Mountainfest at Montage Mountain will again combine kooky contests, concerts, a tribute to the 1980s and fireworks in a party atmosphere March 6-7.
The slopes at the Scranton resort are open through it all and ticket options can combine skiing and the festival.
Competitors build creative sleds out of cardboard for Preston & Steve’s Cardboard Classic, which begins at 10 a.m. Friday, March 6. The resort expects 125 sleds, the maximum it can handle, to compete for prizes.
There is even a $500 prize for the category of “favorite fail.” One category, for sleds that pay tribute to the beer brand Pacifico, rewards a team with a year’s worth of beer and other merchandise.
A giant chicken sled made entirely of cardboard sits with a team member on top of it, ready for a previous Cardboard Classic sledding contest. (BOB HAVENS / SUBMITTED)
Spectators are encouraged to come early to look at the sleds.
The name comes from the “Preston & Steve” radio show of WMMR in Philadelphia, which will broadcast that morning from Montage Mountain beginning at 6 a.m.
The contest is followed by a tribute to the MTV of the 1980s, with the band M80s at 1:30 p.m. Big hair, leg warmers and other ’80s looks are encouraged. Spectators can join both events for free.
Later, Slocum Hollow will play more live music.
On Saturday, March 7, the pond skimming contest is at 11 a.m. What is pond skimming? Costumed skiers and snowboarders try to end their downhill run skimming across the icy water of a shallow artificial pond.
Wheatus will play at Montage Mountainfest. (COURTESY OF MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS)
A previous Mountainfest at Montage Mountain. (COURTESY OF MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS)
A previous Mountainfest at Montage Mountain. (COURTESY OF MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS)
A previous Mountainfest at Montage Mountain. (COURTESY OF MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS)
A previous Mountainfest at Montage Mountain. (COURTESY OF MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS)
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Wheatus will play at Montage Mountainfest. (COURTESY OF MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS)
Wheatus, the pop/rock band known for the 2000 song “Teenage Dirtbag,” goes on stage Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The rock band Sugar Ray plays at 5. Their top songs include 1997’s “Fly,” followed by “Every Morning,” “Someday” and “When It’s Over.” The concerts are held outside.
A ticket to watch the concerts and the pond skimming, with access to the bars and restaurants, is $42 in advance and $50 at the door.
Other ticket options vary, according to the time spent on the slopes. A two-day VIP package that includes lift tickets and equipment rentals is $249.
The last event is a fireworks show Saturday, March 7 at 6:35 p.m.
The resort’s webpage is montagemountainresorts.com.
The Scranton resort is about 80 minutes from downtown Pottsville and around 50 minutes from downtown Hazleton.