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Arapahoe Basin Ski Area hosts springtime music, events

This spring, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area has plenty of live music on the books for its Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series.
Dave Camara | Arapahoe Basin Ski Area |

MUSIC SCHEDULE

Saturday, May 14 — Bonnie & the Clydes

Saturday, May 21 — The Railsplitters

Saturday, May 28 — ’80s rock with New Sensation

Sunday, May 29 — Jakarta

Saturday, June 4 — Whitewater Ramble

Sunday, June 5 — High Five

OTHER EVENTS

Saturday, May 21 — Colorado’s Largest Swimwear Parade On Skis

Sunday, May 29 — 15th annual Festival of the Brewpubs

SUMMIT COUNTY — With the chance of May powder days and plenty of sunshine, locals and Front Rangers alike are eager to flock to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area to enjoy the weekends.

“It could snow 1 inches, 2 inches, 10 inches, and be sunny the next day, and there is always something fun going on in addition to how good the spring skiing is,” said Adrienne Saia Isaac, marketing and communications manager for A-Basin. “So I just looked forward to those really outstanding spring days and the nice weather, too — it’s the perfect combination.”

This spring, A-Basin has plenty of live music on the books for its Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series. A-Basin has been hosting spring live music at its base area for more than a decade, and there is also a new stage that was built in the summer for the USA Pro Challenge where the music will be held.



“The concerts will be located in the same place that everyone is used to in the base area, but the stage just really gives it more of a festival feel,” Isaac said.

Reserve a paid spot on The Beach, or park in the free lots nearby.

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“The Beach most days can embody the vibe of the Basin,” Isaac said. “Not only are you slopeside to some of the best terrain the Basin offers, but you can grill with your friends, you can hang out with a school group or alumni group; it’s a very come-as-you-are, friendly place to set up camp for the day.”

A sea of onsies and costumes spread throughout The Beach on the weekends. Bacon has been the trendy costume this year, and there are always bananas and other fruits on the slopes.

“There’s always a gorilla chasing a banana,” Isaac said. “It’s a great time to break out the costumes, because it’s probably the only time other than Halloween that you won’t be alone.”

Each Saturday, chef Chris Ryback and his team are putting together a rotating offering of festival food in the base area.

“There’s a little something different each week from dim sum to elk sausage and brats to barbecue sliders, so there’s really something for everyone,” Isaac said. “It adds to that festival atmosphere of being outside and listening to music and being able to grab a drink and some food and hang out with your friends.”

NEW EVENT

A-Basin is debuting its first Swimwear Parade on Skis on May 21, inspired by a similar event at a ski area in Russia. Isaac said they haven’t seen any other resort in Colorado with this event, and organizers figured A-Basin was the best place to do it with the longest season of the year.

“We wanted to find a spring event that was very A-Basin-esque, and a swimwear parade filled that niche,” said Leigh Hierholzer, marketing director of A-Basin. “In late May, it’s always a great time on the hill. People are enjoying the warm weather, wearing costumes and pond skimming, so we thought we’d combine that fun attitude and put it all together into this event.”

Participants are encouraged to don their trunks and suits for a parade on Sundance. Free registration for the event is from 9 a.m. to noon, and the parade begins at 1 p.m. Colorado band The Railsplitters will be performing that day.

“It’s a little quirky, a little wild — let’s see how many people we can get in their swimwear to ski with us on May 21,” Isaac said.

June 5 is still the projected closing date, and Isaac said any additional announcements for extensions would be announced mid-May.

“May can be a really outstanding month for snowfall,” Isaac said. “Last season we were right around 55 inches of snow in May, and there could just be some really tremendous days in the spring. … Skiing powder one day and being in the sunshine in a T-shirt the next, that’s what gets me excited about spring.”


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