The end is near when spring skiing arrives in the mountains. But don’t put away the skis and snowboards yet. Indeed, warmer weather and soft snow are sweet rewards for enduring the wintertime blues, but for many ski resorts around the country, spring is more about outdoor entertainment and après-skiing than the actual art of making turns. At least, that’s the way it’s been happening at Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, for the past five years during Spring Grüv.
The annual Spring Grüv tradition pays tribute to the change in seasons with 10 days of live music and events under sunny Utah skies. From March 22 to 31, it’s not uncommon to dress in your favorite tutu or ’80s attire, as both locals and visitors let loose at Canyons Resort.
The festivities begin with a pond-skimming contest on March 23. Skiers and snowboarders don their funkiest, most absurd costumes to the delight of a large crowd and glide their way over a 100-foot-long pond. Afterward, head to the base village for a free concert by the North Mississippi Allstars, who will infuse the Western ski town with Southern blues-rock rhythms throughout the afternoon.
Après-ski becomes a bubbly affair on March 24 with Clicquot in the Snow, an edible showcase of libations and victuals. This exclusive après-ski event pairs delectable nibbles from The Farm Restaurant with the spirited complexities of Veuve Clicquot champagne. The slopeside restaurant also offers a prime location to take in the musical riffs of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, a soulful funk group that will perform in the village the same afternoon. Tickets to Clicquot in the Snow are available for $30.
On March 30, familiar faces will be suited up for the Operation Smile Celebrity Ski Challenge, a fund-raiser that grants life-changing operations to children born with cleft palates. Operation Smile donors will be paired up with celebrity and Olympic skiers as teams of six race their way through a dual slalom course. After the race, the Canyons’ village will buzz as reggae jams from Toots & The Maytals leave concertgoers dancing well into the evening.
Spring Grüv culminates on Easter Sunday with a dinner celebration at the Cabin Restaurant inside the Grand Summit Hotel. Fill up with a spread of favorite holiday fare before filling your ears with progressive sounds from Euforquestra. The six-member band blends genres like Afrobeat, reggae and dub to create a melodic explosion that bids a final farewell to another long winter. Dinner reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 435-615-2205.
Numerous slopeside accommodations at Canyons Resort, including the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Waldorf Astoria Park City, offer ideal access to the village festivities. Pond skimming and all concerts during Spring Grüv, as long as you have a lift or gondola ticket, are free for spectators.
For a detailed schedule of events or to purchase tickets, visit the Canyons’ website.
Photos courtesy of Rob Bossi and Waldorf Astoria Park City
