Anthony Lakes Hosts 12th Annual Taste of Nordic Event Sunday, March 22

Twelve local vendors will fan out across the Nordic trails at Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort this Sunday for the 12th annual Taste of Nordic, offering food and drink samples priced by token from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Skiers, snowshoers, and walkers can loop the cross-country trails while stopping at stations run by Barley Brown's Brewpub, The Cabyn, Campbell's Catering and Sweets, Eastside Bakery, The Laurel Cocktail and Board Bar, Liberty Theater Cafe, North 7 Brewing, Prodigal Son Brewing, The Rustic Nail, Side A Brewing, The Depot, and Tiger Town Brewing. Each vendor charges one token per taste.

"We invite everyone to come up for Taste of Nordic," said Chelsea Judy, Anthony Lakes marketing director. "It's a great way to get your family outside and enjoy local food and beverages. The scenery is pretty great too."

Tokens cost $4 each, with three bundled packages available for those who plan to make a full afternoon of it: The Hot Lap (one cup plus five tokens) runs $30; The Mingler (one cup plus 15 tokens) is $70; and The Mingling Duo (two cups plus 30 tokens) is $140. Commemorative reusable cups are also sold separately for $15 while supplies last.

Every participant must hold a valid trail pass. A single-day pass costs $20, or $10 for ages 7 to 11. Ski and snowshoe rentals are available for $25. Tokens can be purchased in advance at the Main Lodge and Nordic Outpost, or along the trails on the day of the event. Those 21 and older will need a wristband, and IDs are checked at the time of token purchase.

The event has built a regional following. According to 2024 reporting, Taste of Nordic drew nearly 400 participants in 2023, with almost half traveling from outside the area, including from Boise, the Tri-Cities, and Portland.

The weekend at Anthony Lakes does not end with Sunday's tasting event. The following weekend, Broadway Blast returns March 28 and 29 as a fundraiser for the Anthony Lakes Ski Racing Association, featuring a Super-G ($30, 10 a.m.), Nordic Sprint ($15, 9:30 a.m.), and Gelande Jump ($15, 10:30 a.m.). The competition is open to all ages; registration closes March 26 at anthonylakesskirace.org. Slapjack Casualty plays live on Saturday, March 28, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort is located at 47500 Anthony Lakes Hwy in North Powder and operates Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in partnership with the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest under a special use permit.