Featured Image: Courtesy of Up in the Sky Festival and Social Color Club
While a snow-covered ski town is undeniably magical in the winter, there’s something equally special about seeing what lies underneath all that snow in the summer when wildflowers bloom, cool breezes fill the air, and streets come alive with energy. It can be hard to remember this, though, since many of these towns are labeled as “ski towns,” but the events and festivals they host all summer long prove they bring the energy and fun in any season, not just winter.
Below, FREESKIER has compiled a list of 10 summer festivals/events at some of the most loved ski towns in America. The festivals/events are diverse, ranging from being centered around food, wine, sports, art and more.
Crested Butte, CO
Wildflower Festival: July 10-19
Crested Butte is known for being the wildflower capital of Colorado, and it is not an exaggeration. From grassy meadows to mountain peaks, this spot of Colorado bursts with color from late June to early August. If you're not from this area, though, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out the best spots to view Crested Butte's flora.
But not to worry, Crested Butte holds an annual Wildflower Festival where spectators can go on guided wildflower hikes with some of the town's most knowledgeable flower experts. So get your camera and notepad ready, cause you’ll want to become a botanist after this weekend. Some events, like the guided hikes, cost money and require reservations. More information can be found on their website.
Aspen Snowmass, CO
Up in the Sky Music Festival: Aug 7-8
Aspen’s Up In The Sky Music Festival is still relatively new, having started in 2024, but it has since boomed, attracting some of the world's most talked-about artists across a range of music genres. The festival is held at the base of Buttermilk Mountain, one of Aspen's many famous ski areas, which hosts the Winter X Games. This mountain's roster of big acts is growing even more this year with names like John Summit, Dom Dolla and Empire of the Sun all headlining the event. The festival is split into two days with eight performances each day. As of now, one-day tickets start at $264 and two-day tickets at $369.
Breckenridge, CO
Breckenridge Hogfest Bacon and Bourbon: Aug 28-30
Bacon is one of those foods that honestly can go with just about anything, even desserts. But Breckenridge has figured out another pairing that goes well with bacon: bourbon. The Breckenridge Hogfest is for those who love their pork as well as a nice, strong kick from some niche bourbon. This three-day event will be filled with a premier bourbon tasting, a VIP experience all day Saturday and a nice bacon and bloody-mary brunch to finish the weekend off strong. All events require tickets; the $431.34 VIP experience gets you into all three days of festivities, a $230.91 VIP ticket for Saturday gets you into Saturday’s private events, and an $87.35 Saturday ticket gets you into the Bacon and Bourbon grand tasting event.
Vail, CO
Vail Dance Festival: July 31 - Aug 8
The mountains inspire many different art forms, and since 1989, Vail's annual Dance Festival has brought some of the most impressive and elegant dancers from around the world to the Colorado Rockies. The festival showcases many different styles of dance, including ballet from some of the most prestigious ballet academies, hip-hop, tap, contemporary and more. The performances take place at the Gerald R. Amphitheater, where spectators can buy tickets at the box office. More information about the tickets can be found on their website.
Big Sky, MT
Under the Big Sky Music Festival and Rodeo: July 17-19
Under the Big Sky is Montana’s premier American West music festival. The three-day event is at Big Mountain Ranch in Whitefish, Montana, with a range of country, folk and bluegrass music. The headliners this year include country singers Cody Jinks, Zach Top, and Chris Stapleton. The weekend doesn’t just stop at music, though; the festival also showcases one of Montana’s most favored events, a rodeo. As of right now, all three-day tickets and Sunday-only tickets are sold out. Saturday GA tickets are still available for $250, and Friday GA tickets are available for $240.
Jackson Hole, WY
Sunday Fundays Mountain Biking: Sundays, Jun 14 - Sep 13
This weekly event at Jackson Hole Resort offers discounted rates for mountain bikers to enjoy, as well as live music, food, and beverages starting after July 3. From 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., mountain bikers are welcome to buy $20 bike park tickets, plus 50% off rentals and 20% off bike park guides. After three hours of shredding the bike park, the concert starts at the perfect time (5 p.m.) for attendees to come and enjoy the music while resting their legs on the grass in Teton Village Commons. The fun does not stop there, though If you wanna keep the energy going, a weekly disc golf tournament with a $2 entry fee for non-members starts at 5 p.m.
Sun Valley, ID
Sun Valley on Ice: July 1 - September 5 (see link for specific dates)
Like Vail, Sun Valley has its own take on bringing dance to the mountains, but in this version, the dancers are on ice. Sun Valley on Ice is a figure skating performance that happens throughout the summer. The events bring Olympic medalists and pros from around the world to perform in Sun Valley’s Village. Olympic figure skater Ilia Malinin, who is known for his backflips and being the first skater to land the quadruple Axel in competition, will be performing on July 25. Tickets for each event are priced differently, but you can find the information on their website.
Palisades Tahoe, CA
Trailcon Trail Running Festival: Jun 22-24
Carefully crafted to fall during the same week as Broken Arrow Skyrace and Western States 100, this festival serves as a bridge, turning two separate races into a 10-day trail-running festival. These two races have made Palisades Tahoe one of the trail-running capitals of the world. The festival brings together panelists to educate and inspire the public on endurance running. The best part, though, this event is 100% free to attend.
Killington, VT
Killington Uncorked Wine, Spirits, and Arts Festival: July 17-18
If you love to indulge in trying new foods and wine with a stunning view, then this is the event for you. The weekend will be filled with wines, from those of luxurious France to Napa Valley and back to the lush, summery landscape of Vermont. On Friday, the weekend starts at the Estate Gala, where guests will take the gondola up to Peak Lodge for an exclusive selection of estate and reserve wines as well as food from Killington's own chef. Saturday's event will be at K-1 Lodge, where guests can sample and pair wines from around the world with small bites from Killington's culinary team. After the weekend, guests can keep the party going by taking home a signature wine glass and a bottle, if desired. As of right now, tickets for Friday's event are $142.17, Saturday's Grand Tasting is $101.01 and tickets for both days are $224.49. Other VIP tickets are available on their website.
Stowe, VT
Stowe Hot Airballoon Festival: June 26-28
While views from a ski lift can be pretty incredible, imagine going even higher in a hot air balloon to look over one of the East Coast's most beloved ski resorts. Stowe’s Hot Air Balloon Festival offers a weekend full of activities, even for those who are afraid of heights. If you do feel more comfortable on the ground, the festival will feature live music, art vendors and food and drinks. For those who do want some action in the air, hot air balloon ride tickets are available for purchase on the website, starting at $422.65. Guests can choose to go at either 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. Tickets for the festival must also be purchased to attend. Those tickets start at $26.75 for adults and $16.05 for kids ages 5-14; those under 5 can attend for free.
