For the week of October 5, the City of Big Bear Lake and Big Bear Disposal planned for drivers to tag carts at the curb and for affected households to get a postcard in the mail. The message was simple. Your pickup day may be different starting Monday, October 12, 2026, which is today.
That small change is one of several that arrive on fixed dates over the next few weeks. A bus stop moves, the last Oktoberfest weekends play out, and the Village hosts Halloween. On the mountain, though, Big Bear Mountain Resort hasn't committed to a single winter date beyond ticket sales. So between now and the first chair, the useful calendar comes from the City, Mountain Transit, and the Village event organizers, not from the ski resort.
The Dates Already Set
These dates are already published. You can plan around them.
- Monday, October 12. The new residential trash, recycling, and green waste schedule starts in the City of Big Bear Lake.
- Sunday, October 18. Last day for the Mountain Transit stop in front of Vons/Starbucks.
- Monday, October 19. The new shelter behind Vons on Sandalwood Drive opens.
- Saturday, October 24. Trail-work day with the Southern California Mountains Foundation.
- Saturday, October 31. Halloween in The Village.
- Monday, November 2. Snow tubing and snow play tickets go on sale at Big Bear Mountain Resort.
- November 7 and 8. The last listed weekend of Big Bear Oktoberfest.
- November 11. Veterans Day ceremony at Veteran's Park.
Only one resort date made the list, and it's a ticket sale. The resort's earliest possible opening, November 21, isn't on the list because the resort itself says it isn't confirmed. More on that below.
Trash Day Moved. The 24-Hour Rule Didn't.
The City of Big Bear Lake and Big Bear Disposal spread collection more evenly across the week. As KBHR reported, city officials expect the rebalanced routes to improve reliability and speed up responses to customer requests. Pickup now runs Monday through Friday, and Thursday collection is gone entirely. Not every route changed, so last month's pickup day may or may not still be yours. Carts need to be at the curb before 6:30 a.m. on your collection day.
The rule that matters most stays the same. City ordinance still bars leaving carts at the curb for more than 24 hours, and the reason is wildlife. Anyone who leaves Thursday night out of habit could end up with a cart on the street for a full day before the new pickup comes. The City has posted an interactive collection map on BigBearLake.gov so you can look up your day by address.
If you miss your pickup or can't fit the 24-hour window, the Clean Bear Drop-Off Site at 41974 Garstin Drive is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Big Bear Disposal takes questions at (909) 866-3942 or [email protected].
The Vons Stop Moves Around the Corner
The second change also starts on a set date. Mountain Transit is permanently replacing the stop in front of Vons/Starbucks with a new shelter behind the store on Sandalwood Drive. The old stop's last day is Sunday, October 18, and the new one opens Monday, October 19. It's part of a wider rollout of new shelters across the agency's service area, where some stops have been relocated or removed.
The resort's own shuttles are on a different footing. Big Bear Mountain Resort runs shuttles from its off-site lots, including the Sandalwood Lot, to the bases at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. Those shuttles are "paused until November or December 2026." The Intermountain Shuttle between Snow Summit and Bear Mountain is paused until December. So for now, Mountain Transit is the transit service with a firm schedule. The resort's shuttles come back in a window of months, not on a set day.
The Village Fills the Weekends
Before the snow, the Village supplies the weekend plans.
After this past weekend, Oktoberfest has these dates left: October 16 to 18, October 23 to 25, October 30, November 1, and a final weekend on November 7 and 8. A free trolley runs to and from the Convention Center from 6:00 to 10:30 p.m. on event nights.
October 31 falls between those Oktoberfest dates. Halloween in The Village runs Saturday from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Trick-or-treating is 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and a free Spazmatics concert plays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The quieter dates are just as fixed. The Southern California Mountains Foundation's trail-work day on Saturday, October 24, covers dirt, brush, and litter maintenance around Big Bear Valley. The location changes from event to event, and details go out about a week ahead. The 2026 Veterans Day ceremony is listed for November 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Veteran's Park, 40870 Big Bear Blvd.
One holiday date isn't settled yet. The Village Christmas tree lighting page says November 27 in its introduction and Saturday, November 28, 2026 in its date field, so check before you plan around it. The Festival of Lights registration and voting dates are still listed as "To Be Announced."
What the Mountain Will Commit To, and What It Won't
Big Bear Mountain Resort is open about why it has no opening date. On its hours page, the resort writes:
"While we'd love to give you an official opening date, the truth is, Mother Nature is the boss, and she hasn't told us yet. We most likely won't know until around mid-November, when temperatures begin to drop and we're able to turn on our snowmaking systems."
The same page says winter products can be bought now with a start date of November 21, 2026. It calls that the earliest date the resorts may open, "not a confirmed opening date." It also notes that the region is heading into an El Niño season, which could mean colder temperatures. Here's where each winter item stands as of today:
| Item | What's published | Firm or conditional |
|---|---|---|
| Opening day | November 21 is the earliest possible date | Conditional |
| Snow tubing and snow play tickets | On sale November 2 | Firm |
| Grizzly Ridge at Snow Summit | Listed daily from December 4 | Scheduled, weather permitting |
| Coyote Creek and Snow Valley snow play | Listed from December 5 and 6 | Scheduled, weather permitting |
| Off-site lot shuttles | Paused until November or December | Conditional |
| Premium Parking Pass, $699 | Listed as sold out | Closed |
| Sports Basement Ski Bus, $80 per seat | Schedule and pricing due in November | Pending |
The sold-out parking pass is the one item locals can no longer get. Daily paid parking is listed at $30 to $40 at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, and it must be bought at least 24 hours ahead.
As for new products, Ski California's September 21 preview lists the Double Play two-pack. It costs $149 for two days with no blackout dates and works at Snow Valley, Snow Summit, and Bear Mountain. According to the resort, dates must be reserved, capacity is limited, and the tickets can't be transferred. The preview also lists First Turns, a Snow Valley beginner package starting at $129 for any age, with lift ticket, rentals, and a lesson included. BBMR Reserve, the $899 priority-lift add-on, returns for 26/27. It isn't a new product.
The Lake Still Has Its Own Hours
Big Bear Municipal Water District keeps its own schedule for the lake. The public launch ramp page shows the East Public Launch Ramp open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the West Ramp closed. The page doesn't list a date for switching to winter hours. Boats still need an inspection before entering the lake. The 2026 seasonal permits run from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, so a permit bought this year covers the whole winter.
This post is general information, not legal or financial advice. For rules that apply to your own property, such as the curb ordinance or lake permits, confirm the details with the City of Big Bear Lake or BBMWD directly.
If you're deciding whether to list your cabin before the first snow or wait until the mountain is busy again, Angie & Danny Dominguez would be glad to walk through it with you. Get your free home valuation and consultation, and we'll look at your Big Bear Lake home with this season's calendar in mind.
