Press Kit
Spring events in Mt Washington Valley, April - June, 2014
NEWS FROM MT WASHINGTON VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Contact: Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org
APRIL, MAY AND JUNE EVENTS BRING SPRING FLOWERS ALONG WITH DINOSAURS AND MORE
North Conway, NH – Even while ski season is still going strong, we’re beginning to look toward spring and have an eye out for those spring flowers to appear. The events calendar is packed with outdoor adventure, family fun and some anniversaries bringing exciting events too.
APRIL
April 4: An Evening with Ginger Zee: This fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory, will offer an intimate look at the life and career of America's favorite meteorologist. Recently replacing Sam Champion as Good Morning America's Chief Meteorologist and Weather Editor for ABC News, Emceed by former Mount Washington Observatory and WGME–TV 13 meteorologist Sara Long, the evening will also feature a meet and greet with an all-star line-up of New England meteorologists. The evening will kick off with a cash bar cocktail hour and heavy hors d'oeuvres, complimented by a silent auction. The program will begin at 6:15pm at Port City Music Hall in Portland, ME with stories from regional meteorologists, followed by a live connection with the Observatory weather station and the feature presentation at 7:30pm. Tickets for sale at the Port City Music Hall ticket office. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory, helping to support their work in weather observation, research and education on Mount Washington. Info: http://www.mountwashington.org/events/spring2014/ .
April 4: Celebrate Red Sox Opening Day at Settlers’ Green Outlet Village: To celebrate opening day for the Red Sox, the first 100 customers to show off Red Sox gear at Settlers’ Green Outlet Village will get a free cupcake at the White Mountain Cupcakery on Friday, April 4 while supplies last. Info: http://settlersgreen.com/events/upcoming-events#383.
April 5, 12 & 19: Character Breakfasts at the Theater in the Wood: Have breakfast with your favorite storybook character at the Theater in the Wood in Intervale offered by Believe in Books Literacy Foundation. Starting at 10:00am, breakfast is $5/person, Children 3 & Under are FREE and will include a small breakfast with pancakes featuring our own 100 Acre Wood maple syrup! We will be reading a storybook about that week’s character, a visit with the character and a book swap. Bring a gently used book and swap it for another. Afterward, enjoy the 10K of trails for XC skiing and snowshoeing. Or just walk along our Storybook Trail with your family. Schedule: April 5 – Clifford; April 12 – Mother Goose, Humpty Dumpty & Duke the Dragon; April 19 – Lorax. Info: http://www.believeinbooks.org/CharacterBreakfast.html.
April 5: Chinese Auction and Penny Sale: Carroll County Senior Volunteer Program will hold its annual Chinese Auction-Penny Sale at the Ossipee Town Hall on April 5th. Preview starts at 4 pm and Auction at 6 pm. Tickets are $2.50 for a sheet of 25. There will be door prizes, a 50/50 raffle, bake sale, food basket raffle and hundreds of auction/sale items. All monies raised goes to Meals on Wheels and Medical transport programs. Info: 603- 356-9331.
April 5-6: Celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Wildcat Trail at Wildcat: Come commemorate the Wildcat Trail and its role as the catalyst for the eventual development of Wildcat Mountain ski area and take advantage of a special $80 2-day lift ticket valid for Saturday, April 5 & Sunday, April 6. On the Saturday, Wildcat will also be hosting the 1st Annual Cat Scratch Fever, an inaugural spring mogul event taking place in The Chutes at the base of Wildcat Mountain. Come cheer on competitors and sway the judges' scores from easy vantage points located at the Bobcat Base Lodge or from the decks of the Main Base Lodge. No matter where you are, a party atmosphere will surround you. This event will run from 11:00am. To 1:00pm then the music starts from 2:00-5:00 pm. The Ross Livermore Band will be playing on the outdoor snow stage in the Wildcat base area weather/conditions permitting. If weather doesn't allow, the band will move inside to the Wildcat Pub. Info: Click here.
April 12: Tuckerman Inferno: Run, Kayak, Bike, Hike and Ski! Looking for a unique Mount Washington Valley challenge this spring? Test yourself on roads, on the river, on the bike, on the hiking trail and on your skis in Tuckerman Ravine during the Tuckerman Inferno! The Tuckerman Inferno will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2014 with individual and team members competing in five different sports as they head from Mount Washington Valley up to Tuckerman Ravine in Pinkham Notch. If you’re not into this kind of competition, this is an equally fun event for spectators too. Bring the camera! The Tuckerman Inferno includes running, kayaking, biking, hiking and skiing to create a pentathlon event that is one of the most challenging adventure races in the country, starting at Story Land in Glen and finishing at Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington. Individuals and relay teams of two or five people compete to see who will be the fastest to cover an approximately 36 mile course that starts in the Mount Washington Valley and finishes in Tuckerman Ravine. Individual champions are crowned Tuckerman and Tuckerwoman and there are terrific prizes for all categories of competitors. More information about the race and registration forms can be found on the Friends of Tuckerman Ravine website: http://www.friendsoftuckermanravine.org/inferno.
April 12: Easter on the Green: Visit participating stores at Settlers Green Outlet Village between 10:00am and 2:00pm for a free Easter treat and visit the Customer Service desk for a free Easter Toy and Egg! While supplies last. Info: http://settlersgreen.com/events/upcoming-events#383.
April 12: Conway Scenic RR re-opens the Valley Train: Conway Scenic RR will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. In 1974, after several years of hard work with many dedicated volunteers, Dwight Smith and his partners reopened the beautiful 1874 Boston & Maine railroad station and surrounding property in the center of North Conway Village. Starting April 12, the Valley train will resume for another spring, summer and fall season. Info: http://conwayscenic.com/.
April 21: Ski for $17.76 at Bretton Woods: Wrap up the season and celebrate Patriot’s Day at Bretton Woods with $17.76 lift tickets and receive a return voucher valid through 12/19/2014! Info: http://brettonwoods.com/specials/specials/offers.
April 25: Breast Cancer Fundraiser, 5-8 pm: Join us to raise money for Cristin Bailey, local climber in the 2014 Climb For The Cure Breast Cancer Fund event. Your entry donation includes food, wine beer, live music, silent auction and mini spa and holistic health services. $20 donation requested.
April 28: Crystal Bowl Concert with Marci Starr, 6-7pm: Come and enjoy the amazing experience of Crystal Bowls sound therapy at Be Well Studios located at the Local Grocer. The deep sounds and vibrations of crystal bowls serve to release stress and relax you from the inside out! Admission is $20.
MAY
May 11: Mom rides free on the Conway Scenic RR: Mom rides FREE in coach when accompanied by one or more of her children. Mom rides FREE in First Class when accompanied by another paying adult. Complimentary appetizers on First Class Parlor Car. Info: www.ConwayScenic.com.
May 16-19: Victoria Day Sidewalk Sale at Settlers’ Green Outlet Village: Bienvenue! Celebrate Canada's Victoria Day with a four-day sidewalk sale and store specials for this Canadian holiday. The Customer Service office gives out Canadian flags on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 (supplies limited, first-come, first-serve basis). Info: click here.
May 16-19: Be Kind Festival: Mt Washington Valley, NH is out to become the Kindness Capital of New England as random acts of kindness and community sharing will highlight the lives of visitors and residents alike. The weekend begins with an inspiring lecture by Michael J. Chase, author, lecturer, founder of The Kindness Center, and also referred to as “The Kindness Guy”. Events throughout the weekend will include kindness story sharing, tools to provide random acts of kindness, free massages, free car washes, arts and crafts, a candlelit labyrinth, an uplifting concert and a butterfly release. It’s a packed schedule of uplifting and kind-to-the-spirit events. Events are free. Show off your support with the purchase of a "Passion for Compassion" souvenir bracelet. Wear your bracelet to any Valley Original Restaurant and enjoy 10% off your food during the festival weekend! A complete list of Kindness Weekend events is found at http://www.bekindfest.com/event-schedule.html.
May 16-18: Northern New England Annual Home, Garden and Flower Show: More than 62,000 sq. ft. of indoor home & garden related products and six acres of outdoor exhibits are featured at this show located on the Fryeburg Fairgrounds. From kitchens and all things home-related to garden centers selling zone-hardy plants, garden artists and other related businesses. Meet the Chefs Cooking Series, Miniature train display, seminars by home and garden experts and more. Hands-on demos. Info: http://www.homegardenflowershow.com/
May 18: MWVCC Annual Golf Tournament: The annual MWVCC golf tournament at Omni Mount Washington Golf Club will include a fun day on the golf course that includes networking, golf, food and drink. New This Year – “Pick Your Prize” Raffle - Players will have a chance to choose which prizes they would like to try to win with their tickets, including a 2014 Car donated by Crest Auto World. To add to the fun, the tournament will also include Pre-Tournament and On-Course Putting Contests, Closest-to-the-Line, Closest-to-the-Pin, Longest Drive, and Highest Score contests. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Tatum Reilly Brett Scholarship Fund. Info and online registration: http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/events/Golf2014.cfm.
May 19: 16th Annual Business to Business Expo: Mt Washington Valley’s largest networking event of the year includes more than 90 exhibitors offering the broadest spectrum of small and home-based businesses, non-profit and governmental agencies, and corporate exhibitors to be found in the region. Matching that with serious attendees, high quality educational sessions offered by specially selected presenters, and serious networking opportunities, in an extremely affordable environment is what the Business to Business Expo is all about. The Business Expo focuses on networking, commerce, mentoring, and quality educational workshops. The Expo is a smart marketing choice for businesses looking to make strong connections in the region. Info and online registration: http://www.mtwashingtonvalley.org/events/2014BusinessExpo.cfm.
May 24: Alton Weagle Day at the Mt Washington Auto Road: A celebration of all the firsts at the Mt. Washington Auto Road! Alton Weagle had a passion for Mt. Washington. To show his passion, he climbed the Mt. Washington Auto Road in a number of unique ways: by car, on foot, walking backwards, pushing a wheelbarrow full of sugar...just to name a few. This day honors his spirit and the spirit of all those from camels to unicycles to pogo sticks to autos who have been the first up the mountain. Think you are Weagle enough for a first ascent of your own? Info: http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/events.
May 24, 25, 31: Santa’s Village Opens: Santa’s Village opens Memorial Day weekend for the season, celebrating Guest Appreciation Days throughout May with $5 off admission prices.
May 24-25: Story Land opens for its 60th Season: Memorial Day weekend kicks off the 60th Anniversary season for Story Land, where Fantasy Lives. The season will open with the debut of Story Land’s new dinosaur attraction, featuring Roar-O-Saurus, the only wood roller coaster of its kind in New England. Info: http://www.storylandnh.com/.
May 25: Farm Expo at Local Grocer, 11am-3pm: This expo will kick off the summer season by introducing you to some of the local farmers in the Mt Washington Valley! See what kinds of products are being offered and where they can be bought throughout the growing season. Admission is free.
JUNE
June 1, 7, 8: Guest Appreciation Days at Santa’s Village: Take $5 off the entry fee (per person) for these early season visits. Info: http://www.santasvillage.com/public/plan/hours.cfm.
June 7 – 8: Herb, Food & Beer Tour: A Celebration of Local Flavors: This celebration of local flavors, combines tastings and tours at ten White Mountain inns with cooking demonstrations, a plant-to-plate “herb-inspired” dinner and overnight stays at a choice of premier Mt Washington Valley, NH inns. Formerly focused solely on herb tastings, trivia and recipes at each inn, the Country Inns in the White Mountains have ramped up their annual herb tour to include a celebration of local flavors including visits to breweries, chocolate makers and family-owned farms on top of the tours, tastings, recipes. Add in cooking demonstrations from member-inn chefs, and an herb-inspired dinner featuring locally grown and created specialty foods then top it off with a spring stay at a choice of ten Country Inns in the White Mountains, and not only will you take home inspiration, you’ll leave with a year of culinary ideas and a full stomach! From 11am-4pm each day, as each inn presents an in-depth look at a popular culinary herb paired with tastings of local flavors along the way. Tourgoers will take home herb trivia, historical facts, and recipes while tasting a different herb-inspired dish at each inn. In addition, cooking demonstrations have been added at certain inns too. Participants will go home with a folder of new recipes from dishes they tasted plus interesting herbal lore. And this year, stops have been added along the way to offer a bit of local flavor, including Moat Mountain Brewery, Tuckerman’s Brewery, Bavarian Chocolate Haus, The Local Grocer and Weston’s Farm. Info, packages and more: http://www.countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com/spring-herb-tour.htm.
June 7, 8, 10, 14, 16, 18: Bicknell’s Thrush Tours on the Mt Washington Auto Road: Bicknell’s Thrush is an extremely rare species with very limited breeding grounds. It is the rarest and most secretive of the breeding thrushes in North America and it is the only bird whose breeding is restricted to the Northeastern part of the continent. They usually breed at higher elevations, normally nesting above 3,000 ft. The unique yet harsh climate is just what the birds prefer due to the combination of low vegetation and abundant moisture, and the Mt. Washington Auto Road offers you a unique opportunity to view these rare birds. The Bicknell’s Thrush Guided Van Tours leave early in the morning before the Mt. Washington Auto Road opens to the general public to cause as little disturbance as possible. Cost: $50 per person. Advanced reservations required. Note: June 7, 8, 10 are already sold out. Tours last approximately 2 hours. Info: http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/events/bicknells-thrush-tours/.
June 7: Murder Mystery Dinner Train: Death at Club 54 – It’s a Groovy Kind of Murder: Dust off your bellbottoms, platform shoes and disco balls and get ready to get down tonight at Club 54, the trendiest dinner club this side of “Funky Town.” Take a ride on the “Love Train” and “Staying Alive” will be the order of the night as the drama unfolds and murder “Turns The Beat Around.” Join in for an evening of “far out” fun! Who dies? Who did it? Who figures it out and who will be around for the “Last Dance”? It all takes place on the Conway Scenic Railroad. The train departs promptly at 6:00. Plan to board early and enjoy a cocktail in one of the beautiful dining cars. The fare includes First Class seating for the 3-hour train excursion, a 4-course dinner, live theatrical performance, taxes and gratuities. Beverage service is additional. Please note that this is an adult only event. Area B&Bs offer packages including tickets.
June 7: Mountain Garden Club’s Spring Plant Sale: Loved by plant enthusiasts of all ages, this sale offers garden club members’ cultivated plants divided from gardens, annuals started from seeds and/or matured with care, and/ or designed in baskets. Held at the North Conway Community Center, the doors open at 9:30am, and most plants are sold very rapidly – be sure to arrive early!
June 15: Dad rides FREE on the Conway Scenic RR: Dad rides FREE in Coach when accompanied by one or more of his children. Dad rides FREE in First Class when accompanied by another paying adult. Complimentary appetizers served on board our First Class Parlor Car, the Gertrude Emma. Info and ticket prices: http://conwayscenic.com/events/event/fathers-day-special/.
June 16, 19: Ride to the Sky: Motorcycles Only on Mt Washington Auto Road: Monday, June 16 – Motorcycles Only-Bikes rule the Road all day (and Guided Tours in Auto Road vans). Thursday, June 19 – Ride to the Sky! Motorcycles only (and Guided Tours in Auto Road vans). Arrive before 10:00am on Thursday, and your passenger rides for free! (Rain or shine weather permitting—no weather date.). Info: http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/events/ride-to-the-sky/ .
June 21: Minis on Top: 200+ MINI Coopers from around the world enjoy a barbecue and evening tour on the Mt. Washington Auto Road. See MOT website to reserve your spot in the tour. To register your club and for more information, visit http://minisontop.com/2013-minis-on-top-registration/.
June 21: Art in Bloom: A Floral Art Interpretation: The Mountain Garden Club’s annual gift to Mount Washington Valley is this walking tour of the quaint village of Jackson, where pieces of art, with floral interpretations, are located at a variety of Jackson businesses. From 10:00am untill 4:00pm, nearly 50 exhibits will be displayed. From 11:00am till 3:00pm, refreshments will be served. This highly popular tour is offered free of charge. Info: www.mountaingardenclub.org.
June 26-29: Climb to the Clouds: The famed "Climb to the Clouds" auto race to the summit of Mt. Washington returns June 26th - 29th. Organized and sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of NH, this legendary hillclimb is the modern version of one of the oldest motorsports events in North America having first been contested in 1904. It’s a multi-day event -see website for calendar of events and times. Please note: the Auto Road will be closed to traffic during a period of this event. Info: http://climbtotheclouds.com/.
The Mt Washington Valley master events calendar is updated daily. To find up-to-date schedules of events and all the information you need to plan the perfect visit to Mt Washington Valley, visit www.MtWashigntonValley.org. To see a schedule of events, click on the EVENTS tab on the left nav bar. To talk to a vacation planning concierge, call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364). For information on New Hampshire vacations, visit www.visitNH.gov.
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Photos available upon request or visit Mt Washington Valley’s extensive
photo gallery on Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwvchamber/sets/