Jingle bell rock

ISCHGL, AUSTRIA
Fly to Friedrichshafen from Liverpool, Dublin and London (Stansted)
Every resort likes to punch above its weight, but someone at the Ischgl tourist board clearly likes to indulge in a bit of blue-sky thinking. How else to explain the hugely extravagant rock concerts held in the town square of this traditional Austrian resort each winter? Rock legends who might have bemusedly shouted “Hello Switzerland!” to a thousands-strong Austrian crowd in recent years include Sting, Elton John, the Scissor Sisters and even Bob flippin’ Dylan. At the time of writing, the headliner for the Top of the Mountain Easter Concert (23 March) had yet to be announced, but Rihanna was playing the opening gig in December, so it’s bound to be the usual screamingly camp and hugely enjoyable culture clash. Whether the strategy is propelling Ischgl to the top of the resort tree is something of a moot point. But it sure as hell gives the locals some incredible parties to attend each year.

Buena pista social club

NASSFELD, AUSTRIA
Also fly to Klagenfurt from London (Stansted)
Sleepy little Nassfeld in the relatively unknown Carinthia region of Austria is, on the sly, quite a forward-thinking ski resort. Take for instance the opening of the futuristic Cube hotel in recent years (www.cube-hotels.com), the very model of sleek, up-to-date hostel accommodation. And the resort itself is pretty under-rated, with great snow-sure pistes and a weekly floodlit ski night on a Wednesday that usually degenerates into a riotous booze-up. But this winter, save it for the Festa de Cuba on 30 March. Kicking off at a frankly fatetempting 11am, it promises to be a sambadancing, Caipirinha-supping conga of a do, with Cuban dancers and barkeepers to keep it all authentic. Well, as authentic as a Cuban festival in an Austrian ski resort ever can be.

Get slushed

RONPLATZ/ PLANS DE CORONES
Fly to Venice (Treviso) from Bremen, Dublin, Shannon and 10 other destinations across the Ryanair network
There’s just something about skiing or snowboarding into or across water that is endlessly appealing. Especially towards the end of the winter, when the sun is high and huge slush puddles abound. Little wonder then, that the South Tyrolean resort of Kronplatz plays host to the Locknfescht (13 April) each spring. The basic idea is to try and ski across the huge puddle of meltwater that forms at the base of the resort each year, usually while fuelled by an unorthodox mix of schnapps and bravado. That everyone inevitably fails to make it across only adds to the party atmosphere. Expect to see beds, baths, cars and anything that could be vaguely expected to make it across thrown into the fray as the day progresses and the local brews flow freely.

Flying saucers

MAYRHOFEN, AUSTRIA
Fly to Salzburg from seven destinations across theRyanair network
Unconfirmed rumours that the first Snowbombing event ended with Bez and various saucer-eyed luminaries of the UK snowboarding scene putting on an impromptu dawn rave in a local school hall with a set of stolen decks pretty much gives you a good indication as to what to expect. It is a mash-up, and no mistake. Now firmly established on the circuit, Snowbombing has followed the Ibiza-like trend of booking guitar acts as well as top DJs, so expect cutting-edge indie acts, old legends – Madness are headlining at this year’s event – and the likes of Calvin Harris wandering around in over-sized ski wear, as well as thousands of revellers taking this tiny, seen-it-all Austrian resort by storm from 31 March–6 April.

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