In a surprise move the Big Snow Festival (www.facebook.com/thebigsnowfestival) has abandoned its roots in Andorra where it was first staged two winters ago, and moved 1000 miles or so East to the other side of southern Europe and the top Serbian resort of Kopaonik.
The Big Snow Festival is one of several British run week long festivals each Spring which mix skiing and boarding with music, dancing and generally having a good time. In the Big Snow Festival's case there's a particularly strong onus on the music side of things and in its first year 80% of festival goers were first timers to snowsports. Many returned for the second event last March in Arinsal.
Kopaonik is an interesting choice. Not currently in any mainstream UK tour operator's brochure, it was a very popular destination for Crystal in the early 1990s when still part of Yugoslavia ahead of the Balkan wars when it was dropped. The company re-introduced it after the second Balkan War ended but then dropped it a few seasons ago citing operation difficulties. That was just at the time that the resorts owners were carrying out a Bansko-like investment in fast lifts and other infrastructure improvements. Kopaonik, at an altitude of 1496m, today offers ski-in, ski-out accommodation, 62km of alpine ski runs and 23 chair lifts and provides venues for The Big Snow Festival parties.
The Big Snow Festival, which is staged from the 23rd to 29th March, has also joined forces with EXIT Team, the creators of the EXIT festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, one of the leading music festivals in the world.
"We are really excited about our new home in Kopaonik. The resort is beautiful and the perfect setting for The Big Snow Festival. By teaming up with EXIT Team, we can most certainly promise our fans a memorable experience for 2012. The line-up is currently under wraps, but you can be sure to expect big things!" said Festival organiser, Deborah Milroy.
Seven night packages to The Big Snow Festival are on sale now at www.nomud.com from £449 per person. Packages include return flights, airport transfers, seven night's accommodation, six day lift pass and Big Snow Festival wristband providing access to all the action and entertainment. Flights are available from London Heathrow, Luton and Manchester airports flying to Belgrade.