This New Year's Eve, many of New York State's downhill ski areas will be in a festive mood with parties, torchlight parades, fireworks and more as they welcome the arrival of 2005. In the Catskills, Windham Mountain, in Windham, holds its annual New Year's celebration, with fun the name of the game at the Mt. Grill and Legends Lounge. The celebration includes an apr�s ski party with lots of giveaways, dancing and a special menu from the Mt. Grill. At 9 p.m., you can enjoy fireworks from the deck of the lodge, the Legends Lounge or during your last run of night skiing. At the conclusion of the fireworks, enjoy a champagne toast and party favors. For something a little more intimate and elegant, Vines Bistro & Wine Bar located at the Winwood Inn has an elegant menu with an intimate atmosphere. For reservations call (518) 734-3000. Also in the region, in Hunter, Hunter Mountain is celebrating the New Year by lighting up the slopes and the sky. Hunter's annual New Year's Eve torchlight parade (with nearly 100 skiers wielding torches) begins at 7:30 p.m., to be followed immediately with a magnificent fireworks display. In the Finger Lakes region, Greek Peak Ski Resort in Cortland is holding a New Year's Eve party in Orion's pub from 6-10 p.m., with the slopes open until 10 p.m. The festivities also include a torchlight parade, fireworks, live music and special activities for children. For more information, call (800) 955-2SKI or (607) 835-6111. Also in the Finger Lakes, Bristol Mountain Winter Resort in Canandaigua will be celebrating with fireworks, a buffet, entertainment and more. Call (585) 374-6000. In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region join the fun at the New Year's Eve Celebration at Swain Ski-Snowboard Center, in Swain. Couples are invited to a special dinner buffet in the resort's Wildwood Restaurant, which includes a wide variety of appetizers, entrees, deserts and a complimentary glass of champagne, followed by live music from 9 p.m.-1a.m. The cost is $59.99 per couple; call (607) 545-6511 for more information and reservations (press 2 for Wildwood Dining).

In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region join the fun at the New Year's Eve Celebration at Swain Ski-Snowboard Center, in Swain. Couples are invited to a special dinner buffet inthe resort's Wildwood Restaurant, which includes a wide variety of appetizers, entrees, deserts and a complimentary glass of champagne, followed by live music from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. The cost is $59.99 per couple; call (607) 545-6511 for more information and reservations (press 2 for Wildwood Dining). Also in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, Holiday Valley in Ellicottville is celebrating in rocking style at the Clubhouse Chalet from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. with live music from West. The slopes will be open until 10 p.m., but Cindy's Run will remain open until 11 p.m., with a beautiful torchlight parade at 11:15 p.m. Intermediate or better skiers can take part in the parade, with the first 75 skiers at the bottom of Cindy's chairlift at 11 p.m. accepted. The parade will be followed with a spectacular fireworks display, with the grand finale at midnight. For more information call (716) 699-2345. At Cockaigne Ski Area in Cherry Creek, New Year's weekend festivities include a New Year's Eve torchlight parade at 10 p.m. On January 1 and 2 the ski area will be holding an intro to NASTAR racing, a free clinic with a sign up for an 11 a.m. NASTAR race and a triple treat NASTAR race at 1 p.m. The Cockaigne Holiday Classic takes place on Sunday, January 2 at 11 a.m., with a Southern Tier Brewery Party from 4-8 p.m. with DJ Bear. Call (716) 287-3223 for more information. Peek 'n Peak Resort in Findley Lake has New Year's weekend overnight rooms starting at $220 per night, with a required stay of Friday and Saturday night December 31 - January2. For reservations, call (716) 355-4141, ext. 7154. Peak 'n Peak also has a special New Year's Eve celebration for those under 21 at their main lodge from 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., with free admission and lots of giveaways. In the Greater Niagara region, Kissing Bridge, in Glenwood, will host a torchlight parade, fireworks and New Year's Eve Party. Call (716) 592-4963 for more information. And topping it all off, in the Adirondacks, Gore Mountain in North Creek holds "The Snow Won't Stop Us" Mountain Bike Dual Slalom on January 2. This laugh-filled event has mountain bikers taking to the snow at 1 p.m. in the Arena in a downhill race. Admission is $10; for more information, call (800) 342-1234 or (518) 251-2411. Did you know that snow tubing allows non-skiers to be able to have great downhill winter fun? Tubing requires no skills, just the ability to plop down on a plump, brightly colored air-filled tube and hang on. It's great for both children and adults and you willfind fantastic tubing parks in New York State complete with specially-designed inner tubes, 1000-foot chutes and lifts. In addition, 28 New York State ski areas also offer snow tubing. For information about current snow tubing conditions (including how many towsand chutes are available) at New York's downhill ski areas, dial 1-800-CALL NYS or visit iloveny.com. For the sixth year, Empire State Development's I LOVE NEW YORK campaign is partnering with Ski Areas of New York for the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, which introduces fourth-grade students to winter mountain recreation in New York State. With the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, any fourth grade student - from any state - can take advantage of unmatched and unprecedented skiing and snowboarding values from the New York State mountain resort industry for the 2004-05 winter season. Eligible students will receive a �Passport� book containing three coupons for free skiing and/or snowboarding at each of the participating ski areas in New York State. The only cost is a $15 processing fee. This ski season, I LOVE NEW YORK is giving away a free pair of Rossignol skis. To enter for the giveaway, visit iloveny.com. For more information on the 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport program, up-to-the-minute cross-country and downhill ski reports, a free 2004-05 I LOVE NEW YORK Winter Travel and Ski Guide, and New York State events, attractions and lodging information, dial (800) CALL-NYS or visit the I LOVE NEW YORK Web site at iloveny.com.

###

IMPORTANT: This e-mail message and any attachments contain information intended for the exclusive use ofthe individual(s) or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is proprietary, privileged,