Cast members of "Nunsense." Photo by Chris Pilaro 

2006
winter calendar

explore

We invite you to delve into the wonderful world of the Wood River Valley. Uncover what delights await you during this sumptuous winter season with our comprehensive calendar and explore our top picks for your entertainment from our highlighted essentials.

Exhaust yourself with the many activities offered at Galena Lodge; experience the thrill of speed and flying hooves with the annual Ski Joring competition in January; marvel at the skills of ski legends past and present during the Bill Janss Memorial Pro Am Classic; or sit back and enjoy one of the many artistic performances offered throughout the valley.

— Jennifer Tuohy

december

WORKSHOP Avalanche Basics—Learn avalanche skills with the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center. Three-hour classroom session on Dec. 6, 6-9 p.m. at Hemingway Elementary. Followed by an all-day field session on Galena Peak, Dec. 10. $25 donation. Details: 622-0095. Avalanche Report: 622-8027.

FREE Old Fashioned Christmas Tree Lighting—Sip cocoa and watch the community Christmas tree light up with Santa, Dec. 8, 5:30 p.m. at the Forest Service Park in Ketchum. Also, carols by the children’s choir. Details: 726-8118.

FILM “Dogtown and Z-Boys”—Skateboarding documentary screened as part of “Paradise Paved” exhibition at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Details: 726-9491.

BENEFIT Wood River Senior Connection Festival of Trees—Gala dinner with live music, drinks and appetizers, plus live and silent auctioning of decorated trees and wreaths on Dec. 8. Tickets: $25. Santa welcomes children Dec. 10 at the Teddy Bear Breakfast from 9-11 a.m. at the nexStage Theatre. Tickets: $7, reservations suggested. Details: 788-3468.

HOLIDAY Alternative Holiday Gift Fair—Shop for gifts from nonprofit organizations. Hosted by St. Thomas Episcopal Church and Blaine County Senior Connection. Dec. 9, 5-8 p.m. at the nexStage Theatre. Details: 726-5349 or 788-3468.

HOLIDAY Winter Wonderland—Children can decorate cookies, make ornaments and meet Santa on Dec. 10, 12:30-5:30 p.m. at the nexStage Theatre. Tickets: $5 for kids, adults are free. Details: 788-3468.

CONCERT Ensemble Galilei—Early Celtic music with NPR narrator Neal Conan. Presented by Sun Valley Center for the Arts at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. Details: 726-9491.

FREE Winterstart X-C Ski Race—Celebrate the start of the ski season on the Galena Lodge Trails with a free 5 - or 10-kilometer ski race, Dec. 10 at Galena Lodge. Details: 726-4129.

THEATER “The Man Who Came to Dinner”—Company of Fools present Hart and Kaufman’s classic, Dec. 14-31 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, times vary with dates. Details: 788-6520 or www.companyoffools.org.

NORDIC Christmas classic sprint relays—Lake Creek. Details: 726-4129.

FREE “The Messiah”—Enjoy the Christmas musical presented by the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood choir. Dec. 18 at 4:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. Details:
622-4774.

FREE “The Promise”—A holiday musical featuring the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood Choir, the Footlight Dance Company and the Big Wood Children’s Christmas Choir plays on Dec. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. Details: 622-4774.

essential:
Christmas Eve in Sun Valley

Sun Valley Company hosts a traditional Christmas Eve celebration at the resort on Dec. 24. The spirited family evening begins with a mini ice skating exhibition. A torchlight skiing parade follows with Sun Valley ski instructors skiing the face of Dollar Mountain. Synchronized in style, the instructors gracefully make their way down the mountain grasping torches of fire, making a beautiful evening display. Festivities continue with the Dickens’ Carolers singing holiday favorites, an appearance by Santa Claus and a breathtaking fireworks display. For details visit www.sunvalley.com or call 622-2097.

HOLIDAY Dinners at Galena Lodge—Feast on five-course holiday dinners, Dec. 25, 6:30 p.m; Dec. 26-30, 6:30 p.m. and New Year’s Eve Dinner, Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m. Details: 726-4010.

FREE Ridley Pearson reading and book signing—Writer of thrillers and the recent “Peter and the Starcatchers,” a prequel to Peter Pan. Dec. 28,
6 p.m., Ketchum’s Community Library. Details:
726-3493.

CONCERT New Year’s Eve at Whiskey Jacques’—Featuring Marmalade Hill, Salt Lake City’s premier cover band. Details: 726-5297.

january

WORKSHOP Voluntary Simplicity—Environmental Resource Center presents an 8-week self-led discussion group exploring the practice of simplicity including reducing to essentials, streamlining, and clarifying. Tuesdays Jan.-Feb., 12-1 p.m. Details: 726-4333.

WORKSHOP Avalanche Basics—Learn avalanche skills with the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center. Classroom session on Jan. 3, 6-9 p.m. at the Hailey Community Campus. All-day field session on Jan 7. $25 donation. Snowmobile field session, Jan. 14. Details: 622-0095. Avalanche Report: 622-8027.

FREE Eco Book Club—“When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden” by Bill Maher, Jan. 5, 7:30-9 p.m. Details: ERC 726-4333.

CLASS “Paradise Paved” Arts Class Series—MaryEllen Mahar leads adults and teens through the creative process of creating a comic book. Fridays Jan. 6 -Feb. 10, 12 -2 p.m. Tickets: $125 members, $175 non-members. Sun Valley Center for the Arts. Details: 726-9491.

NORDIC Snowmaker Classic Race—Kids and adults can race the 15, 7.5 or 2-kilometer cross-country courses on the Prairie Creek Trails, Jan. 7. Register for races at The Elephant’s Perch, Ketchum. Details: 726-3497.

THEATER The Second City—Chicago’s legendary comedy troupe sketches, sings and improvs at Hailey’s Liberty Theater. Jan 12-13, 7 p.m. Details: 788-6520 or www.companyoffools.org

FILM Opening Night Party—“Outside the Loop” a four-day, independent film series featuring screenings and discussions. Opening, Jan. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. Details: 726-9491.

FREE Nordic Day, Jan. 14—Free learn to skate clinics at Galena, ski free day on the North Valley Trails and Quigley Nordic free learn to skate clinic.

WORKSHOP Vermicomposting Workshop—Join in on a fun introductory workshop on vermicomposting (composting with worms) for adults and families. Jan. 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and March 3, 1-3 p.m. Details: ERC 726-4333.

THEATER “Miss Gulch Returns”—Musical comedy presented by Hailey's Company of Fools plays at the Liberty Theater, Jan. 19-21, 7 p.m. Details: 788-6250 or www.companyoffools.org

CONCERT Sun Valley Opera 5th Anniversary season—“Met to Broadway Series,” highlights from musical theater and opera. Jan. 21., 8 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. Tickets: Chapter One Bookstore, Ketchum; Iconoclast Books, Hailey; ticket hotline-726-5686. Details: 726-6446.

FREE Exhibition Opening—“Biodiversity, Order, Consumption & Man” at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Ketchum, Jan. 27. Details: 726-9491.

NORDIC Ski the Rails—Ski the world-class Wood River trails along the old Union Pacific right of way. Jan. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Details: 788-2117.

essential:
Sun Valley Center for the Arts

This winter the Center offers three varied multidisciplinary projects. The first, “Paradise Paved,” from November to Jan. 18, features art, design and movies inspired by street cultures of the ’70s and ’80s. Next is “Biodiversity: Order, Consumption & Man” (Jan. 27 to March 25). Exploring natural history and ecology with an emphasis on man’s influence on the world's ever-dwindling biological diversity. The focus is Isabella Kirkland’s TAXA series, which depicts the species whose have been compromised by the meddling of man. “The Art of Tibet” (March 31 to May 31) brings together Tibetan paintings, sculpture, textiles, and ceremonies with scholarly discussion by a leading Tibetan art and culture expert.

february

WORKSHOP Avalanche Awareness Week—One hour awareness programs presented by Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center in Ketchum and Hailey. Jan. 30-Feb. 5. Details: 622-0095.

FREE Eco Book Club—“Desert Solitaire” by Edward Abbey, Feb. 2, 7:30-9 p.m. Details: ERC 726-4333.

FILM Banff Film Festival—Internationally touring festival, sponsored by National Geographic. Feb. 2-4, 7 p.m. at the nexStage Theatre. Tickets: $15, with funds donated to Friends of the Sawtooth National Forest and Sun Valley Ski Patrol. Details: www.banffmountainfestivals.ca.

WORKSHOP Snow Cave Workshop—Participants build one snow cave big enough to house four people. Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Details: ERC 726-4333.

DANCE Footlight Dance Company presents “New Kid on the Block: Firebird”—A cultural event at the Community Campus Theater, Hailey, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Chapter One, Ketchum and Iconoclast, Hailey. Details: 788-3481 ext.6.

essential:
Wells Fargo Boulder Mountain Tour

A hugely popular Nordic ski race, the tour attracts a swath of racers from modest to Olympic caliber athletes for a 32-kilometer skate ski tour winding 23 miles along the Big Wood River. Beginning with a wave start at 10 a.m. on Feb. 4 from Senate Meadows (just east of Galena Lodge) the course descends 1,000 feet to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters eight miles north of Ketchum. For those who can't get enough of the tour, the Backwards Boulder Mountain Tour & Cross Country Ski Festival, on Feb 5. provides the chance to do it again, backwards. For details visit www.bouldermountaintour.com or call 788-1550.

HOLIDAY Galena Lodge Valentine’s Dinner—Romance for sale, 6 p.m. Details: 726-4010.

FILM Environmental Resource Center Presents “MountainFilm on Tour”—Steeped in the tradition of mountaineering and adventuring, the tour brings provocative documentaries by cutting-edge filmmakers. Feb. 17-18. Details: 726-4333.

NORDIC Boulder Mountain Classic—A noncompetitive classic technique ski tour from the Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters to Galena Lodge. Feb. 18 at the SNRA. Details:
726-3497.

CONCERT Brentano String Quartet—Presented by Sun Valley Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 18 at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. Details: 726-9491.

FREE Hailey Public Library Mardi Gras Celebration—Mask making, story telling, beads, king cake and a noisy library parade mark the celebration. Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m. Details: 788-2036.

WORKSHOP Nature Photography Series—Join professional photographer Craig Wolfrom for courses on Feb. 9, 16, 23, from 6-9 p.m. Details: ERC 726-4333.

CONCERT Caritas Chorale Celebrates Mozart's 250th Birthday—Chorale, orchestra and soloists perform Mozart’s ‘Great C Minor Mass,’ Church of the Big Wood, Ketchum. Feb. 11-12, 5:30 p.m. Details: 578-9648 or 726-5402.

march

WORKSHOP Choices for Sustainable Living—
a 9-week self-led discussion group exploring sustainability at multiple levels. March through May, 7-8 p.m. Details: 726-4333.

FREE Eco Book Club—“Devil’s Bargains” by Hal K. Rothman. March 2, 7:30-9 p.m. Details: ERC
726-4333.

NORDIC Women’s Tour—In conjunction with Sun Valley Nordic, March 4. Details: 622-2250.

CONCERT Ethos Percussion Group—A night of Indian musicians and dancers, presented by the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, March 4, nexStage Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Details: 726-9491.

DANCE Fourth Annual Sun Valley Ballet School Children’s Series, Snow White—School field trips on March 8-9. Night show on Thursday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $5 at the door, nexStage Theatre. Details: 726-9876.

CONCERT The Vienna Boys Choir—Presented by the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. March 11, 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. Details: 726-9491.

BENEFIT Community Library Gala Event—Fundraising event for privately funded library.
March 12, 5:30 p.m. Details: 726-3493.

BENEFIT Bill Janss Memorial Pro Am Classic—Past and present ski legends highlight the weekend with a dual giant slalom race on Warm Springs. The three-day event runs March 16-18 with an opening night cocktail party, on-hill competitions and freestyle exhibitions, and a gala dinner and auction to benefit the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Details: 726-4129.

RACE Atlas Snowshoe Challenge—Summit Bald Mountain during the annual snowshoe climb to the top. The race begins at the base of River Run on March 18. Details: 726-3497.

LECTURE Sun Valley Summer Symphony lectures—with Music Director Alasdair Neale, March 21-22 at 6:30 p.m. Sun Valley Lodge Limelight Room Salon.

CONCERT Sun Valley Opera 5th anniversary season—‘Met to Broadway Series,’ highlights from musical theater and opera. March 25, 8 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood. Tickets: Chapter One Bookstore, Ketchum; Iconoclast Books, Hailey; ticket hotline-726-5686.

NORDIC Galena Spring Loppett Tour—A fun filled 30-kilometer masquerade ski tour of the Galena Trail system, March 29. Details: 726-4010.

essential:
Winter Musical Extravaganzas

Many musical pleasures are available this season. The Sun Valley Opera presents the highly popular Met to Broadway Series on Jan. 21 and March 25. For details call 726-5739. The Caritas Chorale family sing-along concert will be held at 4 p.m., Dec. 2 and 7 p.m., Dec. 3 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Sun Valley Road. Later in the season, the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood Choir offers the ‘Messiah’ on Dec. 18. Caritas Chorale also plans a Birthday Bash for Mozart's 250th at 5:30 p.m., Feb 11-12. The show includes chorale, orchestra and soloists performing Mozart’s “Great C Minor Mass.” For details call 578-9648.

april

NORDIC Ride, Stride, Glide Relay Race—Celebrate the end of the cross-country ski season at Galena Lodge with a bike, run and ski relay race on April 2. Team and solo competitors race to finish in costumes. Details: 726-4010.

FREE Eco Book Club—“Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water” by Marc Reisner, April 6, 7:30-9 p.m. Details: ERC 726-4333.

LECTURE With Robert Thurman—America’s foremost Buddhism scholar and father of actress Uma, April 7. Presented by the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. Details: 726-9491.

essential:
Company Of Fools

Company of Fools, based in Hailey, has a stellar winter season lined up. From their home, the Liberty Theatre, the Fools present everything from lively comedy to serious drama. Highlights this year include “The Man Who Came to Dinner” presented Dec. 14-31, the musical comedy “Miss Gulch Returns,” from Jan. 19-21, Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler,” on the boards Feb. 15 to March 5 and “A Year With Frog and Toad,” premiering April 19 to May 7. For further details visit www.companyoffools.org or call 788-6250.

may

THEATER “Fiddler on the Roof”—The Wood River High School players continue their strong arts tradition with a performance of this wonderful musical. May 4, 5 and 6.

DANCE “Alice in Dancerland”— Footlight Dance Company presents this family classic on May 14,
2 p.m. at the Community Campus Theater, Hailey. Tickets: Chapter One, Ketchum and Iconoclast, Hailey. Details: 788-3481.

FREE Eco Book Club—“Diversity of Life,” by Edward O. Wilson, May 4, 7:30-9 p.m. Details: ERC 726-4333.

DANCE Sun Valley Ballet School Spring Showcase—Annual performance at the nexStage Theatre. Tickets: $8 for adults, $5 for students. Details: 726-9876.

EXHIBITION “The Mystical Arts of Tibet”—Tibetan Lamas visit for a five day residency from Thursday, May 25 to May 29 at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. Among many activities, the monks will complete a mandala. Details: 726-9491.

essential:
Sun Valley Mountain Wellness Festival

The Wood River Valley inspires a healthy approach to living with the Sun Valley Mountain Wellness Festival held at the Sun Valley Resort. The ninth annual festival addresses body, mind, spirit and medicine throughout Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29. The four-day event attracts nationally recognized keynote speakers, offers wellness-related workshops and provides an exhibition hall. For details visit: www.svmtnwellness.org or call (866) 379-2938. Attached to the festival is the Ketchum Half Marathon, which winds through Sun Valley and Ketchum. For details call (800) 634-3347 or visit www.runsv.com.

FESTIVAL Hailey Chamber of Commerce Spring Fest—Arts & Crafts Festival, May 27-28. Roberta McKercher Park.

ongoing

FREE Sun Valley Gallery Association Gallery Walks—Stroll about town as galleries open their doors, host artists and serve wine from 6-9 p.m. Check gallery listings on page 53 for locations. Dec. 29, Feb. 17, March 10, May 27. 726-8180.

FILM The Family Table—Hailey Public Library hosts book and film discussions on Fighting and Feasting, immigrant families and American restaurants. Thursdays, Feb. 16-March 23 at 6:30 p.m. Details: 788-2036.

FREE Skate Clinics—Learn to skate ski during free clinics for beginners held at Galena Lodge on Dec. 4, 17, Jan. 14 and Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. Free clinic at Quigley Nordic in Hailey, Jan. 14. Details: 726-4010.

DINNER Full Moon Dinner—Ski or snowshoe under the moonlight before or after a five-course dinner at Galena Lodge. Dec. 14; Jan. 12-13; Feb. 10-12; March 12-13. Reservations and details: 726-4010.

DINNER Stargazing Dinner—Enjoy a stargazing dinner while the moon is new and the sky is blackest black. Spectacular observations on Jan. 27 and Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Galena Lodge. After dinner, venture into the crisp night to gaze through a telescope at countless stars. Reservations and details: 726-4010.

SPORT Suns & Sunsets Hockey—Sports fans can catch the Suns, Sun Valley’s men’s amateur hockey team, and the Sunsets, the female squad
at home games in Sun Valley. Details: 726-6967.

MUSIC Whiskey Jacques’ “DJ Dollar Night”—$1 PBRs and well-drinks. Every Sunday and Tuesday.

ONGOING Environmental Resource Center programs (details—ERC 726-4333):

Winter Animal Tracking Workshop—Learn about animals’ feet and how they move, what they eat and where they go in the winter months. Saturdays: Jan. 7, 14, 21, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Birding on Snowshoes—An adventure in the Silver Creek preserve. Jan. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., March 25 and Feb. 25. Carpools meet at the Hailey public parking lot.

Night Sky Parties—View the stars and planets crowding Ketchum’s dark sky, at Atkinson Park.

The Coming of Spring Nature Walks—Watch spring unfold on a walk along Silver Creek, Saturdays in March 4, 11, 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Carpools meet at Sturtevants in Hailey.