NEWRY — Santa, Eddy the Yeti, fire dancers, free night skiing, and a hip foray into the ’70s and ’80s will showcase Sunday River Ski Resort’s debut Winterfest Weekend on Dec. 17 through 19.
Festivities kick off for guests arriving at the resort late Friday night with a Chondola ride to Peak Lodge for the first Dining at The Peak experience of the season, spokeswoman Darcy Morse said.
Friday’s specially-prepared menu “includes a mix of local and seasonal ingredients designed to delight,” she said.
The cost is $59 per person and reservations are required; call 824-3500.
The main event on Saturday provides two hours of Zipline Tours in a wooded area near South Ridge. The cost is $59 per person with the purchase of a lift ticket or season pass. Reservations must be made by calling 543-2754.
From noon to 3 p.m., there will be a book signing by Dave Irons, the author of “Sunday River: Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future,” at Sunday River Sports. Morse said the hard-covered, 112-page book covers pieces of the resort’s 50-year history. Irons is a Maine native and former director of Sunday River ski patrol.
The resort will also feature Santa and Sunday River’s very own Eddy the Yeti at the Santa Wish Party for Kids from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Sunday River Discovery Center.
Saturday is also the official start of Sunday River’s 12-hour skiing and riding with free skiing from 4 to 8 p.m.
From 7:45 to 8:15 p.m., fire takes center stage at the free South Ridge Fire Party with fire dancers from Sunshine Fire Entertainment performing two shows.
From 7 to 9 p.m., there will be a Winterfest Tailgate Party in the Welcome Center of the South Ridge Base Lodge.
Morse said the event offers the opportunity “to savor creative libations from Maine’s own ‘ground to glass’ small batch distillery and award-winning Cold River, who will be there serving customized vodka, blueberry vodka, and gin cocktails out of the trunk of Sunday River’s ’59 Thunderbird.”
The second annual Many Flavors of Sunday River culinary tour from 7 to 9 p.m. in the South Ridge Base Lodge serves up dishes from area restaurants.
Tickets are $15 or $10 with the donation of a winter coat to benefit WCSH TV’s annual Coats for Kids drive going on all weekend in the Welcome Center. Morse said there are a limited number of tickets available, which may be reserved by calling 800-543-2754.
Additionally on Saturday, adults can participate in the resort’s debut Back In Time Party at the Foggy Goggle from 3 p.m. until the bar closes as Time Pilots and Motor Booty Affair take the stage.
Morse said guests should “come dressed to impress in their best ’70s and ’80s attire” to get a gift from the Foggy Goggle and enter to win a $50 gift certificate for use in the restaurant and bar any time this season.
Aside from the Foggy Goggle scene, a fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. closes out the day.
Sunday’s offerings include free snowboard rentals in honor of World Snowboarding Day, and the Sunday River Outdoor Center will have an open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday River will offer special Winterfest Weekend ski and stay vacation packages starting at $69 per person, per night and include lift tickets, lodging, and an adult Perfect Turn clinic for each night booked.
For more information on any of Sunday River’s Winterfest Weekend activities, visit www.sundayriver.com or call (207) 543-2754.
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