An armor-clad soldier thrusts a sword toward the sky in a mountain meadow.  No, it isn’t a scene from a Viking battle—it’s an attendee at one of the many mountain festivals where travelers can enjoy good food, wine and lots of alpine recreation. Here are some of the top upcoming celebrations.

Savor the Summit 

Loosen your belts, foodies. On June 22, diners and winers from all walks of life will flock to Park City, Utah, as Main Street turns into one long alfresco dinner table for Savor the Summit. This is not your average dinner party, however: Celebrity chefs from more than 30 restaurants will be serving their specialties to more than 2,500 participants, making it the largest dinner party in the state. The summer solstice fling features a portfolio of menus and pricing, plus live music, which can be enjoyed free by nonparticipants at The Spirit Garden.

Wanderlust Festival

If you crave fitness more than food, trek on over to Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in Olympic Valley, California, on July 18–21 for live music, outdoor yoga classes (think Acroyoga) and guided adventures at Wanderlust Festival, an event for the inner explorer to unplug and recharge.  The setting in Squaw Valley spreads across six peaks and 4,000 acres, and is the perfect venue for wellness worshipers to partake in mountaintop meditations, sample sustainable food and enjoy a “speakeasy” of mindful living.

Vermont Renaissance Faire

Think Game of Thrones when you head to Vermont Renaissance Faire, a hit since it opened in 2016. On tap for the event, slated for June 22–23 in Stowe, are a fist-full of festivities, including fiddling, dueling, jousting and living history reenactments. If you stay at Stowe Mountain Resort, you can end the day with a Gondola SkyRide offering panoramic views.

Alaska Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

One of the most famous outdoor festivals is Alaska Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, held every spring come rain, shine or blizzards. On March 2, more than 40 dog mushers will gather in Anchorage to face bone-chilling weather as well as grueling bumps and roots as they and their canines race through whiteouts, wind chill sometimes reaching minus 100 degrees, and a harsh landscape of tundra, mountain passes and rivers.

Read more in Kristine White’s story, “Shredding New Heights for Meetings: Wide Variety of Rad Mountain Resorts are Available Year-Round,” in the January issue of Smart Meetings. Coming soon online.

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