Vail Events & Festivals

Vail Jazz Festival
Vail Valley Music Festival Colorado
Vail Farmer's Market & Art Show
Vail Film Festival
Spring Back to Vail

After you ski the legendary slopes of Vail, hike the high-mountain trails and raft the raging rivers of the Rockies, experience exciting events that make Vail the most festive alpine resort in the world! Vail, Colorado offers a myriad of exciting events, festivals and concerts throughout the year that celebrate the culture, cuisine, music, art and spirit of Colorado.

From Snow Daze and CarniVail in winter to the Bravo Vail Valley Music Festival and the Teva Mountain Games in summer, Vail is the beautiful home of world-class ski, sports and music events. Join us every year for popular Vail events, including the Vail Jazz Festival, Vail Film Festival, Taste of Vail, Spring Back to Vail, and the Bud Light Hot Summer Nights Concert Series. For a calendar of Vail events and festivals, go toweb.vail.net/local/events.cfm

Tour of Vail - September 28 - 30, 2012 -

Ride in a 10km time trial through the streets of Vail on Friday afternoon, September 28th. The Vail Challenge will take place on Saturday, a 100km ride from Copper to Leadville and then to Vail, with 4700 feet of climbing. There will be a 1km criterium on Sunday the 30th through the cobbled streets of Vail, with categories for kids, junior boys and girls, Senior Men & Women as well as Mens and Womens Pros. http://tourofvail.com/

Vail Jazz Festival - Summer 2012 -

The Vail Jazz Festival is a summer celebration that fills your vacation with live Jazz music. The festival offers a diverse mix of jazz ensembles and soloists that play every Sunday in the Vail Square and on Thursdays at the Vail Farmer's Market. This fantastic Vail music series culminates with the Labor Day Weekend Party. Visit http://www.vailjazz.org/VailJazzFestival/index.htm.

Bravo Vail Valley Music Festival -

Summer 2012 - Celebrating its 25th season, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival runs for six weeks from the end of June to August. This amazing music festival boasts three world-class symphony orchestras - New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestras - and presents a dynamic schedule of orchestral, chamber jazz, and pops music at the Vail Mountain School, Vilar Performing Arts Center and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater with breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains. Visit http://vailmusicfestival.org/.

Vail International Dance Festival in Colorado

Vail International Dance Festival - July/August 20112 -

Held at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail and Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, the Vail International Dance Festival features incredible ballet and modern dance performances by renowned companies, as well as community events in streets and villages throughout Vail Valley. Visit http://www.vaildance.org.

Teva Mountain Games - Summer 2012 -

The country's largest celebration of adventure sports, art and music, Teva Mountain Games attracts professional and amateur athletes from around the world to compete in 8 sports in the mountains and rivers of Vail. Events include kayaking, rafting, biking, climbing, fly fishing, running, paddling, and World Cup Bouldering. The nights are filled with free concerts and ultra-fun parties. Visit http://www.tevamountaingames.com/summer.

Vail Farmer's Market & Art Show -

Get a taste of Colorado at the Vail Farmer's Market and Art Show, the largest farmers market in Colorado. Held throughout the summer in Vail Village, the market features farm-fresh local produce, international foods, fresh-baked goods, handmade crafts and Colorado wines. Sample fresh baked breads and pastries, local alpine honey, and smoked salmon.

The Art Show presents local arts and crafts, beautiful jewelry, clothing and hand-made home goods. Enjoy the mountains while you meet the farmers and artisans every Sunday, June 19 - September 18, 10am - 3:30pm. Visit http://www.vailfarmersmarket.com.

USA Pro Cycling Challenge -

Over 27,000 people watched the USA Pro Cycling Challenge Time Trial on August 25th that went from Vail Village up Vail Pass. For seven days, the world's top cyclists raced 600 miles through the majestic Rockies in America's version to the Tour de France, This is the top event in professional cycling in the US. Visit http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com.

Vail King of the Mountain Open - June, 2012 -

The oldest consecutive running volleyball tournament in Colorado, the Vail King of the Mountain Open is held at Vail Valley Athletic Field and Gerald R Ford Park. Catch the excitement of AVP championship and amateur volleyball on grass and sand courts. The event also offers free junior clinics with AVP beach pros. Visit http://www.kingofthemountainvolleyball.com/

Gourmet on Gore - Summer, 2012 -

An open-air gourmet food and wine festival, Gourmet on Gore takes aplce along Gore Creek Drive in Vail Village over Labor Day Weekend. This flavorful Vail event showcases the Vail Valley's top restaurants, as well as wine, beer and spirits from around the world. Sample gourmet food and enjoy wine tastings, wine demos, and live jazz music in the wonderful atmosphere in Vail Village. Visit www.gourmetongore.com.

Vail Octoberfest - September -

The streets of Vail host a fall celebration of beer and music at the Vail Oktoberfest. Held for two weekends in September in Vail Village and Lionshead, Vail's Oktoberfest delights with Bavarian beer, music, dancing, cuisine, yodeling, and alpenhorn blowing. Enjoy crowd favorites like bratwurst eating contests, Beck's Keg Bowling and the Oktoberfest Fun Run. Visit http://www.vail.com/summer/events/vail-oktoberfest.aspx?page=viewall

Vail Film Festival - Spring 2012 -

One of the country's most acclaimed film festivals, the Vail Film Festival will present over 60 feature and short films, many featuring the top writers, directors and actors of our generation.

The Vail Film Festival will feature film screenings, lectures, interviews, live music and nightly parties. The Vail Film Festival Screenplay Competition gives aspiring screenwriters a venue for getting their scripts read by top industry film producers. Visit http://www.vailfilmfest.com.

Taste of Vail - April 2012 -

In its 22nd year, Taste of Vail is wonderful springtime food and wine festival held at venues throughout North America's favorite ski resort. The annual three-day event showcases Vail Valley's world-class restaurants and wine makers set against dramatic mountain vistas.

Taste delicious food and fine wines poured by winemakers and winery owners from around the globe. This sensory extravaganza also offers seminars, activities, dance performances, apre ski tastings, the Colorado Lamb Cook Off and the popular mountaintop picnic on Vail Mountain. Visit http://www.tasteofvail.com.

Vail Snow Daze - December 2012 -

Kicking off the Vail ski season, Vail Snow Daze is a week of blockbuster live entertainment and concerts, as well as parties and contests held throughout the Town of Vail. Hear your favorite musicians and bands rock the Rockies at this spectacular winter event in Vail. Visit www.vail.com/snowdaze.

Carni Vail - February, 2012 -

Bourbon Street meets Bridge Street in Vail each winter with a celebration of Mardi Gras events with a Rocky Mountain twist. CarniVail presents free concerts from bands like Buckwheat Zydeco, mixed with spicy Cajun food, the annual Fat Tuesday parade and the world's highest low-country crawfish boil at Eagle's Nest. Visit www.vail.com/carnivail

Bud Light Hot Summer Nights Concert Series -

June - August - Celebrating 25 years of free concerts at the Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Bud Light Hot Summer Nights Concert Series is the social event of the season for locals and vacationers. Tuesday nights heat up the town of Vail with bands that rock the Rockies. Visit http://www.vvf.org/vvf/info/events.entertainment.hotsummernights.aspx

Spring Back to Vail - April, 2012 -

Spring Back to Vail closes out the ski season with music concerts from top acts like Train, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and Stephen Marley. This fun Vail event also features sporting spectacles like the World Pond Skimming Championships, where athletes launch themselves off a snow jump onto an icy pond in attempt to exit the pond on both feet. Visit www.vail.com/springback.

World Alpine Ski Championships 2015 -

Mark your calendars for the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships held in Vail and Beaver Creek in February, 2015. The world's top ski racers from 70 countries will compete in men's and women's individual races, along with the Nation's Team event, featuring the Giant Slalom. In 3 years, the Vail Valley will again host this exciting world championship ski event, which also features snowboard and freestyle exhibition events, parties and street concerts in Vail Village. Visit http://www.vvf.org/vvf/info/events.athletic.2015.aspx

American Ski Classic -

America's original Pro/Am celebrity ski event returns to Golden Peak on Vail Mountain in March featuring exciting ski events, including the Volvo Legends of Skiing Giant Slalom competition, and the Bud Light Street Beat free concert series. Visit http://www.vvf.org/vvf/info/events.athletic.americanskiclassic.aspx.

Vail Lacrosse Shootout - July 2012 -

The Vail Lacrosse Shootout is a 10-day lacrosse tournament held along a 13 mile stretch of the Vail/Avon/Eagle Valley at venues that include Ford Fields, Donovan Park and Avon Field. The summer event features the men's and women's Elite Championships. http://www.vaillacrosse.com/