Spring Ski Resort Events: East
Ski resorts stage springtime events nearly every weekend.
Ski resorts go balmy when the weather gets balmy, staging all kinds of wacky events an competitions that give skiers and snowboarders innovative and fun ways to have fun.
Looking around the Eastern U.S. and Canada, here are some of the highlight ski resort events.
Pennsylvania
Camelback celebrates a Spring Fest Weekend on March 17-18, including pond skimming and Retro Day.
Shawnee Mountain stages Military Appreciation Weekend, March 16-18. All active military and immediate family ski/ride free; retired military, reservists and immediate families slide for half price. March 24 is the annual Costume Carnival Day & Parade when skiers/riders in costume slide free.
New York
Lake Placid/Whiteface presents Snoe.down '07, March 23-25, a music festival featuring indie bands, and competitions for all in tubing, snow luge, curling, luge paddle and hockey shooting.
Gore Mountain stages an April 7 pond skimming contest, and a kids' Easter egg hunt on April 8.
The Catskills region repeats its successful March Mountain Madness promotion throughout March and April, including discounts on sliding at Hunter and Windham, lodging, dining, shopping, entertainment and cultural events.
At Belleayre, the first 50 lift ticket purchasers on April 11 receive a Belleayre baseball cap. Also on the calendar: a cardboard-sled race, March 17; a Kids' Film Festival, March 18; a beach party, April 7; a dummy race, April 7; and an on-slope golf long drive contest, April 15.
Windham Mountain welcomes the IZSTYLE.com Winter Tour, March 17, with a free concert, plus ski and snowboard demos. On March 24, it's the Spring Fling Beach Party with pond skimming and big air.
Vermont
Bromley offers two-for-one-Sunday April 1 when two lifts tickets can be bought for the price of one.
Ascutney stages a Reggae Festival on March 24-25 with bands, Jamaican barbecue and an on-skis limbo contest.
Killington presents Spring Loaded, April 7-9, a snowboarding, superpipe, rail and slopestyle contest, with bands, barbeque, movies and demos; and pond skimming and more partying on April 21-22.
Mount Snow stages ReggaeFest, March 24-25, which also features pond skimming and a dummy big-air contest.
Okemo dives into its Slush Cup and Dummy Huck 'n Chuck Big Air on April 7, and the annual Okemo Easter Bonnet Contest on April 8.
At Stowe the Spring Summit Celebration comes in three installments, March 24-26, March 31-April 2 and April 7-8, replete with entertainment, competitions and food.
New Hampshire
Ski and snowboard Waterville Valley on March 16 for $17, and on April Fool's Day for $1.
The annual Bretton Woods Beach Party, April 1, includes island-style music, a barbecue and another pond skimming contest.
Mount Sunapee stages its own pond skimming at the Slush Cup, March 24, featuring prizes and entertainment.
Maine
Sunday River presents Eat the Heat Chili Cook-Off and Firefighters' Race on March 25, where teams of firefighters skiing in full gear and carrying a hose race to raise money for Maine Handicapped Skiing, and a Chili Cook-Off puts a fire in the belly. The annual Parrothead and Bust 'n' Burn Festival on March - April 1 features Jimmy Buffet cover bands, parties, pond skimming, mogul contest, a margarita mix-off, etc. and, on April 6-8, it’s all about the kids at the Nickelodeon Kids Snow Festival.
Sugarloaf stages College Weeks, March 19-23 and 26-30, when collegians ski for $35. On April 12-15, it’s Reggae Festival.
Quebec
Mont Tremblant offers TELUS Spin, a celebration of spring, featuring concerts, urban an jib skiercross, a boardercross, a big air contest, and parties.
Mont-Sainte-Anne really gets down to it in spring. On March 24, it’s the Bud Light Fest, a big air challenge complemented by a concert, barbecues and the Arctic Spa Zone. Every weekend from March 30 to April 29 is included in the Volkswagen Spring Madness Festival, featuring live concerts, sundecks, mountain top barbecues and theme days that include Easter celebrations, James Bond, dummy races and crazy races.
Le Massif does something every spring weekend. On March 17, it’s The Great Horned Owl Event in which the Charlevoix region’s foods are offered at trailside tasting kiosks, along with entertainment, live art and an aprPs-ski performance. Reggae Bash Amarula on March 24 features entertainment, percussions, outdoor barbecue and non-stop reggae, reggae. Easter Weekend April 6-7, is more entertainment, outdoor barbecue and family activities including pony rides, petting zoo, and face painting with chocolate.
