at 5:00 p.m.)

The Celebrate Offer is bookable until December 17, 2025, and includes 20% off your stay, complimentary self-parking for one vehicle, and access to Celebrate Season programming.

The Grill Room Steakhouse’s four-course early season special ($59) runs through December, offering excellent value for AAA/CAA Four Diamond dining.

Open Lifts, Fresh Powder + a Season of Surprises

Whistler Blackcomb has officially kicked off its 60th anniversary season, with both mountains now open and early-season terrain growing by the day. Opening celebrations at Skiers Plaza delivered big energy—music, treats, giveaways for first-in-line campers, a 60th anniversary banner break at the top of the Whistler Village Gondola, and a traditional welcome from Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre ambassadors. Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath, Mayor Jack Crompton, and freeski legend Mike Douglas were on hand to mark the milestone moment.

But as the season begins, the real countdown is on: Edge Cards and Epic Passes go off sale December 4. Anyone planning to ski or ride this winter should move fast. Passes offer the best value of the season—far better than day ticket prices—and come in options for every type of skier and rider, whether you’re planning a couple of weekends or a full winter of laps. Once passes disappear from sale, you can still purchase lift tickets throughout the season, but the biggest savings and best perks belong to those who lock in before the deadline.

This year also introduces a new perk: Epic Friend Tickets, giving season-long Epic Pass Holders 50% off lift tickets for friends and family. Even better, whatever those friends pay can be applied as credit toward a 2026/27 Epic Pass, encouraging more people to join in the adventure long-term. It’s one more way Whistler Blackcomb is celebrating the social side of skiing and riding during such a landmark year.

For anyone deciding whether a pass is worth it, the Epic Pass unlocks unlimited access to Whistler Blackcomb, 42 Vail Resorts mountains, and more than 90 global partners including Fernie, Kicking Horse, and Kimberley. Pass Holders also receive Epic Mountain Rewards, with 20% off lodging, dining, lessons, and rentals—a winter-long bonus that adds up quickly.

Whistler Blackcomb’s 60th anniversary season promises surprises, celebrations, expanded terrain, and plenty of reasons to get out on the mountain. The best way to be part of it? Secure a pass before December 4 and make it an Epic winter.