Belleayre hosts annual Fall Festival this weekend

The annual Fall Festival at the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center will be held this weekend.

The festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking are free.

Seen as an economic boon for the surrounding area, the event draws thousands of people each year, said Belleayre Marketing Director Alexandra Sines.

“We generally expect 5,000 to 8,000 visitors over the weekend,” she said.

Among the attractions is Belleayre’s “Fall Foliage Skyride,” which offers visitors an elevated view of the of the Catskills and their autumn colors.

“We are looking forward to peak fall foliage this weekend for the sky ride,” Sines said.

On the ground, the festival will feature food, vendors, music and more in and around Belleayre’s Overlook Lodge. Bands scheduled to perform include Road House Rockers, 4 Gun Ridge, The Ex Files, the Ben Rounds Band and Thunder Ridge.

Vendors will be display and offer for sale such things as paintings, photographs, hand-crafted jewelry, handmade dolls, clothing and accessories.

There also will be pumpkin decorating, a bounce house, face painting, a clown making balloon animals and visits from Smokey Bear and Ulster County Sheriff’s Office dog Maverick.

Centerplate will offer German food and beverages.

Skiers looking to get a jump on the upcoming season, meanwhile, can buy season passes, lift tickets and equipment during the festival.

The Belleayre Mountain Ski Center is at 181 Galli Curci Road, off state Route 28 in the Shandaken hamlet of Highmount. (The turnoff onto Galli Curci Road is about 33 miles up Route 28 from the Thruway Exit 19 roundabout in the town of Ulster.) For more information about the ski center or the Fall Festival, call (845) 254-6500 or go to the website www.belleayre.com.