By Karen D. Lorentz
With cooler temperatures and leaves turning, skiers and snowboarders know winter is just
around the corner, but before the snow arrives, autumn goes out in full glory with Okemo’s Fall
into Winter Festivities on Sunday Oct. 8 at its Jackson Gore base area.
The Annual Fall into Winter Festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. with a mix of fun activities for all
ages. There’s live music with Adam McMahon Trio (12-2 p.m.) and Jester Jigs (3-5 p.m.), face
painting, hayrides, axe throwing, craft and food vendors, craft beer, BBQ, and more fall
activities. Admission is free and activity tickets are available online in advance as well as onsite
at the event. The free Al Getler Ventriloquist Show, sponsored by William Raveis Vermont
Properties, will be offered inside the Round House from 2-3 p.m.
The Adventure Zone at Jackson Gore, open 10 to 5 p.m., adds more fun things to do — bouncy
house, mini golf, mountain coaster, gem mining, climbing wall, disc golf. It’s open Saturday
through Monday (last day). Scenic chairlift rides on the Sunburst Six will be available Saturday
through Monday also.
The next date to remember is Oct. 10. That’s the last day to buy a 2023-24 season pass before
prices go up. The Epic Local Pass is $705 for ages 19 and up. It’s a seven-day pass with no
restrictions that includes access to Mount Snow, Hunter (NY), and Mount Sunapee, Attitash,
Crotched, and Wildcat (NH). It also includes 30 Vail Resorts areas in the Rockies, MidAtlantic,
and Midwest regions, eight of which have restricted access on peak dates. The Child Epic Local
pass is $367 (ages 5-12) and the teen (13-18) is $570.
Every Epic pass includes: Mountain Rewards of 20% off food, lodging, equipment rentals, group
lessons, heli-skiing; additional discounted lift tickets for friends and family; and pass insurance
for injury, job loss, or resort closures. For more info or for rates on Epic Local College, ultimate
Epic, Epic 4-Day, Military, or the Northeast Midweek Pass visit: Epicpass.com.
October is also a celebratory month for Okemo. Diane and Tim Mueller, Okemo owner/operators
1982-2018, will be inducted into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame on Saturday the
14th (details vtssm.org), and Wendy Neal, a coach and director of Okemo’s competition
programs (1986 – 2002) and Head of School for Okemo Mountain School (2002-2010) will be
inducted into the Vermont Alpine Racing Association Hall of Fame on the 28th(vara.org).
Okemo will be hosting the Annual Okemo Mountain School Ski & Snowboard Swap Nov. 17-19
at the Jackson Gore Base Area. It’s a great time to find deals on skis, snowboards, boots, poles,
clothing, and other winter gear like snowshoes, cross-country skis, and ice skates, notes OMS
Head of School Mariel Meringolo. That includes children’s gear, which “goes fast,” she said.
You can donate equipment or place it on consignment, but it should be no older than 7 to 10
years and in good working condition, Meringolo noted. All donations are tax deductible,
including the 25% of sale consignments which go to OMS.
Swap items drop-off times are 10 – 3 p.m., November 11th, 12th, and 15th at the Jackson
Gore Round House. If items don’t sell, people can pick them up or leave for donation to a
non-profit PTA.
Swap hours are: 4-7 p.m. Friday, 9-5 p.m. Saturday, and 9-1 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds go to
OMS’ operating costs to keep tuition as affordable as possible for all students. (The Swap
raised a record $37,000 last year.)
Swinging closer to winter, “Okemo will be firing up the snowguns when Mother Nature gives us
her blessing. The ideal temperature is 28 degrees and 50% relative humidity for efficient
snowmaking. We’ll announce the opening date when we’re sure of it a week in advance,”
spokesperson Joe Healy said, adding Okemo’s website, social media, and passholder
communications will keep people updated.
With an El Nino winter forecasted, Okemo may see lots of snow from the sky, but regardless,
the snowmaking team can fill in for Mother Nature with one of the largest snowmaking systems
in the East and a 150-million-gallon snowmaking pond to withdraw water from.
Although Ludlow saw July flooding, the mountain returned to full summer operations three
weeks later, and Okemo looks forward to winter operations as usual, Healy added.
