Michael Franti in Vail, Block Party in Eagle, trail runs, climbing for charity and more: Tricia’s Weekend Picks
Live music is abundant this weekend and so are physical challenges like the Boneyard Boogie 13K and climbing for suicide prevention
Block Party Eagle
Downtown Eagle will be hopping this weekend with an all-ages street festival featuring three days of live music with over a dozen bands playing on multiple stages, and the musical line up is amazing.
Headlining the event is Thievery Corporation on Friday and Railroad Earth on Saturday with Leftover Salmon closing the festival down on Sunday morning with a Bloodies & Bluegrass set.
Musical Line Up:
- Thievery Corporation
- Railroad Earth
- Heavy Breathers
- Ripe
- Common Kings
- Leftover Salmon
- Sam Bush
- Keller & The Keels
- Eric Krasno & The Assembly
- Rebirth Brass Band
- Liver Down the River
- The Runaway Grooms
- Trees Don’t Move
“We are so happy to be able to bring live music back to the town of Eagle and the Vail Valley,” said Shelley Woodworth of Optimum Events, the group that organized the Block Party. “The stars aligned for us to have all of this incredible talent available to create such a spectacular lineup. It’s the perfect way to kick off summer.”
There will be plenty of food trucks and places to get drinks throughout the venue to support your appetite and thirst throughout the days and nights.There will also be craft vendors featuring paintings, jewelry, glass works, photography, chain saw sculptures and more. There’s even a Community Mural Project where festival participants will be able to paint a section of the mural.
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This musical lineup will not only draw people from Eagle County but also folks from all over the region, so to help with lodging needs, camping is available at the Eagle County Fairgrounds. Tents, cars and RVs can start loading into the camping venues at 8 a.m. on Friday.
The two-day VIP passes are already sold out, but two-day general admission passes are still available along with teen passes, single day passes and the tickets for the Bloodies & Bluegrass event on Sunday, which not only features the music of Leftover Salmon, but also catered breakfast and a bottomless Bloody Mary bar and full bar service.
For more details, go to BlockPartyEagle.com.
Michael Franti & Spearhead concert
Michael Franti and Spearhead return to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater for a concert on Friday at 7:30 p.m. This group is a fan favorite and will be getting people up on their feet and singing along to their upbeat tunes like “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You.”
This high-energy show will leave you feeling inspired. Franti’s lyrics foster a sense of love, support and community. According to the band’s website, the new Follow Your Heart Tour is a “celebration of community, authenticity, and listening to that voice of hope inside all of us.”
This show was originally set for 2021, so if you had tickets for that show, you’re all set. Your tickets are still good for the new date. If you still need to purchase tickets, at press time there was limited availability, so act fast. Tickets cost between $45.95 and $75.00. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to GRFAVail.com.
Boneyard Boogie Trail Run
The first attempt to get the Dynafit Vail Trail Running Series started on May 21 was thwarted by rain and snow. The forecast looks good in Eagle to get the Boneyard Boogie going bright and early this Saturday. Please note that there will be an earlier start time at 8 a.m. and all registrations from the May 21 event are being rolled over to the new date.
The trails of Eagle play host to the Boneyard Boogie and the courses remain the same as the originally-scheduled races. The longer race is a 13k trek that takes you through juniper shrubs and pinion groves and affords you beautiful vistas on the Charlie Brown, Boneyard, Haymaker and Pool and Ice trails. New for 2022, the Vail Recreation District has added a 5K race.
The racecourse is mostly on single track with a couple of double tracks mixed in and a short section of bike path. Throughout the 13k, there is an elevation gain of approximately 1,300 feet reaching a maximum elevation of 7,700 feet. The 5k course has a nice flow to it with an elevation gain of 400 feet.
The races will start and end at the Eagle Pool and Ice Rink and you can park in that area, too. Parking is limited, so do your best to carpool. The 13k begins at that new time, 8 a.m., followed by the 5k. Day-of registration will start at 8 a.m. or racers can pick up their race numbers on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Peak Performance Footwear in the Riverwalk in Edwards.
All racers will receive a custom designed t-shirt at the race finish and donuts from Northside Coffee and Kitchen. Post-race awards will be given out to various categories. For more information and a course map, go to VailRec.com.
Climb for Hope
The third annual Climb for Hope event happens on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. A benefit for SpeakUp ReachOut, Eagle Climbing + Fitness will host indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family. SpeakUp ReachOut was created in 2009 to prevent suicide prevention in the Eagle River Valley through training, awareness and hope.
There will be plenty of climbing and the cost is technically free, but individual participants are asked to donate $10 and families who wish to take part are asked to donate $20 if able to do so. Challenge yourself physically on the indoor climbing wall to accumulate vertical feet to enter the prize drawings and check out some of the outdoor activities; there will be a bouncy house for the kids, music, a silent auction, food and more. It’s also set up to provide an opportunity to connect with others in our community.
“Research shows that human connection is almost as important to our well-being as food and water. According to PsychCentral, social connections can offer mental health benefits, such as boosting mood, reducing stress, and improving self-esteem,” said Erin Ivie, executive director of SpeakUp ReachOut.
Larry Moore, owner of Eagle Climbing + Fitness agrees that climbing is not only a healthy activity, but it also offers mental benefits for beginners and experts alike. “The challenges vary from physical to mental obstacles of all types like fear, confidence, problem solving and communication,” Moore said. “Suicide prevention can be like climbing in that the solution to the problem starts with communication, working to build confidence and better manage fears.”
Tickets can be purchased or earned through the Vertical Foot Challenge on the climbing wall. For more information go to SpeakUpReachOut.org
Habitat ReStore Grand Opening
The Habitat ReStore has moved to a new location and to celebrate they are inviting the public in to see the new location at 250 Lindbergh Drive in Gypsum, the former home of Mountain Living Furniture. Habitat ReStore Vail Valley plays a critical role in helping Habitat for Humanity build more homes.
The Habitat ReStore accepts donations of quality, gently used furniture, housewares, building materials, artwork and rugs. The proceeds it gets from selling these items goes back into its mission of building homes for Eagle County locals. Right now, progress is being made on the homes at Stratton Flats in Gypsum, where eight homes are being built.
We have some amazing homes, hotels, offices and restaurants in the Vail Valley and when those furnishings have run their course at the current location, the Habitat ReStore has become top-of-mind when looking for a place to dispose of these items. After all, the ReStore has a 20-year history in the Vail Valley. In the past, there have been some gems have have shown up, such as a delicate yet robust glass sculpture commissioned by The Four Seasons Resort in Vail for its reception area.
There was also a one-of-a-kind German-made wooden bathtub with an original retail price of $24,000 that sold for $12,000. Sometimes entire kitchens get donated. The inventory changes all the time, so you never know what you’ll find!
Come for the deals but stay for the fun. There will be a bouncy house, face painting and you can spin the wheel for prizes on Friday. On Saturday, there will be a special Buy More/Save More sale. The Rocky Mountain Taco food truck and Cars and Coffee, a local car club, will be there in the morning. There will also be games and other activities.
Have something you’d like to part with? Habitat for Humanity offers free pickups and accepts drop offs, just call to schedule an appointment for a donation: 970.328.1119. They won’t be accepting donations this weekend. Feel free to stop by on Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit HabitatVailValley.org.