Snowshoe Mountain has announced the schedule for the third annual FreeFall Festival, a celebration of outdoor adventure, music, and the beauty of fall in the mountains. The FreeFall weekend event will host a series of live concerts, mountain bike racing, beer tasting, canine competitions, yoga and art classes, guided hikes with meditation exercises, season pass deals, and an outdoor gear swap. The 2015 FreeFall Festival will start Sept. 25 and will be the perfect weekend to take in the fall colors of West Virginia’s beautiful Allegheny mountains.
The weekend schedule includes:
Friday, Sept. 25:
• 12 noon – 5 p.m. DockDogs Competition at Skidder Slope
Watch the premier canine aquatics competition as our furry friends go head-to-head and tail-to-tail in the Big Air competition. Think long jumping for dogs – with a giant pool.
• 5 – 6 p.m. Yoga – Slow Dynamic Flow – Mountain Lodge Lawn
Relax your body and mind and join us for Slow Dynamic! We’ll guide students on a journey inward with the use of calming breathing practices, and gentle dynamic movement that slowly warms and releases joints, and deep connective tissues within the body. Mats are provided, but feel free to bring your own.
• 5:30 – 8 p.m. Registration for Microbrew Bonanza in the Village Plaza
• 6-8 p.m. Registration for Southeastern Gravity Series Race/Packet pick-up in the Depot
• 6:30-9 p.m. Mountaintop Brewfest
Sample over 50 delicious beers while taking in the sights and sounds. Come thirsty! Ticket includes tasting ticket, souvenir cups and live entertainment for both nights. *Must be 21 years of age or older. Valid ID required.
• 7 p.m. Steve ‘N’ Seagulls
Originally just a bunch of local yokels from moderately successful bands, this merry mess of country cousins one day decided, just for laughs, to “hillbillify” the AC/DC staple “Thunderstruck.” Little did they know the home-brewed music video would propel their Finnish band into cyberspace stardom, virtually overnight.
• 8:45 p.m. Young Rising Sons
The New Jersey band, best known for their new hit “High” promises a happy, soulful upbeat show. At a time when cynicism and moral outrage are quite common in modern music, the Young Rising Sons choose to focus on the brighter.
Saturday, Sept. 26:
• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. DockDogs Competition on Skidder slope
Day 2 of the premier canine aquatics competition as our furry friends go head-to-head and tail-to-tail in the Big Air competition. Think long jumping for dogs – with a giant pool.
• 9-10 a.m. Alignment Flow Yoga
Kick start your day with this mixed level, alignment-based flow that will integrate a heart-centric theme. Mats are provided, but feel free to bring your own.
• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Southeastern Gravity Series Downhill Practice – All Racers
• 11 a.m. Mindful Hike with Lakeside Qi Gong
Bring the body into balance on this 1.5 mile hike around Shaver’s Lake through mixed woodlands and wetlands, pausing at spectacular lakeside views for some calming and rejuvenating Qi Gong, the art and science of using breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life energy (Qi is pronounced chee). Please bring water and rain jacket.
• Noon – 2 p.m. Bottle and Brush Art Class
Paint the beauty of the mountains with local artist, Thomas Clevenger. Capture the breathtaking beauty from the deck at Shavers’ Lake. The mountain will be alive with color and the lake reflections will make for a take home memory of fall in the mountains. Frames will be available for purchase to complete your masterpiece.
• Noon, 3 and 6 p.m. Bike Games at the top of Ballhooter Lift
A FreeFall Festival tradition – Join in the fun with tall bike jousting, chariot races, balance beam, and more! We’ll even have a DJ!
• 2 – 3 p.m. Yoga Is for Everyone – Mountain Lodge Lawn
This class is ideal for anyone new to Yoga and to refresh the foundation for already practicing yogis. We will explore a wide variety of flowing and held asana, provided with demonstration and clear verbal cues guiding you into safe alignment. We’ll introduce fundamentals on pranayama (breathing practices) as well as Asana (physical postures) and relaxation. Mats are provided, but feel free to bring your own.
• 4:30-6:30 p.m. Hiking Meditation
Self-Guided Meditation Hike – we’ll meander through an area known to locals as The Fingers. This series of intertwining loops needle-and-thread through a high elevation spruce forest, and with the forest floor covered with pillows of moss, it’s a perfect place for quiet, seated meditation. Measuring 1.5 miles, midway through the hike participants will be granted 30 minutes for quiet contemplation. Please bring water, rain jacket, and a seat cushion if you wish.
• Gates open at 2 p.m. for evening entertainment
• 3 p.m. Jon Stickley Trio
With roots in bluegrass, gypsy jazz, and hip-hop, the Jon Stickley Trio have fused their collective styles into a repertoire of exciting, innovative original music, alongside fresh takes on traditional tunes.
• 5:30 p.m. Yarn
Since their start in 2007, Yarn’s original Americana sound has developed into music that seekers of the unique see as the soundtrack to their lives.
• 7 p.m. Zach Deputy
A music festival favorite around the country, bringing an exceptionally unique display of rhythm and blues sound that has been compared to Al Green, Stevie Wonder, and Jack Johnson all rolled into one.
• 8:45 p.m. Shakey Graves
Best known for his one-man-band set up and his debut album Roll the Bones, he has now added a mix of collective musicians and a handful of largely successful hits such as “Dearly Departed.”
• 10 p.m. After party at the Connection Nightclub
Keep the party going at The Connection Nightclub with live music.
Sunday, Sept. 27:
• 9-10 a.m. Yoga – Rise & Shine on Mountain Lodge Lawn
Start your day right with this FREE class. We’ll take the time to awaken the body, gently rolling out our joints to work out the kinks, and then up the tempo as we move along. What better way to begin your day than with a sense of Inner Peace. Limited mats available.
• 9-10 a.m. Pre-Registered Rider ONLY packet pick-up *No Race Day Registration
• 9-10:30 a.m. Southeast Gravity Series Downhill practice- All Racers
• 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. DockDogs Competition at Skidder Slope
Day 3 of the premier canine aquatics competition heats up as our furry friends fly far and fast in the Big Air and Speed Retrieve competitions.
• 10:30 a.m. – noon Southeast Gravity Series Downhill Practice – Elite Racers Only
• 11 a.m. Mindful Hike with Lakeside Qi Gong
Bring the body into balance on this hike around Shaver’s Lake through mixed woodlands and wetlands. Mindfully walk on gentle terrain for 1.5 miles, pausing at spectacular lakeside views for some calming and rejuvenating Qi Gong, the art and science of using breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate the life energy (Qi is pronounced chee). Please bring water and rain jacket.
• Noon Southeastern Gravity Series – Start List Posted
• 1 p.m. Southeastern Gravity Series Race
Awards – Approximately 30 minutes after last racer – At the Junction Stage
• 1-2 p.m. Yoga Is For Everyone – Mountain Lodge Lawn
This FREE class is ideal for anyone new to Yoga and to refresh the foundation for already practicing yogis. We’ll introduce fundamentals on Pranayama (breathing practices), Asana (physical postures) and wind down with Systematic Relaxation. Limited mats available.
You can find information on this event and purchase tickets and passes online: http://www.snowshoemtn.com/events-and-activities/events/concerts/freefall-festival.aspx
For a complete schedule of events, summer activity information or to make a Snowshoe lodging reservation, please call 877-441-4386 or visit online at www.snowshoemtn.com.
