Lift ticket prices on opening day are $69 for adults, $59 for seniors and $45 for children 12 and under. The gondola will be free to foot passengers through the weekend. Paid parking in the Town of Vail’s Lionshead and Vail Village structures as well as outlying lots resumes this Friday as well.
Vail Mountain snowmaking and cat crews have been hard at work with the help of natural snowfall last weekend and cold temperatures all week. In addition to all levels of ski and snowboard terrain, guests will also have access to boxes and rails as part of the early-season terrain park erected on Born Free.
“We’re excited to welcome the community and destination guests back to Vail Mountain for the 2009-10 season and look forward to expanding the terrain offering in the coming weeks,” said Chris Jarnot, chief operating officer of Vail Mountain.
Ticket and pass sales are currently available at the Lionshead Ticket Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Adult and Children’s Snowsports School offices will also be open in Lionshead from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Small World Nursery at Golden Peak will be open for childcare beginning Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The opening weekend celebration begins in Lionshead at 8:30 a.m. on Friday with music, giveaways and $1 croissant breakfast sandwiches provided by Centre V with proceeds benefiting the Vail Valley Charitable Fund. Après-ski the first ever Snuggie Pub Crawl presented by Bud Light will start at 7 p.m. Friday in Vail Village, as participants will receive a free Snuggie while supplies last and a chance to win a pair of K2 skis, two VIP passes to Vail Snow Daze and tickets to Yukon Kornelius. Continue the fun on Saturday with a free Freddy Jones Band concert at Vail Square in Lionshead at 3 p.m.
Start the festivities early on Thursda evening with "The B!," A Movie of EPIC Proportions, at the Burton store in Vail. The movie will be broadcast outside the shop in Lionshead on the big screen at 7 p.m.
Vail Snow Daze, the resort’s annual winter kick-off bash, returns Dec. 7-13. Grammy-nominated Barenaked Ladies will take the stage for a free concert on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Ford Park. Also included in the free concert lineup presented by Bud Light are Robert Randolph & The Family Band and Eve 6. Legendary rockers Yukon Kornelius featuring Stefan Lessard of Dave Matthews Band, Adam Gardner of Guster, Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, Eric Fawcett of N*E*R*D and unannounced special guests will also perform a ticketed show at Dobson Arena with opening act Pete Kilpatrick on Friday, Dec. 11. Vail Snow Daze celebrates the start of the winter ski and snowboard season in Vail with a weeklong schedule of contests, parties, giveaways and on-mountain events including the annual Dummy Demolition Derby under the lights at Golden Peak with first annual free Chili Chowdown.
Vail Mountain lifts will open at 9 a.m. for the duration of the early season. For guests with restricted passes, restrictions will be in effect Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28.
