NEWSLETTER
LGBTQ+ Community Invited to Two-Day Event at Belleayre Mountain in The Catskills
Albany, N.Y. – A new event in 2024 will add wintertime wonder to the roster of activities available to LGBTQ+ residents and travelers in New York State. The Capital Region’s first-ever Pride Ski Weekend will be held January 20 – 21 at Belleayre Mountain, featuring two fabulous days of slope-side fun for the LGBTQ+ community.
Hosted by the Pride Center of the Capital Region in partnership with Belleayre Mountain, Ulster County Tourism & Office of Film, SKI NY and I LOVE NY LGBTQ, the 2024 Pride Ski Weekend will support the state’s LGBTQ+ community with an inclusive two-day event unlike any other. Special lift ticket packages are offered to registered guests, and an Après Ski Tea Dance with DJ RVMBA sets the stage for more fun from 4 – 7 p.m. on Saturday. Ski lessons and equipment rentals also are available at the Olympic Authority venue, and additional events are currently in development. The scenic Catskills destination spans 174 acres with the region’s only gondola lift and a variety of trails that welcome all ages and abilities, all within a 2.5-hour drive from New York City.
Free event registration ensures participants receive access to Pride Ski Weekend news and lift ticket package information.
The Pride Center of the Capital Region’s Executive Director Nathaniel Gray said, “The Pride Center is proud to partner with New York State and local partners to bring this fabulous weekend to the Catskills. Our programming spans several counties, and we know the power and importance of visibility and community building wherever LGBTQ+ people live to build a culture of affirmation and support. We hope that this joyful event is an opportunity for people to make new friends and connections, shake off the cabin fever and discover wonderful spaces all across New York State to visit time and again.”
I LOVE NY Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "New York is proud to be the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, and it’s only fitting that we continue to offer special events that celebrate our rich diversity. New York State has more ski areas than any other state in the country, so whether you’re carving up the mountain, just learning, or looking for some quality lodge time, Belleayre’s winter wonderland makes the perfect backdrop for a memorable gathering of friends at the state’s only Pride Ski Weekend.”
Belleayre Mountain General Manager Bruce Transue said, ““We are excited to partner with the Pride Center of the Capital Region, Ulster County, I LOVE NY and SANY, and welcome everyone to Belleayre Mountain. Outdoor recreation and skiing builds community and friendships. We look forward to hosting this event in January and introducing new friends and family to our community.”
Ulster County Tourism & Office of Film Director Lisa Berger said, “With more than 70 years of skiing and winter sports in the heart of the Catskills, Belleayre and Ulster County are an ideal choice to welcome the Capital Region’s first Pride Ski Weekend that is both inclusive and easily accessible from the city.”
SKI NY Executive Director Scott Brandi said, “As the home of New York’s original chairlift and today’s only gondola in the Catskills, Belleayre is the perfect location to launch this first Pride Center of the Capital Region event. The fun challenges and social atmosphere skiing provides to connect with others in a beautiful, natural environment make it an ideal activity to anchor this inclusive Pride Ski Weekend.”
About The Pride Center of the Capital Region
The Pride Center of the Capital Region is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ community center in the country. Located at 332 Hudson Avenue in Albany, the Pride Center serves LGBTQ+ people of all ages, racial backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders across nine counties. For more information: www.capitalpridecenter.org or (518) 462-6138.
CONTACT:
Nathaniel Gray | all pronouns
Executive Director
Pride Center of the Capital Region
518 462-6138 ext 1001