VAIL — In the spring, Highline Sports and Entertainment and Vail Resorts throw a two-week long bash to celebrate the end of ski season. Some powderhounds might argue that this is no time to rejoice.

Those who think it more appropriate to usher in the serendipitous snow of early December with a jovial brouhaha are in luck. Highline and Vail are kicking off the ski season with Snow Daze, a new two-week long event from Dec. 4 to Dec. 17. Emulating the closing season party Spring Back to Vail, Snow Daze will feature two weeks of in-bar parties, concerts and snow events, like a snowman building contest.

“We want to show people that early December is a good time to ski. There’s enough snow to have some fun, and Vail is hoping to have the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin open by then,” Highline Sports and Entertainment Vice President James Deighan said.

For Spring Back to Vail, Highline has booked high-caliber musicians like Snoop Dogg, Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys, Maceo Parker, Blues Traveler and G. Love to headline concerts. Snow Daze is no different. Mix Master Mike is already locked and loaded to return for the second weekend, and rumors are already spreading about who else might “fly” in to play.

A parallel to the World Pond Skimming Championships, Snow Daze will introduce the World Championship of Gulunde Dummy Racing to Vail.

“A team will put together a dummy. The dummy will be constructed on skis or a snowboard. It will down the Golden Peak jump and launch off the jump and try to land,” Deighan said. “Traditionally, the dummies decimate themselves and explode into a thousand pieces. The goal is to land safely.”

For more information about Snow Daze, call Highline Sports and Entertainment at 476-6797.

Arts and Entertainment Editor Cassie Pence can be reached

at 748-2938 or cpence@vail

daily.com.

Vail, Colorado

Powder panic What: Snow Daze. When: Dec. 4-17. Where: Vail. Information: Call Highline Sports and Entertainment at 476-6797.