Why Winter Rendezvous Is One of Stowe’s Most Joyful Winter Events
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January 21-25, 2026
For over four decades, Stowe’s Winter Rendezvous has been the ultimate destination for LGBTQ+ winter enthusiasts.
Each January, when Stowe settles into its snow-globe season and the mountains feel especially alive, Winter Rendezvous arrives, turning the town into a festive gathering for the LGBTQ community and supporters.
For five days, it becomes a vibrant celebration. A reminder that winter in Vermont can be joyful, welcoming, and unapologetically fun.
Now in its 41st year, Winter Rendezvous is Stowe’s LGBTQ Winter Pride Festival. Hundreds of people come together from all over the country for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, parties, performances, and the kind of shared moments that only happen when winter adventure and community collide.
A festival built around winter, not just skiing
Yes, skiing and riding are central to the week, with daily time on the slopes at Stowe Mountain Resort, but Winter Rendezvous isn’t only for those chasing vert. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Nordic Center at Trapp Family Lodge offer a quieter way to experience Vermont’s winter woods, and many of the best moments happen off the mountain altogether.
The festival opens on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, with a full day of skiing and Nordic adventures, followed by an opening party at Stowe Bowl. It’s an easy, social start to the week.
Pride on the mountain
Thursday brings one of the most iconic moments of Winter Rendezvous: the Pride Run on Mount Mansfield.
At noon sharp, participants gather at the base of the gondola for a group run down Gondolier, followed by a celebration at the Midway Lodge. Costumes are encouraged, confidence is required, and joy is unavoidable.
That evening shifts gears with a VIP cocktail party at The Alchemist Brewery, where craft beer, wine, and good conversation set the tone. Later, the night continues with Coco Peru at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, followed by karaoke at Alfie’s Wild Ride, where the mood is anything but reserved.
The weekend energy builds
By Friday, the weekend party pass events kick off, and the pace shifts into high gear.
Days begin on the mountain or out on Nordic trails, but afternoons and evenings lean into celebration. A pop-up trunk show at Archery Close adds a bit of shopping into the mix, while the Wet n Wild Pool Party at Trapp Family Lodge turns a winter night into something wonderfully unexpected.
On Saturday, skiing and snowshoeing fill the morning, followed by an ice carving competition at The Alchemist Brewery. In the afternoon, Drag Bingo with the House of LeMay takes over Alfie’s Wild Ride, delivering a touch of glamour, lots of laughter, and even a few prizes.
Saturday evening, comedian Judy Gold takes the stage at Stowe Town Hall Theatre, and then the weekend crescendos with the Blow Out Dance Party. Alfie’s Wild Ride transforms into the largest LGBTQ+ dance party in Vermont, with DJ Steve Sidewalk behind the decks and the dance floor doing exactly what it’s meant to do. Bring people together.
Sunday eases everyone back into the real world gently. There’s time for one last ski day or snowshoe outing, followed by an informal farewell brunch at the Round Hearth Café. It’s a chance to exchange hugs, swap stories, and promise to do it all again next winter.
Why Winter Rendezvous matters
What makes Winter Rendezvous special isn’t just the schedule, impressive as it is.
It’s the way it weaves together outdoor adventure, nightlife, performance, and genuine connection. It’s about visibility in a place that already values community, and about celebrating winter instead of waiting it out.
Stowe, with its snowy trails, welcoming inns, and lively village, feels like a natural home for this festival. For longtime attendees, Winter Rendezvous is a tradition. For first-timers, it often becomes one. And for anyone who believes winter can be vibrant, inclusive, and full of life, it’s five days that prove exactly that.
Don’t Wait!
Secure your passes today. Whether you come for the skiing or the parties, Winter Rendezvous promises a magical experience that will leave you counting down the days until next year.
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Vermont Explored and Back Road Ramblers, an American road trip blog. She is also the co-author of the 3rd edition of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont, released in May 2023, and the author of 100+ Wonderful Ways to Experience Vermont.
