Originally published: May 26, 2021
Updated: May 26, 2022
When the last lift stops turning for the winter ski season, the mountain adventure does not end. As the final patches of snow melt, a new type of stoke is in the air – along with warm weather, sunny days, and the wildly green scenery of summer.
Summer events in the mountains are always a special experience. No matter if you fancy a culinary festivity or an action-packed competition, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Check out your favorite destinations to see what events are offered this season, and make sure to read up on some of our recommendations below.
FOOD, DRINKS, & MUSIC
If you like dancing to bluegrass, drinking beer, or dancing to bluegrass while drinking beer, Sugarbush’s Brew Grass Festival is a must-do this summer. Featuring local craft beer and cider alongside live music by Mad Mountain Scramblers, this one-day festival held on Saturday, June 4 will be an experience to remember. Gather your closest friends and family, and head to Vermont for a memorable weekend. Tickets are limited, and sell out quickly. Purchase in advance as soon as possible.
Deer Valley’s summer concerts run from June to August, and the outstanding music acts performing at this dazzling destination are not to be missed. From The Hot Sardines to Boyz II Men with the Utah Symphony, each outdoor concert will be full of dancing, singing, and plenty of award-winning talent. To snag a ticket, visit the Deer Valley concerts page.
Soak up the sun at Deer Valley’s summer concert series.
Kick off summer right at Winter Park’s Venture Out Fest on June 18. This free event is jam-packed with warm-weather activities, including a DockDogs competition, complimentary e-bike tours, yoga classes, fly fishing demos, and much more. Enjoy one or all of these exciting activities, or just chill out and listen to live music all afternoon. Visit again the following weekend for the The BigWonderful Beer Fest June 25, and satisfy your thirst with unlimited drink samples from 30+ Colorado craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries while listening to the live tunes of local bands.
The fun is heating up at Blue Mountain with the return of the annual Salsa at Blue Festival, June 24-26. Watch as the village transforms into a vibrant scene of music and dancing. Enjoy musical performances and salsa showcases all weekend long. And, if you’re up for it, take part in a dance lesson led by award-winning dancers ready to help you master the moves.
Slow down and soak in the sounds of summer in the mountains at Mammoth JazzFest, July 15-16, or Mammoth Reggae Fest, July 22-24. Held in The Village at Mammoth, both events are free and open to all age groups. Not your jam? Mammoth has plenty of other events to check out this summer, ranging from beer and margarita festivals, to wine weekends and food tastings.
If you consider yourself a foodie, checkout Snowshoe Mountain’s new event, Taste of the Mountain, Saturday, August 20. Spend the day sampling food from a variety of vendors, serving up cuisine that is sure to get your tastebuds humming and leave your belly fully satisfied.
EXTREME ACTION & ADVENTURE
Not for the faint of heart, the Starvation Xtreme Triathlon at Solitude is an extreme show of strength, stamina, and mental toughness. On Saturday, July 9, athletes will gather to swim 2.4 miles, bike 100 miles, and run 26 miles, including a whopping 7,543 feet of vertical incline. The swim and bike ride take place before the athletes arrive at Solitude, and we can’t argue there’s no better place to begin – and most importantly, end – a triathlon than in the high terrain of the Wasatch Mountains.
Get your fill of action and suspense at Mammoth Motocross.
For a different scene of action and adventure, Mammoth Motocross is a fast-moving spectacle that will keep the adrenaline going for hours on end for riders and spectators alike. With seven days of competition between June 17-26, this is one sporting event that is guaranteed to excite those in the crowd almost as much as those on the dirt.
Keep the biking adventures going in Pocahontas County as Snowshoe hosts the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup July 29-31. This marks the third time Snowshoe has appeared on the circuit, with athletes competing in downhill, cross country, and short track racing. Get ready for a dirt-packed weekend
FOR FAMILIES
What kid doesn’t love a good fireworks show. Come 4th of July, you’ll be hard pressed to find a mountain resort that doesn’t have a stellar sky lights presentation. At Stratton Mountain, the Independence Day celebrations last all weekend long. Saturday, July 2, settle in for a night of guitar rhythms and glowing lights with a performance from Dark Star Orchestra, followed by a stellar sky glow laser show. On Sunday, July 3, ’round up the family for Mountain Friends and Freedom, complete with dozens of outdoor activities, pie eating contests, and toe-tapping live music. Stick around afterwards for the 4th of July fireworks display.
If your crew loves music, then don’t miss out on Les Rythmes Tremblant, a free, three-day outdoor music festival featuring some of Quebec’s and Canada’s top artists. Soak in the sounds of afternoon concerts, followed by evenings filled with timeless classics and exciting new tunes.
Hit the trails with the whole family and learn some essential outdoor skills during Crystal Mountain’s Trail Fest on July 30. Upon arrival, groups can pick up a map and their Adventure Journal to guide them from station to station. At each location, you’ll learn a new skill, face a challenge or snag a treat, all with the goal to increase outdoor education like building shelters, navigating, first aid, sound mapping, and more. After the hike, families can enjoy games, music and food.
No summer events, no problem. Book a getaway at a destination near you and enjoy a weekend in the fresh, crisp air with your family, friends, and loved ones. Dine, hike, and enjoy all that summer in the mountains has to offer with your Ikon Pass.
This summer is the perfect time to reconnect with friends and family for long-awaited celebrations.
