A Day at Subaru WinterFest

Before signing on to work with Car Talk, I'd only ever owned VWs and Toyotas. The VW was a dark blue 1969 Beetle, a cozy cute little death trap with pearly white interior and an impressive oil leak. After that, there were a string of not-so-gently used cars that were in my budget and guaranteed to get me to work roughly 85% of the time. When I was finally able to afford a decent vehicle, I went with what everyone around me said was one of the most reliable brands in the market at the time, Toyota. I got a Prius, which was very appropriate for a 20-something blonde girl living in Los Angeles with two rescue dogs.

When I first came on as managing editor of Car Talk, I was handed the reins by automotive journalist and master editor, Craig Fitzgerald. Craig's experience and breadth of knowledge in automotive is astounding. I had a lot to learn to fill his shoes. He was leaving to take on a position as Automotive Editor for Subaru Drive, the award-winning publication from Subaru which highlights the brand purpose, the lifestyle, owner stories and information about the vehicles themselves. It was then that I took a keen interest in Subaru, their initiatives, their outdoor enthusiast ethos, and the adventure culture that is fostered within their brand.

Page forward a few years, and I've found myself living deep in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of over 7,000 feet, tackling the snow packed roads and icy weather in my own Subaru Outback Wilderness, a purchase which was thoroughly researched and recommended by so many of my contemporaries in the automotive industry. I love the Wilderness trim for its high ground clearance, dual function X-MODE for snow, dirt and mud, and the fun orange badging placed around the vehicle. It looks sort of like armor and makes me feel a little like a Mandalorian. IYKYK.

On a bright day in late February, my husband and I put on some warm clothes, packed a bag with our ski gear, and headed out for the day. Our days off are often spent either snowshoeing, hiking, skiing, or some sort of outdoor adventure. We are both unapologetically outdoorsy.

But this day was quite different. On this sunny, bluebird morning, we were headed to Copper Mountain to attend one of the stops on this year's Subaru WinterFest tour as guests of Subaru, one of the lovely perks of being in automotive journalism. When we pulled into the parking lot, we were met with a sea of silver stars on an ocean of dark blue, Subarus of all makes, colors, and model years sitting side by side in the snow, filled with gear and respectably covered in dirt from I-70.

The Subaru WinterFest is a yearly mountain-snow-music festival filled with outdoor gear demos, live music, hot chocolate, smores, games, rescue dogs, and every other thing you could want as a ski/snowboard/offroad/mountain enthusiast. The festival took place at the base of Copper Mountain in Eagle's Landing, right in front of the shops, restaurants, and ski lifts. The activation space was surrounded by information booths and displays, and guests were free to wander about with their dogs in tow, listening to music, sipping cocoa and learning more about the brand and why they say Subaru is more than just a car company.

The Subaru WinterFest is an ambitious, downright impressive example of a thoughtful brand meeting its consumers exactly where they want to be, on the side of a mountain with a dog at their side. The Subaru culture was on display in every corner of the festival. From the Subaru Love Promise display to the WinterFest Outpost, where guests can learn about all the initiatives in place to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of others.

For every informational form filled out by a WinterFest guest, Subaru made a donation to one of the selected charities for the event. The charities ranged from a non-profit company called Wasatch Backcountry Rescue that trains dogs as avalanche rescue dogs, to SheJumps, an organization which increases the participation of women and girls in outdoor experiences which nurture growth and transformation. Also represented was an organization which provides basic needs to underserved communities called Operation Warm.

The festival itself was very well run, wonderfully organized, and just so much fun to attend. Copper Mountain has over 2,400 acres of snow-covered slopes and runs to explore. Add gear demonstrations, live music, fire pits, snacks, and adorable dogs in red vests, and you have the makings for an amazing day.

We highly recommend this experience to outdoor lovers and Subaru drivers of all types. And honestly, no matter what car you drive or what brand you like, if you love the outdoors, we definitely recommend attending this festival if the occasion arises. Now that we live in the rugged mountains of Colorado, we will go full send on Subaru WinterFest anytime.