One Vermont ski resort is kicking off the 2026-27 season by giving away 750 free lift tickets, offering skiers and snowboarders a chance to hit the slopes without paying a dime during Thanksgiving weekend.
Jay Peak Resort has announced the return of its annual Day for the Devoted celebration on Friday, November 27, with registration for the complimentary tickets opening Tuesday, November 10, at noon Eastern. The giveaway marks the sixth year of the event, which the northern Vermont mountain uses to thank the skiers, snowboarders and employees who support the resort.
“Devotion takes different forms at Jay. Some of it goes into keeping the mountain running. Some of it means making the drive back, year after year. We’re proud to carry on the tradition of appreciating both. Day for the Devoted opens the season with a thank you to the people who make this place what it is, and an invitation to anyone ready to become a part of it. We’re giving away 750 free lift tickets with registration opening Tuesday, November 10th at noon.” -Jay Peak
The resort will not sell regular public lift tickets on November 27. Instead, opening-day access will be reserved for the 750 people who successfully register for free tickets, Jay Peak season passholders, resort employees and guests staying on qualifying ski vacation packages.
How to Get One of the 750 Free Lift Tickets
Registration opens at noon Eastern on November 10, with Jay Peak planning to post the reservation link on its official website and social media accounts. The link has not yet been released, and the limited number of tickets means anyone hoping to participate should be ready when registration begins.
This isn’t the first time Jay Peak has offered free skiing to celebrate the beginning of winter. The resort gave away 750 complimentary opening-day lift tickets in 2025, continuing a tradition designed to recognize the mountain’s loyal skiing and snowboarding community.
Following the November 27 celebration, Jay Peak plans to open to the general public Saturday, November 28, and Sunday, November 29, conditions permitting. The resort has not yet announced which chairlifts or trails will be available during opening weekend.
The celebration will also feature live music and complimentary pizza at the Bullwheel, while a separate Give Back Friday promotion will distribute 300 transferable lift tickets and waterpark passes to members of the resort’s email community.
Jay Peak is also offering Thanksgiving lodging packages starting at $299 per night for a family of four. The Grateful Getaway package includes lift tickets, access to the November 27 opening-day celebration and complimentary admission to the Pump House Indoor Waterpark on the day of arrival.
Jay Peak Already Making Snow Ahead of Its 70th Winter Season
Jay Peak has already enjoyed an unusually early start to snowmaking as it prepares for its 70th winter season.
According to the resort’s November 2 mountain report, snowmaking crews first fired up their equipment October 27 before resuming operations October 30 and running the guns through Halloween night. The work concentrated on upper Jet, Montrealer and Angel’s Wiggle, where colder temperatures allowed crews to begin establishing an early-season base.
Jay Peak says it has made snow in October fewer than five times in its history, making this year’s early snowmaking operations particularly noteworthy. Warmer temperatures have temporarily halted production, but the mountain plans to take advantage of additional cold-weather windows as they develop.
The November 27 opening remains dependent on weather and snow conditions, with Jay Peak encouraging visitors to monitor its mountain report for updates on lift operations and available terrain.
