Summer isn’t the only season with a jam-packed lineup of raucous festivals. This season’s best fiestas will see you watching films atop a ski resort, rocking out to electronic music at the foot of snow-capped peaks, and learning new skills like skate skiing or ice climbing. Plan your winter accordingly.
Snow Monster Festival
Zao, Japan
February 2–3, 2019
These monsters are actually naturally occurring mounds of snow whipped into beast-like shapes by the wind. The weekend-long, free-of-charge Snow Monster Festival at the ski area sees them illuminated each night by brightly colored lights. Plus, there are fireworks, friendly mascots skiing down the mountain, and street vendors selling hot sake and ramen to keep you warm. offers guided tours of Japan and the famed festival.
WinterWonderGrass
Stratton, Vermont
December 14–16, 2018
brings big-name bluegrass bands to small mountain towns every winter. This year, it heads to Vermont’s Stratton Mountain Resort for the first time. You’ll rock out to headliners , the , and inside heated tents while sampling local craft beer and food truck fare. There’s even a kid pavilion filled with hula hoops, music, and face painting. Can’t make it to the Green Mountain State? The event stops off in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, February 22 to 24, and Squaw Valley, California, March 29 to 31.
Hahnenkamm
Kitzbühel, Austria
January 21–27, 2019
Last year, 85,000 spectators showed up to watch the world’s best ski racers reach speeds of up to 85 miles per hour while bombing down more than 2,600 vertical feet in the , a legendary competition first held in 1931 that’s now one of the most challenging downhill races on the World Cup circuit. Many of those revelers also came for the street party that takes over the quaint Tyrolian village of Kitzbühel. The Streif and Ganslern runs are closed for the race, but you can ski everywhere else on the mountain.
Ouray Ice Climbing Festival
Ouray, Colorado
January 24–27, 2019
Every January, the tiny town of Ouray, Colorado, welcomes the to the Uncompahgre Gorge, where elite climbers battle it out and newbies check out clinics and gear expos. Spectators who aren’t interested in scaling frozen cliffs will find plenty to do as well, from demonstrations to beer tents to film premieres. It’s free to spectate and climb, or you can pay around $60 for an all-access pass to the clinics and nightly events.
Sundance Film Festival
Park City, Utah
January 24–February 3, 2019
Yes, the rich and famous descend on Park City once a year for the annual . But very few of them actually ski, so the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort are usually empty. You can sign up to become a volunteer at the film festival, doing things like checking tickets or organizing shuttles in exchange for free entrance into select films. Or buy a pass or individual tickets to catch some of the 200 feature-length and short films premiering at the festival in between runs down the resort’s wide-open bowls.
Mardi Gras in the Mountains
Red River, New Mexico
February 28–March 5, 2019
If you want to celebrate Mardi Gras clicked into your skis, Red River is the spot. This northern New Mexico town throws down every year with a through Fat Tuesday, the final day of the Carnival season. Rid yourself of worries by lighting them afire during the Burning of the Wild Tchoupitoulas, join a crawfish boil, and toss beads in the parade—all after spending a day skiing 1,600-vertical-foot laps.
Festival Sayulita
Sayulita, Mexico
January 30–February 3, 2019
At , held in the laid-back surf town of Sayulita, you’ll spend five days watching award-winning documentaries and short films in outdoor theaters set up on the beach. When you’re not watching movies, you can listen to live music around town, taste mezcal, or join festival group dinners—and, of course, there’s surfing and yoga aplenty. Plus, the event raises money for the town’s new community center.
Alpenglow Mountain Festival
Tahoe City, California
February 16–24, 2019
Alpenglow Sports, a beloved outdoor shop in Tahoe City, California, hosts the legendary every winter. The nine-day, backcountry-focused event includes guided ski tours, skate-skiing clinics, snowshoe treks, avalanche safety courses, film screenings, and workshops on everything from tuning your skis to backcountry bartending to winter astronomy. Whether you’re brand new to the backcountry or a lifelong enthusiast, you’ll find something to do, even if it’s just the free morning yoga classes.
Chamonix Unlimited
Chamonix, France
April 2–7, 2019
Every winter, thousands of electronic music fans and a handful of hardy skiers descend on this hosted by French ski company Black Crows in the company’s hometown of Chamonix. This year’s headliners include artists like German DJ , Swiss duo , and Detroit techno legend . Venues include the tram deck just below the peak of Aiguille du Midi and the Plan Joran gondola station.