Friday

Colorado Classic 

Aug 23, 1–4 p.m., Avon, Beaver Creek, and Bachelor Gulch

Sharing the love, the Colorado Classic is the western hemisphere’s premier women’s standalone race that travels from town to town in Colorado. Stage 2 (the Queen Stage) will take place in Avon, allowing spectators to cheer for some of the fastest female cyclists in the world. 16 teams made up of 96 riders from 20 different countries will be competing in what Bicycling Magazine calls “one of the 13 races in the world not to be missed this year.” The first section of the race is a flat, fast 5-mile circuit that takes riders around Avon’s core for seven laps; the final 14-mile lap will take racers up, up, up Bachelor Gulch (fan accessible by bike or foot only) before they’re plummeting down a fast, technical descent back into Avon. It’s a fan-friendly experience that will get the weekend started with a bang. avon.org

Oktoberfest at Ein Prosit

Aug 23–25, 7 p.m., Ein Prosit, Avon

Where beer drinkers go to get a warmup workout on stein lifting? Oktoberfest at Ein Prosit in Avon is the Vail Valley’s first Oktoberfest celebration of the season. The weekend celebration kicks off on Friday with live music from Evolution and stein-hoisting competitions all evening with prizes. On Saturday, the inaugural Hammerschlaggen tournament starts at 5 p.m. and The Austrian Guys will be playing starting at 6 p.m. einprosit.net

Saturday

Dynafit 5K & 10K at 10,000 Feet

Aug 24, 8 a.m., Vail

There’s nothing like some friendly competition to start the weekend: Hit the trails and choose your distance—either 5 or 10 kilometers straight up Vail Mountain. The sixth and penultimate race in the Vail Recreation District’s summer trail running series, this gasper is great for beginners and seasoned trail runners alike. Starting at Mid-Vail, 10K runners will enjoy expansive views of Mount Holy Cross while both 5K and 10K runners will pound the Meadows trail with views of the Gore Range. (Entry fees are $33 pre-registered, $38 week-of registration, $45 day-of registration.) vailrec.com

Eagle Music Festival

Aug 24, 4–10 p.m., Boneyard, Eagle

Grab your friends and head to Eagle for a night of music for a good cause: positively impacting the youth of Eagle County. This joint fundraiser for Red Ribbon Project (RRP) and Eagle River Youth Coalition (ERYC) will feature music from First Chair, Mysterious Forces, and Wave-2 Youth Band; a silent auction and raffle will also help raise funds for these community organizations. (Entry is free; a $10 donation is suggested.) eagleyouth.org

José González

Aug 24, 8 p.m., Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek

From the screen (his compositions were featured on the soundtrack for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty in 2013) to the stage, José González is known for creating music that captivates audiences, transforming even a large venue into an intimate listening experience. With a soulful voice and undeniable talent on the classical guitar, this Swedish-Argentinian singer-songwriter is sure to deliver an unforgettable evening of music. (Tickets start at $48.) vilarpac.org

Sunday

Art of Wine Tasting

Aug 25, 4 p.m., Root & Flower, Vail Village

Learn how to swirl, sniff, and sip like the pros do at Root & Flower in Vail Village. This approachable wine class examines four wines from around the world (part of Root & Flower’s extensive list of more than 50 by-the-glass pours), teaching attendees how to “talk the talk” while exploring various flavor profiles. ($25 per person) rootandflowervail.com