Break out that neon and get ready for a blast to the past with the fifth annual Totally ’80s Retro Ski Weekend at Beech Mountain in North Carolina. This year’s event expands to four days, bending the space-time continuum from Thursday, Feb. 18, through Sunday, Feb. 21.
During this righteous celebration, the town and ski resort combine for an awesome retro experience. Enjoy live ’80s music nightly, retro skiing daily and throwback activities in between.
Totally ’80s Retro Weekend is an opportunity to hit the slopes in dayglo ski gear and dust off those old school threads for a full schedule of concerts, activities and contests.
The music lineup kicks off Thursday night at Fast Eddie’s with Cassette Rewind, a tribute band from Charlotte whose members were born in the ’80s and raised on radio. Friday night’s show at Mile High Tavern features the first Beech Mountain appearance by SPANK, East Tennessee’s top retro band. Friday night also includes the $200 Madonna Look-Alike Contest.
Ouch. (file photo: Beech Mountain Tourism)
Saturday’s headliner at the ski resort is ’80s Explosion. High energy and clad in spandex, the band plays the big hits from the 1980s – complete with big hair. Saturday night also features the Totally Retro Apparel Contest with its $500 first-place prize awarded to the person with the most authentic apparel from the Best. Decade. Ever.
“It’s probably our most popular ski weekend,” says Talia Freeman, marketing director at Beech Mountain Resort. “It’s a blast not only for our guests, but also our employees. People love it because it encourages them to step outside their shell and have fun.”
New this year is Totally Tubular Snowtubing and three contests. A Pac Man Competition takes place over three days at Beech Alpen Restaurant with a $100 prize for the top score. A $100 Rubik’s Cube Contest is on tap Saturday at Beech Mountain Brewing Co., while a Hot Tub Time Machine Trivia Contest ($100) will be held on Saturday at the ski resort’s Beech Tree Bar & Grille.
There will be special guest appearances, including the Carolina Ghostbusters and their Ecto-Mobile, as well as the vehicle most associated with the ’80s – a stainless steel DeLorean.
“There’s lot of good energy around this event. People just love that era,” says Beech Mountain tourism director Kate Gavenus. “A lot of folks who were alive during that time like to relive it, and there are many people who weren’t alive during the 1980s who really like the music, like the clothing and like the movies from that time. It’s a fun, upbeat era in American history.”
