Autumn Arrives In Colorado Ski Country With Labor Day Weekend Events and Fall Festivals
With summer in Colorado’s high-country beginning to turn to fall, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts are celebrating with a variety of Labor Day Weekend events and fall festivals. Guests can find outdoor concerts, mountain biking, fireworks, fall colors, cooler mountain temperatures and Colorado craft beers at ski area events across the state this autumn.
WINTER PARK RESORT
Alpine & Ales Mountain Oktoberfest (September 8)
Winter Park Resort’s first Mountain Oktoberfest will offer guests the perfect atmosphere for enjoying live music, unlimited beer sampling for just $30, chainsaw carving, food and more. More than a dozen breweries will participate in this all-day autumn-inspired event. For more information, visit www.winterparkresort.com.
TELLURIDE RESORT
Telluride Film Festival (September 1-4)
Taking over Telluride for Labor Day weekend, the prestigious Telluride Film Festival is four days of movie magic, a celebration of film, community and creativity. The festival notoriously keeps its film schedule a secret, but year after year, films make their debut at the festival and go on to future success. For more information, visit www.telluridefilmfestival.com.
SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN RESORT
Orpheus Music & Arts Festival (August 31 – September 1)
Hosted by Sunlight Mountain Resort, Orpheus Music & Arts Festival will be a single-stage music festival dedicated to Do It Yourself creativity, sustainability and the great outdoors. Featuring independent bands, artists and vendors from Denver and Glenwood Springs, Orpheus will encourage festival goers to engage with young talent, local business and Mother Nature. Each day of the two-day festival will feature music and vendors for nearly 12 hours, with a mid-day break to allow attendees to explore downtown Glenwood Springs or hike the nearly 25-miles of on-venue trails. For more information, visit the Orpheus Music & Arts Festival.
STEAMBOAT RESORT
Wild West Air Fest (September 1)
The Wild West Air Fest will feature nationally renowned performers to thrill guests with riveting aerobatics and formation flying. Guests can also enjoy warbirds and static aircraft displays, great food, exhibits, vendors and activities for the kids.
Steamboat OktoberWest (September 14-15)
Visitors are invited to celebrate the season at a Steamboat-style Oktoberfest. The festival will feature Rocky Mountain beer, local food specialties and festivities unique to Steamboat Springs. For more information, visit www.steamboat.com.
PURGATORY RESORT
San Juan Mountain Bike & Music Festival (September 28-30)
The inaugural San Juan Mountain Bike and Music Festival will come to Purgatory Resort featuring bikes, beer and live music in the beautiful setting of the San Juan Mountain range. Guests will have the opportunity to test ride the latest and greatest bikes and attend several live music performances during this weekend event.
Oktoberfest (October 6)
Hosted at Purgatory Resort’s base area, Oktoberfest will welcome guests to enjoy fall festival favorites including craft beer, live music performances, traditional German food and more. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Adaptive Sports Association. For more information, visit www.purgatoryresort.com.
POWDERHORN RESORT
Color Sunday (September 30)
This family-friendly event at Powderhorn Resort celebrates the shorter days, dropping temperatures and changing colors of fall on the Grand Mesa. Visitors to the annual Color Sunday can enjoy a day of beautiful fall colors, live music, scenic lift rides and downhill mountain biking. For more information, visit www.powderhorn.com.
HOWELSEN HILL SKI AREA
Free Concert Series End of Summer Jam (September 2)
The Steamboat Springs Free Summer Concert Series, celebrating 25 years of free music, will wrap up with an End of Summer Jam on September 2 featuring The Motet, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Eric Tessmer and more. For more information, please visit the Steamboat Free Summer Concert Series website.
GRANBY RANCH
Third Annual Oktoberfest (September 29)
Granby Ranch will celebrate the 3rd Annual Oktoberfest featuring live polka music, cold beer and traditional fall food. Entry will be free and Oktoberfest mugs will be available for purchase.
For more information, visit www.granbyranch.com.
CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT
CB Unplugged
CB Unplugged is a free music series which features nationally touring artists in an intimate setting. Guests can head to Butte 66 at 4 p.m. for live music, food and drinks. Sponsored by the Town of Mt. Crested Butte, CB Unplugged will feature three free concerts in the late summer and fall months with an extremely talented lineup. Dates include the last weekend in August, September 1 and October 6.
Chili + Beer Festival (September 8)
Held at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, the 20th Annual Chili and Beer Festival will attract brewers from around the region and local chefs to test their skills and recipes for over 1,200 “taste-testers” throughout the day. The event will feature locally made chili, tasty craft beer and live music. For more information, visit www.skicb.com.
COPPER MOUNTAIN
Copper Country (August 31-September 2)
Copper Mountain’s Labor Day tradition celebrates the best of the American spirit. Copper Country guests will experience free admission, free live music, fireworks, kids’ crafts and an arts festival. For more information, visit www.coppercolorado.com.
ASPEN SNOWMASS
Jazz Aspen Snowmass – Labor Day Experience (August 31-September 2)
Jazz Aspen Snowmass is a community staple in the Roaring Fork Valley, known for its legendary and entertaining lineup. This year, guests will have the chance to dance and sing along to headlining musicians Jack Johnson, Zac Brown Band, Lionel Richie, Micheal Franti & Spearhead and more. For more information, visit www.aspensnowmass.com.
ARAPAHOE BASIN SKI AREA
Oktoberfest (September 15)
Hosted in the Mountain Goat Plaza, Arapahoe Basin’s first annual Oktoberfest will feature live Austrian folk music, Paulaner beer, giant pretzels, bratwurst and schnitzel sandwiches. Guests can catch live performances by the Summit Concert Band and Those Austrian Guys and take advantage of free chairlift rides to close out the summer. For more information, visit www.arapahoebasin.com.
