Spring is a bittersweet season for skiers. On one hand, it marks the end of the beloved ski season, but on the other, it brings warm, long days, fun conditions, and some of the best ski resort events of the year. Many resorts know how to throw an après-ski party, and that’s never truer than in the spring, when they roll out the slush cups, unique food and drink, and incredible 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. Dates change each year, so check each event’s website for this season’s schedule.
The Best Spring Events at North America Ski Resorts
Rendezvous Music Festival, Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson Hole’s Rendezvous Music Festival returns in 2026, headlined this year by The Flaming Lips, to celebrate Jackson Hole’s iconic mountain culture and the season’s electric second wind that comes with spring skiing in the Tetons. As days grow longer and conditions keep firing, Rendezvous becomes the ultimate convergence of bluebird laps, soft turns, and the ultimate après experience—one that the entire family will love.
Souls of Mischief kicks things off with a free show under the Tram on March 27, followed by a stacked lineup on March 28 featuring The Flaming Lips, Umphrey’s McGee and Blake Horstmann. From first chair to final encore, Rendezvous Fest delivers a rare experience where all-time ski days flow seamlessly into nights you won’t want to end (you can literally ski to the venue), all set against the unmistakable backdrop of Jackson Hole in spring.
General admission tickets for March 28 are available for $49, with VIP options for those looking to elevate the experience. VIP guests enjoy free locally sourced cuisine, an open bar, private viewing areas, and more—making Rendezvous Fest as refined as it is rowdy, and as iconic as the terrain that surrounds it.
World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Whistler, British Columbia
Held each April, the World Ski & Snowboard Festival (WSSF) combines Whistler’s spring energy with a week of mountain culture and nonstop events. WSSF brings together athletes, artists, musicians, and more for ski and snowboard competitions, music, art, photography, film, nightlife, and some of the best après sessions of the season. Past highlights have included photography and film showdowns, après yoga, the Slush Cup, and shows by big-name artists and DJs. WSSF is like one big ski and snowboard party to close out the 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 up every year to honor 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 Pain McShlonkey Classic, typically held in March, raises money for the Shane McConkey Foundation, which supports other nonprofits in the snowsports community. The day includes the classic Hot Dog Downhill race, raffles, a DJ mountain party, and more. Those who can’t make the event can also join in online with the #SnowbladeDay hashtag, with prizes for race winners and the best photo submissions.
RendezVan Festival, Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Mt. Bachelor hosts a massive spring festival each April that welcomes RVers, campers, and van lifers to the resort for live music, spring laps, and one of North America’s top spring skiing destinations. The best part? Your accommodations are just steps from the slopes and parking-lot après sessions, which gives new meaning to ski-in, ski-out. Camping passes typically go on sale well ahead of the event, and dogs are welcome, too.
Even those who don’t camp are invited to take part in the free festivities. Base camp, in the West Village parking lot, is where the main action is, while fun happenings take place across the mountain over 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.
Springalicious and the Cardboard Classic, Steamboat, Colorado
Every spring, Steamboat hosts Springalicious, a big celebration that typically runs through 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 activities, like the long-running Cardboard Classic, in which locals and visitors alike test their crafting skills by building race vehicles from recycled cardboard and sending them down the mountain.
Another popular event is the Cody Challenge, a ski mountaineering race in which competitors race up and down the mountain on skins and skis. It raises money for the Cody St. John Foundation, which helps ski patrollers continue their medical education, and features more and less advanced courses with men’s and women’s divisions. Other highlights 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 at one of the preeminent food and drink festivals in ski country, Taste of Vail? Founded in 1990 by a group of food and wine enthusiasts, Taste of Vail brings renowned chefs, winemakers, and artisans together each spring, typically in early April, for a unique culinary experience in Vail. It’s chock-full of elevated wine dinners, tastings, and more, culminating in its signature Grand Tasting, a night of sampling food and drinks from all of Taste of Vail’s participating wineries and restaurants. Make sure to buy 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, typically held in April. This vibrant Park City weekend is packed with events, including the Grand Tasting, which features dozens of wineries pairing great wines with stunning mountain views. For a more tailored experience, the festival offers à la carte events, from exclusive wine lunches and dinners at Park City restaurants to 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 après-ski up a few notches.
Reggae Festival, Sugarloaf, Maine
Sugarloaf‘s Reggae Festival bills itself as the East Coast’s largest spring skiing festival. While other resorts, such as Mount Snow, host their own reggae festivals, Sugarloaf’s is considered the largest and most prominent, as New Englanders flock to the resort every April for a weekend of live music and spring slush bumps. The festival spreads its concerts over several days, with some shows held at restaurants and bars and the big party outside on the Sugarloaf Beach in front of the main lodge, so you can get in a few laps between performances. Check Sugarloaf’s website for this year’s dates and lineup.
Bodefest, Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire
Cannon Mountain celebrates skiing icon Bode Miller every March with Bodefest. The event raises money for the Turtle Ridge Foundation, which supports adaptive and youth athletics in the local community. It’s an especially great event for kids, since young skiers who can load a lift and ski unassisted get the chance to ski with Bode, an Olympic champion. Registration has typically included entry to a kids’ fun race, an autograph session, lunch, and the Bodefest afterparty, with discounted early-bird pricing for those who sign up early.
Homesick, Stratton Mountain, Vermont
Stratton Mountain‘s Homesick, presented by East Street Archives, is a celebration of snowboarding culture, community, and history, typically held over a weekend in March. The event honors the roots of the sport at Stratton, widely considered the birthplace of snowboarding, and invites riders of all levels, from legends and pros to up-and-comers and fans, to join in. Past editions have featured on-snow events, book signings with icons of the sport, a vintage board room, exhibits on the early days of snowboarding, board demos, and après with live music and drink specials. Homesick is a perfect chance to reconnect with snowboarding’s roots 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 in mid-March. Its St. Patrick’s Day Festival is one of several family festivals the ski area hosts each season, each with its own style and flair. The mountain takes on an Irish theme, with a shamrock scavenger hunt, traditional Irish food in the lodges, and green beer across the resort. Don’t miss the signature Saturday night fireworks show, and look for the chance to ride along with the grooming fleet to see how the staff makes the magic happen.
Family Festivals, Lutsen Mountains, Minnesota
Lutsen Mountains loves to celebrate families, with family festival weekends held throughout the winter and into March. These weekends are packed with activities for the whole family, from scavenger hunts across the mountain to live music, plus pizza and s’mores packages at the gondola. After the lifts stop spinning, there’s a classic torchlight parade and fireworks. Check Lutsen’s website for this season’s dates and lodging deals.
Header image ©Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
