Vail opens for summer season on Friday

VAIL, Colo. – June 5, 2019 – Vail Mountain will open for summer scenic gondola rides, Epic Discovery and mountaintop food & beverage options this Friday, June 7, 2019. Openings will include daily mountain access via Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) out of Lionshead Village, the Epic Discovery Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster, Simonton Observation Deck and dining at the top of Eagle’s Nest. Operations will expand to additional restaurants on June 21, and to daily mountain access via Gondola One in Vail Village on Friday, June 28. 

Epic Discovery, the #1 summer activity in Vail, will open for its fourth summer at Vail Mountain on Friday, June 7. With lingering on-mountain snow from Vail’s outstanding winter season, activities will open on a rolling basis throughout June, as conditions permit. The Kids Ride Free Program, which provides kids ages 12 and younger free access up the gondola with the purchase of an adult ticket, will return this summer. Visitors can get unlimited all-day access to Epic Discovery with the Adventure Pass, the best value for adults and kids to experience all mountaintop activities. 

 A wide array of exciting events, festivals and games take place in Vail throughout the summer. From world-class live music and athletic competitions to farmers markets, food and craft beer events, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Vail. Explore a sampling of notable summer events below, and find more events and details at vail.com/events.

 2019 Summer Operating Dates & Hours

 Gondolas:

• Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19)*
  • June 7 – September 2, 9:30am – 5:00pm**
  • September 6 – September 29, 9:30am – 5:00pm, Friday – Sunday         

• Gondola One (#1)*
  • June 28 – September 2, 9:30am – 4:00pm
  • September 6 – September 29, 9:30am – 4:00pm, Friday – Sunday

*No snowboards, skis or sleds will be allowed up the gondola. Bikes will be permitted on the gondola as soon as mountain conditions allow.

**Open for dinner service until 9:00pm, each Thursday – Saturday, June 21 – August 31

Activities:

• Epic Discovery Activities
  • June 7 – September 2, 10:00am – 5:00pm***
  • September 6 – September 29, 10:00am – 5:00pm, Friday – Sunday

*** All Epic Discovery offerings will be opened on a rolling basis, pending weather conditions. Visit the Epic Discovery page for more details on specific activities.

 Restaurants:

• Game Creek
  • Dinner: June 20 – August 31, 5:30pm – 8:30pm, Thursday – Saturday    
  • Brunch: June 16 – September 1, 11:00am – 2:00pm, Sunday

• The 10^th
  • June 28 – September 8, 11:00 am-3:00 pm, Friday – Sunday

• Bistro Fourteen
  • Lunch: June 21 – September 2, 11:00 am – 3:00pm
  • Dinner: June 21 – August 31, 5:30 pm – 9:00pm, Friday – Saturday

• Talon’s Deck Outdoor Grill
  • June 7 – September 2, 11:00am – 3:00pm

• Sarge’s BBQ Deck
  • June 28 – September 2, 9:30am – 4:00pm
  • September 6 – September 29, 9:30am – 4:00pm, Friday – Sunday

A Sampling of Summer 2019 Events

 GoPro Mountain Games: June 6-9. The GoPro Mountain Games are the country’s largest celebration of adventure sports, art and music, and serves as the kick-off to summer at Vail. The Games will feature countless mountain sports (biking, kayaking, SUP, climbing, slacklining and more), as well as three nights of free concerts from headlining acts such as Citizen Cope, Langhorne Slim, Rapidgrass and Melvin Seals.

 Vail Farmers Market and Art Show: Sundays, June 16-October 6. Entering its 18^th year, the Vail Farmers Market features more than 135 tents with food vendors, local arts and entertainment and more. Located on East Meadow Drive in Vail Village from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 Vail Craft Beer Classic: June 21-23. Pairing beer with adventure, the Vail Craft Beer Classic is Colorado’s highest altitude beer tasting with three days of events – from paired beer dinners, to mountain biking with a brewer, and hundreds of craft beers to sample right in Vail Village.

 Bravo! Vail, Whistle Pig Vail, and Hot Summer Nights: June- September. The Vail Valley Foundation hosts an array of summer events at the outdoor Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, including these three incredible concert series. From internationally-acclaimed symphony performances to free bluegrass concerts and everything in between, locals and visitors alike can enjoy a broad spectrum of music in a beautiful Rocky Mountain setting.

 Vail America Days: July 4. A classic celebration of Independence Day and summer featuring a parade from Golden Peak to Lionshead Village. The 2019 parade theme is A Tribute to the 10^th Mountain Division, to honor Vail’s connection with those who served the nation in the 10^th Mountain Division of the army and later founded Vail Mountain. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will also be performing a patriotic concert at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater as part of the Bravo! Vail chamber orchestra music series.

 Vail Dance Festival: July 26-August 10. A two-week celebration of exceptional culture and artistry that over the years has established the Vail Valley as one of the top summer dance destinations in the world.The Vail Dance Festival is also a project of the Vail Valley Foundation.

 Vail Kids Adventure Games: August 7-11. Designed exclusively for kids ages 6-14, the Kids Adventure Games is a multi-discipline obstacle adventure race, where teams will compete on bikes, in water and on foot. The weekend will also feature the KEEN Family Mud Run on Saturday, August 10.

 Vail Film Festival: August 15-18. Entering its 16^th year, the Vail Film Festival is presented by the Colorado Film Institute to foster independent film. The 2019 festival will have a special focus on work by female filmmakers. Submissions for films are now open here.

 Gourmet on the Gore: August 30-September 2. This unique culinary festival offers an open-air tasting with world-class wine, beer, and spirits paired with culinary delights from Vail’s top culinary experts. Gourmet on Gore presented by Audi offers free admission and a variety of additional pairing events including a Tasting Tour, benefitting Vail Veterans Program to kick things off on Friday, August 31.

 For more information about Vail Mountain, call the Mountain Information Center at (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245) or visit www.vail.com.