Ski resorts have New Year's Eve events lined up for all tastes and ages.
"I think ski areas have a reputation as places to celebrate, and with the activities and events leading up to the ball drop, they’re an exciting place to start the new year," said Bryan Rivard, director of communications at Ski Vermont (Vermont Ski Areas Association). "Tradition is a big part of the Vermont ski culture, and New Year's Eve celebrations and winter festivals are central to that with events happening at ski areas across the state."
Rivard said resort offerings on New Year's Eve include live music, torchlight parades and fireworks.
"It’s an opportunity to invite everyone to visit a ski area, and with activities for all ages — including some bedtime-friendly early fireworks displays," he said. "It’s a great place to celebrate with the whole family."
Stratton Mountain Resort will have live music from DJ Joe Bell from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday with a New Year's Eve family buffet from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the base lodge. A hike to watch the fireworks display will go from 7 to 10:30 p.m., finishing in the courtyard with a fire and hot chocolate.
Grizzly's at Stratton will host a New Year's Eve Party for those 21 and older from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event will feature "live music, an exceptional view of the fireworks and countdown to midnight with complimentary champagne toast," according to stratton.com/things-to-do/events/holiday-week.
An uphill snowshoe race at Stratton called the Recovery Of The Bears is scheduled from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Magic Mountain Ski Area is hosting a New Year's Eve dinner party and fireworks. Music will be performed from 9 p.m. to midnight by Granite, which is made up of members of Rumboat Chili and Fifth Freedom.
Sammy Blanchette will perform at the Wild Boar at Bromley Mountain from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
New Year's Eve Celebrations at Mount Snow include the annual torchlight parade and fireworks at 5:45 p.m. in the Main Base Area. The Snow Barn Music Series includes the Top 40 cover band Fever on Saturday, Annie in the Water on Sunday and The Dave Matthews Tribute Band on Tuesday.
Rivard said the holiday falls at "an exciting time with all this snow."
"It certainly feels like winter at Mount Snow," Courtney DiFiore, spokesperson for Mount Snow, said Monday in an email response to the Reformer. "We have about 50 percent of the mountain open with new trails being added regularly thanks to early December snowfall and snowmaking — which currently continues on Plummet, Drop, Junkyard, Lodge, and Charlie's Chase."
At Carinthia, DiFiore said, "we’ve got the largest park selection available in the east with Nitro, The Gulch, Prospector, Lower Fool's Gold, and Grommet are all open with a total of 60 features."
"For those looking for fun off the slopes," she said, "the award-winning tubing park is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily through Dec. 30, then Friday through Sunday plus Jan. 20 and Feb. 17 to 20."
