NORTH CONWAY, New Hampshire ??” Cranmore Mountain Resort will celebrate the winter season on Saturday, December 17, with its first annual Welcome to Winter Celebration. This years festivities include the Tubing for teddy Bears charity event, Joe Jones Kick-off Party, and the Grand Opening of the new Burton Learn to Ride Center. North Conway’s mountain of choice will host live entertainment, great food, free-demo equipment and even a bonfire.

Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with Tubing for Teddy Bears, a charity toy and food-collecting event that benefits the Community Clothing Bank in the North Conway Valley. Guests can bring non-perishable food items, blankets, boots, warm winter jackets and pants, clothes, and toys to the tubing park located at the base of the mountain between the main base lodge and the fitness center. Guests who donate during this event will receive a 2 hour, 2 for 1 tubing pass at the #1 ranked Arctic Blast Tubing Park.

At no charge, Joe Jones Ski and Sports will host a day of high-end equipment for guests to demo, plus live entertainment, a BBQ and bonfire. Mustache Ride will take to the stage at 4 p.m. to provide live musical entertainment for guests to enjoy while they eat some BBQ food, available all day at the eating house deck, and warm-up outside at the bonfire, located at the base of North Slope. In addition, Zips pub will also be open until 8 p.m.

Grand opening activities and discounts for the new Burton LTR Center include a $39 Learn to Ride and Learn to Ski package (regular price of $69), which includes an all day lift ticket, rental equipment, and a lesson for ages 13 & up, plus ski and snowboard movies playing all weekend and an opportunity to enter the Burton swag raffle.

Upcoming Cranmore events include the Monster Mash Ski and Snowboard competition December 27 and 30, the kick-off of Cranapalooza December 31 and the Great Penguin Race January 8.

For more information on Cranmore events, please visit www.cranmore.com or call1-800-SUN N SKI.