Spring Back To Vail Returns For Four Days Of Music And Celebration

While winter continues in full force in Vail, springtime is on the horizon. With sunny bluebird skies, warmer temperatures and still plenty of snow to be had, it’s no surprise that spring skiing in Vail is a highlight of the season. This April 11-14, Spring Back to Vail returns to celebrate the end of season with a four-day festival of concerts, on-mountain events, après parties and more.
 
“There’s no better way to round out this year’s incredible ski season than with Spring Back to Vail,” said Doug Lovell, COO of Vail Mountain. “We are excited to join our guests and the community in celebrating the close of what has been a legendary winter.”
 
Featuring four days of live music throughout Vail, Spring Back to Vail 2019 is excited to announce its first headliner: Gov’t Mule will be kicking off the festivities with a free concert at Ford Park on Friday, April 12 at 6:00 p.m.
 
Visionary GRAMMY Award-winning artist Warren Haynes is a cornerstone of the American music landscape, lauded as one of the most formidable guitarists and vocalists of the modern era and a prolific songwriter and producer. Haynes effortlessly cross-pollinates genres and unfurls solos that broil with passion in his distinctive, signature style. Throughout his prolific career as part of three of the greatest live groups in rock history – The Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and the Dead – and an acclaimed solo artist, he has become one of music’s most treasured storytellers. As the front man of Gov’t Mule, Haynes along with his bandmates drummer Matt Abts, keyboardist Danny Louis and bassist Jorgen Carlsson, create consistently honest, organic and daring music, leading them to be recognized as one of the most timeless, revered and active bands in the world whose spot amongst rock titans remains unshakable. The enduring, globally-revered group has showcased its virtuosity, intelligence and breadth over the course of 16 studio and live albums, thousands of memorable performances and millions of album and track sales. Their flexible interplay in the studio and on stage makes them a true living, breathing ensemble. Gov’t Mule has become a human encyclopedia of great American music while adding to that canon with their signature sound. Gov’t Mule’s acclaimed 10th studio album Revolution Come…Revolution Go is out now.
 
In addition to Gov’t Mule, Spring Back to Vail 2019 will feature a to-be-announced headliner concert at Ford Park on Saturday, April 13, as well as daily Spring Back Live! music at various locations in town and on the mountain from Thursday, April 11-Sunday, April 14.
 
Enhance your concert experience by purchasing Private Reserve tickets which allow entry into the concerts plus access to a preferred viewing area adjacent to the stage with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and light food. Private Reserve tickets go on sale on Friday, March 1 at vail.com/springback.
 
The Spring Back to Vail schedule of activities will also include a Tikis & Tunes Luau at Mid-Vail on Saturday, April 13, and the annual Vail Sponsor Expo Festival Village at the base of Gondola One in Mountain Plaza on April 12-13 and at the base of Golden Peak on April 14. The weekend of celebration will culminate with the 17th Annual World Pond Skimming Championships at Golden Peak on Sunday, April 14.
 
The unique Spring mountain tradition of donning costumes and skimming across icy water is back for yet another year in Vail, as participants will ski themselves off a snow jump and skim across a pond in the hopes of making it to the other side in the 17th Annual World Pond Skimming Championships. This competition is a spectacle that defies the laws of physics and common sense as a panel of highly-skilled judges scores each competitor on distance, style, creativity and water resistance. The contest will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, and the Golden Peak venue will open at 12:00 p.m. for the Festival Village sponsor expos and giveaways. The top male and female winners of the Pond Skim Championships will each be awarded the grand prize of a 2019-2020 Vail Resorts Epic Pass. Registration opens Thursday, March 14 at vail.com/springback.
 
Spring Back to Vail is presented by the Town of Vail, Vail Mountain, Bud Light, Pepsi, Helly Hansen, Ripple Foods and Oakley.
 
Admission to all Spring Back to Vail events is free.