Local bands and fireworks light up Montage Mountainfest in Scranton on March 6
Back in July, Montage Mountain announced that chart-topping jam band Spin Doctors would headline the Scranton ski resort’s next Mountainfest on March 6, 2021.
The persistence of the coronavirus pandemic has changed those plans, forcing Spin Doctors to bow out, but Mountainfest is still happening this Saturday with a lineup of local bands, a scavenger hunt, indoor and outdoor bars, food, and fireworks. The all-ages event will be held snow or shine, so attendees are asked to dress for the cold.
Wilkes-Barre blues rockers Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen will open in the morning, followed by country group The Wells River Band and Scranton pop rock quartet Modern Ties in the afternoon.
“The show must go on! We’re adapting Mountainfest this year. Although we were hopeful to have a repeat of last year’s event, it’s just not reality. So we’re shifting a bit and making lemonade (not literally)!” Montage posted on the Facebook event page.
“We’ll have live local bands at Midland, a scavenger hunt for some great prizes including a Breckenridge Brewing Never Summer Snowboard, 2021-22 Winter Season Memberships, and other cool swag along with a fireworks display at 7:30 p.m.! Everyone’s invited, and we’re excited to have some fun at Mountainfest any way we can this season! So grab your skis or board, enjoy some turns, kick back, and see the show!”
All winter season passholders will receive a general admission ticket to Mountainfest as part of their annual pass. Memberships and lift tickets for all on-snow activities (skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and the scavenger hunt) can be purchased now at montagemountainresorts.com. The music and fireworks are free to enjoy.
Montage Mountainfest schedule
Scavenger hunt
9 a.m.: Morning hunt
2 p.m.: Afternoon hunt
Midland band box
10 a.m.: Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen
1 p.m.: The Wells River Band
4:30 p.m.: Modern Ties
Fireworks display
7:30 p.m.: Show start
The fifth annual Mountainfest, which was held just before the state-wide COVID-19 shutdown last March, was headlined by multi-platinum alternative rock band Gin Blossoms. Scranton’s own Tom Petty Appreciation Band opened the show with the iconic music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The adjacent Pavilion at Montage Mountain, which is operated separately by Live Nation, canceled all of its summer concerts due to the pandemic, though Live Nation is hopeful that outdoor shows could return by midsummer.
See NEPA Scene’s photos of the 2020 Mountainfest here.
