Waitsfield, VT – Arguably two of the East’s best ski areas, situated side by side above Vermont’s Mad River Valley, are joining together to kick off the 2014-15 winter season with a celebration at Waitsfield’s American Flatbread at Lareau Farm this Saturday.

Five years ago, Sugarbush Resort and Mad River Glen joined together to host a community-wide celebration to kick off the ski season. Now the annual celebration has grown into an event that draws a historically large crowd of excited skiers and riders of all ages.

The Big Kicker starts at 5 p.m. with flatbread, smores, games, music, and dancing. Starting at 6 p.m. there will be a freestyle exhibition by Sugarbush Parks and the Mad River Glen Freestyle Team. At 7 p.m., resort representatives will welcome the crowd and kick off a live auction for season passes, a movie screening of the High Fives Foundation’s #knowyourpark, and appearances by Flyin’ Ryan Foundation and Ski The East.

“The Mad River Valley is a special place, not only because of the incredible skiing and riding, but also because of the winter community the Valley attracts,” said Sugarbush President Win Smith. “The Big Kicker is a way for Sugarbush and Mad River Glen to invite the community to come together and kick off what we hope will be another incredible winter season.”