What’s on for the 2024 Opening Weekend – More Social Than Snow
Mountainwatch | News
While a couple of dustings over the past month had everyone excited for the upcoming winter, the past week has been mild and wet with no snow and little snowmaking and there is no natural snow on the ground. So, it looks like this year’s opening weekend is going to be more about socialising than skiing or snowboarding.
That is pretty typical for the June long weekend, but it is good to see that Buller, Baw Baw, Thredbo and Perisher will have terrain open for beginners and snow play. The good news is there is some snow is in the forecast for next week, hopefully enough to open some terrain in all resorts soon.
In the meantime, if you are heading to the mountains for the long weekend, here is an around-the-resorts rundown on what’s happening to celebrate the start of the 2024 snow season.
Mt Buller
The good news from Buller is thanks to its Snow Factories, which make snow in temps well above zero, the resort is opening Bourke St at 8.30am on Saturday morning for skiing and snowboarding. The Ski and Snowboard will also be offering beginner level lessons while other on snow action include Mini terrain park on the Northside with Gliders carpet for shredders and Snowplay at Spurs and tobogganing in the village
There is also sightseeing chairlift rides available on Northside Express. There will be a number of Olympians in resort to celebrate the official season opening including Buller local, Olympic and World Cup moguls champ Jakara Anthony. That will be happening in the village on Saturday afternoon with a 100 years of snow fashion parade. Followed by live music, a DJ set with Nite Theory and fireworks to get the long weekend party started!
Mt Baw Baw
Mt Baw Baw’s snow factory has also been making snow around the clock on Hut Run and the beginners’ area and toboggan park will be open this weekend for plenty of on-snow fun.
Saturday afternoon will see plenty of action in the village with the traditional Tug of War competition, a snowshoe race (condition s permitting there will be tunes pumping from the Thumping Tent Shack on VC deck. For the kids there will be face painting and Baw Baw’s mascot Frosti Frog will be hopping around with giveaways and prizes on Saturday and Sunday afternoon The Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony is on Saturday at 3.50pm.
The celebrations continue on Saturday night with a tropical Beach Party at Cafe 11, featuring music from the Nicky Moffatt Band. On Sunday Frosti Frog will be back at 2pm and the music continues from the Thumping tent Shack from 11am-4pm.
Falls Creek
The snow season is almost here! Falls Creek is set to open for skiing and boarding from Saturday 8 June. We’re buzzing with excitement for the long weekend and can’t wait to celebrate with you all. Join us for a celebratory street party to kick off the 2024 snow season with Connected Circus in the Village Bowl from 11am to 4pm.
The fun continues after dark in the Village Bowl with a spectacular fireworks show to top off a fabulous Saturday in Falls Creek.
Mt Hotham
Unfortunately, it’s not likely that we’ll be in a position to spin any lifts over the long weekend. However, there are plenty of exciting events on and many of your favourite restaurants, bars, cafes and retail stores are opening their doors for the season ahead!
On Saturday head to Frankie at the Big D from 10am to 2pm to enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, jam donuts & s’mores.Then at 7pm head to The Bird for the inaugural Hotham Trivia Night where you can test your local knowledge. Hosted by the legendary Lendo, questions will be based on Hotham History and Facts. There will be plenty of rizes, but more importantly, bragging rights are up for grabs!
The Ajak Kai band kick off at the General at 930pm and will immerse you in the depths, and richness of her South Sudanese roots and soulful sounds.
On Sunday, celebrate the start of the season with a bang at 6pm. Fireworks will launch from the bottom of the Basin to celebrate the start of the season. Best viewing will be from the Hotham Hotel deck, or the top of the Village Chair. It wouldn’t be Opening Weekend without DJ Eddy hitting the decks at The General so put on your dancing shoes and hit the floor!
Thredbo
Thredbo wik have a beginners, the biggest thing happening in Thredbo is the opening of the new Alpine Coaster. At 1.5km in length, from thrill-seekers to leisure cruisers, passengers will be able to control their speed of up to 40km/h as they travel along a mix of uphill and downhill tracks featuring a tunnel, bridges and circles that traverse the alpine environment.
As usual here will be a variety of live entertainment, including Thredbo icon Mark Travers and a big kick off to Thredbo’s après session with Client Liason. That will be followed by a massive fireworks display. plenty of kids’ activities across the weekend including face paint, s’mores, games and legendary magician Jackson Aces roaming the village performing some his best tricks.
Perisher
There is a patchy cover on Front Valley and the plan is to open the beginners carpet for first timers and and there will also be a few of park features you can hike to and there is enough snow for snow play.
However, there will be plenty of live music across the weekend with the PEAK Music Festival, kicking off at 5.30PM on Friday 9th June. Kicking off on Friday, PEAK Music Festival is back, better than ever for 2024! This is a free, non-ticketed event that spreads across multiple areas in the resort.
The three-day festival has a diverse group of artists in the line-up who showcase their truly amazing mix of talent and entertainment across multiple live stages throughout the resort – from cosy lounges to headline acts on the Main Stage. Check out the full program here.
Earlier this year Perisher’s first ever chairlift, the Mt Perisher Double, was dismantled to make way for a high speed six-seater chairlift that will open in 2025. Now’s your chance to own a piece of Perisher history with a limited number of the original chairs to be auctioned on Saturday upstairs the Perisher Valley Ski Tube terminal, on Saturday June 8th.
Selwyn
No lifts or tobogganing due to the lack of snow, but the Selwyn Centre will be open from 10am-2pm, Saturday and Sunday. Drop in to grab some lunch and stop by the gift shop.
Charlotte Pass
Due to the recent fire that damaged the waste treatment plant, Charlotte Pass is currently closed. The good news is the resort will open for the winter on July 5th, in time for NSW school holidays.
