The Sunday River ski resort’s annual fundraiser to benefit the Bethel-area community, featuring scores of men and women dressed as Santa Claus, raised nearly $3,000 on Sunday.

Spokeswoman Darcy Lambert said the Newry resort’s 17th annual Santa Sunday attracted 180 Santas, who rode the Barker Mountain Express chairlift Sunday morning, before skiing or snowboarding down the Ecstasy and Sunday Punch trails.

Participants were required to wear a red Santa hat with white pompom, a red Santa jacket, red Santa pants, and a Santa beard.

Predictably, a few tumbled, but no Santas were harmed.

“This is the right way to start the holiday season,” said Yelena Walsh of Boston, who has participated for the past four years. “It’s so much fun.”

Lambert said Sunday’s event raised $2,845 for the Sunday River Community Fund. Participants who donated a minimum of $15 to the fund received a free lift ticket for the morning as well as another lift ticket that has to be used before Dec. 16.

The Community Fund provides financial aid to local organizations whose mission is to enhance the region’s quality of life. Past recipients include the Bryant Pond Learning Center, Bethel Library Association, the town of Bethel’s Recreation Department, and the Lifeflight Foundation.