Snowbird, UT – While skiers and snowboarders are still descending its slopes, Utah’s Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort has already filled out its summer calendar with tree outdoor movies and concerts, stargazing on Hidden Peak, a new Mountain Coaster and nine weekends of Oktoberfest.
“This year, we focused on creating events and activities that will delight the entire family,” said Dave Fields, Vice President of Resort Operations. “It’s the perfect place to beat the city heat.”
Highlighting Snowbird’s activities this summer will be a new Mountain Coaster presently under construction at the base of the resort’s Peruvian Chairlift. Passengers (up to two people per cart) board the Mountain Coaster and are pulled to the top of the3,120-foot track, and then gravity takes over. Firmly secured to the track, the cart’s speed is controlled by the driver. The speedy descent back down 160 vertical feet includes two horizontal loops, a tree-lined straightaway and then swooping turns back to the base station.
Snowbird summer activities will be open daily beginning June 8, including the Aerial Tram, Alpine Slide, Bungy Trampolines, Ropes Course, Climbing Wall, Air Jumper, and Kids’ Inflatables. The Mountain Coaster and Peruvian Chairlift and Tunnel will open in July.
Snowbird also offers mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding in Mineral Basin, fishing in Austin Pond, hiking, horseshoe and tennis. Children can pan for gemstones in the Wasatch Mining Co. sluice daily on the Plaza Deck. Mountain bikes, mountain scooters, volleyball and horseshoe equipment may be rented from the Activity Center on the Plaza Deck.
Snowbird will continue Family Flicks this summer beginning June 7, featuring a movie on the Plaza Deck each Friday night at dusk (between 8 and 9 p.m.). Classic movies will include Groundhog Day, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Harry Potter and Where the Wild Things Are. Admission is free.
The resort will also continue its Cool Air Concert series, with a live band playing on the Plaza Deck every Saturday night between June 22 and Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. Chicago Afrobeat Project, Jaden Carlson Band and Keller Williams are a few of the bands playing in the series. Admission is free and small coolers are welcome.
Oktoberfest will return to Snowbird on Aug.17 and continue each weekend, plus Labor Day, through Oct 13 throughout the Snowbird village. This event is chock full of music, dancing and traditional German cuisine, such as bratwurst with sauerkraut and apfelstrudel. Children can enjoy face painting, caricature artist, inflatable rides, the world champion Yo-Yo Man, music, balloons and more. Admission is free.
The fifth annual Brewfest will be held June 15-16, with a Father’s Day Barbecue on Sunday, June 16. Several breweries will be selling three-ounce samples of their brews, complemented by live music on the Plaza Deck.
Other summer events taking place at Snowbird will include the Tour of Utah, Mountain Bout Mountain Bike Race, Wasatch Wildflower Festival, Stargazers and Hidden Peak Challenge.
Snowbird Mountain Sports Camp, designed for youth ages 10-15, will return for its second year and includes mountain biking, swimming, hiking and climbing with professional coaches. This year’s camp will be held July 8-12, 2013.
Snowbird also offers Camp Snowbird for children ages 4-12, and Teen Camp for ages 13-17, Mondays through Fridays. Kids will meet their camp counselors at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon and take the bus to and from the resort. Kids swim every day, go for hikes, do science projects and arts and crafts. For more information visit www.snowbird.com/summer/summercamps.
Snowbird’s 2012-13 ski and snowboard season will conclude this Friday through Monday, May 24-27, with lift service provided via the Aerial Tram and Little Cloud chairlift.