Best Festivals to Catch Mountain Town Tunes this Summer

Featured Image: Courtesy Deer Valley

It may seem like the ski season is in hibernation, but that doesn’t mean the mountains have followed suit. All across the high alpine, ski towns are changing their tune and turning their slopes into stages for local and national talent alike. From East to West the fun rages on through summer, just swap out your ski boots for flip flops and Gore Tex for tie-dye. Here’s the FREESKIER lineup of the best music festivals to hit this summer in the mountains.

Colorado

Up In The Sky – Aspen, CO (Aug 8-9)

Leaning into Aspen’s luxury pedigree, this festival will be top-notch. Set at the base of Buttermilk Mountain with a single stage format, attendees get all the action and all the mountain views. Curated by the iconic Belly Up Aspen crew, the lineup blends indie-pop and EDM acts for every mountain music enthusiast with headliners RÜFÜS DU SOL, Kacey Musgraves and Glass Animals. Think upscale vibes with a legendary backdrop. Bonus: no lift access is required to attend. Drive right up to the base of Buttermilk to step into a high-altitude sonic escape.

Mountain Music Fest – Evergreen, CO (Aug 16)

Nestled in cozy Buchanan Park in Evergreen, Mountain Music Fest brings on the mellow mountain energy we all crave after a winter of chaos. Featuring home grown Colorado bands like Flobots and The Leslies, this ode to local music culture invites the whole family to enjoy an afternoon and evening of community and tunes. Buchanan lends plenty of room on the grass for sprawling out and dancing; whatever your heart desires.

Camp Alderwild – Telluride, CO (Aug 22-23)

This one isn’t like the others. Tucked away deep in the remote San Juan Mountain Range in Southwestern Colorado, Telluride, Camp Alderwild, put on by EDM heavyweight Of The Trees, turns up the bass with headliners Techo, Jade Cicada and Ott on deck. Expect heavy drops, trippy visuals and crowds that are down to rage into the night, rain or shine. Come for the beats, stay for the community.

Utah

Deer Valley Music Festival – Park City, UT (Jul 30-Aug 9)

This is the party that doesn’t quit. Running for over a month, the Deer Valley Music Festival offers unbeatable variety. From the Beach Boys (8/1-8/2) to Mozart tributes (8/6), there’s something for everyone up in the Wasatch this summer. Hosted at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, this outdoor fest has tons of space with panoramic views of Park City and Deer Valley. Wide-open lawn, alpine air and something for everyone; classical to classic rock.

Montana

Under The Big Sky – Whitefish, MT (July 18-20)

The name says it all. Beneath the sprawling Montana sky surrounded by snow-capped peaks at Big Mountain Ranch, Under the Big Sky brings massive sound to an even more massive landscape. The lineup embraces the western vibe of the venue with classic roots and country artists Tyler Childers, Mumford and Sons and The Red Clay Strays. If you’re looking to bust out your cowboy boots and close down the saloon every night, be sure to check this one out. It’s part rodeo and part reverb with pure Montana magic.

California

Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluespalooza – Mammoth Lakes, CA (Jul 31-Aug 3)

Mammoth Lakes’s biggest ticketed event is back in full force. This amalgamation of beer appreciation and a weekend-long blues-athon is a ski bum’s summer paradise. With over 80 breweries from across the country and headliners Marcus King, Robert Cray Band, Steve Earle, Samantha Fish and Tab Benoit it’ll be a four day boozy groove set among the California pines. Be sure not to miss the mega-tasting event on Saturday and Sunday. It’s the last time the festival will go down on the legendary Woodsite campground, so pour one out and enjoy!

Brews, Jazz and Funk Festival – Palisades Tahoe, CA (Aug 16)

With a home base right in the heart of the Palisades Tahoe village, Brews, Jazz and Funk is pretty self-explanatory. Essentially just a big dance party, the festival blends local legends and national masters with its music lineup and craft beer offerings. For the groms not quite of age, there are activities like crafting, mini-golf, croquet and a bean bag toss to play the day away. Ticket proceeds go directly toward the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, so this is a party you can feel good about attending.

Vermont

Green Mountain Bluegrass and Roots Festival – Manchester, VT (Aug 14-17)

This curated Vermont weekend is straight out of an East Coast summer catalog. Featuring farm-to-table food, camping on site, local food trucks and Vermont craft beer and wine, GMBR is Vermont distilled to its core. Though it’s a quieter vibe, the headliners are big: Watchouse, Molly Tuttle, The Steeldrivers, Peter Rowan, Bonny Light Horseman, Tommy Emmanual & Michael Cleveland, Fruit Bats and Willie Watson bring the mellow heat. Its lush green mountain backdrop lends itself to a hangout on the front porch with friends energy rather than a rave, and we’re more than ok with it.

New Hampshire

White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Festival – Thornton, NH (Aug 15-17)

New Hampshire’s largest blues festival turns up the heat in the White Mountains this August. Returning for its 28th year, this event is tried and true in a 72-acre natural amphitheater in the Pemigewasset River Valley. This is a jam-packed weekend with an opening bash on Friday and full-day set lists on Saturday and Sunday, so plan accordingly. With on-site camping, bonfires and git-wrenching guitar solos, Boogie N’ Blues is your excuse to let loose up north for one last carefree summer weekend.

Whether you’re chasing billowing blues or blowout bass, the mountains are lively this summer with sounds for everyone. Bring your camp chairs and beer-filled cooler and embrace the wook lifestyle under the summer sun. We’ll see you there.