VAIL Like nothing on earth.™

Summer Events in Vail

Now that ski season is over, we’re preparing for what many locals say is the best season in Vail: Summer.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. The Vail Valley is an outdoor and cultural playground in summer with world class downhill mountain biking, rock climbing, road biking, hiking, kayaking, rafting, fishing and camping complemented by outdoor performances by the likes of New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra, a free concert series and MORE. Pair that with our fantastic restaurants and dynamic Village and you’ve got yourself a summer utopia.

Many summer guests also come here to escape the heat of cities like Dallas, New York and Chiacago – even with our 300 days of sunshine a year, we average a moderate 76 degrees in our hottest month, July.

Sounding good? Here are some of the summer events that take place so you can plan your trip accordingly!

GoPro Mountain Games June 6-9 

The event that kicks off summer in Vail! The GoPro Mountain Games bring together outdoor athletes and enthusiasts from around the world to compete in biking, trail running, kayaking, slacklining, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing, bouldering and even dog competitions.

There are tons of way for you to compete, no matter your athletic ability, from the hilarious and low key Mud Run to the Ultimate Mountain Challenge which combines athletes’ times in a 10K, X-Country Bike, Road Bike and Class II Down River Sprint to crown the ultimate amateur man, woman and team.

Don’t feel like competing? Being a spectator at this event is a blast with venues set up throughout Vail Village and beyond. Plus you can get some great free gifts and learn about really interesting outdoor companies at Gear Town or take the kids to Adventure Village to try out mini-bouldering, slacklining and kayaking demos.

Farmers’ Market & Art Show June 16th – September 22nd. 10am – 3:30pm

The largest market in Colorado winds through Vail Village with over 100 vendors! The Vail Farmers’ Market & Ar Show is so diverse, you can commission artwork from a local artist, grab a fresh tamale and a crepe, wash it down with a cupcake, listen to a free Jazz @ The Market performance, pick up some local veggies and goat cheese and then buy a longboard to skate out of there.

Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival June 28th – July 31st

One of the most incredible cultural experiences Vail has to offer: the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (June 28th – July 4th), the Philadelphia Orchestra (July 5th – 13th) and the New York Philharmonic (July 19th – 26th) perform in the beautiful Ford Amphitheater. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a picnic dinner and listening to these world-renowned orchestras perform as the sun sets on the Gore Range. The Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival also includes numerous smaller engagements from a Chamber Music series to The Linda and Mitch Hart Soirée Series, hosted in beautiful homes around Vail.

Vail International Dance Festival July 28th – August 10th

Another of the amazing cultural offerings in Vail that brings together some of the most exciting dancers from across the industry. The Vail International Dance Festival is celebrating its 25th season this year with performances by:  the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Charles “Lil Buck” Riley, Keigwin+Company, Tiler Peck & Robert Fairchild from the New York City Ballet and more. The New York Times described the Festival’s International Evenings in 2012 as “…simply the best gala I have attended in decades…”

Vail Jazz Festival June 23 – September 2nd

The largest Jazz Festival in the Rocky Mountains is now in its 19th year! Some highlights for this summer: a Joint Performance with Bravo! Vail on June 28th featuring Byron Stripling, Wycliffe Gordon and Jeff Clayton with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Jeff Tyzik, Conductor for “The Golden Age of Jazz”; Jazz @ the Vail Farmers’ Market; Jazz @ Vail Square in Lionshead every Thursday evening performances 7/3-8/29; Jazz @ Kelly Liken on Sundays 8:30 – 11PM and Jammin’ Jazz Kids – three free interactive, educational programs for kids offered at the Vail Farmers’ Market at the Jazz Tent on the Solaris Green at 11am on July 7, July 28 and August 18.

Free community yoga in Solaris – Saturdays at 9am

Visitors and locals alike gather at Solaris Plaza on Saturday mornings for an invigorating practice led by some of the best yoga instructors Vail has to offer. Details to come.

Hiking, biking, eating, shopping…

Even without an event going on, there are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself in Vail. We hope to see you this summer and if you have any questions about planning a trip, just ask them in the comment section below!