Event Previews & Reviews from Alpe d'Huez

New Years’ Eve is always a big night here in Alpe d’Huez and this year was no exception. The weather wasn’t great for a “pub crawl” but, hey, it’s NYE, so we braved the conditions and headed out – out out!

You know the ski season has officially started when La Folie Douce opens its doors, the music starts pumping, the champagne corks start popping and crowds of people jump up to dance on tables in their ski boots.

Whether you fancy a trip to the PicBlanc, a peaceful and tranquil tour of the historic church or the hustle and bustle of an ice hockey match there’s always plenty of things to do away from the slopes.

This weekend (Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th March 2017) ski cross legend Ophelie David hosts her annual "Ofe X Weekend" here in Alpe d’Huez.

New Years Eve celebrations certainly got underway with a bang here in Alpe d’Huez, albeit in somewhat tricky visibility. Celebrations got underway at Les Bergers at just after 5.30pm with a torchlight descent by the ski instructors of ESF Ski School, with hundreds of blue, white and red torches forming a fantastic French tricolour, a truly wonderful sight.

Following on the from the hugely successful ski display on Wednesday evening the “street carnival” was in full swing last night.

2017 certainly arrived with a bang here in Alpe d’Huez with a huge outdoor party at the leisure centre in the middle of resort. Although this is an annual event, it was, in fact, the first time in ten years that I've managed to go. This year with nothing particularly planned we decided to head up and see what it was all about.  

The famous torchlight descents by the fabulous ski instructors of the ESF ski school are always one of the highlights on the events calendar in Alpe d’Huez, and last Wednesday was no exception.