The Labor Day weekend is
the last holiday weekend as resorts begin their preparations for the
winter. Whether washing down an afternoon’s worth of competition chili
with renowned microbrewed
beer, attending music festivals featuring award-winning musicians,
taking a ride in a vintage aircraft, or enjoying the many summer
sporting and recreational opportunities at Colorado’s resorts, the Labor
Day weekend festivities offer something for everyone.
Below are some of the events and activities taking place during the
long holiday weekend around Colorado Ski Country.
Check out the full list after the jump!
Aspen/Snowmass
Labor Day weekend festivities at Aspen/Snowmass are headlined by the
Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival,
featuring three days of world-class concerts on multiple stages,
eclectic food, beverage vendors, and more. This year’s acts include
Jason Mraz, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Keith Urban,
Train, Little Big Town, Journey, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros,
and Colorado’s own Paper Bird. Additionally, the final Bluegrass Sunday
atop Aspen Mountain at the Sundeck will take place on Sunday, September
1, featuring the Roaring Fork Valley’s own
Smuggler Mountain Boys. Visit jazzaspensnowmass.org
for more information and to purchase tickets.
On Labor Day, Monday
September 2, the most adventurous eaters in Colorado will convene at the
foot of Aspen Mountain for the second annual
Rocky Mountain Oyster Festival and Barbecue, hosted by the Ajax
Tavern at the Little Nell Hotel. This all-you-can-eat/drink event will
feature conventional oysters on the half shell, Rockefeller oysters and
other creative oyster hors d’oeuvres, and the
famed Rocky Mountain Oyster. Tickets are $75 and are available at
https://ajaxtavern.ticketbud.com/oysterfest. For more information and reservations, please
call 970-920-4600 or 888-843-6355. Or visit www.thelittlenell.com.
Copper Mountain
Copper Mountain’s Labor
Day tradition, Copper Country, is a free Labor Day festival tradition
celebrating the best of the American spirit. Incredible live music, an
arts festival, and Copper
Kids Arts & Crafts come together to make this Labor Day weekend
event ideal for the entire family. This year’s lineup includes Savannah
Jack, The Long Players, Michael McDonald, Texaco Country Showdown and
headliner Kenny Rogers. More information can be found
at CopperCountryFest.com.
Crested Butte
On Sunday, September 8, Crested Butte Mountain Resort will host the annual
Gravity Slave Downhill Mountain Bike Race, now a pure downhill
format with a $2,000 cash purse for the winners of the Open Pro Class.
Racing begins on Sunday morning, with course training from 8:30 – 10
a.m. and a 10:30 a.m. race start time. Registration
is available online at www.skicb.com/mygroup with the package code:
gravityslave2013. The $50 registration fee includes a race day ticket for Sunday, September 8.
Special racer lodging
rates start at $99 per night, plus a resort fee and taxes, which can be
reserved by calling 800-810-7669. For more information, visit
www.ridecb.com/gravityslave or call Patti Hensley at 970-349-2217 and visit
www.vimeo.com/71995088 to preview the challenging downhill course on the Avery trail.
The bike race coincides with Mt. Crested Butte’s annual
Chili and Beer Festival on the weekend of September 7 and 8,
2013. Breweries from throughout the southwest will be on hand with their
finest brews to take the heat off the chili prepared by Crested Butte
locals. In addition to beer & chili tasting, attendees
will be able to enjoy live music while taking in the beautiful backdrop
of Mt. Crested Butte. Hosted by the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte
Chamber of Commerce, this festival will bring together more than 1,000
enthusiasts to celebrate great beer and Mt. Crested
Butte’s finest chili. For more information, visit http://www.cbchamber.com/chili--beer-festival.html
During the entire month of September you can save 20 percent off all CBMR lodging. Stay in Crested Butte and enjoy the brilliant changing of the aspen groves and cottonwood trees into golden yellows, radiant oranges and dazzling reds. During the month of September, the Red Lady Express lift is open from 10am - 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Plan your stay over a weekend and receive a free scenic lift ride for each person on the reservation. To make reservations, call Crested Butte Vacations at (800) 600-2803.
Durango Mountain Resort
Durango Mountain Resort
is open weekends and Labor Day now through September 29. Visitors can
enjoy a bevy of adventure activities including a new ropes obstacle
course, new water runners,
mountain biking, hiking, scenic chairlift rides, an alpine slide,
climbing wall, bungee trampolines and more.
Guests can take
advantage of lodging packages starting at $38 per person, per night, and
enjoy two nights lodging and Total Adventure Tickets for the entire
family, which include Alpine Slide
rides, miniature golf and other activities like the bungee trampoline,
the new ropes obstacle course, climbing wall, the new Water Runners, and
more. To book the Summer Last Hurrah Package or for more information,
call (800) 525-0892
www.DurangoMountainResort.com
Steamboat
Labor Day weekend in
Steamboat features a variety of events with something for everyone. On
Friday, August 30, Colorado native musician Zach Heckendorf takes the
stage at Gondola Square with
his rich, hip-hop influenced acoustic-driven sound. On Saturday, August
31, the Steamboat Stage will host Skyfall, the latest installment in
the James Bond film series featuring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, and
Javier Bardem.
On Saturday, August 31
and Sunday, September 1, the Wild West Air Fest will bring a vintage and
warbird static aircraft display, classic cars, radio controlled
airplane shows, the Wings Over
the Rockies KidSpace and much more. Visitors may purchase flights in
several aircraft, from helicopters to World War II Navy bombers and
others.
On Sunday, the
Professional Bull Riding circuit comes to Steamboat with the Rocky
Mountain Bull Bash. This thrilling event pushes cowboys’ skills to their
limit as they take on top-ranked bulls
to compete for a big cash prize. For more information and to purchase
tickets, visit
Steamboat.com/things-to-do.
For more information about Labor Day festivities at and around Steamboat, visit
Steamboat.com/things-to-do.
Winter Park
The Zoppé Family Circus
welcomes guests into the intimate 500 seat tent for a one-ring circus
that honors the best history of the Old-World Italian tradition.
Starring Nino the clown,
the circus is propelled by a central story (as opposed to individual
acts) that feature acrobatic feats, equestrian showmanship, canine
capers, clowning and plenty of audience participation. Tickets are $20
for VIP chair seating or $15 for general admission,
and children under 2 are free. There will be one performance on Friday,
three performances on Saturday and Sunday and one performance on Sunday
providing guests ample opportunities to see the show during their Labor
Day weekend at Winter Park. For more information,
visit WinterParkResort.com/events-and-activities.
On the following Saturday, September 7, The Village at Winter Park will host the
Whiskey & Wings Festival, featuring some of the best whiskey
and wings in Colorado. Local restaurants will be presenting their finest
chicken wings in a variety of styles and flavors, with visitors
determining which delectable wings are the best. Guests
can wash down their wings with whiskey tasting while enjoying live
music. Taste tickets are just $1 each (a buck per wing) while whiskey
tasting is $10 for four tickets (good for two tastings) and a special
commemorative Whiskey & Wings Festival glass. For
more information, visit WinterParkResort.com/events-and-activities.
