Spring is a bittersweet season for skiers and riders. While it marks the end of the ski season, it brings with it warm, long days, fun spring skiing conditions, and some of the best ski resort events of the season. Resorts know how to throw an aprés-ski party, and there’s no time that’s truer than in the spring. Spring brings everything from slush cups to unique food and drink celebrations to incredible weekends of live music. So as you make plans to end the ski season with a bang, consider some of these spring events at ski resorts across North America.
The Best Spring Events at North America Ski Resorts
Rendezvous Music Festival, Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson Hole’s Rendezvous Music Festival, taking place April 4-5, is an annual celebration that brings a vibrant fusion of music, culture, and spring vibes to the stunning Wyoming landscape. Held in the iconic Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the festival marks the transition from winter to spring, turning the scenic mountain town into a lively hub of activity. Best of all, general admission is FREE, on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests can elevate their experience with VIP tickets, which include free locally sourced cuisine, an open bar, private viewing areas, and much more. The weekend sees some of Jackson‘s Hole’s best deals, with travelers able to enjoy $400 off airfare ($1,600/family) to Jackson Hole, while season passholders of any resort in the world save 50% on lift tickets from March 17 to April 13.
This year’s event sees an incredible lineup featuring The Avett Brothers, Charles Wesley Godwin, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, and Carter Faith and DJ sets from Disko Cowboy and Blake Horstmann. Beyond the music, attendees can immerse themselves in the breathtaking beauty and adventures of Jackson Hole, participating in outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, and hiking during the day and then unwind with the rhythm of live music in the evenings.
World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Whistler
Taking place every April, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) combines Whistler’s spring energy with a unique week of mountain culture and non-stop events. WSSF brings together athletes, artists, musicians, and more for ski and snowboard competitions, music, art, photography, film, fun nightlife, and some of the best après sessions of the season. A sample of events includes photography and film showdowns, après-yoga, the Slush Cup, and shows by famous artists and DJs. WSSF is like one big ski and snowboard party to close out the ski season. Not to mention that Whistler has one of the longest ski seasons in Canada, making April a great time to get in a few more turns. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a powder day.
Pain McShlonkey Classic, Palisades Tahoe, California
Palisades Tahoe turns it up every year for Shane McConkey, the legendary pro skier who passed away in 2009. Guests dress up in their vintage ski best and head to the slopes for slushy spring bumps and a good time. The event on March 22 raises money for the Shane McConkey Foundation, an organization that supports other nonprofits in the ever-growing snowsports community. The day involves the classic Hot Dog Downhill race, raffles, a DJ mountain party, and more. Those who can’t make the event can also participate online with the #SnowbladeDay hashtag. Prizes are awarded for race winners and the best photo submissions.
RendezVan Festival, Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Mt. Bachelor annually hosts a massive spring festival welcoming their strong community of RVers, campers, and van lifers to the mountain. These die-hard travelers come to the resort to enjoy live music and fun spring laps. Mt Bachelor’s 2025 event will be held from April 17-20. The best part? Your accommodations are just a step away from parking lot après sessions, where dogs are more than welcome too.
Even those who don’t camp are invited to take part in the free festivities. The base camp, in the West Village parking lot, is where the main action is, while fun happenings take place across the mountain for several days. Highlights include live music, morning mountain yoga, lawn games, food trucks, a full bar, and tons of fun vendors. If that’s not enough, Mt. Bachelor is just a short drive from Bend, Oregon, a vibey mountain town full of adventure, shopping, and great food and drink experiences.
If you’re at Mt. Bachelor the weekend before, then check out another one of its great events, Subaru WinterFest, taking place April 11-13. Happening at ski resorts across the U.S. all winter long, Subaru WinterFest makes Mt. Bachelor its last stop of the season with a fun weekend of live music, giveaways, and more. We named it one of the best winter events of the season.
Springalicious Annual Cardboard Classic, Steamboat, Colorado
Steamboat hosts its massive spring celebration, Springalicious, over the first two weeks of April. Bluebird days and soft spring skiing set the stage for an exciting end to the season. The two weeks are full of fun and interesting activities, like the Cardboard Classic race, which involves loads of recycled boxes, creativity, and a race down the mountain. This event has been happening at Steamboat for 43 years and invites locals and visitors alike to test their crafting skills by building race vehicles made from cardboard.
Other popular events include the Cody Challenge, a race that has been running for 17 years. The SkiMo event, in which competitors race up and down the mountain on skins and skis, raises money for the Cody St. John Foundation. This organization helps support ski patrollers continuing their medical education. The course is split into two tracks, a more advanced and a less advanced series, with both a men’s and women’s division.
Other events during Springalicious include free concerts, the Splashdown Pond Skim, and more.
Taste of Vail, Vail, Colorado
What better way to celebrate the end of the ski season than by experiencing one of the preeminent food and drink festivals, Taste of Vail. Taste of Vail, founded in 1990 by a group of food and wine enthusiasts, is now it is 34th year of bringing renowned chefs, artisans, and experts together for a unique culinary experience in Vail. Taking place April 2-5, Taste of Vail is chock-full of elevated wine dinners, tastings, and more. Its premier tasting event, the Best of the Best Grand Tasting, features a special night of sampling food and drinks from all of Taste of Vail’s participating wineries and restaurants. Make sure to purchase tickets, and book your lodging, as far in advance as possible.
Park City Wine Festival, Park City, Utah
The Park City Wine Festival, presented by the Canyons Village Management Association, is the ultimate weekend for wine lovers, running from April 3-5. This vibrant Park City weekend if chock-full of exciting events, including the Grand Tasting, featuring more than 80 wineries pairing great wines with stunning mountain views. For those seeking a more tailored experience, the festival offers a variety of a-la-carte events. Savor expertly paired wines at Park City restaurants offering exclusive lunches and wine dinners or deepen your wine knowledge at informative seminars. Attendees can curate their perfect wine-filled weekend while exploring the best of this charming mountain town. Park City Wine Festival takes spring aprés-ski up a few notches.
Reggae Festival, Sugarloaf, Maine
Sugarloaf Mountain‘s Reggae Festival is self-described as the East Coast’s largest spring skiing festival. While other resorts, such as Mount Snow, host their own reggae festivals, Sugarloaf’s event is considered the largest and most prominent as New Englanders flock to the resort every April for a weekend full of live music and spring slush bumps. Sugarloaf’s Reggae Festival spreads its concerts over four days, with some shows held at restaurants and bars, while the big party is held outside on Sugarloaf Beach just in front of the main lodge. This means that you can get in a few laps between performances. Check out Sugarloaf’s website for the complete schedule and lineup for its 37th annual end-of-season celebration, taking place April 10 to 13.
Bodefest, Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire
Cannon Mountain celebrates skiing icon Bode Miller every spring for Bodefest. Bodefest raises money for the Turtle Ridge Foundation, an organization that helps support adaptive and youth athletics in the local community. All proceeds go towards supporting the foundation’s goal. This is particularly a great event for kids since kids under 18 (who can self-load onto a lift and ski unassisted) can ski with Bode. The $59 early bird entry fee (increased to $69 on February 27th) also includes entry to the Kids’ Fun Race, entry to an autograph session, lunch, a VIP pass to the BodeFest afterparty, and other perks. This year’s event, the 20th anniversary, is held on March 21. BodeFest makes for a unique opportunity for your kids to meet and ski with an Olympian.
Homesick, Stratton Mountain, Vermont
Stratton Mountain‘s Homesick, presented by East Street Archives, is a three-day celebration of snowboarding culture, community, and history, returning for its second season from March 21-23. This unique event honors the roots of the sport, which began at Stratton, Vermont, and invites riders of all levels—legends, pros, up-and-comers, and fans alike—to join in the festivities. Attendees can enjoy on-snow events, check out the WITNESS book release, dive into nostalgia in the Vintage Board Room, and explore The Dawning Exhibit, which highlights the early days of snowboarding. Stratton after all is considered the birthplace of snowboarding. The weekend also offers opportunities to demo snowboards, have books signed by icons of the sport, and level up après with live music and drink specials. Homesick is a perfect chance to reconnect with the roots of snowboarding while enjoying spring skiing at Stratton.
St. Patrick’s Day Family Festival, Granite Peak, Wisconsin
While many ski resorts have festivities for St. Patrick’s Day, Granite Peak goes all out for an entire weekend of celebrations. Granite Peak’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival is one of a few family festivals that the ski area hosts annually, each with their own unique style and flair. Over the weekend of March 28-30, the mountain dons an Irish theme, with a shamrock scavenger hunt and traditional Irish food being served in the Historic and Sundance Lodges. Green beer is also available across the resort. Don’t miss the mountain’s signature fireworks show on Saturday night. For $20 guests can also take a ride on the resort’s Prinoth Snow Cat grooming fleet to meet the grooming staff and see how they make the magic happen.
Family Festival, Lutsen Mountain, Minnesota
Lutsen Mountain loves to celebrate its families. Twice throughout the 2025 season, once in February and once in March, they host a Family Festival. These weekends are jam-packed with fun activities for the whole family. Enjoy scavenger hunts across the mountain to discover hidden treasures and listen to live music once you find your winnings. Stop by the Lofty Gondola and enjoy pizza slices and s’mores packages. After the lifts stop spinning, there’s a classic torchlight parade and fireworks. Check out the Lusten website and take advantage of the ‘Stay and Play’ deal, which includes 3-day lodging packages and free rentals for both parents and kids.
Header image ©Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
March 12, 2025
