Holiday Valley’s End-of-Season Events Bring Pond Skimming, Rail Jams, and Spring Ski Fun
Holiday Valley’s End-of-Season Events Bring Pond Skimming, Rail Jams, and Spring Ski Fun
From Cabin Fever deals to Pond Skimming and the Uppenovr race, Holiday Valley wraps up winter with a full lineup of spring events.
After a heavy winter packed with powder and bluebird mornings, the birds are flying back for spring and temperatures in the local area are on the rise. As the valley begins to thaw and the daylight stretches longer, the rhythm of the season shifts. Ellicottville’s ski season is approaching its close, and Holiday Valley punches out of the season with a lineup of hard-hitting events that locals and visitors don’t want to miss.
From pond skimming to live music, Holiday Valley is throwing a finale, turning itself into a spring snow playground.
Leading the end-of-season charge is Cabin Fever, a chance for skiers and snowboarders to save big on one more day on the snow. Discounted $25.99 eight-hour lift ticket vouchers are available at select locations listed on holidayvalley.com/events. Cabin Fever hits the slopes this Thursday, March 19th.
As part of Holiday Valley’s rail series, the Intense Milk Rail Jam will take place on Saturday, March 21st. Free to enter and accompanied by surprise prizes, this rail jam is an energetic and immersive experience for participants and spectators. The jam style format is free-flowing, built on a special park setup at the base of Yodeler. All participants are required to fill out an Acknowledgement of Risk (AOR) form, available on the Holiday Valley website. This event is sure to fire up the crowd from the first drop-in to the last.
Also on March 21st, the 3rd annual Uppenovr returns to the valley, bringing a spring uphill challenge that links Holiday Valley and HoliMont while raising money for Roswell Park Cancer Center. Participants can tackle the 3.5-mile, 1,040-foot gain route using touring skis, split boards, snowshoes, hiking boots, or even sneakers - costumes encouraged. The race begins at 3:00pm at Yodeler Lodge and features a mid-course hydration stop at Spruce Lake with music and mountain views. The $40 registration fee can be found on the websites of both Holiday Valley and HoliMont.
After the race, participants and observers can wander over to Yodeler Lodge to enjoy food, drinks, prizes, live music, a basket raffle, and a silent auction with bidding opening at 2:00pm. Featured packages include a winter wine-tasting snowshoe tour, a summer pool party with cocktails and barbecue, a plane ride with Paul Carmichael in his hand-built 1940 Waco “Red Baron” biplane, a one-hour Groomer Ride for 1 adult (plus optional small child) in a Pisten Bully 600 grooming cat equipped with Lidar, a two-hour Garden Makeover with the Ellicottville Alley Katz, a 20-guest Holiday Valley Tubing Party on a Thursday evening with “Starry Starry Lights,” and a night of snowmaking with the Holiday Valley Snowmaking Crew. Proceeds support Team Holiday Valley cyclists as they ride 550 miles across New York State to benefit Roswell Park’s research. Live music, brought to you by PA Line, will also be a highlight of the event. Blending challenge, community, and heart, it all adds up to one of the valley’s most spirited spring traditions.
Marked as the “grand finale” of the winter season, Holiday Valley’s annual Pond Skimming adds a splash of fun and a promise of excitement on March 28th. The event transforms the base of Yodeler into a lively arena of cheering spectators, vibrant costumes, and high hopes of skiers and riders making the full glide across the spring pond. With same-day, in-person registration - limited to the first 50 participants - be sure to arrive at the venue before noon to secure a spot on the water. While not mandatory, participants are encouraged to dress in costume to amplify the energy and turn every skim attempt into a memorable experience. Regardless of whether competitors successfully make it across the pond or take a spectacular splash, being an active audience member is half the fun. Holiday Valley’s Pond Skimming event is the perfect high-spirited send-off to the winter season, blending athletic mojo with style.
Holiday Valley Marketing Director Dash Hegeman shares that he looks forward to Pond Skimming. “It’s always the closeout of the event season for us and it brings out a huge crowd of people who are excited to watch people test their skills as they attempt to make their way across the pond.”
Touching on the event’s live music, Hegeman highlights: “DJ Tyler Swift will be there as well to entertain the crowd, so that always adds to the fun of the day.”
Taken together, these events turn March into a full-throttle celebration. From uphill grinds to rail jams and skimming, Holiday Valley closes out the season with momentum. Capturing the camaraderie that defines life in the valley, this end-of-season event lineup offers a final chance to savor the season’s playful spirit. As the snow becomes sandy and the sun climbs higher, the community gathers for one last burst of winter magic before spring fully takes the stage. More event information can be found at holidayvalley.com/events.