January 1st is over and the excitement of a new year has come and gone, which means it’s time to redirect your energy to something other than wrapping presents and baking goods for various holiday parties. And with colder temperatures on the forecast during the months of January, February and March, it can a bit more difficult to get outside. Thankfully, you live in an area with an impressive array of ski resorts either nearby or only a few hours away!

There certainly is no shortage of skiing and snowboarding opportunities in the state of Colorado. In fact, the only trouble you might have on this subject is deciding which mound of fresh powder to lay your skis or snowboard on this winter. Frankly, the decision can be quite overwhelming.

You may already have your favorite in mind that you revisit each season, but might not be aware of some fun events happening at those places — or at a ski resort you’ve never visited! That’s why we tracked down some events happening at Colorado ski resorts in the near future. Mark your calendars for these unique and wintery happenings and take advantage of the impeccable ski resorts at your fingertips!

Winter Park Events:

Stagecoach Classic

January 23, 2016

Let’s start with a bit of a history lesson. The Idlewild trail system once connected Tabernash, Fraser and Winter Park and was considered one of the best nordic areas in Colorado. The Stagecoach Classic provides the rare opportunity to reenact this trail system today, experiencing this “off the map” course, as this will be the only time this trail system is connected and groomed for skiers during the 2015-2016 season.

Embark on this point-to-point 30K/15K classic only cross country race and tour, whether you consider yourself a professional nordic skier/racer or a beginner! After a long journey, enjoy BBQ food, a beer garden and live music at Hideaway Park. Find out more details and register, then mark your calendars for Winter Park’s Stagecoach Classic!

Mary Jane’s 40th Birthday Bash

January 30, 2016 from 12–6 p.m.

Winter Park is celebrating 40 years with their beloved “lady”, Mary Jane, a territory that is sure to challenge skiers with her bumps and tree skiing that often induce sore quads. The best part about this 40-year milestone, is that you’re invited to Mary Jane’s Birthday Bash!

This ‘70s-themed party will include live music, a photo booth, birthday cake, a fire pit and more. So show up in ‘70s attire and come ready to party — or even compete in an on-mountain competition! But it gets better. Head to downtown Winter Park at 6 p.m. for a parade followed by fireworks. Who knew turning 40 could be so fun?!

Cupid’s Revenge

February 14, 2016

Enjoy a unique Valentine’s Day experience with Cupid’s Revenge at Winter Park! Put on snowshoes or running shoes and race through the 4-mile loop following Yankee Doodle Trail by Hideaway Park. This is the perfect active winter activity the whole family can participate in — all while supporting a good cause! Race entry costs $20 per person in advance and $25 the day of, and proceeds benefit The Grand Foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life in Grand County. Read up on all the details and register in advance for this wintery Valentine’s Day event at Winter Park!  

Winter Park Wipeout

March 19, 2016

Speaking of races and Winter Park, enjoy the charming town of Winter Park in a competitive and thrilling atmosphere at the fourth annual Winter Park Wipeout. Attempt to complete a challenging scavenger hunt taking you on a mountain town adventure, as you endure various obstacles — and so much fun along the way!

Wear your wildest costume, enjoy hot cocoa, beer, live music, snow tubing and sledding. Children over the age of 7 are encouraged to join you for this action-packed adventure in one of Colorado’s best mountain towns.

Arapahoe Basin Events:

New Belgium Mountain Adventure

February 27, 2016 from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

This might sound like the retelling of a strange dream, but it’s time to put on your best costume, chase chickens, search for bigfoot, and answer some crazy riddles — all while skiing down Arapahoe Basin.

The New Belgium Mountain Adventure is an exhilarating and goofy experience you won’t forget. You can sign up in teams, paying just $10 per person, and bring your ski pass or purchase a lift ticket. Last year, registration began at 9 a.m., the hunt was in progress from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. and the post-hunt celebration took place in the Base Area Plaza from 3–4:30 p.m. So it’s safe to say you can expect the same timing this year!

Beach’N Egg Hunt

March 27, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

If your kids felt left out during the New Belgium Mountain Adventure, they may embark on a hunt designed just for kids at Arapahoe Basin! Egg-hunters of all ages can search for as many of the 5,000 eggs the Easter Bunny left behind during his ski run.

Kids on skis will search for eggs on one of Arapahoe Basin’s beginner trails at Wrangler at 11:30 a.m., and kids on foot will search at the bottom of Molly Hogan at 10:30 a.m. Whichever way you want to roll, the Beach’N Egg Hunt is completely free! This is a unique way to spend this holiday, in the gorgeous surroundings found at Arapahoe Basin.

If neither of these suit your fancy, be sure to check out the wide array of events happening at Arapahoe Basin this winter.

Loveland Ski Area Events:

95.7 The Party’s Ski Hooky Days

January 14, February 11, March 10, 2016

Some might consider the winter weekends the only time to hit the slopes, but 95.7 The Party thinks playing hooky to ski on a weekday is the best solution. They invite you to sign up for Party VIP, print your coupon good for a $25 lift ticket on January 14, February 11 or March 10.

If you can’t make it to the slopes on any of those dates, your coupon also includes a buy-one-get-one-free lift ticket deal, valid for two weeks after Hooky Day. 95.7 The Party is making sure you can enjoy Loveland Ski Area for a very reasonable price!

Free Family Race Day

January 16–17 and February 20, 2016 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Visit Loveland Ski Area for their Free Family Race Weekend and Day, on either January 16–17 or February 20. Challenge your friends and family members to a timed run on a race course set up off the Ptarmigan Lift in Bennett’s Bowl. This course is open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities, and the best part about all of this is the FREE admission! You just need to sign up on the day of the event either at the Basio Patio or at the top of the course.

Free Family Race Day is the perfect way to enjoy the beauty of Loveland Ski Area in a fun, carefree, yet slightly competitive manner!

New Belgium’s Mountain Adventure

April 2, 2016 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

New Belgium’s Mountain Adventure isn’t just happening at Arapahoe Basin this year! It’s also taking place at Loveland Ski Area. Work in a team of up to four people and similar to the Mountain Adventure at Arapahoe Basin, embark on a wild scavenger hunt, chasing chickens, searching for Bigfoot and answering riddles.

This will all take place while skiing the beautiful slopes at Loveland Ski Area! Registration only costs $10 per person and proceeds benefit The Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the base of Loveland Basin, and you will have until 3 p.m. to complete your mission. Enjoy a New Belgium beer or two at the Apres party while enjoying live music! Your hard work will surely merit an after party and celebration.

If you can’t imagine what all of this craziness might entail, check out what the New Belgium Mountain Adventure looked like in 2010!

National Safety Month Weekend

January 16–17, 2016

While skiing and snowboarding can produce lots of fun memories and experiences, they can also be activities with a lot of risk involved. The Loveland Ski Patrol wants to counter some of the unawareness of slope safety by hosting a National Safety Month Weekend at Loveland Ski Area.

This two-day annual event will highlight resort safety education efforts while increasing slope safety through kid-friendly ski patrol demonstrations, covering sun safety tips, terrain park safety and helmet information. Ski Patrol demonstration times are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and there is no cost to participate. Educate your kids — and yourself! — with some important slope safety information.

Miscellaneous Events:

X Games Aspen

Jan. 28–31, 2016

X Games is returning to Aspen, Colorado at Buttermilk Mountain for an experience you won’t forget and you won’t even pay for. That’s right, X Games is completely free to the public! However, you can purchase a Platinum Pass, which includes access to Platinum Suites filled with complimentary beer, wine, spirits and catered food, an exclusive guided pre-event tour of the SuperPipe, two-day lift tickets for any of the four Aspen/Snowmass mountains, athlete autograph opportunities, and more!

But before we get ahead of ourselves, what are X Games? This is a four-day event showcasing more than 200 world-class action sports athletes competing for medals and prize money. In addition, you can watch world-class musical performances at the Buttermilk Mountain stage, and experience various festival elements — all taking place on snow!

Estes Park Winter Festival

January 16–17, 2016 from 12–5 p.m.

While Estes Park might not be a “ski resort,” we still wanted to bring their Winter Festival to your attention. All the winter activities you can imagine — from ski and snowboard demonstrations to ice skating to beer and wine tasting — are taking place in the beautiful wintery oasis that is Estes Park on MLK weekend.

Learn more about the Estes Park Winter Festival before you go and be sure to purchase tickets in advance for the whole family. Tickets cost $30 for adults 21 and over (as admission includes a tasting pass), $17 for those 10 years of age, and $5 for children ages 4-9.

Budweiser International Snow Sculpting Competition at Breckenridge

January 30–February 7, 2016

Maybe you’ve strolled through an art gallery, but might have not had the opportunity to observe an extremely unique and impressive form of art — snow sculptures. You can now observe such an exhibit by visiting the Budweiser International Snow Sculpting Competition at Breckenridge!

Snow artists from around the world compete in this grueling contest, using hand tools to create a finished product from 12-foot, 20-ton blocks of snow from January 26–30. These sculptures will remain on display between January 30 and February 7, which gives you plenty of time to stop by to see these remarkable works of art. Check out some winning pieces from last year’s competition to see why we’re so excited to see what these artists come up with in 2016!

Did We Miss Any Fun Ski Events?

What Colorado ski resort events are you looking forward to this year? Let us know and maybe we’ll add it to our list to make sure everyone knows about it!

PHOTOS COURTESY OF: Winter Park, Sky-Hi News, Winter Park Wipeout, Eventbrite, On the Snow, Arapahoe Basin Blog, 95.7 The Party, Colorado Ski Blog, Snowmass, Trip Advisor and Breckenridge