Boyne Falls, MI – Boyne Mountain’s second annual Skitoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 2 promises to again deliver much of the fun and excitement that brought hundreds of visitors to the inaugural event last year. Skitoberfest celebrates fall with family fun, gourmet food, a craft beer tent, wine tasting, and performing arts in an Oktoberfest style setting, plus a jib fest and Snowsports Summit.nFamilies can enjoy horse drawn hayrides, cider press demonstrations, kids’ art projects and sing-alongs with The Music Lady Beverly Meyer, as well as face painting, costumed performers and jugglers, pony rides, a bounce house, music, dancing, a parade and more. Most family activities take place from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Village of Boyne Mountain.
The beer tent opens at 2 p.m. and features a dozen Michigan breweries serving up more than 50 varieties of suds for sampling. Admission to the tent costs $20 per person, and includes a commemorative pint glass and 12 tickets good towards beer, food and wine. Participating breweries include Short’s, Bell’s, New Holland, Arbor, Arcadia, North Peak, Mountain Pleasant and others. Vino aficionados can enjoy Michigan tastings in a specialty wine room from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. served with cheese and crackers. Many of the region’s top restaurants will gather at Boyne Mountain for the day to serve fan favorites ranging from sandwiches and sweet treats, to specialty brats and pretzels.
Festival attendees can also take in a bird’s eye view of fall foliage with free scenic chairlift rides and for thrill-seekers, checkout the new Zipline Adventures.
The good times continue well past 8 p.m. when the sampling wraps up and the tent is energized by a DJ, dancing and a cash bar until midnight. Admission is free after 8 p.m.
In anticipation of the coming snowsports season, the event also features an afternoon jib fest and a Snowsports Summit hosted by Olympian and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee, Cary Adgate. The Snowsports Summit is free to the public and is open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., showcasing equipment, technique and physical conditioning tips.