MONTPELIER, Vt. – What do music artists Snoop Dog, the Flaming Lips and the Barednaked Ladies have in common- They will be rocking the stage at Vermont ski resorts soon. In fact, festivals with major acts and exciting activities are as abundant these days as snowy ski trails across the state. With more than 1,000 trails to ski or ride and a party to suit every style, every weekend, Vermont’s mountains assure a great winter getaway.

Feb Fest – Bromley Mountain
February 18, 2012
The party starts at 7:00 p.m. with a torchlight parade followed by fireworks. Then it’s dancing, silent auction, vacation raffle, dessert tasting and all of the other frivolity from 8-11:00 p.m. in the base lodge. Visit www.bromley.com .

Disney FamilyFun Winter Carnival, Smugglers’ Notch Resort
February 23, 2012
Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Disney’s FamilyFun magazine team up to host the Disney FamilyFun Winter Carnival, an afternoon of games, giveaways, face painting, music, a free barbecue and family fun on the snow! Visit www.smuggs.com .

Black Magic Extreme Challenge, Magic Mountain
February 25, 2012
Competitors tackle the hardest trail at Magic to celebrate the best skier/rider on the mountain. Visit www.magicmtn.com/event.php-day=25&month=02&year=2012 .

Bud Light Mardi Gras, Mount Snow
February 25 & 26, 2012
Bud Light Mardi Gras Celebration featuring our skiing jesters, lift line giveaways, 10,000+ beads, apres parties at Cuzzins and a huge Bud Light Concert at the Snow Barn. Visit www.mountsnow.com/events .

Stowe Derby
February 26, 2012
The Stowe Derby is the oldest and original downhill cross-country race in North America. It started in 1945 as a personal challenge between two amazing skiers- Austrian, Sepp Ruschp and Erling Strom, world famous mountaineer from Norway. The challenge was the same as it is today – a race from the top of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak to the historic village of Stowe.Today, the race attracts more than 800 competitors, for 20km of challenging terrain, racing down Mt. Mansfield’s Toll Road and along the entire length of the Stowe Recreation Path before reaching the finish in the village. The course has a total vertical drop of over 2,600 feet.www.stowe.com/mountain/resort_calendar/

The 10th Annual Mardi Gras, Jay Peak Resort
February 27 – March 2, 2012
Jay Peak brings the wild verve of the Big Easy up to northern Vermont with a week’s worth of on and off-hill debauchery. Visit www.jaypeakresort.com .

Marchdi Gras
March 3, 2012
Stratton Mountain Resort
Come to the Village block party that’ll redefine your sense of fun, March 3, 3 p.m. til you can’t take it anymore. The Stratton Village will be lined with food and drink vendors, including an ice bar where you’re encouraged to take a shot off the luge, and a day full of live music. We’ve got the beads; now bring your friends to enjoy a day into night of music, drinks and just enough naughtiness to keep you on Santa’s nice list next year.

30th Burton U.S. Open of Snowboarding, Stratton Mountain Resort
March 4-11, 2012
The 30th U.S. Open is the final stop of the Burton Global Open Series. Voted by the Vermont Chamber as one of the Vermont Top Ten Winter 2011-2012 Events, the USO is the longest standing snowboard event on the planet. Whether coming as a competitor or a spectator, this weeklong contest offers something for everyone. Amateurs will compete on the same platform as the world’s best riders including Stratton Mountain School alum Louie Vito. Photos: www.facebook.com/media/set/-set=a.10150149556709467.332921.9189524466&type=1

USSA Hole Shot, SBX NorAm Tour, Killington Resort
March 6-8, 2012
Visit www.killington.com for full event details.

North American Telemark Festival, Mad River Glen
March 10-11, 2012
Visit www.telemarknato.com/festival.html for full event details.

Nordic Relay for Life, Trapp Family Lodge
March 10, 2012
The Relay for Life is a fun-filled, overnight event that enlists volunteers to help fight cancer by raising money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society mission. Last year the event raised $102,000. Visit www.relayforlife.org/nordicstylevt .

Spring Fling Weekend, Magic Mountain
March 17-18, 2012
A fun filled day featuring a free fun race on Show Off, live music and a Rocking Apres Party. Visit www.magicmtn.com/event.php-day=17&month=03&year=2012 .

U.S.Freestyle National Championships, Stratton Mountain Resort
March 20-26, 2012
Stratton is excited to announce the return of the U.S. Freestyle Championships! The contest will bring the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team as well as the best of divisional skiers from across the country to Stratton to compete for the top title in moguls, aerials, halfpipe and dual moguls. Come watch as Vermont native and Olympic Gold Medalist Hannah Kearney defends her title and champions are crowned. Photos: www.facebook.com/media/set/-set=a.10150162762824467.337260.9189524466 .

Pond Skimming, Bolton Valley Resort
March 24, 2012
Pond skimming takes place on a man-made pond created especially for the event, right in front of the Base Lodge. Competitors, fueled only by gravity, technique and the desire to stay dry, will attempt to skim across the pond for special prizes and awards. Join the after party of this great spectator event with music, a DJ and good vibes all around. Visit www.boltonvalley.com .

Sugaring Time Festival, Sugarbush Resort
March 24, 2012
Sugar on snow, pancake eating contests, mountain-wide scavenger hunts in search of maple syrup nips, live music, and more. Visit www.sugarbush.com .

ReggaeFest, Mount Snow
March 23 – 25, 2012
Mount Snow’s annual spring celebration has grown to epic proportions! Thousands of folks come out every year to witness other guests dressed in costumes to skim on a pond, slide on cardboard and enjoy some great live reggae music in and around the base area. Live reggae performances kick off Friday night at the Snow Barn, continue all day Saturday and Sunday on Cuzzins Deck and reach a fever pitch on Saturday night with the headliner performance back at the Snow Barn. Accompanying the Bud Light ReggaeFest will be the 10th Annual Sink or Skim pond skim competition on Saturday and Duct Tape Derby V on Sunday. Visit www.mountsnow.com/events .

Spring Fling Weekend
March 24-25, 2012
Bromley Mountain
Saturday features live Reggae from the Equalites and a pond skimming contest. The Trampoline Things will be on hand from Vermont’s Summer Adventure to liven up both days, and don’t miss the Fourth Annual Duct Tape Derby on Sunday! In addition, there’ll be two-day E-coupons available at www.bromley.com .

FestEVOL 2012 with Guster, Barenaked Ladies and Big Head Todd
March 24 – 25, 2012
Okemo Mountain Resort
This two-day celebration of snowsports, mountain lifestyle, live music, innovative natural brands and a sustainability-focused eco-village, will feature concert performances by Barenaked Ladies and The Pete Kilpatrick Band on Saturday, March 24, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Guster on Sunday, March 25. In addition to skiing and snowboarding at Okemo Mountain Resort, FestEVOL attendees can enjoy the Reverb Eco Village in the Jackson Gore courtyard. Reverb includes local, regional and national environmental non-profit groups alongside alternative-energy and transportation exhibits. The Eco Village also highlights all-natural and organic food sampling, and ski and snowboard equipment demos with Ramp, Nordica and Burton Snowboards. For more information, visit www.festevol.com .

SnowMont Festival with Snoop Dog, Kaskade, The Flaming Lips, Big Boi, Diplo, Borgore, Railroad Earth and More
March 30 – April 1, 2012
Killington Resort
Combining the world’s best musicians with the world’s best snow conditions, the 2012 SnowMont Music Festival is the East Coast edition of the S.N.O.W. series, which proposes the ultimate marriage: music and mountains. With multiple stages showcasing the talent of some of today’s most exciting artists, the live music at this year’s SnowMont Festival is sure to satisfy thousands of hungry music fans. SnowMont is guaranteed to bring your average festival experience to new heights – both on and off the mountain. Mark your calendars and get ready for the experience of a lifetime – for one fun filled weekend, this all ages festival will show you all what Killington, Vermont has to offer.

Okemo Slush Cup, Resort: Okemo Mountain Resort
April 2, 2012
Costume-clad Slush Cup competitors schuss toward an 80-foot-long slushy pond and try to make it across without falling in. It’s a chilly spring dip for those who don’t make it. Open to the first 125 participants. Entry fee is $20. Participants win fabulous prizes in various categories. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the pond skimming starts at 11 a.m. Call 802.228.1600 for more information or visit Okemo’s Calendar Listings.

Pond Skimming Celebration, Burke Mountain Resort
April 7, 2012
Join Burke’s wet and wacky annual spring ritual. Watch 50 brave contestants ski the pond for a chance to become the King and Queen of the Pond. Visit www.skiburke.com .

Winter Brewer’s Festival, Mount Snow
April 7, 2012
Celebrate the end of winter with beer! This popular festival returns for the third straight year and will feature some of the top breweries from across New England and the Northeast including the likes of Long Trail, Woodchuck Cider, Magic Hat, Allagash, Harpoon, Rock Art, Red Hook, Stone, Olde Burnside, Brooklyn and Budweiser. Located right in the main base area, admission is $10 for adults from the hours of 1pm- 6pm. Your paid admission gets you a souvenir Winter Brewers Festival pint glass and your first drink is on Mount Snow. An outdoor BBQ and tons of vendors make this an event not to be missed. Enjoy great spring skiing and then enjoy some great spring beers! Visit www.mountsnow.com/events .

Sugarbush Adventure Games
April 14-15, 2012
Into it’s fourth decade, the Sugarbush Adventure Games host a kid’s triathlon on Saturday and an adult triathlon on Sunday that includes a run, a kayak/canoe down the river, a road cycle, and a cross-country ski leg. A great event for family teams, corporate teams and individuals, followed by a lunch, awards and live music. Visit www.sugarbush.com .