By The Thirst Team

The Christmas season is officially underway, and there are plenty of holiday festivities at breweries, distilleries and wineries. But you can also celebrate ski season, pups, Repeal Day and heavy metal.

Metal & Beer Fest

Denver’s metal kings Khemmis will headline the first night of the Metal and Beer Fest on Friday at Summit. Limited Friday tickets are available, which also includes Cephalic Carnage, The Red Chord, Ken Mode and more. Saturday tickets and two-day passes are sold out. TRVE Brewing returns as the presenting brewery, with other local and national breweries and meaderies pouring unlimited samples.

Meier Skis Takeover

Meiers Skis will take over the Public Offering taproom in Denver on Friday evening to showcase their Colorado-made skis and snowboards, offer custom pole building, and stream ski movies. Upswell Studio also will be on hand to promote their post riding recovery and restoration services. A portion of all sales will be donated to One Tree Planted.

Public Offering also hosts a free yoga class with True Love Yoga at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Santa pics and makers’ market

Arvada’s Talnua Distillery hosts a 21+ holiday makers’ market, including photos with Santa, from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The market includes handmade jewelry, pottery, fine art and more. Santa photos are free with the purchase of a festive holiday cocktail, single pour or flight.

Bernese Mountain dogs take center stage this weekend in Breckenridge.

Bernerfest at Continental Divide

Continental Divide Winery in Breckenridge will host a two-day celebration of Bernese Mountain Dogs. On Friday and Saturday, the tasting room offers drink specials, Bernese souvenirs and pup cups. Meanwhile, the barrel room hosts live music, and custom portraits and ornaments. The Berner Processional Parade, with about 300 dogs, marches down Main Street at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. After the parade, Berner and their humans can return to the tasting room for free dog treats and wine discounts.

Also on Saturday, the annual Race of the Santas starts at 4:20, followed by the Lighting of Breckenridge at 5 p.m.

Snowflake returns

Stranahan’s Distillery in Denver will release Snowflake #26 this weekend. The release party starts on Friday with games, live ice sculpting, food and live music. Then serious fans can camp out overnight to prepare for the bottle release party on Saturday morning, with food trucks and more live music.

Holiday market at Breck Brewery

The Horseshoe Holiday Market comes to Breckenridge Brewery Farm House in Littleton from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will be 67 vendors and live entertainment. The brewery has also launched the immersive Ale Before Christmas Tour to highlight winter seasonals. Guests receive a six-pack of Christmas Ale, an ornament, and heavy appetizers paired with specialty brews. Finally, for every pint and six-pack of Christmas Ale sold through Dec. 31, Breck Brewery will donate one meal to the Food Bank of the Rockies.

Drunk Christmas at River North

Audacious Immersive brings its boozy and interactive take on Dickens back to River North Brewery on Blake Street Friday and Saturday. The show starts at 8 p.m., and pay-what-you-can tickets are available. The show also comes to Left Hand Brewing in Denver and both Fiction Beer Company tap rooms later in December.

Naughty and nice Santa photo shoots

Marble Distilling in Carbondale hosts a pair of photo shoots with Santa on Saturday. Kids are welcome for $10 family pics from 2 to 5 p.m., with free hot chocolate. At 6 p.m. the naughty side takes over for a “Bad Santa” photo shoot.

Hogshead to help migrants

From 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Hogshead Brewery in north Denver will accept donations of warm clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, food, hand warmers and more for Venezuelan migrants.

Holiday pop-up bar opens

Sip & Sleigh: a Holiday Pop-Up Bar opens at The Infinite Monkey Theorem in Denver on Monday and will run through Dec. 31. The taproom will be filled with festive decor, holiday music, and drink specials including mulled wine, cranberry white wine spritzer, blackberry sparkler and a gin barrel-aged Cab Franc on the rocks.

Fruita Repeal Day party

Tuesday marks the 90th anniversary of Repeal Day, when Prohibition was reversed in the federal constitution. Base Camp Provisions in Fruita and the Western Slope Whiskey Club will host a 1923-style Repeal Day party at Base Camp. The event includes food, drinks, a silent auction and a raffle, and is a fundraiser for Harmony Acres Equestrian Center. The restaurant is closed to the public during the private, ticketed 21+ event.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. And enjoy your Colorado craft libations responsibly.