Mount Snow, Vermont (May 22, 2002) - Break out those ten-gallon hats and shine up your boots for the best cowboys and cowgirls east of the Mississippi. Mount Snow is very excited to announce the Green Mountain Grand Rodeo Weekend. From July 5-7 the Deerfield Valley will be hosting one long and festive weekend…Western Style!

The Pond Hill Pro Rodeo Company, one of the most respected rodeo company’s in North America, brings their unique brand of rodeo to Southern Vermont. Known for raising some of the toughest bulls, the most furious broncos and highly knowledgeable event horses, Pond Hill will put on a full three days of rodeos. Sanctioned by the American Professional Rodeo Association, this is the real deal. To satisfy your rodeo hunger, eight events will take place each day including a slew of roping competitions, barrel racing, steer wrestling, ever-popular bull riding events and some of the funniest clowns in the Northeast.

Be ready for fun, food and music at this three-day event with Midway style food, a huge BBQ, multiple full bars, a sponsor village with rodeo products and demonstrations, several live country bands, a Hoe-Down and a supervised kids zone with games and activities, and much more.

The weekend kicks off Friday evening at 7:30 pm. Tickets will be on sale beginning at 4:30 pm with gates opening at 5 pm. On Saturday, ticket sales will begin at 11:30 am with gates opening at 5 pm with an official start of 7:30 pm. Sunday tickets will be on sale beginning at 11:30 am with gates opening at noon with a 2 pm rodeo start time. Pricing will be $16 for adults and $10 for children 6-12. Kids 5 and under are FREE!

That same weekend on Saturday July 6, Mount Snow once again hosts the International Chili Society’s 14th Annual Vermont State Chili Cook off and Salsa, Too! Professional and amateur chili cooks from across New England put their best chili and/or salsa to the test ? armed with a culinary arsenal of family secrets, special recipes and plain old Yankee ingenuity ? to try to win the overall title and a piece of the $2,000 cash purse.

The 14th Annual Vermont State Chili Cook off is held in the Main Base Area from 12:00 pm until the last of the chili and salsa are served. Guests are encouraged to arrive when tasting begins at noon to enjoy all the delicious salsa and chili. Free parking is available. Competition openings are available, and interested chili or salsa cooks should call 802-464-1100 (ext. 4677) for an application.

Don’t miss this exciting activity filled 4th of July weekend at Mount Snow. For more information please call 1-800-245-SNOW or log on to mountsnow.com. Weekend ticket and lodging packages are available.

Headquartered in Newry, Maine, the American Skiing Company is the largest operator of alpine ski, snowboard and golf resorts in the United States. Its resorts include Steamboat in Colorado; Killington, Mount Snow in Vermont; Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine; Attitash Bear Peak in New Hampshire and The Canyons in Utah. More information is available on the company’s website at peaks.com.