By Jill Diver
Staff Writer

School is out, and the kids are home for a whole week.
If you are stumped about what to do with the young ones, check out some of New Hampshire’s ski areas.

From music to magic shows, kids festivals to family fun nights, area ski resorts have packed the coming weeks with activities to entice those who are ready to enjoy a weekend and the weeks of February vacation.
If you don’t know how to ski, fear not. This is a perfect time to learn, as all the mountains offer ski schools for children and adults.

Pat’s Peak
686 Flanders Road, Henniker
Phone: 603-428-3245
Forecast: 24-hour snow conditions at 1-888-PATS-PEAK (728-7732)
On the Web: www.patspeak.com
Skiing, Snowboarding, Tubing, lift hours of operation during school vacation weeks:
Night tickets start at 3 p.m. Saturday Nights: $39 Pay-One-Price, is 3 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 14 through Thursday, Feb. 18,: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 22 through Thursday, Feb. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 26: and Saturday, Feb. 27, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Snowtubing operation hours for school vacation weeks:
Saturday night tubing is from 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 13, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 14 through Friday, Feb. 19: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 22 through Friday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Après-Ski Entertainment in the Sled Pub:
Saturday, Feb. 13
“Heart-Poon” Valentine’s Après-Ski Beer Promotion by Harpoon, 3 to 7 p.m.
Après-Ski Party with The McMurphy’s from 4 to 9 p.m.
Childhood Cancer Lifeline Weekend
Feb. 27 and 28
Support New Hampshire families whose children have been diagnosed with cancer.
Saturday, Feb. 27
Roxanne and the voodoo rockers in the sled pub, 4 to 9 p.M.
Sunday, Feb. 28
Live bands will be performing throughout the day starting at noon.
Raffles, silent and live auction, begins at 3 p.m.
Dinner by Pats Peak’s Executive Chef Guy Pelletier, 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Tickets purchased in advance $20 per person or $30 per couple. Tickets purchased the weekend of the event: $25 per person or $40 per couple.

Loon Mountain
60 Loon Mountain Road, Lincoln.
Phone: 603-745-8111
On the Web: www.loonmtn.com
Monday, Feb. 15
Mo the Balloon Bufoon, 3 to 6 p.m., Governor’s Lodge.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Absolutely Magic Show, 4:30 p.m., Octagon Lodge.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Family Movie Night, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 18 to Saturday, Feb. 20
Fluorescent Nights, Terrain Park Under the Lights, 6 to 9 p.m.
Little Sister Park, $15 lift tickets.

Gunstock Resort
719 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford
Phone: 603-293-4341
On the Web: www.gunstock.com
Saturday, Feb. 13
The Cry’n Out Loud Band, Pistol Pub, 4 to 7 p.m.
WZLX presents Groovestone at Gunstock from 4 to 6 p.m.
Wine and Cheese XC Ski.
Sunday, Feb. 14
GNA Valentines Paint Ball Race, 100 to 150 athletes racing on the lower lanes for the Gunstock Nordic Association.
Friday, Feb. 19
Hot popcorn and movies in the base lodge.
Saturday, Feb. 20
Oldies 103.3 Mountains of Fun Ski Team hosts the Winter Family Games at Gunstock. Bring the family to Gunstock and win great prizes in the following events: tug of war, relay races, snow ball toss and more. Sign-up will take place from 10 a.m. to noon and games will begin at 1 p.m.
Piche’s Demo Day by the Stockade Lodge, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Musician Jackie Lee in the Pistol Pub, 4 to 7 p.m.
The Fallen Free Band featuring Jen and Kelly Morris performing in the Main Hall, 7 to 9 p.m.
Gunstock Mountain Resort presents fireworks on the mountain, 9 p.m.
Guided tour on either a beginner loop or an intermediate loop around Gunstock’s XC trails. Snowshoers are also welcome. Cost is $25 per person, $10 rentals, and head lamp is provided, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Meet at the Gunstock Nordic Center.
Sunday, Feb. 21
“Radio Disney Get Out And Play”: Music, giveaways, samples and more from Radio Disney. Games for kids include Jump Freeze, snow angel and hoola hoop contests, ski boot twister, Disney movie and music trivia, Pass the Mickey, and on-mountain search-and-finds.

Mount Sunapee
1398 Route 103, Newbury
Phone: 603-763-3500
On the Web: www.mountsunapee.com
Saturday, Feb. 6
Nehsa’s Annual Ski-A-Thon/Ride-A-Thon. Benefits NEHSA (New England Handicapped Sports Association), New England’s premier adaptive program serving skiers and snowboarders with physical and mental challenges. Visit nehsa.org.
Sunday, Feb. 14
Valentine’s Day Fun On The Slopes: Features a “Heart Hunt” with lots of prizes and other activities.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge: A fun, all-day event for the entire family, with a dual slalom race, prizes, giveaways, and après-ski awards party. This is a family party open to all.
Saturday, Feb. 20
USASA Slope-Style: Two slope style events in the “603.”
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20 and 21
Izstyle Winter Tour: This two-day event features the Reverb Eco Village (businesses and products that support a sustainable environment), all-natural/organic food sampling, ski and snowboard demos and live music.
The Bud Light Concert Series will present a special après ski party Saturday in Goosefeathers Pub featuring a live band.
Saturday, Feb. 27
Ski with the Eagles — Snow Sports Merit Badge Day: Scouts and their families from the Daniel Webster Council are invited to ski or snowboard with eight members of the Mount Sunapee Ski Patrol who are all Eagle Scouts. The patrollers will help participants try to earn their Snow Sports Merit Badge, show them what it is like to be a patroller at Mount Sunapee and ski or ride the mountain with them. Contact Roger Hooper at rhooper673@aol.com or 603-673-7032.

Cannon Mountain
9 Franconia Notch, Franconia
Phone: 603-823-8800
Weather: 603-823-7771
On the Web: www.cannonmt.com
Saturday, Feb. 6
Cannonball Pub Party, 3 to 6 p.m. Live Music with Gary Lopez & Baker Street, and the Woodstock Station Brewery will be in the pub promoting their products.
Family Fun Night, every Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Peabody Base Area. Movie for kids in the Brookside Lodge. Huckerbrook Mini-Park open under the lights for $5. Cannonball Pub open for adults.
Sunday, Feb. 7
Super Sunday 2-for-$66. Get your turns in before the big game starts! Two people can ski/ride for just $66!
Saturday, Feb. 13
Family Fun Night, every Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Peabody Base Area. Movie for kids in the Brookside Lodge, Huckerbrook Mini-Park open under the lights for $5 and the Cannonball Pub open for adults.
Friday, Feb. 19
WXRV 92.5 Ski & Ride the River Day: 92.5 River listeners ski and ride at Cannon for the day. Apres party in the Cannonball Pub with a River Rising Star performance and giveaways.
Saturday, Feb. 20
Family Fun Night with Fireworks and Torchlight, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Peabody Base Area.
Movie for kids in the Brookside Lodge. Huckerbrook Mini-Park open under the lights for $5 and the Cannonball Pub open for adults.

Wildcat Mountain
Route 16, Pinkham Notch
Phone: 603-466-3326
On the Web: www.skiwildcat.com
Sunday, Feb. 7
Bill Cameron and $25 Afternoon Half-Day Tickets: Live entertainment brought to you by singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Bill Cameron. Enjoy some lunch and a warm cocktail or a cold beer while you listen to some great music. Offering afternoon or half-day lift tickets for $25.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Cardboard “Kitty Litter” Box Race: Whether the kids make it fast, fancy, or just plain fun, don’t miss cheering on your favorite cardboard box bomber. Only rule is the bottom surface must be cardboard.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Nine Lives Lunch Tray Luge: All those times you used to get kicked off the mountain for sliding down on a lunch tray? Well, this time it’s going to be fun and competitive.
Friday, Feb. 26
Start the weekend early with a $9 lift ticket and be sure to upgrade your ticket that same day before 3 p.m. to ski or ride again the following day for only $39. Make it a 3-day weekend for only $87, that’s less than $30 a day.