Crystal Mountain, the Midwest four-season resort in Thompsonville, Michigan, holds its annual pre-season Ski Swap on Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in James Bay on the lower level of the Crystal Center. The Ski Swap is a used ski and snowboard gear marketplace where the community can buy and sell skis, snowboards, boots, poles, goggles and clean, lightly used ski/snowboard outerwear ahead of the 2026-27 winter season. Buyers get free binding adjustments done on-site and $5 off an equipment tuning package when they purchase equipment at the swap. It is a community fundraiser: 25% of the proceeds benefit local high school ski teams and their co-ops (including Onekama, Bear Lake, Brethren, Manistee High School, McBain, Pine River, Glen Lake, Leland, Suttons Bay, St. Mary's of Lake Leelanau, Frankfort and Benzie) and the Crystal Community Ski Club. Selling gear? Consign it by dropping equipment at the lower level of the Crystal Center on Thursday, October 29 (9:00 AM - 3:00 PM) or Friday, October 30 (1:00 PM - 7:00 PM); Crystal Mountain reserves the right to refuse outdated or poor-condition equipment, and used helmets are not accepted. Any unsold equipment must be picked up on October 31 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM - items left behind are donated. Questions: 231-378-2255. Admission to buy is free.

Crystal Mountain

Open to the public. This is a community gear swap, not a competition; there are no competitor divisions or skill requirements.

This is a community gear swap and fundraiser, not a judged or timed competition.

Ski Swap at Crystal Mountain 2026

Crystal Center (James Bay, lower level)

Ski Brule is targeting November 20-22, 2026 for its 2026/27 opening weekend. If the November 20 target is achieved, daily lift tickets for ages 10 and older are $30 through November 22; children 9 and younger ski free, as they do throughout the season. Typical opening terrain is Log Jam and Bunny, sometimes Bambi, with Big Bear chairlift and Bambi Tow, generally 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. This is explicitly a snowmaking- and weather-dependent target, not a guaranteed opening. Terrain, lifts and hours may change, and the resort directs guests to its website and official social channels for the operating decision. Lift tickets are required and, for this target weekend, are sold onsite at Rental, Bear's Den or the Lodging Office.

Ski Brule

Public resort opening weekend; guests must use terrain appropriate for their ability and follow operating rules.

This is a resort opening weekend, not a scored competition; no results are expected.

Ski Brule Target Opening Weekend 2026/27

The 35th annual Ski Brule Thanksgiving Race Camp offers four days of early-season alpine race training November 26-29, 2026, with registration available by individual day or for all four days. Groups are organized by age and ability, and a separate Masters program is offered. The coaching program covers fundamentals, technique and tactics, biomechanics, video analysis, conditioning, equipment maintenance and sport psychology. Camp fees are $120 per racer per day or $460 for all four days and do not include lift tickets, lodging or meals. Registration is requested by November 15; after that date, entrants should call camp director Pat Slattery before submitting. Registration is by the official printable application with payment in full.

Ski Brule Race Camp

Alpine racers are grouped by age and ability. Parents of very young racers are welcome to accompany their child, and a separate Masters racers program is available.

This is a training camp, not a scored competition; no results are expected.

Ski Brule Thanksgiving Race Camp 2026

Snowriver Mountain Resort has confirmed this three-day December Family Festival at Jackson Creek Summit for 2026-12-19 through 2026-12-21. The resort describes its Family Festival Series as winter-season weekends of family activities, entertainment, and special events for children, parents, and kids-at-heart, paired with skiing and riding at Snowriver. The theme and full activity lineup are not yet announced, so no specific activity, admission, registration, or lift-access inclusion is assumed.

Snowriver Mountain Resort

The resort describes the series for children, parents, and kids-at-heart; activity-specific ages, ability requirements, and capacity are not yet published.

This is a recreational family festival, not a results-based competition.

Snowriver Family Festival - December 2026

Snowriver Mountain Resort - Jackson Creek Summit

Nub's Nob Ski Area in Harbor Springs, Michigan closes out the year with its traditional New Year's Eve Torchlight Parade on Thursday, December 31, 2026. After dark, skiers and snowboarders descend the slope carrying lit torches in a single glowing procession down the hill – a longtime Northern Michigan holiday tradition and one of the resort's signature on-snow celebrations. The parade is a spectator-friendly, family event visible from the base area and lodges. The resort's published 2026-27 season calendar lists the Torchlight Parade on December 31; the exact evening start time, torch-carrier sign-up details and any accompanying festivities are not yet posted – check nubsnob.com and the resort's social channels closer to the date. December 26-31 holiday lift rates are in effect over the holiday period.

Nub's Nob Ski Area

Nub's Nob Torchlight Parade 2026 (New Year's Eve)

Snowriver Mountain Resort has confirmed this three-day January Family Festival at Jackson Creek Summit for 2027-01-15 through 2027-01-17. The resort describes its Family Festival Series as winter-season weekends of family activities, entertainment, and special events for children, parents, and kids-at-heart, paired with skiing and riding at Snowriver. The theme and full activity lineup are not yet announced, so no specific activity, admission, registration, or lift-access inclusion is assumed.

Snowriver Family Festival - January 2027

Ski Brule's BSA Winter Merit Badge & Family Day on January 30, 2027 combines skiing or snowboarding instruction with completion of the Scouting America winter-sports merit badge for Scouts in grades 6 through senior year, girls and boys. The Scout package is $58 and includes a lift ticket, ski or snowboard rental, lesson, merit-badge class and lunch. Immediate family packages are also available: $65 with lift ticket, rental and lunch; $60 with lift ticket and lunch; or $32 for children 9 and under with lift ticket, rental and lunch. Pre-registration and prepayment are required by January 16, 2027. Scouts completing the badge remain with their group during the program, and Blue Card testing occurs throughout the day. The official event wrapper runs 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, with registration, classroom instruction, on-snow lessons, lunch, group photo, continued lessons and 4:00 PM Blue Card pickup.

Ski Brule Group Sales and Scouting America

BSA/Scouting America Scouts, girls and boys, grades 6 through senior year. Participants choose skiing or snowboarding and a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced level. Immediate family members may purchase the listed companion packages.

This is an instructional merit-badge and family program, not a scored competition; no results are expected.

Ski Brule BSA Winter Merit Badge & Family Day - January 2027

The Nordica Winter Rally comes to Nub's Nob Ski Area in Harbor Springs, Michigan on Sunday, February 7, 2027. Nordica on-snow demo/rally days give skiers the chance to test the latest Nordica skis and boots on the hill for free (or a small demo fee), with brand reps on hand and typically a chance to win gear. It is an open, public on-snow demo event on the resort's official 2026-27 season calendar. Exact hours, the demo tent location, any demo-fee/deposit rules and the specific Nordica lineup are not yet published – confirm at nubsnob.com or with the Nordica rep team closer to the date. A valid lift ticket or season pass is required to ski the demo skis.

Nordica Winter Rally at Nub's Nob 2027

Snowriver Mountain Resort has confirmed this three-day February Family Festival at Jackson Creek Summit for 2027-02-12 through 2027-02-14. The resort describes its Family Festival Series as winter-season weekends of family activities, entertainment, and special events for children, parents, and kids-at-heart, paired with skiing and riding at Snowriver. The theme and full activity lineup are not yet announced, so no specific activity, admission, registration, or lift-access inclusion is assumed.

Snowriver Family Festival - February 2027

Snowriver Mountain Resort has confirmed this three-day Early March Family Festival at Jackson Creek Summit for 2027-03-05 through 2027-03-07. The resort describes its Family Festival Series as winter-season weekends of family activities, entertainment, and special events for children, parents, and kids-at-heart, paired with skiing and riding at Snowriver. The theme and full activity lineup are not yet announced, so no specific activity, admission, registration, or lift-access inclusion is assumed.

Snowriver Family Festival - Early March 2027

The Nub's Nob Open Slalom Race is held Saturday, March 6, 2027 at Nub's Nob Ski Area in Harbor Springs, Michigan. As an 'open' slalom, the race is open to the public rather than restricted to a single club or team – an accessible gates race for recreational and competitive skiers on this Northern Michigan hill long known as 'Where Skiers Go.' It is listed on the resort's official 2026-27 season calendar. Exact race times, the course/run, entry fee, age divisions and the registration process (online vs. day-of check-in) are not yet published; confirm with Nub's Nob race administration at nubsnob.com or (231) 526-2131 closer to the date. This is a competition; a lift ticket/pass or race entry fee may be required to participate.

The Nub's Nob Open Slalom Race 2027

The Bahnhof Park Jam takes over the terrain park at Nub's Nob Ski Area in Harbor Springs, Michigan on Sunday, March 7, 2027. Presented in association with Bahnhof Sports (the Northern Michigan ski & snowboard shop), the Park Jam is a laid-back terrain-park session/competition where skiers and snowboarders session the jumps and rails jam-format across the resort's terrain parks (Nub's Nob runs two terrain parks). It is listed on the resort's official 2026-27 season calendar. Exact hours, the featured park, format/divisions, entry fee and registration details are not yet published – confirm at nubsnob.com, with Bahnhof Sports, or the resort's social channels closer to the date. A lift ticket or season pass is required to ride the park during the jam.

Bahnhof Park Jam at Nub's Nob 2027

Snowriver Mountain Resort has confirmed this three-day Late March Family Festival at Jackson Creek Summit for 2027-03-19 through 2027-03-21. The resort describes its Family Festival Series as winter-season weekends of family activities, entertainment, and special events for children, parents, and kids-at-heart, paired with skiing and riding at Snowriver. The theme and full activity lineup are not yet announced, so no specific activity, admission, registration, or lift-access inclusion is assumed.

Snowriver Family Festival - Late March 2027

Ski Brule's BSA Winter Merit Badge & Family Day on March 27, 2027 combines skiing or snowboarding instruction with completion of the Scouting America winter-sports merit badge for Scouts in grades 6 through senior year, girls and boys. The Scout package is $58 and includes a lift ticket, ski or snowboard rental, lesson, merit-badge class and lunch. Immediate family packages are also available: $65 with lift ticket, rental and lunch; $60 with lift ticket and lunch; or $32 for children 9 and under with lift ticket, rental and lunch. Pre-registration and prepayment are required by March 20, 2027. Scouts completing the badge remain with their group during the program, and Blue Card testing occurs throughout the day. The official event wrapper runs 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, with registration, classroom instruction, on-snow lessons, lunch, group photo, continued lessons and 4:00 PM Blue Card pickup.

Upcoming Action Sports Events in Michigan