Vail Dance Festival, Carnival Action, Music Thrills and More This Weekend in the Vail Valley

Vail Dance Festival

The 36th annual Vail Dance Festival will host its opening performance at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The performance will offer a taste of what’s to come in the next 10 days as the festival travels from The Amp at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek to the Performance Pavilion in Avon and the streets of Vail.

Friday night highlights include numerous collaborations and a mix of dance genres like tap with festival favorites Michelle Dorrance and Memphis Jooker Ron Myles. Other performances include New York City Ballet artist-in-residence and principal Sara Mearns performing Balanchine’s “Igie.” The National Repertory Orchestra will also perform Tchaikovsky’s music live during “Serenade.” Opening night begins at 7:30 p.m., with the amphitheater open one hour prior to the show.

On Saturday night, come see Dance Theater of Harlem at The Amp in a program that includes George Balanchine’s “Allego Brillante” and company artistic director Robert Garland’s recent work “Nyman String Quartet #2” and William Forsythe’s “Blake Works IV (The Barre Project).” The performance will be at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday night, the Vail Dance Festival will feature one of its signature shows, where Damian Woetzel, the Vail Dance Festival’s artistic director, takes the audience through the movements of the artists in rehearsal and performance. It’s a unique way to see dance and learn about the movements and athleticism involved. UpClose: Swerve will be at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater and begins at 6 p.m. For more information on all performances, master classes, Dancing in the Streets and other events, visit VailDance.org.

Eagle County Fair and Rodeo

Since 1939, Eagle County has been celebrating its Western heritage and bringing the community together in a spirit of camaraderie and competition. The event has become so popular that the rodeos, held every night at 7 p.m., are sold out, but you can still have fun participating in all the surrounding events and activities.

Support local journalism

Make a donation

Carnival rides and food stalls open early, so come join the fun. On Friday, gates open at 3 p.m. and on Saturday, at noon. This year, the carnival will feature rides such as the Majestic Ferris Wheel, Space Shuttle, Ripsaw, Thea's Zoo, Flying Pink Elephants and more. Get your fill of thrills before you eat too much cotton candy or funnel cakes.

Come early to see the 4-H exhibits at the Eagle River Center, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check out the chickens, rabbits, lambs, pigs, goats and more. 4-H kids have worked hard to raise these animals over the past year and many of them will be featured at the Junior Livestock Auction on Saturday at 11 a.m. Many area restaurants are known to purchase livestock at this auction to keep their menu meats super local, so don’t be surprised if you see a few restaurant owners bidding.

Saturday also features the Pretty Baby contest. It’s the cutest thing ever with little ones dressed up in their best costumes to impress the judges. Does your baby have what it takes? Show up to register between 9:30 a.m. and 9:55 a.m. and the contest starts at 10 a.m. at the Eagle River Center. For more information, visit EagleCountyFairAndRodeo.com.

Avon Arts Celebration

The 5th annual Avon Arts Celebration returns to Nottingham Park in Avon Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 120 artists from Eagle County, Colorado and the country will be there to showcase everything from paintings and pottery to sculpture and woodworking.

Shop while sipping wine, beer or spirits. Wheatley American Vodka, Bucknell Family Wine from the Western Slope and Woods High Mountain Distillery in Salida are some of the featured beverages, along with Meyers Rum and Corazn Tequila, at the Barrels, Bottles and Brews event, which will benefit the Vail Valley Art Guild. There will also be food trucks among the art tents, so if you need a grab-and-go lunch, snack or cup of coffee, you’ll find it on site. There will also be live music by pianist Gene Morris all weekend near the wine and spirits tasting booths.

On Sunday at noon, there will be a $1,000 raffle. Ask any artist for a free raffle ticket, place your ticket in the bin from which the winning ticket will be drawn and then you must be present to win. For more information on the event, artists, vendors and more, visit ColoradoArtWeekend.com.

Music offers

Summer Sessions in Vail

Vail Mountain has partnered with Toyota to bring you a fun concert series on and off the mountain this weekend. On Friday, head to the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) for a concert by indie pop band Cannons at Eagle’s Nest from 5 to 6:30 p.m. If you have your 2024-2025 Epic Pass, you can ride the gondola or purchase a scenic gondola pass at the ticket office, or hike or bike to the top. While the concert is free, seating is limited and a wristband is required, which can be picked up starting at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Toyota tents at the base of Lionshead. Come early for the pre-party at Bistro 14 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Eagle’s Nest.

On Saturday, enjoy the sounds of Vandelux, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer who will be at the base of Gondola One (#1) from 5pm to 6:30pm in Vail Village. This concert is also free.

Throughout the weekend, Toyota will be hosting all sorts of fun activities in Vail and Lionshead from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Come enjoy lawn games, a dog photo booth, customizable hats and pins, and awesome giveaways like electric bikes and even a Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter. For a full schedule and to learn more about additional events this weekend, visit Vail.com and click on the Events Calendar.

PrimalFest in Minturn

On Saturday, head to Little Beach Amphitheatre in Minturn for PrimalFest, which runs from noon to 9 p.m. PrimalFest will feature eight bands, including headliner Primal J and the Neanderthals, Michael Morrow and the Culprits, Pinheads, Jen Mack and more. PrimalFest began in 2017 and has been staged in Dotsero, Keystone, Eagle and other locations, but PrimalFest producer Dan Renner of DFR Productions and bassist for Primal J and the Neanderthals is excited to be back in Minturn.

“I love playing and bringing other bands to the beautiful Little Beach Amphitheatre in Minturn, the town where I grew up,” Renner said in an email to the Vail Daily.

In the past, PrimalFest has featured all sorts of genres of music, including bluegrass, reggae, classic rock, metal and ska. Admission is free, bring your family, pack a picnic, it’s a BYOB event, but please do not bring glass into the park. Blankets and low-slung camping chairs are welcome. Mountain Belles, a food truck serving Creole food, will be selling items from their truck during the event. For more information and a list of bands, visit Minturn.org/Home-Page/Page/PrimalFest.

Free Bravo! Concerts in Vail

Bravo! Vail Music Festival has wrapped up its concerts at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, but the music continues with several concerts before the festival ends Aug. 1. The community concert series connects festival musicians and music lovers in a variety of settings, from a Bravo! Vail mobile trailer called the Music Box to the historic Tabor Opera House in Leadville.

Bravo! Vail is home to The Westerlies, a four-piece ensemble featuring Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands on trumpet and Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon on trombone. The ensemble is named for the prevailing winds that blow from west to east, and they have traveled in all directions to share their sounds. From Carnegie Hall to Coachella, their music ranges from jazz and roots to chamber music and beyond.

On Friday, come see The Westerlies perform in the charming Music Box at 11 a.m. in the Field House parking lot in Edwards or at 6 p.m. at the Singletree Pavilion in Edwards. On Saturday, the Music Box will travel to Lake Creek Village in Edwards for a performance at 11 a.m. On Sunday, head to Leadville and see The Westerlies perform at the famous Tabor Opera House at 2 p.m. The Tabor Opera House was built in 1879 and has hosted performances by Oscar Wilde, John Philip Sousa and Harry Houdini. For more information about the free community concert series, visit BravoVail.org.