Snowmass Village, Colo., (December 7, 2017) — The 2017/2018 winter season marks the 50^th anniversary of Snowmass Ski Area. Festivities kick off December 15–17, 2017, and continue throughout the season. Below is the comprehensive list of what is happening during the 50^th Anniversary Weekend.

Visitors and locals are encouraged to carpool or to use public transportation (RFTA or Snowmass Village Transit) as parking in Snowmass will be limited during the weekend. Parking is free at the Intercept Lot and shuttles will run to Snowmass approximately every 10 minutes throughout the weekend.

The full schedule of events, as well as parking information, dining specials, lodging deals, and more, can be found on www.gosnowmass.com/50-years.

Friday, December 15

• Bars, restaurants, and everywhere in between are celebrating throughout the day with music, dining specials, tastings, and much more.
  • Kick off the morning with grab and go breakfast from New Belgium Ranger Station. Then, throughout the day, New Belgium Ranger Station is offering beer, tea, and vodka/gin tastings in partnership with New Belgium Brewing, Two Leaves & a Bud, and Marble Distilling, with giveaways accompany the tastings. Live music by True Story Band starts at 3:00 p.m.
  • On-mountain restaurants Elk Camp Restaurant, Ullrhoff, Sam’s Smokehouse, and Two Creeks Cafe are open with specials and music.
  • From 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., stop by the Base Village and the Snowmass Village Mall fire pits to enjoy Snowmass S’mores, free s’mores with flavors including The Classic (marshmallow, milk chocolate, and graham cracker); The Stroopwafel (waffle crisp cookies, milk chocolate caramel, and marshmallow); and the Candy Cane (white chocolate peppermint bark, marshmallow, and chocolate thins), to name a few.
  • At 12:00 p.m. the Red Bull Air Force team will jump out of planes from 5,000 feet above Snowmass and land on Fanny Hill performing stunts as they approach the landing zone.
  • Wibby Brewing, an award-winning brewery out of Longmont, Colorado, is offering beer tastings at the Daly Bottle Shop from 12:00-3:00 p.m.
  • Snowmass Sports is doing an open house, complete with pigs in a blanket and refreshments, starting at 1:00 p.m.
  • The Edge at The Timberline opens at 2:00 p.m. for après, with two for one happy hour specials.
  • Enjoy an open house from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Aspen Sports, The North Face, and Patagonia.
  • Big Hoss will have live music starting at 3:00 p.m.
  • Anderson Ranch Arts Center hosts their free Art Après from 3:00-5:30 p.m., complete with shopping, cookies, and hot chocolate.
  • Venga Venga is hosting an après ski party in conjunction with Milagro Tequila, featuring giveaways & live music from 3:00-5:30 p.m.
  • The Artisan at the Stonebridge is hosting live music from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
  • Slow Groovin BBQ features lives music from local artists John Carlin, Rob Dasaro, and Brad Manisevitz, starting at 9:00 p.m.

• Ski straight into an epic Après Ski Party at Base Village from 11:00-4:00 p.m. featuring live music from DJ GeoDecibel. Kids can enjoy a Kids Zone from 2:30-4:30 p.m., complete with face painting and balloon animals.

• Toast to Snowmass with East West Partners at 3:00 p.m. on the balcony of Base Camp Bar & Grill. Champagne and sparkling cider will be served for adults and kids respectively.

• The 50^th Anniversary Retro Costume Party at Elk Camp Restaurant starts at 5:00 p.m. and is an opportunity to show off vintage ski wear and party like its 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997, etc. Enjoy popular cocktails from the decades, such as Harvey Wallbangers, Piña Coladas, and much more; dine on throwback food specials; enjoy live music with the Bo Hale Band and special guests; and enjoy a special birthday cake in honor of Snowmass’ 50th birthday. The Elk Camp Gondola starts loading at 5:00 p.m., while the last ride down is at 9:00 p.m. (Sold Out)

• Throughout the weekend, many restaurants and retailers in Snowmass are offering $19.67 and/or $50 specials in commemoration of the anniversary.

• Continue celebrations with free fireworks over Fanny Hill at 9:00 p.m., saluting 50 years of skiing in Snowmass. The party keeps going at Snowmass bars following the fireworks.

Saturday, December 16

• The popular 1980’s on-mountain scavenger hunt – Banana Days — makes its return to Snowmass! Look for 1,967 plastic bananas hidden on the mountain, in Base Village and around the Snowmass Mall. Each banana is redeemable for a different prize that can be redeemed at the Ticket Pavilion on the Snowmass Mall between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Bananas with higher-value prizes can be found by following clues that will be aired on KSPN 103.1 FM, posted by @Snowmass on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with #BananaDays, and posted to GoSnowmass.com/BananaDays throughout the day.

The Grand Bananas can be found through an elaborate scavenger hunt around the mountain. Grand prizes will be awarded to the first three finishers: a three-night stay at the all-inclusive Galley Bay Resort on Antigua, weekend passes to the JAS Labor Day Experience, and a $2,500 shopping spree at Gorsuch. The Grand Banana hunt kicks off at 10:00 a.m. in Base Village, and the first clue will be broadcast by KSPN 103.1 FM.

• Check out tastings, après parties, pop up activations, and more throughout Snowmass all day long.
  • Wibby Brewing, an award-winning brewery out of Longmont, Colorado, is offering beer tastings at the Daly Bottle Shop 12:00-3:00 p.m.
  • The Edge at The Timberline opens at 2:00 p.m. for après, with two for one happy hour specials.
  • Culminate Banana Days at Elk Camp Restaurant with a party worthy of the Banana Days of old, starting at 1:30 p.m.
  • Big Hoss will have live music starting at 3:00 p.m.
  • Venga Venga is hosting an après ski party in conjunction with Milagro Tequila, featuring giveaways & live music from 3:00-5:30 p.m.
  • Slow Groovin BBQ features lives music from UFER a Denver rockin’ reggae band starting at 9:00 p.m.

• Stop by the Après Ski Party at Base Village from 12:00-4:00 p.m. featuring live music from DJ Benny. Kids can enjoy a Kids Zone at 2:00-4:30 p.m. complete with face painting and balloon animals.

• For those looking for an outdoor adventure, starting at 5:30 p.m., is the inaugural Starlit Trek, a 1.2-mile snowshoe or cross-country ski tour around the Snowmass Golf Course, complete with ACES night sky interpreter, cookies and hot cocoa, live music, and a pasta dinner for $19.67. For more information and reservations, please visit gosnowmass.com/event/starlit-trek-dinner/.

• At 5:30 p.m., the Viceroy Snowmass hosts the 50^th Anniversary Golden Gala, a community celebration and dinner that includes storytelling and the premiere of the anniversary film, Snowmass: 50 Years of Mountain Spirit. (Sold Out)

• Throughout the weekend, many restaurants and retailers in Snowmass are offering $19.67 and/or $50 specials in commemoration of the anniversary.

Sunday, December 17

• Past and present come together with a modern remake of the 1970’s classic Cabin Jump, where guests are invited to stop by the terrain park throughout the weekend and watch or take their turn jumping or jibbing a special “cabin” prepared for the 50^th anniversary celebration.

• From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., come out for an on-mountain community picnic at Ullrhoff, serving up timeless classics including Swedish meatballs, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, crepes, and more for $19.67 per person.

• Don’t miss the Anniversary Dine around! Participating restaurants and retailers are offering $19.67 and/or $50 specials in commemoration of the anniversary.

Throughout the Weekend and the Season

• Look for the golden trail signs with 50^th anniversary logos on all of the original trails on the mountain.
• Experience a free Historical 50^th Anniversary Tour, offered every day at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., focusing on the history of Snowmass. The free 1.5-2 hour tour leaves from the top of Sam’s Knob (10:30 a.m.) and outside of Elk Camp Restaurant (1:30 p.m.). Intermediate and above skiers/riders, ages 7 and up. Ski pass required.
• Take a photo next to the new mural in Base Village, courtesy of East West Partners, featuring a fun and interactive timeline of the history of Snowmass. The mural surrounds the construction site of the new Limelight Hotel, slated for completion by Fall 2018.
• Keep an eye out for pop up promotions, parties, and activations all over the mountain and in the Village.
• Check for terrain openings and updates on the white boards around the mountain or by visiting aspensnowmass.com/our-mountains/snowmass/snow-and-grooming-report.
• Stop by the Ice Age Discovery Center to learn about mammoths, mastodons, and all things Ice Age, while also viewing Snowmass’ traditional Hanukah Menorah.
• Check out Snowmass’ retail shops to purchase official 50^th anniversary merchandise, designed by Aspen Skiing Company.
• A selfie station, a unique construction of vintage skis produced by the artists at Anderson Ranch Art Center, can be found on the Snowmass Village Mall, across from the Ice Age Discovery Center. Be sure to tag @snowmass and #Snowmass50!
• Gather a squad and recreate historic photos of Snowmass during the #Snowmass50Throwback social media contest, in partnership with the Aspen Historical Society. Visit Aspen Historical Society Website for contest information.

Be sure to keep an eye on all the action on social media by following @Snowmass and #Snowmass50. For updates and more information on the Snowmass 50^th Anniversary, please visit www.gosnowmass.com/50-years.

About Snowmass Village, Colorado – A renowned winter playground and vibrant mountain community just 9 miles from downtown Aspen, Snowmass consistently ranks as one of the best ski areas in the world and was listed as the #4 resort in the west by SKI Magazine in 2018. Celebrating 50 years of operations during the 2017/2018 ski season and part of Aspen Snowmass, Snowmass Ski Area offers guests 3,332 acres of multi-level terrain and boasts the second largest vertical drop in the United States. 95% ski-in/ski-out lodging, over 35 restaurants, numerous shops and boutiques, a bounty of off-piste activities, and a friendly, small town feel beckon visitors year-round. For more information and a complete calendar of events and activities, please visit: www.gosnowmass.com.

Snowmass Tourism Media Contact: Sara Stookey, Public Relations Coordinator, Snowmass Tourism, 970-922-2285 or sstookey@SnowmassTourism.com.

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