They’re all smiles these days at Holiday Valley. What more could you ask? There’s plenty of fresh fallen snow with temperatures dropping into the teens. Western New York is ready for winter. People in Springville are flooding their backyards for ice skating. And at Holiday Valley, the New Year arrived with a time-proven celebration of the season on New Year’s Eve, starting with a torchlight parade.
People who did not take part in the parade are always welcome to watch. Plenty of skiers took the opportunity to join the parade, a prelude to the fireworks show. People showed up at the lift at around 11:15 for the parade. The fireworks began around 11:45, leading up to the grand finale at midnight. So how do the fireworks get up the mountain? Holiday Valley Marketing Director Jane Eshbaugh said the method varies slightly from year to year, usually involving some type of Snow Cat or some type of machine that pulls the truck up the hill. She notes, “It was a Holiday Valley tractor that pulled them (the fireworks) up to the site. It was a bit of a challenge, but we made it.” Fireworks are provided by Young Explosives Corporation in Rochester.
The fireworks and accompanying party were well attended. “The Holiday Valley bar was open until 2 o’clock, and we had about 2,000 people who attended the fireworks and the (indoor) party. It was very busy, and it was great!” Many people come to watch the fireworks display from across the street in the parking lot. Eshbaugh says, “You can even see them (the fireworks) from downtown. So lots of people were able to ring in the New Year.” The party at the main lodge featured DJ John Barry, who put two speakers outside for all to hear during the aerial display. And there were contests with prizes given away. “We tried to give it a family atmosphere this year, so that people of all ages could enjoy (the festivities).
Jane Eshbaugh knows they’ve had a New Year’s fireworks for “a long time,” but she’s not exactly sure when the tradition started. “I remember when I had my first child, and she just turned 25 on December 30th. I was still in the hospital with her and they all called me in my room, and they were watching the fireworks. So it’s been at least 25 years. I wanted to be watching the fireworks, but having my child was definitely worth it (missing the show).”
As for the latest snow, at least sixteen inches fell at Holiday Valley during the first January blast of arctic weather, which is an encouraging development for Eshbaugh. “It’s been on again, off again, but we’re expecting quite a bit more.” That’s welcome news, enough to bring the TV crew cameras out from Buffalo to show all the smiling skiers.
