Press Kit

News from Mt Washington Valley, NH- April 8, 2013

Contact:  Marti Mayne, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org or 207-846-6331

SPRING EVENTS & FESTIVALS IN MT WASHINGTON VALLEY

It’s Mud Season not Dud Season! 

North Conway, NH – After Mother Nature delivered a snowy winter spring is coming to Mt Washington Valley with rushing waterfalls, white water rafting and plenty of mud season fun in the shadow of the largest peak in the Northeast, Mount Washington.  Get ready for tons of late spring skiing coupled with golf, outside adventure and mud season madness in Mt Washington Valley.  Here are some of the highlights that mark the events schedule.

 April 20: 2013 Tuckerman Inferno and Wildcat Wildfire Events

Take part or simply watch one of New England’s most intense spring team competitions with all the makings of a sports adventure show.  On April 20, 2013 athletes will take to the trails, testing the limits in a five-part pentathlon to benefit Friends of Tuckerman Ravine . It’s all part of the Friends of Tuckerman Ravine’s effort to raise funds to preserve and protect the historic recreational uses of Tuckerman Ravine and Mount Washington NH. The Tuckerman Inferno pentathlon is open both to teams of five (one of whom must be of the opposite sex) and also to solo TuckerMen and TuckerWomen competitors. The Inferno class also has an all-women category open to teams of five as well as a Dynamic Duo two-person category. And this year, partnering with Ability Plus, there will be an adaptive division in the Wildcat Wildfire event.

The Tuckerman Inferno pentathlon consists of five separate competitions including:

• an 8.3-mile run
• a 6-mile kayak race down the Saco River
• an 18-mile bike race north through Pinkham Notch
• a 3-mile run/hike up the Tuckerman Trail to Mount Washington's Tuckerman Ravine
• a 1-mile ski/hike giant slalom to the floor of the ravine

For those looking for a slightly less grueling, yet still bucket-list competition, the Wildcat Wildfire Pentathlon follows the same five-event format, however with slightly different distances and takes place simultaneously on the same day.  This recreational pentathlon follows the same format as the Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon, but finishes at Wildcat Mountain with stunning views of Tuckerman Ravine. Race legs include:

• a 6-mile run
• a 6-mile kayak
• a 16-mile bike
• a 2-mile hike/snowshoe up the Polecat Trail at Wildcat
• a 1.5-mile downhill ski at Wildcat Mountain to finish.

Registration forms for both races may be downloaded online here: http://www.friendsoftuckerman.org/inferno-wildfire-registration-forms-2013.htm.  For more information on both races visit http://www.friendsoftuckerman.org/tuckerman-inferno.htm. 

April 24, 25, 26, 27: Celebrate Earth Day with the Lorax at the Theater in the Wood: Each spring Believe In Books celebrates Earth Day with Dr. Seuss' The Lorax!  Enjoy a Storybook Trail walk, the enactment of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax and a visit from he who speaks from the trees, the Lorax himself, all starting at 10am.  Each child will go home with a gift bag filled with ideas for going green.  On April 27, enjoy breakfast with the Lorax, starting at 9:30am.  Info: 603-356-9980, www.believeinbooks.org/Lorax.html

May 11:  Spring Family Festival, Conway Village: It’s a bake sale, mega yard sale and garden sale all in one.  Local crafters will be on hand and there’ll be a children’s craft area too.  The first-ever Conway Village Whoopie Pie Contest will be a highlight.  Bring the whole family and your four-legged friends too (on leashes please!). Info: 603-447-3851, www.thebrownchurch.org. 

May 12:  Mother’s Day at Conway Scenic RR:  To celebrate Mother’s Day, Moms ride free in Coach when accompanied by one or more of her children.  Mom rides free and is treated to complimentary appetizers in First Class when accompanied by another paying adult.  Info: 603-356-5251, http://conwayscenic.com/events/event/mothers-day-special/. 

May 17:  Mt Washington Valley Chamber Annual Golf Tournament: Come to Indian Mound Golf Club in Center Ossipee and be part of this annual golf tourney/fundraiser for the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. Slots are open to chamber members and players from across the region. It’s a shotgun start and it’s followed by a fabulous BBQ and great prizes.  Get a hole-in-one and you might just go home with a new car from Crest Auto World.   

Prizes: Hole-in-One - 2013 Chevrolet Sonic donated by Crest Auto World. The first place team will be awarded four MWVCC Road to the Links Golf Passes. Prizes will also be awarded to 2nd & 3rd Place Teams, Longest Drive Women/Men, Closest to Pin Women/Men, Lowest Score Women/Men, Closest to Line Women/Men and Putting Contest Women/Men.  Info: 603-356-5701, ext. 305, http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/events/2013_Golf_Tournament.cfm. 

May 17-19: Be Kind Festival, North Conway, NH: North Conway is quickly becoming the kindness capital of New England.  This weekend long event combines lectures, music, food and thousands of random acts of kindness.  Based in Schouler Park, the events of the weekend will expand throughout Mt Washington Valley.  Highlights include a kindness rally, volunteers offering kindness acts throughout the Valley, a candlelit labyrinth, and a free day of fun at the Cranmore Adventure Park.  The entire weekend is being produced as a service to the community and a fundraiser for both Visiting Nurses, Home Care and Hospice of Carroll County and The Evergreen Institute for Wellness .  A $10 wrist band available at shops and restaurants throughout North Conway will purchase admission to all the lectures.  The Kindness rally is free and don’t be surprised if you are showered with kindness if you’re visiting during this wonderful weekend.  For complete information on this event, go to http://www.bekindfest.com/ or call 603 986-8541.  Follow the Kindness Festival on Facebook for daily updates too. 

May 17-20:  Victoria Day in Mt Washington Valley:  Enjoy a host of sales and celebrations to welcome spring for our Canadian visitors.  Look for tent sales and special offers at Settlers’ Green and other retailers throughout the Valley. Stay tuned for more offers and info to welcome our Canadian friends.   Info: www.settlersgreen.com/events/upcoming-events. 

May 26:  24^th Wildquack Duck River Festival, Jackson, NH: Watch as more than 3500 yellow rubber ducks make their way down the Wildcat River to the finish line.  Purchase either an Olympic duck with fire stripes or a big duck and watch them race to the finish for more than $2500 in prizes.  There are more than 50 winners with prizes including vacation stays, dining gift certificates, spa services, gift baskets, attractions tickets and more. There’s a silent auction, a BBQ hosted by visiting and local chefs, kettle corn, ice cream, lobster rolls and more.  A parade will start from the Jackson Covered Bridge at 1:30 and the Wildquack Jackson Chamber Duck will be on hand for photos too. The Wildquack Duck River Festival King or Queen will be crowned too.  Find out who this year’s Jackson Cake Boss will be. Winners announced at the Festival and all visitors can taste the cake entries for a $1 donation.  A “5 Minutes of Fame” talent show will round out the fun with 5-minute acts on stage. It’s a full day of old fashioned fun in the park sponsored by the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.  Info: 603-383-9356 or www.jacksonnh.com.

June 1 & June 15:  Murder Mystery Dinner Train: All aboard for a night of fine dining and murder mystery!  The show is Till Death Do Us Part and the pleasure of your company is requested at a reception to honor the union of Becky Giovanni and Stanley Simpson. As friends and family gather together to offer their congratulations and best wishes to the bride and groom, someone has a different motive for their presence at the reception. Before the bride has a chance to throw the bouquet, her beautiful dream wedding day quickly turns into a nightmare of mystery, mayhem and murder. And, you and all the other guests are left to solve the crime. Secrets will be revealed, motives exposed and your sleuthing skills will be put to the test. The Murder Mystery performed by Arts in Motion. The train leaves promptly at 6:00pm. This event is only available through lodging packages, although some tickets may become available as the date gets closer.  Featured lodging properties include:

Cabernet Inn
Cranmore Mountain Lodge
Wentworth - An Elegant Country Inn
Colonial Motel
Covered Bridge House
Farm By The River B&B and Stables
The Bartlett Inn
Buttonwood Inn
Mt. Washington B&B
Snowvillage Inn
The Bernerhof Inn
The Spruce Moose Lodge and Cottages
Oxford House Inn
Admiral Peary Inn
Christmas Farm Inn
Spruce Moose Lodge & Cottages

Full info: 603-356-5251 or  http://conwayscenic.com/events/event/murder-mystery-dinner-train/ or http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/events/MurderMystery.cfm .

June 1-15:  Christmas In June: Join local businesses in Jackson, Bartlett, Glen & Intervale as they open their doors for some holiday fun in June. Instead of skating, skiing and snowshoeing you can hike, bike, kayak or take a swim. The “Christmas In June” celebration continues for three weekends in a row starting June 1. Saturday June 1st kicks off this community holiday in June celebration with Open Houses, gift giveaways, and more. Summer vacationing Santa will be on hand each Saturday June 1st, 8th & the 15th at the Jackson Village Gazebo at 4:30 PM with a special holiday cookie for each child. Additionally, the Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour will be running Saturdays June 1, 8 and 15 hourly 11 AM - 4 PM. Tickets are $25 per person, children 3 or under not taking chocolates and sitting on mom or dad's lap can ride free. Board the summer sleigh and receive a Jingle Bell, festive bag and first chocolate goodie. Then enjoy a sleigh ride through Jackson Village receiving chocolate treasures at each stop. Book early by calling the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce at 603-383-9356. Info: 603-356-9356, http://www.jacksonnh.com/event/617/Christmas-In-June. 

June 8-15: 6^th Annual Rally in the Valley – This is motorcycle time in New Hampshire.  Jump on the bike and join in for six days of guided rides, poker runs, and a bike show with $2000 in cash prizes.  There will be tattoo contests, a biker fashion show and live entertainment.  Access all the fun for one $5 wristband available at Rally in the Valley HQ, Hillbilly’s Southern BBQ, 1903 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway.  For a complete schedule, visit www.rallyinthevalley.net. 

June 8-9:  Inn to Inn Herb Tour: .  Just in time for gardening season, Country Inns in the White Mountains guests can usher in spring with a weekend event celebrating the garden-to-table movement combined with a relaxing learning getaway. On June 8-9join 11 premier White Mountains inns for the 5^th Annual Inn to Inn Spring Herb Tour from 11am-4pm each day, as each inn presents an in-depth look at a popular culinary herb.  Tourgoers will take home herb trivia, historical facts, recipes and ideas for growing the herb seedlings they receive from each inn. It’s a take-home herb garden and a fun, educational getaway combined with relaxing and rejuvenating stays at award-winning inns. Each inn will focus on one herb and offer delicious tastings featuring that assigned herb from their own kitchen garden. Participants will go home with a folder of new recipes from dishes they tasted plus interesting herbal lore and pots of herbs or seeds to grow their own. It’s quite literally a take-home herb garden in one getaway!  Six Northern inns (Jackson, NH to North Conway, NH) will be open on Saturday, June 8th and five different Southern inns (Conway to Chocorua) will be open on Sunday, June 9, 2013, allowing plenty of time to enjoy delicious tastings and tour inns at each stop.  Lodging packages range start at $178 per couple including two-night stays, herb-themed breakfasts each morning and two tickets to the tour. Package prices vary from inn to inn and also depend upon room choice. Some lodging packages will also include special five-course, herb-themed dinners. Those not wishing to reserve an overnight package may reserve and purchase tickets between May 11-25, 2013 for $25 per person by calling 603-356-9025.  Tickets may be picked up at the 1785 Inn on June 8, 2013. Info:  www.CountryInnsintheWhiteMountains.com or call 603-356-9025. 

June 21-22:  Memorial’s Got Talent: A wonderful variety show hosted by Memorial Hospital and a fundraiser for RENEWS, the Roy Estey Network for Education on Water Safety at M&D Productions. Cash bar and a generous selection of appetizers. Two nights, two shows.  $10 for Memorial Hospital employees and $25 for the public. 

Look for vacation packages, up-to-date events information, and complete resources for planning your visit to Mt Washington Valley at www.mtwashingtonvalley.org.  To talk to a vacation planning representative in person, call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364) during business hours.  For more information on New Hampshire getaways, go to www.visitnh.gov.

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High and low resolution photos available upon request or visit the Mt Washington Valley Flickr gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwvchamber/collections/.