Vail-Beaver Creek Weekend Agenda: Memorial Day Edition
Prepare yourself (and your tastebuds): Beaver Creek's annual ode to blues, brews, and BBQ is back.
Image: Beaver Creek Resort
Summer might not be quite in full swing in the high country (it did just snow last week) but with some sunshine and warm weather on the horizon, our little valley is warming up both in terms of the weather, and the event line-up for this Memorial Day weekend.
The setting for this year's Blues, Brews, & BBQ Festival.
Image: Zach Mahone and Beaver Creek Resort
Saturday, May 27
Blues, Brews, & BBQ Festival
12 to 6 p.m., Beaver Creek Village, Beaver Creek
The first day of Beaver Creek's 14th annual celebration of brews, blues, and BBQ (not in any particular order) kicks off Saturday, with live music, local beers, and lots of ribs and brisket for a finger-lickin' fix. If the brews are the most near and dear to your heart (and liver), don't miss out on the event's microbrew festival, which is ticketed and runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Live music takes the stage from all day courtesy of the likes of the Heather Gillis Band, Packrat's Smokehouse, and the North Mississippi Allstars. beavercreek.com
Grills Gone Wild
4 to 9 p.m., 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits Co. Distillery, Gypsum
The distillery named for the iconic Army unit once barracked in Leadville is throwing down the gauntlet with a corn hole tournament, cocktail competition, and BBQ cook-off this Saturday at its Gypsum location, with a requested $10 donation going towards the Vail Veterans Program. 10thwhiskey.com
Sunday, May 28
Blues, Brews, & BBQ Festival
11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Beaver Creek Village, Beaver Creek
Maybe you didn't make it to day one, maybe you couldn't get enough of day one; whatever the reason, you don't really need one to get your Sunday Funday fix on the second day of Beaver Creek's tribute to the three b's (that's blues, brews, and BBQ, if you somehow forgot). A BBQ cook-off with a winner selected by attendees and more live music (and of course, the beer garden) will be open for the final day of the event.
Edwards' e|town hosts Sunday's benefit for all things bike-related.
Image: Courtesy of e|town Edwards
Klunker Classic
3 to 7 p.m., e|town kitchen + bar, Edwards
The first-ever event celebrates all things bikes, and benefits the Vail Valley Mountain Bike Association. Hosts The Kind Bikes and Skis and e|town will be dishing out food, drinks, and bike-related prizes for attendees, who are asked to contribute $5 to the event (although larger donations are gladly accepted, as well). etowncolorado.com
Festival of the Brewpubs
12 to 4 p.m., Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Loveland Pass
It's a long weekend; live a little and head out of the valley for Arapahoe Basin's signature beer fest. Grab your skis and your party pants -- the 16th annual Festival of the Brewpubs kicks off at noon on the beach at A-Basin with plenty of local breweries (and a complimentary mug) on hand and pouring their favorite brews for the event. Tickets are $35 per person, with live music from the Freddy Jones Band scheduled throughout the day, too. arapahoebasin.com
The Vail Valor race benefits veterans, and a fitting way to end the holiday weekend, and welcome the start of summer.
Image: active.com
Monday, May 29
Vail Valor Race
8 a.m., Vail Village
The Eagle County Sheriff's Office and Speckled Hound Racing hosts Vail's 5th annual family friendly race that benefits the Vail Veterans Program -- a fitting way to honor the holiday (and work off all that BBQ in the process). Races range from 1 mile to half marathon contests, with different entry fees available for each distance, and all ages welcome to take part in the fun. vailvalorraces.com
