Beaver Creeks 15th Annual Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival Kicks Off Summer On May 26-27, 2018
Start the summer season with Beaver Creek’s signature Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival, tantalizing the taste buds for the 15th annual Memorial Day Weekend summer kickoff. Festival-goers enjoy sweet and tangy barbecue, Backyard BBQ Competition, the Beaver Creek Craft Beer Festival, and tasty blues performances by ZZ Ward, Otis Taylor Band, and others throughout the weekend.
Starting on Saturday, May 26, live blue music commences as top Colorado barbecue chefs reach for their top-shelf ingredients, recipes and techniques to smoke, roast, and barbeque mouth-watering dishes. All barbecue vendors will be competing for bragging rights and $1,750 in cash prizes. Attendees will have the chance to vote on Saturday and Sunday to determine the People’s Choice winner for Best Barbecue Vendor. Selected winners will be crowned on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. on the main stage in Beaver Creek Plaza.
A free Kids’ Zone will be open from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday providing activities and arts & crafts designed for kids 12 and under. Also available for kids is a chance to test their endurance on the mechanical bull or jump around in the bounce house.
Live Blues Performances
Saturday May 26
ZZ Ward: Equally evocative of blues grit and hip-hop bounce, the Los Angeles-based vocal powerhouse and multi-instrumentalist leap forward by taking a deeper look at some of her earliest inspirations—including Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Johnson, and Vera Ward Hall and Big Mama Thornton.
Dragondeer: "Nestled somewhere between the quicksilver psychedelia of the '60s and bone-thumpin' blues from Mississippi's yesteryear, these Colorado cats have crafted a sound that is equal parts cosmic and grooving."
Hazel Miller: The Hazel Miller Band performs an eclectic blend of Jazz, R&B, Blues and original music. Hazel Miller Band’s music is designed to make the audience dance and sing-along. They play music that excites and involves the listener.
Sunday, May 27
Otis Taylor Band: Blues singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Otis Taylor is capable of exploring any musical mood at any given time, and it’s an important reason why he is considered one of the most talented artists to emerge in recent years. “Sometimes pigeonholed as a bluesman, Otis Taylor can’t be defined by any single category,” proclaims Spin magazine.
Coco Montoya: Montoya mixes his forceful, melodic guitar playing and passionate vocals with memorable songs, delivering the blues’ hardest truths.
The Delta Sonics: The Delta Sonic's music takes a Chicago Blues base and seasons it with Swing, Delta, N’awlins R&B and some early Rock n' Roll. They were Westword’s best blues band in Denver for six years straight, 2011-2016.
Beaver Creek Craft Beer Festival
Sample beers from 30 Colorado breweries from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, with gorgeous views of Beaver Creek from the Centennial Lawn. Advance general admission tickets are $40 per person. While you’re here, enjoy complimentary live music and a wide variety of food for purchase at Blues, Brews and BBQ in the Plaza. Participating breweries include Breckenridge Brewery, 4 Noses Brewing Company, 7 Hermits Brewing, Bonfire Brewing, Boulder Beer Company, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project, Eddyline Brewing, Elevation Beer Company, FATE Brewing Company, Great Divide Brewing, Left Hand Brewing, Mahogany Ridge, New Belgium Brewing, Odd 13 Brewing, Peak to Peak Tap & Brews, Pug Ryan’s Brewing Company, Roaring Fork Beer Company, Soul Craft Brewing, Stem Ciders, Upslope Brewing Company, Vail Brewing Company. More breweries to be added soon.
VIP Experiences
Craft Beer Festival VIP: Enjoy an exclusive craft beer tasting, paired snacks and a “Meet the Brewery” event at the White Carpet Club from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., then get first access to the Craft Beer Festival without waiting in line. The VIP package also includes a commemorative gift and a General Admission ticket to the Craft Beer Festival from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The White Carpet Club will be open for VIP ticket holders from 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. VIP tickets are $80 per person.
Blues, Brews & BBQ VIP: Enjoy an exclusive craft beer tasting, paired snacks and a “Meet the Brewery” event at the White Carpet Club from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday. VIP guests will also get reserved premium seating at the Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival including table service and $25 of vouchers for food and drinks per person. The White Carpet Club will be open for VIP ticket holders from 10:30am - 6:00pm. VIP tickets are $80 per person per day.
Backyard BBQ Competition
Do you love to barbecue? Do your friends and family constantly compliment your grilling skills? Do you believe that you are the best at grilling and BBQ? Participate in the Backyard BBQ Competition for your chance to win bragging rights for an entire year. Contestants (can be individuals or teams of up to three people) will be provided with a Big Green Egg, a mystery grilling meat and side dish items. Contestants will have three hours to design and cook their delicious dishes for our distinguished judges. Sign up today to be one of the 15 teams competing. This competition is only open to amateurs, no culinary professionals or professional barbecue teams are allowed to compete. Please read the Rules and Regulations to confirm that you qualify to participate in this exclusive competition.
Date: Sunday, May 27
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (teams to arrive at 10:30 a.m., competition to begin at 11 a.m.)
Location: Covered Bridge Patio
Schedule of Events
Saturday, May 26, 2018
12:00 p.m. – Beer and Food Vendors Open
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – Kids’ Zone Open
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – People Choice BBQ Voting
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Live Music from Hazel Miller
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – Craft Beer Festival on Centennial Lawn
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – Live Music from Dragondeer
2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. – Music and Cooking Demos
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. – Live Music from ZZ Ward
6:00 p.m. – Beer and Food Vendors Close
Sunday, May 27, 2018
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Backyard BBQ Competition
12:00 p.m. – Beer and Food Vendors Open
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – Kids Zone Open
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. – People Choice BBQ Voting
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. – Live Music from The Delta Sonics
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. – Live Music from Coco Montoya
2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. – Music and Cooking Demos
4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. – Live Music from Otis Taylor Band
6:00 p.m. – Beer and Food Vendors Close
Blues, Brews & BBQ is presented in partnership with Budweiser, Breckenridge Brewery, Alpine Bank, Christy Sports, and Big Green Egg.
