Though scheduled to close today at 5 p.m. due to inclement weather, Blue Mountain Ski Area could be a hotbed destination come this weekend.

That's when the ski area in Lower Towamensing Township will host its Winter Festival. The free event will be held at both the Summit and Valley Lodges from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.It will feature The 2013 Luge Challenge, with open training on course sponsored by the US Olympic Luge Team from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Other highlighted activities include Ma-Luk Dog Sledding; ice carvings; wood Carving; dog sledding; snow shoe demos; live entertainment from 2-6 p.m. in the Alpine Ballroom; a Torch Parade at 6 p.m., and fireworks by Young Explosives at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.Snow tubing is closed today, according to its web site,

www.skibluemt.com. Normal operations will resume tomorrow, according to the site.