Snow Blankets Sunapee And Okemo
December arrived with an early holiday gift for skiers and snowboarders living in the Northeast. Late-day flurries on the first day of the month turned into six inches of snowfall at the summit of Okemo, in Vermont, and five inches at the summit of New Hampshire’s Mount Sunapee overnight. Additional accumulation through Monday and Monday night left those resorts with a total 9 inches and 7 inches respectively.
Making the best of a great situation, snowmaking crews from both resorts have been making snow around the clock. Favorable snowmaking temperatures will continue through Tuesday night and during the overnight hours through the remainder of the week,
In preparation for the holidays ahead, Okemo’s snowmaking efforts are laser-focused on its Jackson Gore trail system, including access and egress trails. Due to permitting restrictions based on the existence of a bear migration corridor, snowmaking operations cannot begin at Okemo’s Jackson Gore until December 1 each year. Despite that, the combination of natural snowfall and cold temperatures have Okemo’s mountain operations team targeting a December 6 opening of that mountain area. At Mount Sunapee, crews are targeting the South Peak, Mount Sunapee’s dedicated Learning Center for opening this weekend.
Both resorts will celebrate the holiday season with a slate of family activities:
Okemo
December 23, 2019 | 4-7 p.m. | Jackson Gore inn
A Visit with Santa
Santa Claus makes his grand entrance at 4 p.m. for a pre-Christmas visit with children before the jolly old elf makes his way to the North Pole for final holiday preparations.
December 27, 2019 | Clock Tower Base Area
Okemo Torchlight Parade
An amazing torchlight parade of skiers and riders traversing Okemo’s Open Slope trail precedes a spectacular pyrotechnics show in the Okemo Clock Tower base area. For a different perspective for Okemo’s fireworks display visitors can join a guided snowshoe hike up the mountain with local naturalist Joe Karl. Those who need snowshoes can meet inside the Okemo Rental Shop (Clock Tower Base) to be fitted for snowshoes. The tour departs from Okemo’s Clock Tower Base Area beside South Ridge Quad A and heads up the Bull Run trail to watch the fireworks!
December 28, 2019 | Okemo Ice House
Shake ‘n’ Skate
A fun evening of ice skating with a live DJ includes games and fun for the whole family in Okemo’s Ice House skating pavilion at Jackson Gore. Admission fee is charged. Skate rentals are available for a fee on a first-come, first-served basis.
December 31, 2019 | 5-9 p.m. | Jackson Gore Base Area
Family New Year’s Eve Party
Midnight arrives early for friends and family enjoying a variety of activities. Following early evening ice skating, snow tubing, mountain coaster rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, party-hat decorating, bingo games and a trivia tournament, families can ring in the New Year early with a 9 p.m. fireworks show and still get the kids to bed in time for a full day on the slopes the next day. Okemo’s popular DJ Dance Party with balloons, noisemakers and party games and pizza dinner in the Roundhouse at Jackson Gore sells out every year.
Mount Sunapee
Sunday, December 8
Community Day
Ski for just $35 with a donation pf five non-perishable food items! Bring the whole family and make a difference in the local community!
Saturday, December 21
Ski with Santa & Friends!
Kids, keep your eyes peeled because we hear that the Big Man is coming to Mount Sunapee for a day of skiing before his big night out! If you’re lucky enough to see Santa, now’s a really good time to get your last requests in (if you’ve been good, of course!)
Friday, December 27
Ugly Sweater Ski Day
Don your tackiest threads with pride at Mount Sunapee! Join us for what will surely be the ugliest ski parade around as we all snake down Eggbeater, followed by judging to find the worst of the worst. Prizes and holiday treats to follow on the Goosefeathers Pub deck!
Tuesday, December 31
New Year’s Eve
Join your friends and family at Mount Sunapee for a delicious dinner, bonfire, and firework show to close out 2019 and welcome in the New Year! Festivities will wrap up around 9 p.m. for those that can’t quite make it all the way to midnight!
