Winter Fun

‘Midnight Madness’ and other night skiing events across New England

Some mountains also host free and discounted ski nights.

Night skiing at Pats Peak in Henniker, N.H. Pats Peak

When the sun goes down, the lights go up at New England ski resorts with nighttime skiing and riding.

Regional mountains are hosting special nighttime events on the slopes this season that include skinning, lessons, discounted rentals, glow items, fire pits, live music, and more.

Ahead, check out the moonlit fun taking place across the region for skiers and riders. Some mountains even offer free and discounted ski nights.

Massachusetts

Blue Hills Ski Area in Canton, part of the Blue Hills Reservation, offers night skiing until 9 p.m. Tickets start at $40.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, billed as “one of the best ski resorts for night skiing and riding in Massachusetts,” lights up all three of its terrain parks at night, as well as 25 of 45 trails from 3 to 10 p.m. daily. Tickets start at $59.

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Wachusett Mountain in Princeton hosts College Nights every Sunday from 4 to 9:30 p.m., which brings discounts to students who show a college ID. Tickets cost $50 for double sessions and rentals are $15. For non college students and those who can’t make it on Sunday, night skiing is offered daily until 9:30 p.m., and tickets start at $57 for a single session. Boston skiers and riders in need of transportation can take the Ski Train to the mountain.

New Hampshire

Crotched Mountain in Bennington is known for its signature Midnight Madness event, where skiers and riders “shred under the stars” until midnight and enjoy $10 rentals, hundreds of glow items, drink specials, a DJ on the snow, fire pits, and giveaways. This year’s Midnight Madness events will take place on Dec. 27, Jan. 7, Jan. 31, Feb. 14, and Feb. 28. Regular night skiing takes place Tuesday through Saturday until 9 p.m. and tickets are $69.

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Pats Peak Ski Area in Henniker brings weekend fun in the form of Saturday Night Under the Lights POP (pay one price) from 4 to 10 p.m. Tickets range from $79 to $99 based on the time slot chosen and includes skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, rentals, and lesson tips. POP runs from Dec. 27 to March 28, 2026. Pats Peak also has daily night skiing except on Sundays and adult tickets start at $72.

Waterville Valley in Waterville Valley will welcome guests for a “one-of-a-kind moonlit ski adventure” called Skin the Moon on Jan. 30 from 5 to 8:15 p.m. Participants skin, or uphill ski, up Valley Run and Oblivion and enjoy live music, appetizers, and a cash bar at mountaintop eatery Schwendi Hütte before skiing down. Tickets are $75 per person. If you can’t make that event, night skiing takes place Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 8 p.m. and costs $25 (for surface lift and carpet access to three trails).

Vermont

Bolton Valley in Bolton has night skiing with a gorgeous view five nights a week, and officials wrote this about the view: “when the setting sun is framed by the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain and our west facing slopes, the view is pretty tough to beat from the slopes and the chair, that’s for sure!” Tickets are $30.75 for skiing from 4 to 10 p.m.

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Middlebury Snowbowl in Middlebury is new to night skiing after launching the activity in recent years and offers “beautifully illuminated trails” and free carpet service in the beginner area (which is also lit). Adult tickets start at $35.

Smugglers’ Notch in Jeffersonville doesn’t offer nighttime skiing, but does teach night classes. Guests can sign up for Night School for Jibbing, a 90-minute group lesson in jibbing, or riding on surfaces other than snow (think rails, boxes, and other obstacles), plus Night School for Skiing & Snowboarding, a 90-minute lesson followed by an hour of practice time. The classes are on Friday and Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and cost $75 per person.

Maine

Black Mountain of Maine in Rumford is helping skiers save money with Free Ski Nights this winter on Wednesdays, thanks to area business sponsors. The free nights this season are are Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, and March 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. Ski and board rentals are $35 plus tax. The Café & The Last Run Pub are open for all free ski events.

Pleasant Mountain has a “Monday Night Madness” deal where guests of all ages can ski from 3:30 to 9 p.m. for $24. For those who can’t make Mondays, night skiing takes place daily except on Sundays from 3:30 p.m. until close. A midweek adult night lift ticket begins at $36.

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Sunday River in Newry has “Twilight Skiing” on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays from 3 to 6 p.m. Skiers and riders have access to the Chondola and South Ridge Express lifts for turns on the slopes of South Ridge and North Peak under the lights. Adult tickets start at $50.

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Kristi Palma

Travel writer

 

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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