Spring is a bittersweet season for skiers and riders. While it marks the end of the ski season, it brings with it warm, long days, fun spring skiing conditions, and some of the best ski resort events of the season. Resorts know how to throw an aprés-ski party, and there’s no time that’s truer than in the spring. Spring brings everything from slush cups to unique food and drink celebrations to incredible weekends of live music. So as you make plans to end the ski season with a bang, consider some of these spring events at ski resorts across North America.
The Best Spring Events at North America Ski Resorts
Rendezvous Music Festival, Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson Hole’s Rendezvous Music Festival, taking place April 5-6, is an annual celebration that brings a vibrant fusion of music, culture, and spring vibes to the stunning Wyoming landscape. Held in the iconic Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the festival marks the transition from winter to spring, turning the scenic mountain town into a lively hub of activity. Best of all, general admission is FREE, on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests can elevate their experience with VIP tickets, which include free locally catered food, an open bar, private viewing areas, and more. The weekend sees some of Jackson‘s Hole’s best deals, with travelers able to enjoy $400 off airfare ($1,600 /family) to Jackson Hole, while season passholders of any resort in the world save 50% on lift tickets from March 18 – April 14.
This year’s event sees an incredible lineup featuring Mt. Joy, The Head and the Heart, Jamestown Revival, Luke Grimes, and Niko Moon. Beyond the music, attendees can immerse themselves in the breathtaking beauty and adventures of Jackson Hole, participating in outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, and hiking during the day, and then unwind with the rhythm of live music in the evenings.
World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Whistler
Taking place every April, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival, known to locals as WSSF, combines Whistler’s spring energy with a unique week of mountain culture and non-stop events. WSSF brings together athletes, artists, musicians, and more for ski and snowboard competitions, music, art, photography, film, fun nightlife, and some of the best après sessions of the season. A sample of events includes photography and film showdowns, après yoga, the Slush Cup, and shows by famous artists and DJs. WSSF is like one big ski and snowboard party to close out the ski season. Not to mention that Whistler has one of the longest ski seasons in Canada, making April a great time to get in a few more turns. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a powder day.
RendezVan Festival, Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Mt. Bachelor annually hosts a massive spring festival welcoming their strong community of RVers, campers, and van lifers to the mountain. These die-hard travelers come to the resort to enjoy live music and slushy spring laps. Mt Bachelor’s 2024 event will be held from May 2-5. The best part? Your accommodations are just a step away from parking lot après sessions, where dogs are more than welcome too.
Even those who don’t camp are invited to take part in the free festivities. The base camp, in the West Village parking lot, is where the main action is, while fun happenings take place across the mountain for several days. Highlights include live music, morning mountain yoga, lawn games, food trucks, a full bar, and tons of fun vendors. If that’s not enough, Mt. Bachelor is just a short drive from Bend, Oregon, a vibey mountain town full of adventure, shopping, and great food and drink experiences.
Springalicious Annual Cardboard Classic, Steamboat, Colorado
Steamboat hosts their massive spring celebration, Springalicious, over the first two weeks of April, when bluebird days and soft spring skiing set the stage for an exciting end to the season. The two weeks are full of fun, interesting activities like the the Cardboard Classic race, which involves loads of recycled boxes, creativity, and a race down the mountain. This event has been happening at Steamboat for 42 years, and invites locals and visitors alike to put their crafting skills to the test by building race vehicles made from cardboard.
Other popular events include the Cody Challenge, a race that has been running for 16 years. The SkiMo event, in which competitors race up and down the mountain on skins and skis, raises money for the Cody St. John Foundation. This organization helps support ski patrollers continuing their medical education. The course is split into two tracks, a more advanced and a less advanced series, with both a men’s and women’s division.
Other events during Springalicious include free concerts, the Splashdown Pond Skim, and more.
Pain McShlonkey Classic, Palisades Tahoe, California
Palisades Tahoe turns it up every year for Shane McConkey, the legendary pro skier who passed away in 2009. Guests dress up in their vintage ski best and head to the slopes for slushy spring bumps and a good time. The event on March 23 also coincides with International Snowblade Day, which raises money for the Shane McConkey Foundation, an organization that supports other nonprofits in the ever-growing snowsports community. The day involves the classic Hot Dog Downhill race, raffles, a DJ mountain party, and more. Those who can’t make the event can also participate online with the #SnowbladeDay hashtag. Prizes are awarded for race winners and the best photo submissions.
Mark your calendars a couple weeks later, April 5-7, for another headlining event at Palisades Tahoe, WinterWonderGrass. It’s the 8th annual event of the popular music festival, which also takes place at Steamboat March 1-3.
Taste of Vail, Vail, Colorado
What better way to celebrate the ski season than experiencing one of the preeminent food and drink festivals, Taste of Vail. Taste of Vail, a non-profit founded in 1990 by a group of food and wine enthusiasts, is now it is 32nd year of bringing renowned chefs, artisans, and experts together for a unique culinary experience in Vail. Taking place April 3-6, Taste of Vail is chock-full of elevated wine dinners, tastings, and more. Its premier tasting event, the Best of the Best Grand Tasting, features a special night of sampling food and drink from all of Taste of Vail’s wineries and restaurants. Make sure to purchase tickets, and book your lodging, as far in advance as possible.
Spring Gruv, Park City, Utah
Park City is known all too well for its long ski season and incredible après scene, and it culminates for 16 days of live music and activities at Park City Mountain to end the season. Highlights this year include a special performance on March 30 by Anderson East and special guest Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds. As the music winds down at the resort, head into town to check out any number of great restaurants and bars to continue the spring aprés-ski celebrations.
Those more adventurous skiers and riders can take a more active part in Spring Gruv. For the 23rd year in a row, guests can compete to sink or swim across this massive skim course just outside of Red Pine Lodge.
Reggae Festival, Sugarloaf, Maine
Sugarloaf Mountain‘s Reggae Festival is self-described as the East Coast’s largest spring skiing festival. While other resorts, such as Mount Snow, host their own reggae festivals, Sugarloaf’s event is considered the largest and most prominent as New Englanders flock to the resort every April for a weekend full of live music and spring slush bumps. Sugarloaf’s Reggae Festival spreads its concerts over three days, with some shows held at restaurants and bars, while the big party is held outside on Sugarloaf Beach just in front of the main lodge. This means that you can get in a few laps between performances.
See the complete schedule and lineup on Sugarloaf’s website for the 36th annual end-of-season celebration, taking place April 12 to 14.
Bodefest, Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire
Cannon Mountain celebrates skiing icon Bode Miller every spring for Bodefest. Bodefest in part is a fundraiser for the Turtle Ridge Foundation, an organization that helps support adaptive and youth athletics in the local community. All proceeds go towards supporting the foundation’s goal. This is particularly a great event for kids, since kids under 18 (who can self-load onto a lift and ski unassisted) can ski with Bode. The $59 entry fee also includes entry to the Kids’ Fun Race, entry to an autograph session, lunch, a VIP pass to the BodeFest afterparty, and other perks. This year’s event is held March 16. BodeFest makes for a unique opportunity for your kids to meet and ski with an Olympian.
St. Patrick’s Day Family Festival, Granite Peak, Wisconsin
While many ski resorts have festivities for St. Patrick’s Day, Granite Peak goes all out for an entire weekend of celebrations. Granite Peak’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival is one of a few family festivals that the ski area hosts annually, with each having their own style and flare. Over the weekend of March 15-17, the mountain dons an Irish theme, with a shamrock scavenger hunt and traditional Irish food being served in the Historic and Sundance Lodges. Green beer is also available across the resort. Don’t miss the mountain’s signature fireworks show on Saturday night. For $20 guests can also take a ride on the resort’s Prinoth Snow Cat grooming fleet to meet the grooming staff and see how they make the magic happen.
Mountain Meltdown, Lutsen Mountain, Minnesota
The end of the ski season is a bummer for most, but at Lutsen Mountain, one of the biggest Great Lakes ski resorts, it’s an all-out party. Lutsen hosts the Mountain Meltdown during the final ski week of the year, when guests can come and get in some last runs before the snow is gone. Lutsen offers 40% off lift tickets and lodging with a full weekend of concerts. Six bands are lined up to celebrate a great season including Finn Band, Joe Paulik, Floydian Slip, Bug Dope, Chris Silver Band, and Spruce Roots. Weather permitting these bands will perform on a live outdoor stage with a full beer garden and BBQ.
Header image ©Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
February 19, 2024
