Travelers dreaming of a white winter wonderland filled with snowy mountain slopes, dazzling holiday lights, and cozy bonfires will find a visit to Pennsylvania’s Ski Resorts a perfect holiday getaway. The Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (SkiPA) has rounded up some of the best holiday events happening around the Keystone State this season. There is something for everyone to enjoy from traditional holiday gingerbread and light celebrations to thrilling New Year’s Eve skiing and tubing parties and plenty of opportunities to visit with Santa, too.
For those still looking for gift ideas, give the gift of skiing and snowboarding with a gift card to your favorite SkiPA resort. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for fellow ski and snow enthusiasts and can be used for lift tickets, rentals, lessons, snow tubing and more. Following are highlights of some of the 2019 Holiday Schedule:
EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA |
Annual Winter Holiday Party
Celebrate the start of Montage Mountain’s 2019-2020 Winter Season with a special annual winter holiday celebration. Enjoy complimentary food and drinks until 7 p.m., and live entertainment until 10 p.m. Resort is accepting unwrapped toys to donate to Toys for Tots.
- When: Wednesday, December 4, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Where: Montage Mountain Resort, Scranton
- Cost: Free
Santa’s Arrival
To kick off the holiday season, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their grand arrival to Camelback Resort in style. This free event is open to the public and includes live entertainment, musical performance, face painting, crafts and a hot cocoa bar. This year Camelback Resort and Santa partnered for a cause. Camelback resort will be accepting new, packaged toys during Santa’s Arrival for Toys for Tots of Monroe county. Anyone who brings a toy to donate will receive a Reindeer holiday pillowcase to color.
- When: Saturday, December 7, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Where: Camelback Resort, Tannersville
- Cost: Free
Breakfast with Santa
Santa will make an appearance at Bear Creek Mountain Resort on December 8. This popular event takes place in the rustic lodge. Families can enjoy a scrumptious breakfast, festive activities and crafts and a special visit with Santa.
- When: Sunday, December 8, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
- Where: Bear Creek Mountain Resort, Lehigh Valley
- Cost: Adults: $14.50. Children Ages 6-12: $10.50
Ugly Sweater Party
Grab your friends and break out your best ugly seater for a festive evening of live music, food and drink specials and prizes at the Slopeside Pub & Grill. Anyone who dresses for the occasion will be entered to win lift tickets, swag bags, gift cards and more. Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest sweater and most festive outfit. Please bring an unwrapped toy or donation for the Toys for Tots program. Adults 21 and older only.
- When: Saturday, December 14, 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.
- Where: Blue Mountain Resort, Palmerton
- Cost: Free
Hawley Winterfest
Celebrate Winter when Hawley, PA proudly presents its annual pre-holiday winter celebration each December with twinkling lights by night and merry crowds, non-stop activities and snowflakes by day. Visit Ski Big Bear at Gresham's Landing for cornhole and pictures with the Bear.
- When: Saturday, December 14, 11 a.m. – p.m.
- Where: Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain, Lackawaxen
- Cost: Free
Annual Gingerbread House Workshop & Photos with Santa
Blue Mountain Resort is offering families a chance to dust off their creative juices and enjoy a fun afternoon of Gingerbread house making in the Vista Ballroom at the Summit Lodge. Guests can enjoy live acoustic Christmas music and even meet Santa Clause, too. Children 12 and under will receive a special gift from Santa. Families should bring their own cameras and phones to take pictures.
- When: Sunday, December 15, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Where: Blue Mountain Resort, Palmerton
- Cost: $5 per person includes one hot chocolate bar visit per person, meet and greet with Santa and special gift and entertainment. $25 for a complete Gingerbread making kit.
Breakfast with Santa
Montage Mountain is hosting its 6 th Annual “Breakfast with Santa.” Due to the popularity of the event, this year families can choose a breakfast session from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. or a brunch session from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Round up the kids for breakfast, crafts, a photo opportunity with Santa and a snow tubing voucher.
- When: Sunday, December 15, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Where: Montage Mountain Resort, Scranton
- Cost: Ages 12 and up: $20. Ages 3-12: $10. Ages 2 and under are free.
Ski with Santa
This year Santa, an accomplished skier and snowboarder will be dashing down all the ski trails at Shawnee Mountain in true holiday spirit. It’s a perfect time to grab the kiddos small and big alike and spend the afternoon hitting the slopes with the Jolly old elf himself.
- When: Sunday, December 22, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Where: Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort, East Stroudsburg
- Cost: Free with Lift Ticket
NYE Fireworks & Torchlight Parade
Kick-off the New Year at Big Boulder for a night to remember. Enjoy a torchlight parade starting at 8:30 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. Tube under the stars and fireworks.
- When: Tuesday, December 31, 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Where: Big Boulder, Blakeslee
- Cost: Free with Lift Ticket
New Year’s Eve Tubing Party
Families looking for a fun way to ring in the New Year are in for a night of thrills with a special New Year’s Eve Tubing Party at Blue Mountain. Party includes unlimited tubing, music with DJ, dinner, dessert and a champagne toast for guests 21 and up.
- When: Tuesday, December 31, 7 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- Where: Blue Mountain Resort, Palmerton
- Cost: Adults (21 & Up) $59 per person. Youth (20 & Under) $49 per person
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA |
Breakfast with Santa
Enjoy a breakfast buffet with Santa at beautiful Blue Knob Resort. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. from 9 a.m. until noon.
- When: Saturday, December 21, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Where: Blue Knob Resort, Claysburg
- Cost: $12 for ages four and up. Children three and under are free.
ULLR Fest
Roundtop is kicking off their Annual ULLR Fest. There will be a huge bonfire to appease ULLR, the Norse God of Winter. Zip line through the night on the Dual Zip lines for $10 for two rides. Enjoy a great selection of Troegs winter seasonal beers, food specials and music with Riff Mountain. Doors open at 6 p.m. Fire lighting at 7 p.m.
- When: Saturday, December 7, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Where: Roundtop Mountain Resort, Lewisberry
December Wine Tasting & Dinner
Gather friends and family and enjoy a five-course meal paired with special wines. Held in the Blue Knob Conference Center, it’s a relaxed and enjoyable evening out. Call 814-239-1035 to make a reservation.
- When: Thursday, December 12, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Where: Blue Knob Resort, Claysburg
- Cost: $28 per person
New Year’s Eve on the Slopes
Liberty Mountain is ringing in the New Year with late-night skiing and snowboarding until 1 a.m., fireworks at midnight and a variety of special events happening around the resort. Special Lift Tickets will be available from 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. and 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- When: Tuesday, December 31, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- Where: Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley
- Cost: Varies by age and time, visit resort site.
New Year’s Eve Family Celebration on the Knob
If you'd rather spend New Year’s Eve with the family this year, then spend it at the summit of Blue Knob All Seasons Resort. Blue Knob is kicking off the New Year with a family-friendly evening filled with plenty of activities for the kids, live music, fireworks and plenty of powder time on the mountain. The slopes will be open until 10 p.m. and there will be an extra snow tubing session from 10 p.m. until midnight.
- When: Tuesday, December 31, 9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
- Where: Blue Knob All Seasons Resort
- Cost: Free with Lift Ticket or Tubing Ticket
Late-Night Snow Tubing Bash at Boulder Ridge
Tube in the New Year with a fun night of snow tubing complete with an all you can eat late night buffet, DJ, photo booth and fireworks.
- When: Tuesday, December 31, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- Where: Liberty Mountain Resort, Carroll Valley
- Cost: $56 per person, reserve ahead
New Year’s Tubing Celebration
Ring in the New Year Adventure Snow Tubing Style. Round up your friends and family and celebrate at Whitetail. This year’s event will include a buffet-style variety of pizza, chips, soda, hot chocolate and cookies. Tickets include three hours of snow tubing and unlimited pizza buffet. Space is limited and reservations are required.
- When: Tuesday, December 31, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- Where: Whitetail Resort, Mercersburg
- Cost: Price is $43.95 per person for buffet and tubing, $18.95 per person for buffet only and $8 for buffet and kiddie tubing for ages two to four.
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA |
Season Open House & Visit with Santa
Come learn what’s new at Mount Pleasant for the season and enjoy refreshments, sign up for lessons and have a chance to get a photo with Santa from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. in the loft.
- When: Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Where: Mount Pleasant of Edinboro, Cambridge Springs
- Cost: Free
Holidays in the Highlands
Holidays in the Highlands at Seven Springs has become a popular winter tradition. Guests enter through the tree-lined resort entrance where more than one-million lights brighten the night, then hop aboard the Santa Express Holiday Train to take a ride through the Holiday Village. Santa Claus is available for photos with the whole family and there is a craft zone to make special holiday creations. Grownups can find the perfect gifts for everyone on the list from more than 30 local craft vendors and listen as carolers fill the room with holiday cheer. After experiencing the lights, visitors can check out the special holiday concert line-up.
- When: Holiday Village: Nov. 29 through Dec. 7 (Fridays and Saturdays)
- Light Display: Continues through January 19
- Where: Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Seven Springs
- Cost: Free. There is an admission for holiday concerts
Light Up Nemacolin
Take in the gorgeous lighting and decorations that grace the property and catch the holiday spirit. Join in as we Light up Nemacolin and celebrate the Holiday Season! Festivities include Christmas carolers, ice carving demonstration in front of the Chateau Lafayette, food truck, holiday characters and holiday celebrations that are sure to impress. In addition to over 2 million lights, and the debut of the newest light show “Twas the Night Before Christmas” there will also be train rides and various holiday workshops.
- When: Fridays, November 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Where: Mystic Mountain at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington
- Cost: $5 per person for train rides
Christmas at Nemacolina
The sleigh bells are ringing, the snow is glistening, and Nemacolin’s Winter Wonderland is a beautiful sight. Dash through the snow at Mystic Mountain, roast marshmallows over an open fire pit and rock around the chandelier tree at the light show. Dine on gourmet holiday spreads at Nemacolin’s Christmas Day Brunch. And, enjoy quality time with the family building gingerbread houses, drinking hot cocoa at the fire pit or watching the snow fall from your cozy room followed by a nightly elf tuck-in.
- When: Tuesday, December 24 through Wednesday, December 25
- Where: Mystic Mountain at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington
- Cost: Varies, See web site.
For more information on the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association and upcoming events, visit www.SkiPA.com.
To stay up-to-date on the latest news and special promotions, find us on Facebook and Twitter @GoSkiPA
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