Top 5 Things to Do in Powell, for the Holidays

Written By: Powell Chamber of Commerce

1. Cut down your own Christmas tree!

If you live in Park County or just visiting for the holidays. There is nothing like bringing a touch of the mountains into your living room like a National Forest Christmas tree. The Shoshone National Forest has permits that you can purchase online from Recreation.gov. You can also obtain a permit at One Stop Motor Sports in Powell for $8. What a screaming deal! We encourage you to make a day of it. Start at Crazy J Café for a freshly made bagel breakfast sandwich. Pack yourself a basket lunch and down forget your favorite hot drinks. Shoshone National Forest has guidelines for picking a tree. They must be no taller than twenty feet. It is good to look for trees in a tree stand as well. Like a scavenger hunt you will have so much fun trying to get the perfect tree to keep your presents under. Decorating your tree is as fun as picking one out. We suggest getting your ornaments from local stores like Lavender Rose, Heartworks, Eternal Light Creations, Comfort Cottage, McGlathery’s, Powell Drug, Hillside Forest and Cut & Sew. Do not forget the lights. Ace Hardware, Aldrich Lumber and Bloedorn Lumber will get your tree shining bright. Cutting down your tree from our nation’s first National Forest outside Yellowstone National Park and decorating it with locally purchased ornaments is the best way to get into the holiday spirit. 

2. Attend ChristmasFest the first weekend in December. 

Every year Powell, Wyoming kicks off the holiday season with lots of fun events. From Cocoa and Caroling to the Lighted Parade ChristmasFest is a community favorite and a crowd pleaser for visitors. Check with the Powell Visitor Center and Plaza Diane for a full list of events. 

3. Glide on the outdoor ice rink. 

When the weather gets cold enough the City of Powell fills the ice rink at Homesteader Park in Powell. Before you head to the rink stop by Uncommon Grounds for a peppermint latte. The rink is in the middle of the park next to the bike park. Not to be confused with the fishpond next to the Powell Aquatic Center. Bring your own ice skates or rent them in the warming hut. 

4. Homesteader Museum’s Beavers Bean Ball Soup. 

Sample the Seasons is the third Thursday in November. This is an event when the boutiques, shops, restaurants have delicious foods for the holidays, and they highlight what they have for the holidays. The Homesteader Museum always make a bean soup from a recipe handed down through generations from the Beavers family. The Beavers family homesteaded Powell and are a big part of the museum’s history. In fact, in the back of the museum you can tour their homestead house. 

5. Shop Bent Street. 

If you want to get the best stocking stuffers and unique gifts. I suggest going to downtown Powell and do a little shopping. For a full list a great store, check out our Eat, Shop Stay & Play map on the next page.