Don’t Miss These Pond Skims and Spring Flings
It’s the first day of spring and corn snow season is just getting rolling. There’s plenty of great skiing left in the season—and plenty of great parties. As the days get longer, it’s the perfect time of year for tailgates, outdoor parties, pond skims, freestyle competitions and more. Here’s your guide to the best parties of the season.
March 22 | Free Ski Day by Lycored, Magic Mountain
Magic will be open to the public with free lift tickets for all who come from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. thanks to Lycored.
March 22-24 | Bud Light Reggaefest and Sink or Swim Pond Skim, Mount Snow
Bands like The Original Wailers, 10ft Ganja Plant and The Alchemystics, RDGLDGRN, Good Nature and more will play shows at the base lodge all weekend. Paid tickets available to see Roots of Creation at the Snow Barn Friday night.
Don’t miss the Sink or Swim Pond Skim on Saturday at the Main Base area, where you can try to ski across the 100-foot-long icy pond in your best costume to win a 2019/2020 season pass.
Catch the Duct Tape Derby on Sunday, where participants race on their homemade cardboard sledding vessels. Only zip ties, duct tape, cardboard and paint allowed! Prizes will be available for best glider, most creative, best kids only sled and the judges’ choice.
March 22-24 | Retro ’80s Weekend, Stowe
Jump back in time and get out your ski gear circa 1985 for a weekend of corn snow and bright colors. Mullets and pegged pants encouraged. Karaoke Friday and The Awesome Saturday at the Rusty Nail.
March 23 | Vermont Brewers’ Festival, Killington
Try new brews and old favorites from 32 of Vermont’s best breweries at this awesome springtime beer festival. You can ski and ride and still find time to catch both tasting sessions in the afternoon.
March 23 | Double Down and Double Kinks, Sugarbush
Hit the park at this skier-only rail jam on Sugar Run at Mt. Ellen with a packed course of down rails and double kinks.
March 23 | Pond Skim, Burke Mountain
This year’s theme is surf’s up, so if you’re headed to Burke this weekend, bring your best Hawaiian shirt, beach towel, board shorts, wetsuit or bikini. May we recommend some zinc oxide as well?
March 23 | Spring Fling and Shovel Race, Magic Mountain
Celebrate spring with a fun race on Show Off, plus a barbecue. Don’t miss a new event this year, the shovel race, to benefit Magic’s ski patrol. Top speed wins. Then, be sure to catch the chairlift flamingo toss and apres party with live music from Kevin Shields and Sean K Preston and Loaded Pistols.
March 23 | Spring Fling, Bromley
This year, Bromley is doing away with the cardboard box derby in favor of an all-new obstacle course race designed for groups to challenge themselves around the mountain. Don’t miss the annual Pond Skim from 1-3 p.m. Costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded for best run and best costume. Plus, there will be a trampoline, face painting, tacos and an ice cream bar—weather permitting.
March 23-24 | Island Weekend, Sugarbush
Get out your shorts and best Hawaiian shirt (weather permitting) for a weekend of spring fever, live reggae music, island cuisines, drink specials, volleyball tournaments, tiki bars and corn snow. Be sure to catch the Island in the Sky Luau at Mt. Ellen.
March 30 | Deck Party, Bromley
Catch lawn games and barbecue on the deck all day at Bromley Mountain. Stick around for free s’mores from 4-5 p.m.
March 30 | Hops on the Snow Beer Festival, Okemo
Hit the hill for beautiful spring conditions and stop by the Jackson Gore Courtyard for a variety of new seasonal brews, plus barbecue and live music in the afternoon.
March 30 | Hibernation Park Jam, Killington
Celebrate the end of season at Killington Parks with a morning of shred sessions followed by an afternoon park jam for those 18 and older. Enjoy the sunshine and corn snow!
March 30 | The Mt. Ellen Ender, Sugarbush
Give Mt. Ellen a big sendoff for the last day of the season and an epic party. Try the Retro Long Jump (Gelandespring) and bring your costumes to boogie down to live music.
March 30 | 2nd Annual Real to Steel, Jay Peak
Open to skiers and riders, test your skills on challenging upper mountain terrain and your trick ability in the Interstate Terrain Park. All competitors get two runs: one on the freeride section and one on the slopestyle course.
March 30-31 | Spring Fling and Pond Skim, Stratton
Get your goggle tan on and bring out your t-shirt for this jam-packed weekend of fun at Stratton. With a Penguin Plunge, Marchdi GrasVillage Winter Fest, Cajun Crawfish Boil and an epic pond skimming competition, there’s plenty of springtime fun to be had.
March 30 | 24th Annual BrewFest Part 2, Smugglers’ Notch
Sample the finest craft beers and regional favorites, plus ciders from across Vermont. Munch on appetizers and enjoy the live DJ.
March 30 | Winter Brewers’ Festival, Mount Snow
Celebrate all things springtime, live music and, of course, beer, at this awesome one-day beer festival featuring 20+ breweries and over 50 types of beer and cider all to live music from the Jeff Tuohy Band.
March 30 | Blast from the Past, Smugglers’ Notch
Join the Smugglers’ Notch Ski and Snowboard Club (if you’re 21 & older) to bash gates and relive your glory days on a qualifying GS course starting at 9:30 a.m. Skiers get two runs, followed by a pro-style dual slalom course for the top 16 racers. Barbecue and beverages included in registration fees following the race.
March 30-31 | Spring Thing Weekend, Bolton Valley
Don’t miss the outdoor snow bar, live music on the slopes, a slopestyle competition on Valley Road, a banked slalom and an ’80s-themed weekend of great skiing and riding.
March 31 | The Bud Light Glade-iator, Mount Snow
This is a fun mogul skiing competition on the soft bumps of Ripcord. Show off your bump and jump skills for the judges, who will vote for winners based on a combination of best time, form, line and aerial maneuvers. It’s also a great spectator event, complete with BBQ and a bar.
March 31 | Dummy Big Air, Sugarbush
Challenge your ski engineering to see who can build the furthest flying and most stylish looking dummy, to be launched off of a massive jump at the base of Mt. Ellen. Followed by live music from the Detonators from 3-6 p.m.
April 1 | April Fools Special, Mad River Glen
Show up today and act foolish in the lift ticket office for a half-price day ticket.
April 6 | Slush Cup and Splash for Cash Pond Skim, Okemo
Costume-clad competitors are invited to skim across Okemo’s 80-foot-long, manmade slush pond in the Jackson Gore Base Area. Prizes will be awarded based on best costume, style, craziest run and best wipeout. Do you best to grab handfuls of cash suspended in the air over the pond (there’s a pretty sweet kicker at the start).
April 6 | Pond Skimming, Sugarbush
Can you skim across the 120-foot pond? Awards for best costume, style and splash. Keep an eye out for annual competitor Wynn Smith. Stick around for the Wall of Fame Celebration in recognition of Sugarbush’s 60th season, plus fireworks at 8 p.m.
April 6 | Nor’Beaster Bud Light Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge, Killington
Amateur bumpers take to the slopes of Outer Limits to battle for a place in the finals. The top 32 men and 16 women will compete in a head-to-head competition for the Mogul Challenge Cup. Don’t miss the live music and after party!
April 6 | 9th Annual Pond Skimming and Chillin’ and Grillin’ Tailgate, Smugglers’ Notch
Elvis, a gorilla, guys in bikinis, you’ll see it all in the Zone Terrain Park during the pond skim. Prizes awarded for best costume. Expect great entertainment, but know this is a family-friendly event.
For food, enjoy the ultimate tailgate party at the end of the day with competitions for best setup and party planning.
April 13 | WinterWondergrass Sugar on Strings, Stratton
This outdoor concert is a celebration of all things bluegrass musics with bands like Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, The Kitchen Dwellers, Twisted Pine and more. Music in the base area is free to all. Check out the local brews and food.
April 13 | Nor’Beaster Bud Light Pond Skimming, Killington
Get your pond skim on with this competition featuring prizes for best overall skim, best costume, biggest splash, best 14 & under skim and the judges award. Be sure to catch life music from Super Stash Bros. after.
April 20 | Pond Skimming and Annual Pump House Beach Party, Jay Peak
Check out live music and fun at the Pump House Waterpark or try to make your way across the massive pond without falling in. Awards for best costume, best run, best bail and best splash.
April 27 | Annual Tailgate Party at Stateside, Jay Peak
Pack the cooler and bust out the lawn chairs for this annual cook-off and spring party. Compete for best dish, best presentation, best dessert and overall Tailgate champion. Don’t miss the after-party and free live music from Lazer Dad.
April 27 | Nor’Beaster Bud Light Triathlon, Killington
Ski, bike and run– that’s right— in this epic mountain triathlon. Course to be determined based on conditions.
May 1 | Nor’Beaster Bud Light May Day Slalom, Killington
Strut your stuff on hero snow in this super fun recreational slalom race.
Featured Photo Caption: 2nd Annual High Fives New England Pond Skim Championship :: April 9, 2016 :: Photo by Jennifer Langille for Stowe Mountain Resort / Stowe Parks
