Hidden Valley will reduce the price of its lift tickets beginning March 9 and wrap up the season with a win-win-win-win for skiers and snowboarders and food banks in Allegheny and Somerset counties.

The resort, which has been charging $20 for lift tickets for adults and children for any session Monday through Thursday, will drop that price to $15 from March 9- 13. Lift tickets for adults and children will cost $25 March 14, a Saturday, and drop back to $15 March 15.

The resort will close its slopes and trails March 16-19 and reopen them for the final weekend of the season, March 20-22. The "cost" of a lift ticket on each of those days will be a $10 donation or canned goods valued at that amount to be given to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and its counterpart in Somerset County.

Spokesman Bob Duppstadt said the resort's family-friendly prices have created a lot of positive "buzz" this season. They've succeeded in drawing more skiers and snowboarders who also were impressed with the quality and quantity of the snow generated by Hidden Valley's TechnoAlpin snowmaking equipment, he said.

The resort will have its Second Spring Carnival next weekend -- Friday, next Saturday and March 8 -- with games, activities and entertainment. It will begin Friday with family snowtubing and a bonfire from 7- 9 p.m. at Outback Park. A celebration of spring will be from 8- 10 p.m. at the Pub & Grill restaurant that fronts Outback Park.

Duppstadt said the U-shaped plaza surrounded by the base lodge building will be transformed into a boardwalk next Saturday and March 8, where vendors will sell "barbecued goodies, kettle corn, cotton candy, funnel cakes, chocolate delicacies and other treats.

"The entire family will enjoy contests and carnival games, free caricatures, face-painting and a strolling magician," he said. "There will be a wide variety of events for everyone to participate in during the carnival. The events are all about having fun with the entire family."

Some events, such as the Family Obstacle Course and the Captain's Awesome Pirate Adventure, will require guests to be on skis or a snowboard and navigate various "challenges" as they descend the beginner slope. Other activities include a snowtubing race, tug-of-war, snow volleyball, a hula hoop contest and a closest-to-the-pin snow golf game.

The resort's Wintersports U will offer a free Introduction to Terrain Parks next Saturday and March 8 for children ages 7- 12. A valid lift ticket is required.

The Clock Tower restaurant will take on the appearance of a beach getaway when its chefs and culinary crew serve a luau dinner buffet from 5-9 p.m. next Saturday. The cost is $19.95. For reservations, call 1-814-443-8000, Ext. 345. The resort has packages that start at $85 per person and include lodging and lift tickets.

Co-sponsoring the Spring Carnival are W.G. Land Co., BLTS Enterprises, Guest Supply, Lezzer Lumber, Liberty Roofing, Safari Cleaners, Sarnelli's and Somerset Pressure Washing.

For more information on the carnival, go to www.hiddenvalleyresort.com.

To introduce more people to midweek skiing and snowboarding, Seven Springs, Wendy's and WPGH-TV are co-sponsoring a buy one lift ticket, get a second one for 99 cents offer every Wednesday in March. The two-tone blue "Wendy's Wednesdays" vouchers are available at the restaurants, but you may have to ask for them. For more information, go to www.7springs.com or call toll-free 1-800-452-2223.

Wisp also is encouraging skiers and snowboarders to "come on down" to western Maryland on weekdays for a money-saving offer. It includes $21 lift tickets, $15 night lift tickets, a $36 extended day lift ticket that includes rental equipment and/or an $8 snowtubing ticket for the Bear Claw Tubing Park.

The offer is extended to students with a valid photo ID on Tuesdays, to "locals" on Wednesdays when "everyone is considered a local" and to anyone on Thursdays who shows a season pass from another ski area.

Go to www.wispresort.com or 1-301-387-4911.