Start Gate – Awards Ceremony and Street Dance

The highlight of the trip for most students, is the fun, exciting and music filled Winter Park Ski-Music Festival Awards Ceremony/Street Dance! The Awards Ceremony will be held at the conclusion of each festival week’s performances.  The awards ceremony location will be held at the base of the Winter Park Ski Resort, within an outdoor plaza near Starbucks, and the Zephyr Mountain Lodge (Slopeside building).  For your comfort- PLEASE DRESS WARMLY!!!

The awards ceremony/street dance will be held on these dates for each festival week:

• March 26-29, 2020 festival week: Saturday March 28th 
• April 2-5, 2020 festival week: Saturday April 4th 
• April 8-12, 2020 festival week: Friday April 10th
• April 16-19, 2020 festival week: Saturday 18th 

For groups arriving at the resort via bus or motor coach, prior to the awards ceremony, parking will be at the Vintage Hotel parking lot, above the resort base.  Groups will descend from the Vintage Hotel parking lot, to the resort base via the Cabriolet Lift.  The Cabriolet Lift is normally closed in the evenings, but will reopen each awards evening at 6:45 pm for arriving groups.

CLICK HERE to view a map of  of the Vintage Hotel parking location, awards location at the base, and event times.

6:45 pm: Village Cabriolet Lift from Vintage Hotel  parking lot opens  (for groups arriving/parking with buses and motor coaches) .

6:45 pm: Pre-awards street dance music begins

7:15 pm: Two members from EACH performing ensemble meets with festival staff

7:30 pm: Awards ceremony begins

8:00 pm:  Street dance continues, and directors’ reception begins

9:00 pm:  Street dance concludes

9:15 pm:  Village Cabriolet Lift to Vintage  parking lot closes (and this would be a long walk  back)

Dance music will begin at approximately 6:45 pm each Award Ceremony date with the Awards Ceremony portion beginning promptly at 7:30 pm. After welcoming all attending groups and the singing of our national anthem- all performing groups will be awarded their winning trophies. The street dance will continue after the presentation of awards.  The dance portion will conclude at 9:00 pm.  A group can depart sooner if they desire.

We will ask for two enthusiastic members of each performing ensemble to meet us  at 7:15 pm, prior to awards ceremony.   These 2 ensemble members will receive trophies on an elevated stage (with upward walking ramp) for their ensemble during the awards. Directors should choose these persons ahead of time, for each ensemble.

Awards Ceremony safety is of the utmost importance of the Winter Park Ski-Music Festival.  Any behavior that might put a student and/or other attendees in any harm WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.  Slam dancing, mashing, sitting on people’s shoulders, passing people overhead and/or throwing snowballs or any object are definitely prohibited. If these or any other dangerous activities are exhibited- the awards and/or dance will be halted until these activities cease. Attending adults/chaperones should always be present to monitor the presence and behavior of their group’s attendees. Local law enforcement officials are hired during the entire event to further insure such safety. We want the Awards Ceremony and Street Dance to be an enjoyable experience for everyone.