The first River Run Gondola of the 2026-27 season left around 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. Tom Miller, known as "Trailer Tom," was on it. He says he has caught first chair at most of Summit County's ski areas for the last 34 years. "In the ski industry and snowboard industry, we don't go so much by calendar years. It's all about the seasons," he told the Summit Daily News. "It's a holiday for us."
That made Keystone the second ski area in North America to open this season. Arapahoe Basin opened two days earlier, on Wednesday, Oct. 28. But the mountain that opened is a small one, and the day ends early. From now until Thanksgiving weekend, most of what happens in Keystone after the lifts stop is on a calendar kept by a nonprofit that is independent of the resort. Much of the ticket money from that calendar goes back into Summit County.
Two Miles of Snow and a 4 p.m. Last Chair
Keystone announced the Oct. 30 opening with 2 miles of skiing and lift hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Skiers ride the River Run Gondola to the summit of Dercum Mountain and then take laps on the Montezuma Express. Two green runs are open, Silver Spoon and Schoolmarm, along with a hike-to terrain park. The resort plans to open more terrain as conditions allow. Uphill access stays closed until designated routes open later in the season.
Most of that snow is man-made. Snowmaking started overnight on Oct. 14, according to the Denver Post. Miller gave credit to "a couple extra nights of snowmaking" for the wide, open runs on opening day.
So November skiing means a few laps on two greens with a gondola ride on each end. The lifts stop at 4 p.m., and in early November that's close to dark. River Run's first night-skiing dates are Thanksgiving weekend. Until then, the evenings belong to Warren Station.
The Venue at 164 Ida Belle Drive
Warren Station Center for the Arts sits in River Run Village at 164 Ida Belle Drive. It hosts public arts and community events as well as private functions. Keystone Neighbourhood Company manages it. KNC is a Colorado 501(c)(4) not-for-profit founded in 1995, and it operates independently of Keystone Resort. The name comes from a 19th-century stage stop near Loveland Pass in the Snake River Valley.
According to the venue's ticket and venue FAQ, shows are usually all-ages. Guests under 18 at those shows need a parent or guardian who stays on-site. Warren Station has no kitchen and doesn't allow outside food or drinks. It does run a bar with beer, wine and cocktail specials. That means dinner happens somewhere else in River Run, before the doors open or after the show.
The Keystone Kickoff Series, and Where the Money Goes
Warren Station calls its November lineup the Keystone Kickoff. It has two ski-film weekends, then a Saturday concert, then the free carnival on Thanksgiving weekend.
| Date | Event | Doors / Start | Tickets | Who benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 6 | Warren Miller's "Days Off," Night One | Doors 5:30 p.m., film 6 p.m. | $10 to $17 | Dillon Valley Elementary |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Warren Miller's "Days Off," Night Two | Doors 3 and 6 p.m., films 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. | $10 to $17 | Dillon Valley Elementary |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Matchstick Productions' "The Way Out" | Doors 3:30 and 6 p.m., films 4 and 6:30 p.m. | $10 to $17 | A percentage to Team Summit |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Concert with CB3 and O'Connor Brothers Band | Doors 6 p.m. | $5 to $8 | Free entry for resort employees |
The two Warren Miller nights are fundraisers for Dillon Valley Elementary. Seating is first-come, first-served, and prices are per show before taxes and fees. Saturday has two showings instead of one, which gives day skiers a 3:30 p.m. option that ends before dinner.
A week later, Matchstick's "The Way Out" sends a percentage of its proceeds to Team Summit, and every ticket includes one raffle ticket. Team Summit announced the screenings on its own site in October.
The concert does something different with its money. The Nov. 21 show is the cheapest night of the series at $5 to $8. Keystone Resort and Breckenridge employees get in free with a valid 2026/2027 employee ID. CB3 plays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It's a Summit County power trio led by guitarist and vocalist Chris Bauer, and it plays local rooms like Arapahoe Basin and the Snake River Saloon. The O'Connor Brothers Band follows from 8:30 to 10 p.m., playing a mix of rock, blues, folk, soul and jazz.
Taken together, the series is aimed at people who live in the county. The films raise money for a county elementary school and a county ski team, and the concert is free for the people who work the lifts. The events listings page carries the current lineup and ticket links.
Dinner Before the Doors Open
Warren Station's own November guide suggests eating at one of the River Run Village restaurants before heading over.
The newest option in the village is Kindred Resort, with a 107-room hotel and 95 residences in River Run. Its restaurant, Lula's Kitchen, serves breakfast and dinner and has coffee in the lobby every day. Kindred Spirit pours cocktails and serves light fare. Lula's takes 10% off food for local residents and 20% for Kindred owners. Alcohol isn't included in either discount. Kindred's dining page also lists The Goodz Tavern and Kinji Sushi.
The two Saturdays with afternoon showings fit a short ski day. The doors open at 3 p.m. on Nov. 7 and 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 14, so a morning of gondola laps can end with the early film and dinner in the village after it.
Nov. 15 Falls Between the Film Weekends
Epic Pass prices go up on Nov. 15, according to Keystone's pass page. That's the Sunday after "The Way Out." The same page says eligible buyers of passes other than day passes get five Epic Friend Tickets. Vail Resorts' August announcement added a new discount for 2026-27: skiers ages 13 to 30 get 20% off Epic and Epic Local pricing.
Warren Station's November guide calls the Epic Local Pass its pick, since it covers Keystone, Breckenridge and Crested Butte. It also mentions the Keystone Plus Pass, which has some blackout dates and adds Breckenridge after Keystone closes in the spring. The film nights on Nov. 6, 7 and 14 all fall before the price change.
Thanksgiving Weekend, When River Run Stays Lit
The resort's calendar fills up again on Thanksgiving. From then on, the lifts and the village run later into the evening.
- Friday, Nov. 27: The Dercum Square ice rink's posted schedule begins.
- Nov. 27 to 29: Night skiing runs from River Run until 7 p.m. for the first time this season.
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 2 to 5:15 p.m.: Keystone's Winter Carnival and Lighting of River Run is free. It has Santa, kids' craft tables, cookies, hot cocoa while supplies last, drink specials, a free photo booth, and live music and performances. The village tree lighting is at 5:15 p.m.
The night-skiing schedule then skips to Dec. 20 through Jan. 3, plus set holiday dates in January and February, and ends March 28. Warren Station's calendar fills the first three weeks of December. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" screens Dec. 5. Pints with Patrol is free on Dec. 10, and the Goods in the Woods Holiday Market is free on Dec. 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. After that come Winter Comedy Night with Phil Palisoul on Dec. 18, Mystic Solstice on Dec. 19, and the "Midnight in the Garden" New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31.
Owning in Keystone means planning your winter around both calendars, the resort's and Warren Station's. For a second-home owner, how close a place is to River Run's gondola, rink and Warren Station shapes a November weekend as much as anything inside the home. If you'd like to talk through how a Keystone property fits the way you spend winter up here, Todd Real Estate Group is happy to help. Request a Free Valuation & Consultation, and we'll start with the River Run calendar.
