Meribel's April 2008 Altitude Festival is Europe's largest alpine festival (http://www.altitudefestival.com/en/index.php. From 15–20 April this year, Méribel hosts its renowned Altitude Festival, two weeks of entertaining comedy talent performing every evening at various popular mountain venues. Ski resorts are the perfect place to enjoy the best comedians, since the festival is held in the evening, along with the usual drinking and socialising. Shows and gigs are held in theatres, the open air, on ice rinks, and in some of the resorts' favourite bars and nightclubs. Now in its fifth year, the Altitude Festival is getting a reputation as the world's hippest alpine festivals.



Among the hundreds of performers at the festival are stand-up comic, writer, presenter, and actor, Marcus Brigstocke, a co-founder of the Altitude Festival, and host of BBC 4's The Late Edition; Ed Byrne, from The Comedy Store Players and We Are Klang; Jo Brand, with her quirky brand of feminist humour; and Phil Jupitus, well known for his regular slot as team captain on BBC Two's Never Mind The Buzzcocks. Andrew Maxwell, an Altitude Festival regular, BAFTA Award winner, and winner Channel 4's King of Comedy is again performing, and television regular Brendon Burns, winner of the Perrier award at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival.

As well as cutting-edge comedy, cool international DJ's, such as Norman Jay, one of the world's finest and most respected deejays, will be playing gigs. Local and international musicians include club music specialists Hed Kandi, who have had three UK Top Ten singles, and amazing hip hop star Audible Porno. And DJ Badbeats, who was fourth in the 2006 England DMC Mixing Championships, will perform a set featuring old and new selections. Bands include international songwriter, producer, rapper, singer, Carpetface; the inventive musicians from Daywalkers; and Super U, once regular Méribel performers, now based in Brighton. Also appearing are Grand National, aka Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence ‘La' Rudd, presenting their cutting-edge, retro music that is derived from their time as part of London's eclectic and varied music scene.

Also on display are slope-style snowboard acrobats such as Ludo Strohl, star of French and World Cups in Alpine and Half Pipe; David Livet, veteran of seven years of alpine snowboard competitions; and freefall star and Thomas Gérin, freestyle snowboarder extraordinaire. Add to this snowball fights, 3-legged ski races, expression sessions, and skydiving displays, and you'll understand why the Altitude Festival is so much fun. And it's not just passive entertainment, since professional skiers and boarders will be around to give you lessons on how you can improve your snow sports.

The Altitude Festival goes green this year to raise awareness of global warming and funds for WWF. As well, they are aiming to make the festival carbon neutral by offsetting all performers' travel costs and by holding a tree-planting weekend after the festival. At this time of the year, there's still plenty of snow, and warm, spring weather. So, why not combine your snow holiday with top entertainment to mark a fitting end to the 2008 ski season.