From foot races to car races even, wife-carrying races, Sunday River’s summer events calendar is full of excitement

Newry, Maine (July 7, 2011)-With Sunday River’s many mountain activities including Zipline Tours and mountain biking now open for the summer, plus an events calendar that extends well into the fall, guests to the area will find plenty of reasons to race to the Western Mountains of Maine including the New England Forest Rally July 14-16 , the Tough Mountain Challenge on Saturday, July 23 , and come October, the National Wife Carrying Championship on Saturday, October 8 .

July 2011

July 14-16: New England Forest Rally-The fastest cars on dirt converge at Sunday River for two days of off road racing for this X-Games qualifier. For more information, visit www.sundayriver.com or call 207-824-3000 .

July 16-17: Mollyockett Days-This annual weekend event include a foot race, arts-and-crafts fair, parade through town, contests, live entertainment, frog- jumping contest, fiddler’s contest, plenty of food, and fireworks.For more information, visit www.bethelmaine.com or call 207-824-2908 .

July 23: Tough Mountain Challenge-This second annual adventure obstacle race is the ultimate event for the thrill-seeking athlete. Watch as a thousand racers complete on a five kilometer-long course filled with 16 obstacles including a slip ‘n slide, mud crawl and snowgun salute. For more information, visit www.toughmountain.com or call 207-824-3000 .
August 2011

August 4-6: Maine State HOG Rally- “Save a Horse, Ride a Harley” to Sunday River for this year’s Country Western-themed Maine State HOG Rally. For more information visit www.sundayriver.com or http://mestatehogrally.com .

August 13-14: Maine State Triathlon & Kids Triathlon-Saturday features the fourth annual kid’s triathlon, for ages 8-14, and Sunday is the Maine State Triathlon on one of the most beautiful courses in New England. For more information, visit www.bethelmaine.com or call 207-824-2908 .

September 2011

September 16-18: The Inaugural $10,000 Sunday River Open Dart Tournament-Shoot to win among dart enthusiast from across North America at this inaugural event taking place in the Grand Summit Resort Hotel. This charity open comes complete with a cash purse of $10,000 and proceeds go towards supporting Maine Handicapped Skiing. For more information, visit www.sundayriver.com or call 207-824-3000 .

September 17: 14th Annual Bethel Harvest Festival & “Chowdah” Cookoff-This food-filled event is the perfect way to take in the flavors of fall amidst the changing colors of the maple trees. For more information, visit www.bethelmaine.com or call 207-824-2908 .

October 2011

October 8-9: Fall Festival Weekend-Celebrate one of Maine’s favorite seasons with Sunday River’s annual fall event-Fall Festival! Complete with live music, a beer garden, wine tasting, wife-carrying, the 28th Annual Blue Mountain Arts and Craft Fair, children’s games and activities, mountain biking, Zipline Tours, Twin Zips, scenic Chondola rides, and wagon rides. For more information, visit www.sundayriver.com or call 207-824-3000

October 8: 12th Annual North American Wife Carrying Championship-Each year this spectator-friendly event draws thousands to Sunday River’s Fall Festival Weekend to watch 50 teams of husbands and wives compete for the grand prize of the wife’s weight in beer plus cash. For more information, visit www.sundayriver.com or call 207-824-3000 .

October 28-29: Sunday Shiver’s Mystery on the Mountain-Take a ride up Sunday River’s Chondola in the dark of night and brave the intense adventure that awaits you up top…if you dare! Learn more about this haunted mystery tour at www.sundayriver.com or call 207-824-3000 .

For more information on any of Sunday River’s events, visit www.sundayriver.com or call 207-824-3000 . For media inquiries, contact Darcy Morse at [email]dmorse@sundayriver.com[/email] or call 207-824-5243 .

About Sunday River-Sunday River is located minutes from picturesque Bethel Village in western Maine’s Mahoosuc Mountains. A true four-season destination, the Resort offers eight interconnected peaks of world class skiing and snowboarding, two Grand Resort Hotels and golf at the acclaimed Sunday River Golf Club. Sunday River is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions.