With the snow finally melting off, Winter Park Resort is ready to kick off summertime operations with a season that promises to be full of fun events and activities.  The excitement begins immediately on Saturday, June 15 when Winter Park will open for summer with its first Venture Out Fest to go along with hiking, mountain biking, Alpine Sliding, and much more.       

In order to shake off the winter doldrums Venture Out Fest will highlight all the things that make summer in the mountains so special, including fly fishing demonstrations, slackline performances, an appearance by the BMX Stunt Bike Team, and an inflatable obstacle course.  The base area of the resort will also host a dock dogs jumping competition where both professional and amateur pooches will get a chance to test their flying abilities as they launch airborne from a dock into an awaiting pond. Wood Belly, who won the 2018 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition, will also be on hand to give a free concert.     

Venture Out Fest is just the first in a crowded summer events calendar that includes a mixture of old favorites and exciting new additions.  The popular Village Uncorked returns on July 6 and Mountain Oktoberfest + Summit Assault is back on September 7 while being joined by a new Farmers Market every third Sunday from July to September, Wild West Whiskey Fest on August 31-September 1, and the USA Cycle MTB National Championships from July 23-28.  Mountaintop Happy Hour, which was so popular during the winter, will also be back for summer with happy hour drink specials at Sunspot Lodge every Friday-Sunday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Saturdays only in June and September after Labor Day).

This summer the Derailer Bar is going to be closed but the Resort has a couple of new base area options with Trailblazer Bar and Bradley’s, named in honor of iconic former Winter Park President Steve Bradley and his revolutionary Bradley Packer, serving up delicious chicken specialties.  

In addition to events, summer is all about outdoor activities and once again Winter Park will be offering guided hiking experiences, guided mountain bike tours, and of course access to Trestle Bike Park, the state’s premier lift-serviced mountain bike park.  Colorado’s longest Alpine Slide will also be available this weekend along with two new base-area ropes courses, and scenic rides on The Gondola.

The resort plans to open the Gondola and the Eskimo Saturday for Hikers and Bikers and the Arrow for Alpine Slider riders only.  Hurlbert said Patrol expects to have 70% of lower mountain trails (5 points and below) and 35% of the entire bike park open Saturday, “which is amazing considering how much snow we’ve gotten.”  

The base area will be buzzing with activities all weekend and Hurlbert added, “with Mother Nature’s help and our trail crew continuing to do an amazing job, we expect to open 85% of lower mountain trails and as much as 50% of the entire park within the next few days.”

For more information on activities, deals, and a complete events calendar, visit winterparkresort.com.