Crave winter? Obsessed about Snow? Here’s 4 ski & snowboard festivals to kick off your season!

Big Bear Mountain Resort Hot Dowgs & Handrails California So Cal Music show ski & snowboard festivals 2017 Photo courtesy: Big Bear Mountain Resort

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The unofficial end of summer has come and gone. Depending on the type of person you are, you’ll either be looking forward to the upcoming ski and snowboard season or grasping at the last straws of warm weather activities like mountain biking and hiking. If you’re like us, you look forward to the snow falling. The problem is we’re still at least two months away from shredding, so what should you do? Check out a ski & snowboard festival! Here are a few of the bigger ones happening across the US to get your blood pumping.

Just a few years ago, the only way to see the new shred flick was to go to a movie premiere. But, in the last few years, the dawning of festivals have grown massively. Instead of just one film, you get a chance to see multiple films, a rail jam, hear awesome music, and so much more!

Ski & Snowboard Festivals 2019

Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails

Snow Summit, California
September 27th – 28th 2019

This is THE original music and snowboard festival. In fact, it’s the largest winter kick-off party with over 5,000 people showing up to watch pros go after it. In its 16th year, for the first time ever Hot Dawgs & Hand Rails Snow Summit will be hosting the event due to the construction happening at Bear Mountain. The park crew at Big Bear will continue to push the limits of what a summertime rail jam course can be like. Let’s just say it isn’t like any other course out there. If that wasn’t enough Snow Summit will also host a movie premiere of the latest & greatest film from Snowboarder – Everybody, Everybody.  

Big Bear Mountain Resort Hot Dowgs & Handrails California So Cal Music show ski & snowboard festivals 2017
Image appears courtesy: Big Bear Mountain Resort

Of course, a snowboard session can’t go down without some tunes. With music performances by No FX, The Vandals, and The Bronx, you KNOW the event will be rockin’.

SLC Shred Fest

Salt Lake City, Utah
November 5th & 6th 2022

Salt Lake City Shred Fest - Rail Jam & Music showcase ski & snowboard festivals 2017
Photo courtesy: Shred Fest
Salt Lake City Shred Fest - Rail Jam & Music showcase ski & snowboard festivals 2017
Founder James Fleege Photo courtesy: Shred Fest

Back in 2010, the original Shred Fest started as a way for the ski & snowboard community to join together and have a pray for snow party in Missoula, Montana. Over the years, this event continued to grow and evolve. The founder, James Fleege, wanted to push the limits and see if it could happen in a bigger city. That’s when in 2016 Shred Fest did its inaugural show in Salt Lake City and was a HUGE success. Over 3,000 people showed up to kick off the season.

In 2022, they’ve pushed the limits of what is a snow-fueled extravaganza. Expect awesome music, a sick rail jam, and of course the latest in films. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be a pro meet & greet including such fabled names as: Tanner Hall, Pat Moore, Ted Borland, and Sammy Carlson.

Snowvana

Portland, Oregon
November 22nd – 23rd 2022

In Snowvana’s third edition, it’s exciting to hear that it’s back! Being the ultimate celebration of snow sports for the Pacific Northwest, it includes a multitude of exciting activities. For example, the Mt Hood Film Festival will include twelve hours of ski & snowboard films from production companies like Teton Gravity Research, Level 1 Productions, & Matchstick Films. Looking for holiday gift ideas? Regional artisans will be on hand selling and creating mountain influenced arts and crafts as part of the Crater Lakes Alpine Spirits Art Gallery. Oregon’s most popular ski resorts will also be on hand to sell or renew those season passes.

Denver Shred Fest

Denver, Colorado
Will It Happen?!?

Last year SLC’s biggest winter kick-off event expanded east from the Wasatch to include another one at the base of the Colorado Rockies. Just like the O.G. event, it featured an awesome ski and snowboard rail jam, sick movies from the pros, and wailing music performances from artists like Neon Indian DJ Set, Rapidgrass, & Easy Giant. It also included a one-of-a kind lumberjack competition. There have been rumblings across the inter-webs that Denver Shred Fest 2019 may happen again, but no confirmation on dates or other info. We have our fingers crossed that it will.

So, if you got the winter-time itch and need to scratch it, check out one of these amazing shows. Not in these towns or can’t front a plane ticket? Don’t worry. As usual, we’ll keep you posted on all the movie premieres happening across North America & hopefully one will be near you!

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