By Jane Eshbaugh
Spring is definitely in the air…the robins are back, the pancake houses are open and Holiday Valley has tons of fun events coming up.
This weekend is the annual Winter Carnival featuring many of the traditional activities and a few new ones as well. If you’re ready for golf season to start, check out the Putt Putt Bar Crawl on Saturday starting at 11am. It’s a 7-hole putting contest that takes place at the many bars at the resort and finishes at the SnowBar. The $10 registration fee includes 2 drinks. Speaking of the SnowBar, the HV Snowmaking Crew will open for business at the base of Yodeler from 11AM to 4:30PM both Saturday and Sunday and the Safety Patrol will barbeque hot dogs and sausages as well. Several Holiday Valley departments will be decorated in an Outer Space theme and the judging takes place on Saturday. Kids can get their face painted, eat hot dogs and hunt for candy at the Creekside Lodge between 11:30 and 1pm.
At 2pm on Saturday, the Ski Patrol puts on a wild and crazy Toboggan Race at the bottom of Yodeler. Teams of 3 patrollers guide a toboggan down a race course while spinning, holding a balloon and switching places. This is followed by a beer (or rootbeer) slalom open to the public at 2:30 where competitors ski or snowboard through the gates trying not to spill their full beer, and then chugging it at the finish line. The Darkwater Duo will entertain in Yodeler Lodge from 3-6pm to finish off the day in time for everyone to head into town to watch the parade.
Sunday begins with the Ski Patrol pancake breakfast with sausage and real maple syrup at the Mountain Top Warming Hut. Donations to the Patrol are gratefully accepted. Everyone looks forward to the Costume Parade down Mardi Gras where the Best of Show wins a season pass for next year! Lederhosen Ski Club will host their hot dog cookout as a fundraiser for the Lounsbury Adaptive Program and the Ellicottville Ski Club will serve free wine and cheese near the Clocktower.
The Jay McDonnell Duo will play in the Yodeler Lodge from 1-4pm. Be sure to head down to Creekside at 2pm for FREE ice cream sundaes, then back up to Yodeler for the Dummy Downhill that starts at 2:30 sharp. This zany event features creative homemade dummies that ski or snowboard down, over a jump and then crash into a barrier at the bottom…it’s a real crowd pleaser! Mercy Flight sells raffle tickets in the Yodeler area both days and the drawing is held at 3pm on Sunday. The celebration ends with the Sticktights band playing in Yodeler from 4-6pm. Wow, what a weekend!
But we’re not finished yet…stay tuned for the final Intense Milk Rail Jam and the Uppenovr on March 16 followed by Pondskimming and the Rail Rider Jamboree on March 23. This season promises to go out with a bang!
