Sunday River Resort's Fall Festival (October 6-7) Goes To New Heights For 2018

Sunday River Resort's Fall Festival, held during Columbus Day Weekend each year, has always been known for its quirky events, such as the North American Wife Carrying Championship, and the New England Cornhole Championship. This year, the resort will take the thrills up a notch by including skydiving in the schedule of events.

An extreme way to take in Maine's picturesque foliage, Jump & Raft will be offering skydiving experiences from the Bethel Airport, just a 10-minute drive from the ski area. The cost to skydive is $249, while resort season passholders can go for just $229.

Skydiving is a perfect pairing to the highlights of the weekend, including the largest ever North American Wife Carrying Championship. The resort has opened the field to 80 couples to compete on Saturday, October 6. In its 19th year, the North American Wife Carrying Championship tasks these pre-registered couples with racing through a 278-yard course, filled with obstacles such as large wooden hurdles, a sandpit, and the widow-maker water hazard. The couples with the fastest times will go head-to-head in the finals, and the winners will take home the wife's weight in beer and five times her weight in cash. The event takes place slopeside at the South Ridge Lodge.

On Sunday, October 7, Sunday River will host the New England Cornhole Championship, which is sanctioned by the American Cornhole Association. For this event, teams of two will play the quintessential backyard barbecue game through a bracket system outside of the South Ridge Lodge. There is a $600 cash purse split between for the top three teams. Registration is still open, but will close on October 4.

For those who aren't looking to test their mettle in the sky or by competition, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy Fall Festival, including the revamped VIP Wine Tent experience on Saturday. For $59, visitors can sample delicious wine, Glidden Point oysters, and appetizers from Chef Harding Lee Smith of the Rooms restaurants in Portland, Maine, and the Mountain Room at the Peak Lodge.

On Sunday, the Bloody Mary Tent is a must-visit, and all weekend long, Sunday River's Mountain Park activities, such as scenic chairlift rides, mountain biking, and ziplining will be available. The 35th Annual Blue Mountain Arts and Craft Fair will also be held inside of the lodge on both Saturday and Sunday.