Thompsonville, MI – Crystal Mountain will hand out lift tickets for free when the resort opens for skiing and riding on Thanksgiving Day, November 22. It’s the Northern Michigan ski resort’s earliest opening in four years.

Chairlifts will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day with free lift tickets and a flat rate of $15 for adult or kids equipment rental. In the meantime, snowmaking crews will maximize efforts on the resort’s Buck, Cheers to Lou (formerly known as Cheers) and Main Street runs to get as much terrain open as possible for opening day.

Crystal Mountain will also be open for skiing and riding (9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) from Friday, November 23 through Sunday, November 25. Lift tickets will cost $25 for adults, $15 for juniors (ages 7–17) and seniors (ages 60–79) and free for kids 6 and under. Ski and snowboard rental will be $25 for adults and $15 for kids. Following the holiday weekend, downhill trails will close midweek as crews continue snowmaking in order to open more terrain in the weeks ahead.

The last time Crystal Mountain opened on Thanksgiving Day was in 2013. As is tradition, the resort has a number of events and activities planned for its Thanksgiving Reconnect Weekend. A new ice skating rink is set to open in the center of the village for the holiday weekend. The Turkey Vulture Trot 5K benefiting Wings of Wonder will be run on Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. The Holiday Trail Celebration (free to the public) will be held Friday night (November 23 from 6–9 p.m.) with the First Light Celebration (also free to the public) on Saturday night, November 24, from 5–6 p.m.