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Carrying a torch: Red River Ski and Summer Area celebrates the season with ski parades, fireworks and a visit from Santa
Red River might not be the only ski area that does some variation of a torchlight parade, but it might very well be the only one that offers the attraction so frequently.
鈥淚 think the most unique thing about it is that we do it weekly,鈥� said Reed Weimer, Red River Ski and Summer Area sales and marketing manager. 鈥淚鈥檝e tried finding other resorts that do it weekly, and I don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e been able to.
Carrying a torch: Red River Ski and Summer Area celebrates the season with ski parades, fireworks and a visit from Santa
鈥淢ost of them do it on New Year鈥檚 Eve, especially. That鈥檚 kind of like the industry standard. You see a lot of resorts doing it on Christmas Eve, New Year鈥檚 Eve or a few select holidays, but I have not been able to find anybody else that does it weekly. That鈥檚 what makes it really unique 鈥� that every week there鈥檚 at that point a new rotation of guests visiting.鈥�
While the exact origin of the Torchlight Parade is unknown, it鈥檚 a long-running tradition that dates back, at the very least, to the 1970s and 鈥�80s. Every Saturday during ski season, skiers and snowboarders 鈥� usually around 40 to 50 鈥� descend the mountain with torches in hand to create a memorable visual spectacle. The event concludes with a fireworks show. When Christmas Eve and New Year鈥檚 Eve don鈥檛 fall on a Saturday, additional Torchlight Parades are held on those days.
On a busy weekend, the event can draw as many as 300 to 500 spectators, the majority of which gather in or around The Lift House to enjoy the festivities.
鈥淭he Lift House is the hub 鈥� That鈥檚 where you鈥檙e standing at the base of the slope that the Torchlight Parade comes down. But there鈥檚 great views all over town, you know, especially on the west end of town,鈥� Weimer said.
Participation is open to the public with one catch: Those interested must take part in a tryout on the day of each event. These are typically led by Red River ski and snowboard school director Cabot White and take place in the early afternoon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really fun to participate in 鈥� the camaraderie around it,鈥� Weimer said. 鈥淥utside of people who work for us, there are a handful of locals that pretty much do it every single week. They don鈥檛 miss one.鈥�
There鈥檚 even an added bonus at the end of the parade for those who make the cut.
鈥淲e have a local who bakes what she calls Torchlight cookies for the participants,鈥� Weimer said. 鈥淪o each week, she bakes a different cookie. And if you participate, you get a cookie as part of it.鈥�
HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU鈥橰E SKIING: There will be a special guest at Red River on Christmas morning.
At about 10 a.m., Santa will be hitting the slopes, passing out candy canes and posing for photo opportunities with guests. After about two hours, he heads to the Youth Center to greet any children he might have missed. The timing works well in that regard, because that鈥檚 about the same time any youth lessons scheduled for that morning will be concluding.
鈥淧eople love it,鈥� Weimer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not, like, set in the sense of, 鈥業鈥檒l be at this location here.鈥� It鈥檚 just: people see him, they yell at him. They try to ride the lift with him. That kind of thing.鈥�
The exact identity of the Santa is unknown, but Weimer said he does 鈥渜uite a bit of skiing鈥� in the hours between 10 a.m. and noon.
鈥淭he local who鈥檚 been doing it, he鈥檚 been Santa every season I鈥檝e been here,鈥� Weimer said. 鈥淗e can ski well.鈥�
