Hood Meadows Throws New Year’s Eve Bash

Mt. Hood Meadows goes all out for its New Year's Eve Bash. You can just show up to watch the fireworks or get a whole package that bundles in skiing, dinner, and a bus ride.

The ski area piggybacks on its Meadows After Dark, which started last week and usually runs lifts until 9 pm. But on New Year’s Eve, the lifts run until midnight. During the evening, the sky lights up at 10 p.m. with fireworks, which are best seen from the base area. A Meadows After Dark ticket, valid from 3 p.m. to midnight, costs $49. Get a taste of Meadows After Dark from last week's startup:

In addition to skiing until midnight on New Year's Eve, the resort adds in a dinner buffet. Visitors can partake of the buffet at one of three seatings during the evening: 5-6 p.m., 6:30-7:30 p.m., or 8-9 p.m. You can select your seating time, based on availability, upon arrival at the ski area. The buffet features prime rib, cheese lasagna, pork tenderloin, and chicken main dishes with a full lineup of starters and sides. Local and some organic specialties are part of the mix. The dinner buffet costs $59 for adults and $39 for juniors.

For the over 21 crowd, the “Brrring in the New Year Party” tops off the night in Vertical with Keegan Smith and The Fam. The party, which goes from 8 p.m. to 2:15 a.m., includes a champagne toast at midnight. Entry costs $15 at the door.

The resort runs New Year’s Eve Party Buses from Clackamas, so you can have someone else do the driving to the slopes. The buses depart the Monarch Hotel at 3 p.m. and leave Mt. Hood Meadows at 12:30 a.m. for the return trip.  

For Hood Meadows revelers, the Monarch Hotel is offering a $69 room rate that comes with a 2 p.m. late checkout. The hotel also puts on a New Year’s Day Brunch that can be included in a package with the room for an additional cost.

For New Year’s Eve, Mt. Hood Meadows sells packages that combine the lift tickets, dinner buffet, party tickets, and bus tickets. Various combinations are available. You can check rates and buy tickets online here. For reservations at the Monarch Hotel, call 800-492-8700 and ask for the Mt. Hood Meadows rate.