Gaining speed

What: Momentum Ski Festival
Where: Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland
When: March 13-16

Crans boasts some of the most breathtaking views in the Alps, from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, as well as dozens of amazing hotels and great restaurants.

In this idyllic setting, the Momentum Ski Festival comprises three events: the City Ski Championships, the Alpine Business Forum and Momentum Après-Ski.

This is one of Switzerland’s swankiest, yet lesser-known, resorts and offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy downhill racing, live music and comedy.

Celebrity guests include British Olympians Amy Williams and Graham Bell and the likes of Colin Jackson, Damon Hill and BBC-friendly comedian Marcus Brigstocke.

www.festival.momentumski.com

Get wild on the slopes

What: Rock the Pistes Festival
Where: Portes du Soleil, France and Switzerland
When: March 14-21

Now in its fifth edition, the radical Rock the Pistes Festival invites snow lovers to concerts staged in the wildest ski area settings.

This week-long event takes place across the entire Portes du Soleil area on the French-Swiss border, with events happening in a different resort each day.

The festival features a wide range of French and international artists and since the concerts are free, all you need is your lift-pass.

Headliners this year include British singer-songwriter Charlie Winston (think Ray Charles and Tom Waites), Dub Inc – France’s very own home-grown reggae band – and The Do, whose music blends groove, rock, pop, electro and symphonic orchestration.

www.rockthepistes.com

Haughty laughter

Altitude Comedy Festival is blessed with stunning Alpine peaks, panoramic snow-covered plateaus, fragrant pine forests, 200-year-old barns and a nightclub made entirely of snow

What: Altitude Comedy Festival
Where: Mayrhofen, Austria
When: March 23-27

Dry ice meets dry humour at the Altitude Comedy Festival in Austria at the end of March. The comedy this year looks set to be as attractive as its 625 kilometres of pistes, Austria’s steepest piste, a 3,286-metre glacier and an award-winning terrain park.

Held at an array of venues around Mayrhofen, this year’s line-up is headlined by zany British funnyman Bill Bailey, followed closely by Sean Lock, the Boy with Tape on his Face, Marcus Brigstocke and Gina Yashere, to name a few.

Of course, a festival is only as good as its setting and this one is blessed with stunning Alpine peaks, panoramic snow-covered plateaus, fragrant pine forests, 200-year-old traditionally built wooden barns… and a nightclub made entirely from snow!

www.altitudefestival.com

Party in the snow

What: Snowbombing
Where: Mayrhofen, Austria
When: April 6-11

What could be more fun than a fancy dress party? Yes, a fancy dress party on the slopes.

Snowbombing is a week's whirlwind of international DJs and bands.

Days are spent on the slopes, enjoying music across five mountain-top stages or relaxing in the spa of a four-star hotel.

Nights deliver cutting edge performances from world-class acts in unique venues, from a sky-high igloo to an enchanted forest clearing. This year’s the organisers have pulled in some of the biggest festival names, including Rudimental, Skrillex, Basement Jaxx, Gorgon City, Fat Boy Slim and Sub Focus.

But make sure you come prepared: Snowbombing is also known for fancy dress and hosts Austria’s largest fancy dress street party.

www.snowbombing.com

Easter on the slopes

What: Top of the Mountain
Where: Ischgl, Austria
When: April 5 and May 2

Elton John was the first to grace the mountain stage in 1995 and previous events have seen Robbie Williams, Mel C, Mariah Carey, Pink, Kylie, Katy Perry and James Blunt close the one of three Top of the Mountain concerts held each season in Ischgl, the biggest open-air arena in the mountains.

www.ischgl.com

Melting moments

What: Hot Ice Festival
Where: Val d’Isère, France
When: April 11–May 3

If you’re a fan of slush and spring, then the Hot Ice Festival is for you.

For skiers, ‘Hot Ice’ simply translates as amazing spring snow as the top layer melts in the mornings, providing a beautifully soft bed for perfect skiing. But there’s something for everyone with Val d’Isere’s progamme throughout the whole of April.

Try out a yooner or an airboard, see how controlled avalanches are detonated, go chamois or ibex watching, take wildlife walks or simply take advantage of festive Thursdays with ice sculpting and music in the main square.

It promises to be a great finale to the end of season: three weeks’ worth of spring snow and end of season parties.

www.valdisere.com