Winter is coming: 5 activities to experience at Sun Peaks

They said it in Game of Thrones and now we’re saying it again: Winter is most definitely coming. And unlike the residents of Winterfell, we have plenty of reasons to look forward to the season.

Start the pre-winter festivities early this year at Sun Peaks, Canada’s second-largest ski area. Nestled in the BC interior, the postcard-worthy resort is less than five hours’ drive from Vancouver but it feels like a totally different world.

Sun Peaks gets up to 2,000 hours of sun every single year, so you’ll still want to have your shades on standby this fall. Plus, the resort has the earliest scheduled opening of all BC resorts with a scheduled date of Saturday, November 17.

To help you get stoked for the season ahead, here are some pre-winter activities that you can enjoy at Sun Peaks.

Shop during the Turkey Sale

Have you got plans for Thanksgiving yet? If you visit Sun Peaks during the long weekend you can get incredible savings when you shop during the pre-winter Turkey Sale. Get your new snowboard or ski equipment for the season with discounts of up to 70% from Elevation Bike Ski & Board, Southside Board Shop, Three Peaks and The North Face Mountain Outfitters.

Check out the sales at Sun Peak Golf Shop, Freefall, Jardines, McSporties, and much more!

When: October 5 to 7
Time: All day
Where: Various venues and retailers throughout Sun Peaks

Explore the Fall Festival

Celebrate autumn in style this year at Sun Peaks’ Fall Festival. From Saturday, October 6 to Sunday, October 7, you’ll have the chance to take part in pumpkin decorating, explore artisan goods at an outdoor market, listen to live music, and taste gourmet food and wine.

There are also going to be Thanksgiving meals taking place at various restaurants throughout the resort. And you can register to do a yoga class at Black Beaver Athletic. Remember to head to Cafe Soleil to pick up the ultimate fall staple — a pumpkin spice latte!

When: October 6 to 7
Where: Various venues throughout Sun Peaks

Join the first Après and Ales

Après is a massive part of the ski season so it makes sense to celebrate your return to the slopes by partying in your ski boots. Sun Peaks have teamed up with Granville Island Brewing to bring you a cold Lions Winter Ale at Masa’s Bar + Grill on November 17. There’s going to be a DJ spinning tracks all afternoon and your alpine lift ticket even includes a beer. You can check out how this event went down last year here.

When: November 17
Time: 2 to 6 pm
Where: Masa’s Bar + Grill

Check out the new $4 million chairlift

Staying connected at Sun Peaks is going to be even easier this year with the new $4 million chairlift which provides greater access to the destination’s extensive trail network. The new chairlift gives you better ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain and village. You can hop on in the East Village area and get to your desired destination from there. You’ll also get to take in some breathtaking vistas along the way.

Mix it up with some Nordic skiing

Try something new this season with Nordic skiing. Sun Peaks is an ideal destination for your first Nordic ski experience with plenty of sunshine and perfect elevation for dry snow and consistent temperatures. Ski across over 37 kilometres of groomed trails from your hotel or the village. Nordic skiing is a fabulous way to explore the resort and get an amazing workout in at the same time on the seemingly endless terrain. If you need any more convincing, check out five reasons to try Nordic skiing here.

When: Opens November 17

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Visit Sun Peaks to find out more and start planning your pre-winter getaway.