TUPPER LAKE – The all-volunteer staff of Big Tupper Ski Area hopes Christmas will come to the mountain a little early this year.

On Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., the mountain will hold its annual Snowball fundraiser hosted by Adirondack Residents Intent on Saving their Economy.

The Snowball is a fancy-dress gala that often draws a large crowd. Chairman Matt Ellis said the money raised at the event helps to cover the mountain’s annual expenses like insurance, electricity, groomer fuel, repairs and maintenance, which typically total between $130,000 and $150,000.

Ellis said ARISE hopes to open Chair 3 this season, depending on the amount of snowfall, and he said the diesel fuel the lift requires will be an additional expense.

“All those things, believe it or not, they add up pretty quick,” he said.

As usual, the event will feature an open bar with beer and wine, and The Well Dressed Food Company will cater this year’s celebration.

For the first time this year, each person who purchases a ticket will be entered in a drawing for a trip for two to Las Vegas, Nevada. The trip will include round-trip airfare on Southwest airlines, two nights’ lodging at Caesar’s Palace, tickets to see Reba McEntire and Brooks and Dunn at Caesar’s Palace the first night and Cirque Du Soleil at the Bellagio the second night.

“It was a really big score for us to get that donated, so we’re really excited,” Ellis said. “We’re hoping it will boost ticket sales for us.”

Also new this year is a silent auction featuring items such as round-trip airfare from Saranac Lake to Boston, provided by Cape Air, items from professional golfer Greg Norman, passes to area golf courses, ski-and-stay packages, Adirondack furniture and art, spa packages and more.

“We’ve had a really good response from people,” Ellis said.

Ellis said he is close to securing the evening’s entertainment, which he said will include a DJ and a live band.

He said he is still looking for volunteers to help decorate the ski lodge for the event. He anticipates starting to decorate the Saturday and Sunday before the event and then continuing the process up until the day of the ball.

“We would love to have some people come and help decorate,” he said.

ARISE Chairman Jim LaValley previously said he hopes to open the mountain for Christmas week, but without the ability to make snow, it is entirely dependent on the weather. Ellis said he hopes to sell about 300 tickets; at $50 a ticket, that would raise $15,000, or about 10 percent of the mountain’s annual operating cost. Asked why someone should attend the ball, Ellis said, “for the love of Big Tupper.

“Anybody that is from the area here knows what a special place that is. A lot of people grew up skiing there … and we love that mountain.

“We just want to see it up and running so people can ski there.”

For more information on volunteering to decorate for the Snowball, call Ellis at 817-542-1438. For more information on volunteering at the mountain, contact Volunteer Coordinator Kate Bencze at www.skibigtupper.org.

Tickets are on sale at The Well Dressed Food Company, Tupper Lake Supply, the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce, CBNA Insurance, the Tupper Lake Free Press, LaValley Real Estate, P-2’s Irish Pub and additional locations to be announced. For more information, visit www.skibigtupper.org or call any of the aforementioned businesses.