20 Epic Winter Music & Ski Festivals in America

BEST Ski Festivals/Winter Music Festivals USA:  Winter may be cold & snowy, but it's the true party season! With Christmas & New Year, it's no wonder that many head to some of the greatest winter music festivals in North America!

From the Colorado Rockies to Vermont & even New York state. Many U.S Ski Festivals, Transform their sleepy Ski Resorts by flying in the best DJ's from around the world, to cause an avalanche of Bass, which resonates through the hearts of true ravers!

For other places such as Florida, year long warm temperatures, means revellers & party goers can take advantage of the less busy & substantially cheaper winter festivals & give packed out, expensive festivals like a Coachella a miss.

So strap your skis on and get ready for the Top 20 Ski/Winter Music festivals in U.S.A!

20. Snowglobe Music Festival - California

Starting our list is a New Years Winter Spectacular at South Lake Tahoe in California! Snowglobe Music Festival   is a 3 Day EDM (Electronic Dance Music) festival.

I personally love this Winter festival as during the day you can Ski in the picturesque  Lake Tahoe Mountains, then as night falls have one hell of a party to the theme tune of some of the most world renowned Electronic DJ's.

Snow-globe-Winter-Music-Festival

Line Up

Previous Line ups were Insane with the Worlds biggest DJ's from Eric Prydz, Above & Beyond, Gorgan City, Diplo + Skrillex (Jack U) Said the Sky, Dimitri Vegas and many others!

When is the Ski Festival?

December 29 – January 1st (NEW YEARS!)

Where is the Ski Festival?

South Lake Tahoe, California

Snow Globe Winter Music Festival, is fantastic skiing music event!

Tickets:

Pre sales usually sell out as early as June, with 3 day standard tickets for $179.

19. Dreamstate - California

With California being a real Hub of Electronic Music in the United States, it's not surprising that it's the platform for some of the biggest & baddest winter Music Festivals North America has to offer!

Dreamstate winter music festival is a massive EDM & Trance music spectacular which draws some of the biggest headliners year upon year!

There motto is "All trace, all the time...you not living in reality anymore, but a dreamstate"

Taking place in late November, Dreamstate Music festival is ran at the NOS events centre in California.

Dreamstate-Winter-music-festival1 

Headliners include the biggest electronic music DJ's such as; Above & Beyond, AA meeting (John Askew & Activa), Ace Ventura, Alessandra Roncone, Alexander Popov, Alpha 9, Paul Van Dyk, ATB etc.

"Envision a world where ethereal beats and timeless melodies rescue you from the everyday and transport you to a higher state of consciousness." Dreamstate.

Community:

Dreamstate prides itself on making everyone of it's ravers part of it's "Trace Family", which has a great community vibe to it. In the words of Dreamstate:

"In this place, we affirm that we are kindred spirits bound by deep passion—not only for the music we love, but for the community that surrounds it. That community is why we are here. You are the heart of Dreamstate. YOU are the Headliner." Dreamstate.

Stages & Performers:

The stages of Dreamstate create a deeply immersive Audio Visual Experience, which is insanely mindblowing!  With array of characters & performers from time travelers, Aliens and space walkers....you will feel like your immersed  in a true out of this world experience!

Kelly Bloggins | Wikimedia Commons

When is the Winter Music Festival?

Late November: 22 & 23rd November 2019.

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Dreamstate runs in a variety of locations: Dreamstate Socal (Southern California) is the main edition which is in NOS events Center. This features 120 acres and 150,000 square feet of indoor event space.

NOS EVENTS CENTER

689 S E St

San Bernardino, CA 92408

There also run Music Festivals in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas editions in the U.S.A. Internationally they have previously ran events in U.K and Mexico. So join the trance family & enter Dreamstate!

Kelly Loggins | Wikimedia Commons

Tickets:

Tickets cost $145.00 for the weekend. and $300 for VIP.

18. Season end Festival at Arapahoe Basin

A real family Ski party, Closing Day at Arapahoe Basin is a FREE live music celebration which runs over the weekend in early June. With Arapahoe Basin being the last Ski resort to close in Colorado, it a great time to drop by for some last minute skiing & a nice celebration. The event times run between 1pm-4pm over the Saturday and Sunday.

Where is the Ski Festival?

Arapahoe Basin, Colorado, United States

When is the Ski Festival?

June 2nd-June 3rd (Subject to weather conditions)

Other popular Season Parties occur at other Colorado Ski Resorts between March & April. Another popular one is at COOPER MOUNTAIN, which runs a variety of parties & fun competitions. Such as Slopesoakers Pond Skim (April 20)

17. Mountain Jam - New York

Mountain Jam is the largest Rock music & Camping festival in New York State. Highly regarded by many, this ski resort music festival is highly regarded in Magazines such as rolling stone. Originally conceived in 2004 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of WDST/Radio Woodstock, this hipster festival has grown from strength to strength.

Previously Mountain Jam Music Festival was ran at Hunter Mountain Ski resort. It has now moved location for it's next upcoming event, but we still thought it deserved an inclusion in the top 20 list due to it's ski resort roots!

Line Up:

Mountain Jam specialises in celebrating the best Rock, Jam band, Blues & Reggae. With previous headliners including Willie Nelson, Guitar Legend Warren Haynes, The Avett Brothers, The Revivalists, Toots & The Maytals, The Revivalists.

When is Mountain Jam Festival?

Mid June (Check their website for the latest date)

Where is Mountain Jam?

Previously held at Hunter Mountain Ski resort, it's now been moved to: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, New York, United States, for 2019 onwards.

Tickets:

Mountain Jam Ticket Prices. The average price for Mountain Jam Tickets start from $190. The minimum get in price is $115 for Mountain Jam Tickets at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, Bethel.

16. EDC Orlando

Back to another ELECTRONIC Music Extravaganza! Electric Daisy Carnival is a ravers dream. This Mainstream Music festival is a fun packed, brightly colored gem of Orlando,

"Under the Electric Sky, we come together to celebrate life, love, art, and music. From the stages and the sound to the pyrotechnics and the performers, so many unique elements go into bringing this world to life.

We invite you to wander, explore, interact, and connect. Imagination and positive energy are the currency of this place."  EDC Orlando.

With a real real emphasis on fun and union, this is a golden hearted electronic music festival. The high tech stages perfectly fuse together nature & technology to create a real feast for the eye balls!

EDC | Wikimedia Commons

The EDC winter music festival, has a vast spectrum of art installations through the festival to create a supernatural world worth diving into. From glow in the dark landmarks to 3D superstructures you will have your imagination whipped up while at EDC. This interactive environment will ignite your senses with Fire, lasers, and fantastic art shows!

Carnival Rides & Performers:

Of course, you will spot a few ferris wheels & fairground attractions it is a Carnival after all. Keep your eyes peeled as a variety of wacky performers from dancer & stilt walkers to aerial circus performers keep you engaged & entertaining in the fun atmosphere.

Line Up:

The Line up at EDC winter music festival includes many popular EDM artists, such as Axwell, Alesso, Dillon Francis, Chainsmokers etc.

Top Tip: If your not into big crowds or mainstream EDM, then perhaps give this one a miss. But if you would like an immersive  fun packed, carnival style EDM festival...this is for you.

EDC | Wikimedia Commons

When is the Winter Music Festival?

Early November, (8-10th November 2019) for further details check their website.

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Tinker Field

South Tampa Ave.

Orlando, FL 32805

Festival Hours: 1pm–midnight daily

15. Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival - Wyoming

Established in 1988 Targhee Bluegrass Festival is the King of Bluegrass Festivals in the Northern Rockies. This great winter music festival fuses together, great Bluegrass with the ultimate Mountain Lifestyle.

If your a Bluegrass aficionado, then this Winter festival is a legendary place to catch the best artists & performers in the nice. They even run a special music teaching camp (Targhee Music Camp), the week before the festival. This experience is a very unique and highly recommended for Blue grass enthusiasts.

Ed Coyle | Wikimedia Commons

Line Up:

The line up includes a variety of the bluegrass greats including:

Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, the infamous stringdusters, Sam Bush, Del McCoury Band etc.

Where is the Ski Festival?

Grand Targhee Ski Resort, Alta, Wyoming.

When is the Ski Festival?

Mid August

Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – Mon, 12 Aug 2019

14. Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Telluride Bluegrass Festival is another Blue Grass Great, which includes 4 days of live music, jam sessions, songwriting contests and even evening night grass shows in the town of Telluride.

Previous line ups have included: Mumford & Sons, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Ryan Adams, Emmylou Harris, Counting crows, AniDifranco and lots more.

Camping:

Telluride Blue Grass Festival has many campgrounds, from right next to the festival to just a few miles away.

The best are Town Park and Warner Field which are next to the Festival grounds (you can even hear the festival from your tent! They also have a few options west of the town, whihc are accessible via a free shuttle bus which runs late into the night.

Unknown | Wikimedia Commons

Tickets:

Four day passes cost $230.

Where is the Ski Festival?

Telluride Town Park, Telluride, Colorado, U.S.A

When is the Ski Festival?

Mid August

Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – Mon, 12 Aug 2019

13. Gem and Jam Festival - Arizona

Gem and Jam Winter Music Festival  is a real arizona sweetheart. With a focus on  celebrating the wonderful planet earth. It does this with a variety of Underground music acts from rock, folk & electronic to Jazz and Bluegrass. There is really something for everyone at Gem & Jam.

With hippie vibes, and a fun atmosphere this is a great Winter festival to attend.

Jason Arahighat | Wikimedia Commons

Where is the Ski Festival?

Pima County Fairgrounds, Tuscon, Arizona, United States

When is the Ski Festival?

Late Jan-Early February.

31 Jan – 2 Feb 2020

12. Minus Zero Festival- Vermont

Minus Zero Festival in Scenic Vermont, is the ultimate end of season skiing festival! A true combination of Winter Spots fused with a World Renowned Electronic Music Festival!

A really unique winter music festival, where you can hit the slopes in the day then party hard at night to the greatest DJ's alive!

Started 5 years ago in the U.S Capital of electronic Music, LA, California. World famous DJ's like Jamie Jones & Lee Burridge headlined in style. Afterwards, Minus Zero moved up to the East Coast to the scenic Stratton Ski Resort in Vermont, where it's summit stage offering panoramic views at top the mountain.

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At the Ski festivals first edition in Vermont Deadmau5 & Kaskade headlined epically. This firmly set the foundations for a major Winter Music Festival to stay for the long haul.

As the Winter festival grew in popularity Mount snow became it's new home. A gigantic venue used to large scale events, this is the perfect place for Minus zero.

Art Installations:

As well as it's world famous electronic music, Minus Zero has a fantastic selection of jaw dropping & insanely imaginative Art installations. Such as the Chocolate Factory, the hive and canoodle gallery.

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Where is the Ski Festival?

Mount Snow, Vermont.

When is the Ski Festival?

1st week of April. Exact date to be confirmed see official website.

11. Jam Cruise Festival- Miami

The Jam Cruise is a Winter Music Festival on the high seas! A real jam packed variety event it featuring activities, programs, theme nights  making a true on board adventure.

The cruise takes revellers around the Caribbean from Miami, Florida to Ocean Cay, Bahamas and dow to Costa, May Mexico. A real special festival which even includes on board yoga & other unique activities well on board.

Where is the Ski Festival?

Miami, Florida.

When is the Ski Festival?

Early-Mid: January 7-12, 2020

Jam-Cruises-Winter-festivals 

Tickets & Cost:

To book on this festival, you will need to get yourself a cabin on board, prices vary substantially depending upon the number of people per cabin & quality.

The lowest cost option is a Quad Occupancy Cabin at $1099 dollars pp. From then the prices go up. With Triple cabins at $1199 and double occupancy at $1299. There are also a variety luxury cabin types with the "Yacht club range" costing around $3500. There are also port fees to be aware of at $250 pp.

10. Zen Awakening Fest - Orlando

Zen Awakening Festival  is a "life changing transformational  winter music & arts festival" . With a little less mainstream EDM and a leaning towards psytrance, with some great DJ's & Jam Bands.

A variety packed winter music festival, you can really get in touch with nature & your hippy side by delving into over 100 acres of nature. There you can experience Yoga, Meditation, Drum Circles, healing Sanctuary and even Spiritual Teachers! This Winter music festival will really awaken your Zen! Everybody say "Oommmmmm" .

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Other highlights include: Fire Dancers, Circus Performers, Organic food, Art installations  and relaxed "Burner friendly" camping.

With Strong, rolling beats adding a soundtrack to your Zen experience, this is a really great U.S Winter Festival. .

Top Tip: This winter music festival is child friendly so feel free to bring your little hippies out for the trip.

Fun Fact: Usually you can spot a few a list celebrities attending & it prides itself on being a big trend setter in the U.S music Festival Calendar.

Eli Christman | Wikimedia Commons

When is the Winter Music Festival?

Mid November. Exact Date tbc

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

4755 N. Kenansville Road, St. Cloud, Florida 34773

[A strong favourite amongst the Town & Tourist team! If you need help organising your trip, booking tickets, hotels, camping, loding, rv passes etc.

Especially if you have a large group then contact us at [Mail@townandtourist.com] and one of our friendly travel experts will take care of the hard work for you.

9. Friendly Gathering -Vermont

Back to groovy little Ski Festivals, Friendly Gathering Music Festival is a cool grass roots ski festival in Vermont. A earth friendly, people friendly and even skateboarding friendly festival, this is a little gem of Vermont.

Ran over three days in June at Mt Ellen (Sugarbush Resort), one of New Englands largest Ski Areas, tucked in the emerald Mountains of Northern Vermont. Friendly Gathering Ski Festival combines intimate live music, (Variety of Genres) with great camping and lots of cool community focused workshop.

Friendly-Gathering-Winter-music-Festival 

With a focus on inclusion & good vibes, activities include Yoga, Skateboarding and even dance workshops! Founders by pro snowboards Danny Davis & Jack Mitrani, this is a festival with great vibes.

Where is the Ski Festival?

Mount Ellen at Sugarbush Resort.

626 Mt. Ellen Road

Waitsfield, Vermont,U.S.A 05673

( 50 minutes from Burlington, Vt.)

When is the Ski Festival?

End of June. Exact date tbc.

8. Lights all night - Texas

As the longest running EDM festival in Texas, lights all night festival is a perfect New years eve celebration in Dallas. With a top notch line up of the biggest DJ's in the world, combined with a futuristic mystic experience, this is a one of kind winter music festival.

According to the Dallas Observer:

“ 200,000 square feet of dance floors spread across multiple stages with thousands of attendees. Lights All Night is so well planned and executed that walking through the grounds is like experiencing a musical playground. It’s no wonder it has quickly become one of the country’s most loved traditions.”

lights-all-night-winter-music-festival

When is the Winter Music Festival?

Late December (28th -29th)

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Dallas Market Hall

2200 Stemmons Fwy,

Dallas, Texas, U.S.A 75207

7. X Games - Aspen

X Games is an adrenaline pumping Extreme Winter Sports monster combined with a great winter music festival. Established in 1995, 500, 000 people attended it's first event, which then just got bigger & badder!

Hosted & broadcast by ESPN, also show on ABC network, X games is like the winter olympics on steroids! A highly recommended winter festival to check out, what other place on earth could you see "the worlds first Snowmobile front flip" and even the first ever triple corkscrew in Snowboarding!! Done by Torstein Horgmo.

SnowBoardMe | Wikimedia Commons

Even other extreme sports get involved with Tony Hawk revealing his newest trick the 900 and Travis Pastrana executing a double backflip in freestyle motorcross.

When is the X Games Aspen 2020?

January 23rd-26 2020.

Where is the X Games?

Mount Snow, Aspen, Colorado, United States of America.

Other editions: Include an event in Minneapolis and even a world tour which goes to Shanghai & Norway!

6. Winterskol, Snowmass - Aspen

It would have been rude to talk about Winter Music festivals in the U.S.A, without mentioning ASPEN!! During January, you can literally take part in so many back to back ski festivals it's insane.

Winterskol:

Winterskol is a community festival with an artistic, family vibe. Originating back in 1951, it has become a real Aspen community tradition.

These days many schools get involved and competitions can be seen such as Winter Sculpting awards to even a canine fashion show!

Winterskol-Aspen-winter-Festival

The Après /Aspen snowmass is a fantastic winter music festival, partnered with the live music venue "Belly Up Aspen". Located at the same venue as the gigantic X games, this is a three day celebration of the ski season end.

Popular attractions, this year included: Elk Camp surf & snow beach party. Which had live DJ's ,a swimsuit ski parade, hot tubs and even lots of fun giveaways!

5. Decadence Colorado

Dubbed as one of the United States BIGGEST New Years Celebrations, enter Decadence, Colorado! Decadence , a word which in the dictionary means "luxurious self indulgence", is a great name for this dazzling festival of pure bliss & sonic delight.

With some of the most world renowned DJ's and a larger then life production for the backdrop, Decadence Winter Music Festival is the perfect way to ring in the New year!

When is the Winter Music Festival?

New Years Eve (30th-31st December)

Decadence-Winter-Festival

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Colorado Convention Center

700 14th St, Denver, Colorado, 80202

Over 600,000 square feet of the exhibit halls are transformed into two massive arenas, complete with lavish décor & a top rated production.

There are also locations in Utah, Arizona.

4. Snowta fest - Minnesota

Another great New years Winter music Festival, Snowta fest    According to the Huffington post: "Snowta NYE is a place of innovation, connection & community." As the cool air whirls outside, the warm dancefloor of Snowta fest will keep you feeling merry.

When is the Winter Music Festival?

December 30-31, 2019

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Minneapolis, Minnesota.

3. One Love Festival - California

One love festival   is a small scale camping festival set at the gorgeous Lake Perris (South California). I wouldn't really say this is a massive wild party but more a community bonding event! Some call it a more intimate Zen Awakening Festival. With a real hippy vibe of love, peace and unity.

Expect a unique blend of music, art, performances, fashion glued together with a strong sense of yoga & spirituality.

When is the Winter Music Festival?

2-4 November 2019

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Lake Perris, California. (60 miles south of LA)

2. SXSW - Texas

The SXSW brand runs many fantastic Arts, comedy, film and of course Music Festivals!  This Winter Music festival (technically winter runs until March 20th!) brings together over 2000 performers from over 60 different countries in this Genre neutral Music Festival.

Together with film & tech creatives, SXSW is well renowned as a platform where you can see some of the greatest musical artists before they "Make it big". So you can be the one that says "I heard them first!" .  Plenty of record labels & agents are always on the prowl at this great winter music festival.

SXSW-WINTER_MUSIC_Festival 

With performances taking place from bars, to clubs, parks to hotels and even in Churches all over Austin, you will be sure to find this a unique and eye opening occasion.

With glitz, glammer and a star studding line up from rock to Hip Hop, Latin to salsa this is definitely one worth attending. Some say it has gone quite expensive but you do get a lot of bass for your buck!

When is the Winter Music Festival?

March 13–22, 2020

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Austin, Texas.

1. Ultra Music Festival- Florida

Ultra Music Festival is a world renowned, Monster of the Electronic Music Industry.

Major headliners include the worlds very best from Carl Cox, Arman Van Buuren, Afrojack and Martin Garrix to Fedde le grand, David Guetta and of course Axwell.

The high end production is an immersive extravaganza, which provides one of the most surreal experiences, giving you a sensory overload of light, sound & color!

The music here is a mix of Electronic stylings. From EDM, to Jungle and Deep house.

FloridaForeigner | Wikimedia Commons

When is the Winter Music Festival?

March 29th - 31st 2020 (Late March)

Where is the Winter Music Festival?

Miami, Florida.

As an international Electronic Music Festival, Ultra has festivals all over the world! From Ultra Australia, Ultra Brazil,  Ultra Europe (Croatia) and even Ultra Singapore & Ultra China!