Vail Valley Foundation/Photo courtesy
Slightly Stoopid at The Amp
Friday night will be a night of music from California bands at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Slightly Stoopid will be on stage with special guests Common Kings and Fortunate Youth.
Slightly Stoopid has a long history dating back to when band founders Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald were schoolmates in San Diego and formed a band that played during school lunch periods. During high school, a serendipitous encounter with the late Bradley Nowell of Sublime helped Slightly Stoopid move forward. Nowell signed the group to his record label, Skunk Records. From then on, the band had such a large regional following on the West Coast that Slightly Stoopid decided to go on tour, which included many appearances in Colorado ski resorts like Vail. The band has now traveled all over the world, playing major venues and festivals, and working with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Common Kings is another Southern California band that has been around for decades. The quartet from Orange County, California, met at a barbecue, learned of their shared musical interest and heritage, and began playing together. Their influences ranged from Bob Marley to Michael Jackson and from The Who to Led Zeppelin. Their music is also on par with Sublime, No Doubt, and of course, Slightly Stoopid.
Fortunate Youth has also toured extensively with Slightly Stoopid, and this Hermosa Beach-based sextet will be spreading peace, love and unity with their music on Friday night. The band has played all over the world, supporting not only Slightly Stoopid, but also American reggae and dub bands Stick Figure and SOJA.
Tickets are available at GRFAVail.com. and the show starts at 7pm
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Vail Wine Classics
The Vail Wine Classic returns, combining wine, food and outdoor experiences all weekend long. Although some dinners, lunches and events like Sip & Serve Pickleball & Tasting on Saturday and Brunch & Bubbles on Sunday are sold out, you can still secure tickets to these other can’t-miss events. Best of the Fest on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Vail Nordic Center and Golf Club will feature the finest reserve bottles along with an exquisite menu.
At the Grand Tasting, wine lovers will have multiple opportunities to sample hundreds of wines throughout the weekend, with events on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Premier Access tickets allow entry one hour before the general public (2:00-5:30 p.m.) and Early Access tickets allow entry 30 minutes before general admission ticket holders (2:30-5:30 p.m.). General admission tickets allow entry from 3:00-5:30 p.m. Sample varietals from around the world while enjoying small bites and music from Hardscrabble on Friday and the Blue River Grass Band on Saturday.
Dine in style with multi-course themed lunches during the day. On Friday, celebrate the wines of Spain with the Sip & Savor Spain Lunch in the Slope Room at Gravity Haus, paired with Pinea wines. Or try the Uncharted Territories Lunch at Root & Flower, paired with Australian and New Zealand wines.
On Saturday, sample the Vino and Views Hike and Lunch, finishing at Ridge + River with wine pairings with Stringer Cellars. For tickets, event descriptions and more, visit VailWineClassic.com.
Vail Valley Brew ‘Au
If beer is more your thing, check out Vail Valley Brew ‘Au, a Hawaiian lu’au-themed beer festival. The annual event is held in Avon’s Harry A. Nottingham Park, and although craft beer, cider and spritzers are served, it’s a family-friendly event.
Stroll around and sample dozens of beers, ciders and spirits in a souvenir glass. There are also food trucks available if you want something to eat.
An early bird ticket allows you to enter the event at 2:30pm, a general admission ticket allows you to enter at 4pm and the event goes until 7:30pm. All paid adult tickets include free entry of an accompanying child into the children’s entertainment area. Otherwise, it is $10 per child. For the kids, there are plenty of activities and lawn games to keep them occupied.
This event is a fundraiser for CASA of the Continental Divide, Continental Divide, a nonprofit organization that serves children in Colorado’s 5th Judicial District in Clear Creek, Eagle, Lake, and Summit counties. CASA of the Continental Divide provides critical services to children who are victims of abuse and neglect and who struggle with truancy.
Musical performances will take place on stage at the Avon Performance Pavilion at 3 p.m., including opening act The Local Folk Band from Summit County. Eagle County band The Evolution will headline the event, playing at 5:30 p.m. and playing until the end of the event at 7:30 p.m. Stay for the launch of the water lanterns over Nottingham Lake between 7:30 and 8 p.m.
It is recommended to use public transportation or walk or bike to the park. Outside food and alcohol are not permitted and dogs are not allowed at the event. For more information and tickets, visit BrewFestEvents.com..
Eagle Mushroom Festival
It’s prime time for mushroom picking in Eagle County, and the Eagle Mushroom and Wild Food Festival is ready to help you learn about and enjoy the great flavors of this year’s harvest. This is a three-day event that brings together mycology experts, foodies and chefs who will teach you how to best explore the flavors of mushrooms.
At press time, the forays were sold out, but Scott Schlosser, one of the event organizers, said to come to the Brush Creek Pavilion around 3 p.m. on Saturday after the forays conclude, because that’s when experts will be bringing in the haul and identifying the different species of mushrooms that grow in our area.
“Even if you can’t go foraging, you can learn so much just by being here and listening to the experts,” Schlosser said. “We’ve had a great growing season where it used to be hot and now the afternoon showers are starting. I just found 15 to 20 pounds of mushrooms, even though I barely looked for them.”
There are still numerous ticketed events and free events that the public can attend.
Friday
Meet & Greet with keynote speaker Jon Sommer – 5:30-7:00 p.m. – Brush Creek Pavilion
- Sommer is president of the Colorado Mycological Society and will speak about the diversity of the fungal kingdom and their role in the ecosystem.
Concert and food trucks
- Enjoy a free concert with The Runaway Grooms at Brush Creek Park. Food trucks from Flavor Stop and Vagabond will provide food and this is a BOYB event.
Saturday
Culinary dinner at Wild Sage – 6-9pm
- Wild Sage at Eagle Ranch is hosting a four-course wine dinner featuring Chef Kevin Nelson and locally foraged and cultivated mushrooms. Wines will be served by Wild Sage’s sommelier. Culinary Dinner guests receive complimentary admission to the meet and greet with Jon Sommer on Friday evening.
Family Pizza Night at Brush Creek Park – 6pm-8pm
- Pickups Pizza will be in the park offering a selection of pizza made especially for the Eagle Mushroom and Wild Food Festival. Your ticket is good for a quarter pizza (two slices) and salad.
Concert – 6pm-10pm – Brush Creek Park
- Enjoy a free concert with Hardscrabble
Sunday
Cooking class with lunch – Brush Creek Pavilion 11am-1pm
- Chef and owner Brian Farquharson of Red Canyon Catering will teach you classically inspired wild game cooking techniques, followed by a gourmet lunch.
Celebration – Social Oak – 4-6 p.m
- Enjoy special cocktails and food from the bartender and chef at Social Oak Wine & Restaurant
For more information, visit EagleMushroomFest.org.
Pre-party for Downvalley Vibes Fest
There are only a few weeks left until Eagle County’s newest music festival, Downvalley Vibes Fest, which takes place August 23 and 24. But leading up to the event, there have already been a few pre-parties to get people in the mood for the festival, which will bring two rotating stages, 18 bands and DJs to Second Street in Eagle.
Come to the pre-party this Sunday at Eagle River Brewing in Gypsum and sample some of their delicious hand-crafted beers. There will be an exciting cornhole tournament from 4:00-6:30 p.m. Music will be provided by Al Maul and Dillon Cogdal from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Vail Valley Entertainment will offer a photo booth experience, as well as giving away VIP and general admission tickets to Downvalley Vibes Fest and a raffle with proceeds going to CAN DO MS, a non-profit organization that helps people with multiple sclerosis.
For more information visit 2ndStreetEagle.com/down-Valley-Vibes-Fest/
