NEWRY, Maine — Sunday River has designed the third week in January specifically for families. Children’s Festival Week offers free skiing, lodging and learning for kids plus a jam-packed youth oriented entertainment schedule.

Children’s Festival Week at Sunday River will kick off with a bang at the Welcome Party as kids get the chance to enjoy a fireworks display, torchlight parade and bonfire with marshmallows. The week’s entertainment will include a Hot Peas ‘n Butter concert on January 15, and a Mad Science show on January 17. Also, a Festival Night in the Grand Summit Hotel’s Ballroom complete with face painting, a bounce house, crafts, games, movies and contests is scheduled.

Other activities will include scavenger hunts, a snow painting contest, family trivia night, ice-skating and snow tubing at the White Cap Fun Center. Kids dinner specials will also be available at the on-mountain restaurants throughout the week.

“Spending time on the slopes with your family is about as good as it gets for a parent,” said Jim Costello, proud dad and Sunday River VP of Brand Management. “A quality family vacation experience is about more than snow, which will be plentiful, but also about keeping the kids entertained and the parents relaxed. Our Children’s Festival Week is tailor made for families, from the free factor to the entertainment.”

Packages start at $90 per night for the adults while accompanying kids can receive free skiing, lodging, full-day Perfect Turn clinics and rentals. Guests are urged to call (800) 543-2SKI to reserve their Children’s Festival Week package. Lodging check in for the Festival Week begins on Sunday, Jan. 13.

More information on the Children’s Festival Week schedule of events is available at www.sundayriver.com/childrensfestival.html.