Updated:
6/3/2010
Fulfill your passions this summer in Vail with many
FREE things to do and enjoy during your stay with us! These are recommendations
from the Concierge at Vail – real locals who live and enjoy Vail every
day!
Ride the Gondola up Vail Mountain for
FREE!
Children, age 12 and under, ride the Eagle Bahn Gondola for
FREE all summer (max. 3 kids with one paying adult)
The Gondola is also FREE
to all 09-10 and 10-11 Pass-holders all summer long!
FREE activities at Adventure
Ridge
Head to the top of the mountain for FREE volleyball, bocce
ball, horseshoes and disc golf (if you bring your own discs)! Enjoy the
mountain-top fun at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead. Adventure
Ridge is open the weekends of June 4-6, June 11-13 and June 18-20 from 10am to
4pm and daily June 24 to September 6, 2010 from 10am to
4pm.
Hiking around Vail and atop Vail Mountain is always
FREE!
Enjoy spectacular wildflowers and wildlife as you explore the
nature and forests of Vail. Pack a picnic and your camera!
Visit the FREE Discovery Center
Located at the top of
the Eagle Bahn Gondola, the Discovery Center introduces you to the environment
through fun, interactive displays and guided nature hikes. Open daily from 10am
to 4pm. For more information call (970) 754-4675.
Take in the
FREE LionsHead Saturday Family Afternoon Club
Every Saturday in
LionsHead bring the kids for FREE activities and fun from July 10 through August
14, 3:00 - 6:00pm.
FREE Parking & FREE Bus Transportation all
Summer
Parking in Vail Village and LionsHead parking structures are
FREE all summer. The Town of Vail bus system is FREE - leave your car at home
and tour Vail via its FREE bus system, the largest free transit system in the
nation.
Explore the FREE Vail Recreation Path
The
Vail Recreation Path is an affordable way to have fun with your entire family.
Located right in the middle of town, the trail winds from West Vail to East Vail
and has 1,100 acres of open space available to the public. The path stretches
for 15 miles and is surrounded by 350,000 acres of national
forest.
FREE Hot Summer Nights Concert Series
Every
Tuesday June 15 – August 17 enjoy incredible music at the Ford Amphitheater –
the social event of the summer! 2010 BUD LIGHT HOT SUMMER NIGHTS SCHEDULE
The
Aggrolites - Tuesday, June 22 : Soulive - Tuesday, June 15
The Killdares -
Tuesday, June 29
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights - Tuesday, July
6
Hoots & Hellmouth - Tuesday, July 13
Laura Reed & Deep Pocket -
Tuesday, July 20
BreakEFX - Hot Summer Nights of Dance - Tuesday, August
10
Toad the Wet Sprocket - Tuesday, August 17
Message In A Bottle: The
Police Tribute - Tuesday, August 24
Visit the Colorado Ski Museum for
FREE
Located in the upper level of the Vail Village parking
structure, learn about the history of Vail, skiing and the 10th Mountain
Division with interactive exhibits and more!
Take in the many
FREE Events & Happenings
Take a look at the incredible events
happening throughout the summer (link to summer calendar), many of which are
FREE to attend: Teva Mountain Games, Vail America Days, Vail Arts Festival, Vail
Farmer’s Market, Vail Antique Show, Colorado Grand just to name a
few!
FREE Sporting Events & Tournaments
Check out
the many sports tournaments taking place at the Ford Park and Vail Athletic
Fields. The majority of the events are FREE to watch and include some of the
nation’s best soccer and lacrosse teams and players.
Burn off the
kid’s energy at the many town Parks or stroll around town – just enjoy life for
FREE!
Ford Park, Pirate-ship Park, Donovan Park, Bighorn Park – each
is different – check them all out to bring a smile to the kiddo’s faces! There’s
no better place to just relax and enjoy your surroundings than Vail – with
benches and beautiful sitting areas all around to breathe in the fresh air and
enjoy the summer time flowers and surrounding landscapes. You may even happen
upon one of our FREE street entertainers as you relax and enjoy. And be sure to
take in the many fountains and water features throughout Vail
Village.
Enjoy the beautiful and FREE Betty Ford Alpine
Gardens
Enjoy the highest botanical gardens in the world with a
unique collection of alpine, sub-alpine and other mountain plants and flowers.
Open daily through September 6 with FREE public tours, children’s programs and
many other daily activities.
Stop by the FREE Vail Nature
Center
Nestled along the banks of Gore Creek, this 7 acres forest,
meadow and stream are a delight and peaceful place known by many locals and
visitors as their favorite place in Vail. Explore or take in one of the
educational programs offered.
Vail’s FREE
Skatepark
Head to the LionsHead parking structure and check out
Vail’s FREE skatepark. Open dawn to dusk daily, the FREE skatepark features a
half-pipe, pyramid, multiple ramps, transitions, rails and banks, plus a street
course area for younger or less experienced riders.
Play a FREE
tennis match
Enjoy a FREE tennis match at the Golden Peak Tennis
Courts. Tennis can be played at the courts on a first-come, first-served basis
for FREE.
FREE Fly Fishing Casting Clinics! Gore Creek
Fly Fisherman is pleased to offer complimentary daily casting clinics in Vail
Village along the Gore Creek Promenade at 10:30amfrom Memorial Weekend through
September. The clinics are perfect for those who have never fly fished before
and are considering trying the sport. They are also perfect for those just
wanting to brush up on their technique. One of our expert staff will lead the
demonstration, and he or she will be able to answer any general fly fishing
questions. For more information, please call 970-476-3296.
FREE
Family Fun Ride
Looking for something to do with the entire family?
Vail Sports invites you to participate in our FREE Family Fun Rides daily from
Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. Experience Vail like never before
with our one-hour guided ride through Lionshead Village, Vail Village, and
Golden Peak. You may bring your own bike or rent a bike with us. For more
information, please contact Vail Sports at 970-476-3600 or visit
vailsports.com.
FREE Kayak Demo’s
May 18 – June
22nd
FREE Raptor Rendezvous
Join us from on the
grassy lawn near the Eagle Bahn Gondola in LionsHead. A FREE evening of fun,
featuring real live raptors that will captivate all ages. Experienced handlers
from the Raptor Education Foundation will share stories of the raptors making
for a unique evening of learning and exploration. 5 to 7 p.m. July 10, 17, 24,
31 and Aug. 14 and 21.
Town of Vail’s free neighborhood BBQ
every Tuesday,
5-7 pm, at Vail’s Whitewater Park located at the International Bridge.
Mix
and mingle with fellow guests and Vail locals at these FREE BBQ events: Dates
and times to be announced.
FREE Art Walks
Wednesday
walking tours of Vail’s public art collection continue this summer. The hour
long tour meets at 11:00 am at the Vail Village Visitor Information Center on
the top level of the parking structure. Tours begin June 30th. Visit www.artinvail.com or call 970-479-2344 for details.
FREE Jazz Music All
Summer!
Jazz @ The Vail Farmers' Market - Sundays,
June 27 – August 29, 2010 Jazz @ the Market presents ten free outdoor concerts
featuring local and regionally-based jazz talent at the Vail Farmers’ Market,
Sundays from Noon to 3:30pm. The jazz concerts are a natural complement to the
fabulous shopping and wonderful food for which the casual outdoor market is
known. Covered seating is available, so stop by and enjoy refreshing
jazz!
Jazz @ Vail Square, Free Concerts
outside the Arrabelle in Lionshead – Thursdays, Aug. 5 – Sept. 2, 2010, 6-8PM
This free concert series outside the Arrabelle Hotel in Vail Square, Lionshead
offers tented seating for 250+ and plenty of additional room in Vail Square to
enjoy the concert. Many concert goers enjoy browsing the shops or dining in
Lionshead before, during, or after the show. Jazz @ Vail Square's third season
will feature some very special performances, with audience engagement and the
finest jazz west of the Mississippi!
FREE AT THE VAIL LIBRARY
Kids love story
time
Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 and 11:00 am, kids of all
ages enjoy story time and arts & crafts.
Summer Reading Program
2010 – Also FREE at the Vail Libary
Exciting entertainers,
musicians, stories, games and art projects scheduled weekly. This summer's
reading program is sure to be an ocean of fun!
When:
Tuesdays: June 8 – August 10 (except July 6th) from 1:00 - 3:00p.m. Ages six and
up. Register at the door any Tuesday. Receive prizes for reading! All events are
free. Parents are welcome. For more information call 970-479-2179 or visit
www.vaillibrary.com.
June 8th - Wayne and
Wingnut - ventriloquist, comedian and puppeteer
June 15th - Butterfly
Pavilion - The Summer Bug Safari
June 22nd – Two guests today: Water
Conservation Officer & Fly Fishing Guide.
June 29th – The Littleague –
wholesome hip-hop for young people
July 6th - No Summer Reading Program –
time for the annual Book Sale!
July 13th - Aeolus Quartet - from Bravo! Vail
Valley Music Festival
July 20th - Denver Zoo - Remarkable Reptiles plus a
visit from Live @ the Library M 5 Brass!
July 27th - Eric West - musician and
children’s performer
August 3rd – Erica Sodos - actress, magician and
entertainer
August 10th - Ice Cream Finale!
MUSIC MATTERS FREE
CHILD PROGRAMMING Imagination Celebration
Celebrating the Performing
Arts in Eagle County and featuring areas children in performances with Special
Guest
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Saturday, June 26; 10:30 am
Instrument Petting
Zoo in Ford Park beginning at 9:00 am.
Free Family
Concert
National Repertory Orchestra featuring music from the Wild,
Wild West. Thursday, July 15; 11:00 am
Instrument Petting
Zoo
beginning at 10:00 am Instrument Petting Zoo Children of all
ages are exposed to real instruments in this traveling exhibition. Sunday, June
20 Vail Farmer’s Market 10:00 am Saturday, June 26 Betty Ford Gardens 9:00 am
Sunday, July 11 Vail Farmer’s Market 9:00 am Thursday, July 15 Gerald R. Ford
Amphitheater 10:00 am Sunday, July 25 Vail Farmer’s Market 10:00
am
Live @ the Library
The young, ages 3-7, and the
young-at-heart will enjoy fun and informative musical Vail Library Tuesday, July
13 Aeolus Quartet 2:00 pm Wednesday, July 21 M5 1:00 pm Wednesday, July 28 NYP
Musicians 1:00 pm Featuring music by Bravo Young Composers
MUSIC
MATTERS FREE ADULT PROGRAMMING
Performance Preludes
A Pre-Concert
talk beginning at 5:00 p.m., featured speakers provide an intimate perspective
to the evening’s composers and repertoire.
Betty Ford Alpine
Gardens
June 30: Marc Shulgold, Music Critic
July 9: Rossen
Milanov, Associate Conductor and Artistic Director, The Philadelphia
Orchestra
July 29: John Mangum, Artistic Administrator, New York
Philharmonic
Vail Mountain School Lobby
July 20: Host
Eugenia Zukerman, Artistic Director, Bravo!
July 27: Host Eugenia Zukerman,
Artistic Director, Bravo!
Afternoon Performances
Free
concerts introduce new audiences and entertain seasoned veterans to a variety of
instrumental performances and informative talks. Monday, July 5 1:00 p.m. Bruce
Patti, Bing Wang, Violin Vail Library Sunday, July 11 1:00 pm Aeolus Quartet
Vail Farmer’s Market Friday, July 9 1:00 p.m. Don Luizia, Percussion Betty Ford
Alpine Garden Monday, July 12 1:00 pm Aeolus Quartet Avon Library Tuesday, July
13 12:00 pm Aeolus Quartet Gore Creek Promenade Friday, July 16 1:00 p.m.
Kendall, Cello & Kates, Violin VVMC Thursday, July 15 1:00 pm M5 Betty Ford
Alpine Gardens Saturday, July 17 10:00 am M5 Minturn Market, Minturn Sunday,
July 18 11:00 am M5 Vista Bahn, Vail Sunday, July 18 1:00 pm Aeolus Quartet Gore
Creek Promenade, Vail Monday, July 19 11:00 am M5 Arrabelle Square 2:00 pm M5
Betty Ford Gardens, Vail Saturday, July 24 3:00 pm Aeolus Quartet Vail Cascade
Resort & Spa Sunday, July 25 11:00 am M5 Vail Farmer’s Market Monday, July
26 1:00 pm M5 Gore Creek Promenade Tuesday, July 27 11:00 am Aeolus Quartet
Betty Ford Gardens, Vail 1:00 pm M5 Vista Bahn, Vail Sunday, August 1 1:00 pm M5
Gore Creek Promenade
FREE DANCE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Hot Summer
Nights of Dance - August 10
Colorado-based BreakEFX presents a free
evening of urban-inspired dance for audiences of all ages! Presented in
conjunction with the Bud Light Hot Summer Nights free concert
series.
Dancing in the Streets
Back by popular demand!
Dancing in the Streets returns in 2010, following the success of 2008 and 2009's
free community event. This interactive evening in the Arrabelle at Vail Square
will be a combination of live performance and dancing lessons. Participants
enjoy instruction and demonstration from the stage, mixed with breathtaking
performances. No experience or signup is required for the event; just bring your
comfortable dancing shoes!
Village Vignettes -
featuring BreakEFX – Saturday, August 7 & Sunday, August
8
Celebrate the Beat - July 26 - August 31 ‘Vail Pop
Hop’, FREE kids workshop
Students will work as a team to learn
choreography while working with wonderful live musicians. The theme is BROADWAY,
and students will explore many different styles of Broadway music and dance. The
week long program culminates with a performance at the Gerald R. Ford
Amphitheater with the Vail International Dance Festival. To register, please
call or email Heather Kratz: phone: 970-275-2672 or email: littlemountainheather@yahoo.com 9:30-12:30pm at
Avon Elementary School.
FREE Art in the Gardens: Wednesdays, 10am
– 3pm, FREE of charge.
June 2 - Mio Cirkovic Art
Demonstration: A member of The Art Center (in Gypsum), Mio will demonstrate oil
painting techniques. Artist’s website: theartctr.com.
June 9
- Patrick Espy Art Demonstration. A member of The Art Center (in Gypsum),
Patrick will demonstrate watercolor painting techniques. Artist’s website:
theartctr.com.
June 16 - Photography Workshop and
Demonstration. Instructed by Jon Sheppard. This workshop is designed for the
amateur to experienced photographers who want to use our Gardens in capturing
original images of nature and flowers. The class will emphasize creativity
through composition, the use of light and background control, close-up
photography, and photo enhancement software. Class time will include
instruction, instructor critiques, and shooting time in the Gardens. Artist’s
website: jonsheppardphotography.com.
June 23 - Amy Dose Art
Demonstration. A member of The Art Center (in Gypsum), Amy will demonstrate
acrylic painting techniques. Artist’s website: theartctr.com.
July
7 - Joan Norris Art Demonstration. Joan will demonstrate oil painting
techniques utilizing her expressive naturalism style. Artist’s website:
morrislamontgallery.com.
July 14 - Photography Workshop and
Demonstration. Instructed by Jon Sheppard. This workshop is designed for the
amateur to experienced photographers who want to use our Gardens in capturing
original images of nature and flowers. The class will emphasize creativity
through composition, the use of light and background control, close-up
photography, and photo enhancement software. Class time will include
instruction, instructor critiques, and shooting time in the Gardens. Artist’s
website: jonsheppardphotography.com July 21 - Plein Air Watercolor
Workshop
July 28 - Elaine Kuntz Art Demonstration. Elaine’s
art has a realistic approach to location and feeling atmosphere. She will
demonstrate watercolor technique and make note cards. Artist’s website:
elainekuntz.com.
Aug 4 - Elaine Kuntz Art Demonstration
Elaine’s art has a realistic approach to location and feeling atmosphere. She
will demonstrate watercolor technique and make note cards. Artist’s website:
elainekuntz.com.
Aug 11 - Photography Workshop and
Demonstration. Instructed by Jon Sheppard. This workshop is designed for the
amateur to experienced photographers who want to use our Gardens in capturing
original images of nature and flowers. The class will emphasize creativity
through composition, the use oflight and background control, close-up
photography, and photo enhancement software. Class time will include
instruction, instructor critiques, and shooting time in the Gardens. Artist’s
website: jonsheppardphotography.com.
Aug 25 - Joan Norris
Art Demonstration. Joan will demonstrate oil painting techniques utilizing her
expressive naturalism style. Artist's website:
morrislamontgallery.com.
Sept. 1 - Featuring local painting
artist Nancy Rondeau.
Sept. 8 - Featuring local oil painting
artist Lynn Cohagen. Artist’s website: cohaganart.com.
FREE Chefs in the Garden at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Noon, free
of charge.
Live cooking demonstrations featuring Colorado cuisine
showcasing locally grown and produced ingredients.
June 14: Lord Gore
Restaurant
July 1: Restaurant Avondale
July 22: Larkspur
August
26: Lord Gore Restaurant
