Things to do Columbus/Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend

Columbus Day weekend is typically the last weekend mountains are open before ski season. (Getty Images)

The long weekend is almost here, and the leaves will be in peak color for much of northern New England. For most ski areas it signifies a last call for the mountain bikes, zip lines and scenic chair rides — and time to make those final preparations before the snow starts to fall.

It also wraps up the golf season at places like Sugarloaf Golf Club, Sunday River Golf Club and Killington Golf Course.

For those wanting to get a look at the foliage, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont each have maps or reports to help show where the best leaf peeping can be found.

Among the events going on during the weekend:

Wachusett Mountain will have a five-day “Mtnside” Sale & Swap from Oct. 10-14. In addition to being able to sell your old gear for shop credit or cash, there will be music, food trucks, craft beer and SkyRide.

It will be a busy weekend in Waterville Valley with fireworks Saturday night and Schwendi Fest (tickets required) on Sunday with a barbeque at the Schwendi Hutte. On Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m.

Mount Snow will be having Oktoberfest on Oct. 12 with Cuzzins, Station Tap Room, and 1900’ Burger turned into traditional German bier halls.

Jay Peak has its 15th annual Bean & Brew Festival (tickets required) on Saturday at the Stateside Base Lodge with two bands providing the music for locally-roasted coffee as well as the area’s best beers and ciders.

Loon will be hosting a Beer College in conjunction with Boston Beer Company on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Boyle’s Break House (gondola side).

Sunday will be the Fall into Winter Celebration at Okemo with hayrides, live music, apple cider bar, dunk tank, Okemo BBQ, pumpkin decorating and more at the Jackson Gore Courtyard.

All is not completely quiet after the holiday weekend, however. For those who want to wait for the crowds to quiet down and are OK with the sound of fallen leaves under their foot, Stratton Mountain Golf Course squeezes in an extra week, The Omni Mount Washington will remain open through the final weekend in October, and Woodstock Country Club runs through the end of the month.

At Stowe, the gondola and toll road will be open through Oct. 20, just before the start of stick season.

The popular hiking trails are much quieter as well.