Do you love spring skiing, like me? Sunshine, soft snow, warmer temps, less layers, no frostbite, deck parties, music… you will love these spring ski events and festivals on snow around the globe…
Taste of Vail April 6-9, 2022 brings together Vail Colorado’s best Chefs and the finest wine-makers in the world to show off their talents at one of the best ski resorts on the planet. The 4- day food and wine fest features a Mountaintop Lunch, a Vail village Chef Competition, and a Grand Tasting, plus countless culinary classes. All that elevated tasting plus EPIC spring skiing make Taste of Vail – Vail’s best après ski event.
Vail’s World Pond Skimming Championship is the grand finale of spring skiing in April which includes the Spring Back to Vail concerts. The big splash Pond Skimming event at Golden Peak is like everything at Vail – EPIC.
Whistler Blackcomb World Ski & Snowboard Festival in April is the culmination of film making, art, plus professional ski and snowboard competitions. Add to that top concerts during après ski and after parties that go crazy late! If you’ve watched Bravo’s Après Ski and Timber Creek Lodge- you know Whistler’s party scene is out of this world.
Squaw Valley, now Palisades Tahoe, celebrates PAIN MCSHLONKEY for Shane McConkey, posthumously and humorously. Skiers are encouraged to dress up in vintage gear and pay tribute to the legendary freeskier by going big end of March annually at Lake Tahoe’s biggest resort – Palisades Tahoe, formerly Squaw Valley.
Steamboat’s Springalicious Annual Cardboard Classic is early April – locals recycling and create box-cars to derby to fly downhill. The crashes are spectacular, so is the après ski scene at Steamboat Colorado.
Breckenridge’s annual Spring Fever Beer Festival early April is over a decade of drinking and spring ski fun. This 
Breckenridge event is perfect for craft beer lovers and spring skiing lovers – that pretty much includes everyone, right?! Breck has high elevation snow, so its good to go in April.
Aspen Highlands Closing Day is an elevated ski party – the spring ski celebration starts with Pond Skimming at Snowmass on their last Saturday mid April. Sunday is a traditional Ski Patrol hike up Highlands Bowl. That’s 12,392’ in the Rockies. Then Aspen gets wild, with ridiculous retro outfits, serious drinking, even Champagne spraying at Cloud 9! High times in Aspen Colorado. Après ski at Ajax Tavern is the after party – with themes like 80’s Prom Party.
In The East
Sugarloaf Reggaefest – now in year 32 April 7-10 is Jamaica in the mountains of Maine. Top reggae bands set up on the Sugarloaf beach by day, and in the base lodge by night for some rocking island music. Wear your tie-dye and tie on a good time. Ironically few reggae fest attendees ski, and this is a great weekend for spring ski conditions at The Loaf- King of Spring, especially when the snowfields are open.
Sunday River’s Spring Festival April 1-3 was once called Parrot Head, so expect Jimmy Buffet music, margaritas flowing, tropical outfits and general island times outside the White Cap Base at Maine’s Sunday River. The following weekend is Pond-a-Palooza with pond skimming at the River.
Sugarbush Gelandesprung in April is a traditional ski jump event to end the season ( or your ski career – jk)– the alpine antics are thrilling to watch- even wilder to get sprung at Sugarbush Vermont. The legendary Steins’ Challenge is spring mogul mania – bring Z rubber knees with your skis.
Okemo’s 80 Retro Jam in late March – rock your most rad 80s attire – totally awesome dude as Okemo Vermont wraps their season! Okemo’s April Slush Cup and Splash for Cash says it all… we’re talking pond skimming with a twist and your ski boots may be wet till next season, but the winner hits pay day and stays high and dry.
Loon Mountain’s 80s day rocks first weekend in April, with Loon’s Slushpool Party and Wet Tug-O-War . Watch as contestants get seriously wet in the Granite State.
In The Alps
Live is Life in Lenzerheide and Arosa is a spring party of music all over the mountains – this Swiss resort rocks April 1-3 with day concerts on the mountains, and in the villages in the evenings. Plus you have spring skiing at Lenzerheide’s sprawling ski resort in the heart of the Switzerland.
Zermatt Unplugged held April 5-9 is an amazing venue of the best bands, up and coming rock stars, playing après ski music by the Matterhorn in Zermatt Switzerland – concerts are held on the mountain in the afternoon, at ski bars for après ski and at the best Zermatt nightclubs and hotels in the evening. #ZermattUnplugged is in year 15, a must for lovers of skiing, Swiss mountain ambiance and music!
Mayrhofen Snowbombing is April 4-9 in Austria. The Zillertal valley is spring skiing gone wild with pond skimming, tubing, races, and apres ski “party & dance” music, live DJ shows, ice bars and igloos – and the Alps’ biggest street dance party in Mayrhofen.
Rock the Pistes at Portes Du Soleil late March has you parting in two countries, skiing from Switzerland to France, dancing to pop music and there’s a two-day treasure hunt through 12 villages. Sounds fun in the sun right?!
Ischgl Austria is always après ski party central, but especially for their End Of Season Top Of the Mountain Closing Concert series, with headliner bands featured several sprign weekends in a row. Also Ischgl’s Ski World Cup of Gastronomy is a giant GS race with rivals from top hotels and restaurants around the globe in a heated competition in the ski gates each April. Chefs, sommeliers and waiters need to prove they can carve for bragging rights.
See more
Skiing in Europe
Best Skiing in the US
Guide to Skiing The Alps
