Easter Fun and Spring Parties on the Slopes

Many New England ski resorts are calling Easter weekend their grand finale – with 100 percent of their trails open.

This ski season has been especially bountiful in snow and cold in temperatures, so the snow pack at ski resorts in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire is excellent. This is why you should go skiing this weekend. Most resorts even have special Sunrise Services and egg hunts to celebrate Easter.

The best spring ski parties are on tap this weekend too. Sunday River, which has 100 percent of its terrain open, will host its Parrothead this weekend, featuring a Margarita Mix Off and beach music Friday through Sunday. Easter morning, The River will offer Sunrise Service via the Chondola. Sunday River pledges to keep skiing until May 2, with free skiing, called SkiMaynia, on closing day.

Sugarloaf has an Easter Sunrise Service this weekend too, as well as the first ever Fat Tire Downhill Race on Saturday. Sugarloaf’s 27th annual Reggaefest takes place April 9-12, and its Pond Skimming will be held April 18. Please note: The King Pine lift operation is suspended for the season after malfunctioning on March 21.

Okemo will stay open until April 12. This weekend Okemo will host a Slush Cup and Splash for Cash on Saturday and an Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday.

This is the final ski weekend at Burke Mountain, with tickets costing $35 Friday, $45 Saturday, and $25 Sunday.

Mount Snow celebrates its 7th Winter Brewers Fest this Saturday, along with the Glade-iator Mogul Competition on Ripcord. Stratton stays open though April12, with a Pond Skimming taking place on April 11.

Stowe will keep skiing through April 19, hosting the Sugar Slalom April 4 – a race tradition since 1940. Stowe’s Gondola will run Easter Sunday for a Sunrise Service from 5-6 am. Stowe’s Pond Skimming is April 11.

Sugarbush has vowed to keep skiing, but this is the last weekend for Mt Ellen. The Super Bravo will run at 6:50 a.m. for a Sunrise Service, and an Easter Egg Hunt at Lincoln Peak School House is planned for kids at 10 a.m. Sunday – it’s BYOB (bring your own basket).

Killington will keep skiing into May — it’s the Beast of the East, after all. This Saturday is Pond Skimming at the Big K, and there will be a at 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service on Easter at Killington Peak.

Cannon Mountain is 100 percent open and will keep skiing through April 19. BodeFest with Bode Miller takes place April 4. For the remainder of the season, Cannon will offer 2 for $74 tickets. Blizzard Splash Pond Skimming is April 11 at Cannon.

Loon will celebrate 80s day April 4. It’s always a fun time on snow to go retro. April 12 Loon’s last scheduled day. Cranmore will close its season on Easter Sunday.

Waterville Valley will host a Pond Skimming and Last Run Laua Party April 4 and an Easter Sunrise Service as well as free skiing until 7:45 a.m. It will continue ski operations through April 12.

That’s just a sampling of the skiing and fun spring ski festivities going on Easter weekend and throughout the month of April. With record snow and cold, the slopes are well covered. With sunshine and 30’s forecast for Easter Sunday – it is a perfect day to hit the slopes.

Happy Easter! See you on the slopes.

By Heather Burke, Photos by Greg Burke