Elvis Costello, The Princess Bride and a hometown parade this weekend in the Vail Valley

Elvis Costello at the Vilar Performing Arts Center

Elvis Costello returns to the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek on Saturday at 7 p.m. for an evening of greatest hits. The ‘Radio Soul Tour’ features his songs from his past, spanning 1977-1986. Joining Costello will be his band, The Imposters, featuring some of the musicians Costello has been playing with for years. One band member that is joining the group is Charlie Sexton, who is best known as Bob Dylan’s guitar player.

The era of music the band will play will include hits like “My Aim is True,” “Blood & Chocolate,” “Watching the Detectives” and “Allison.”

Costello was born Declan Patrick MacManus in London and he was a part of the first wave of British punk and new wave but eventually settled into all sorts of genres.

Saturday night’s concert kicks off the summer season at the Vilar Center. Other acts in the Vilar Concert Series include Lyle Lovett & His Large Band on July 12, Midland on Aug. 7 and Bachman-Turner Overdrive on Aug. 16. There are also performances coming up in the Vilar’s Classical Series as well as comedy and dance shows.

At press time tickets were at the “limited availability” level, so if this is on your radar, act fast. Do realize that the Vilar Center can hold about 530 people versus the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, which can hold around 2,600, so, shows tend to sell out faster. For more information, go to VilarPAC.org or call the box office at 970-845-8497.

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Vail Summer Sessions Music Weekend

Vail Mountain has been having fun testing out different venues to bring a unique concert experience to the guests and locals of the valley and it returns with the Vail Summer Sessions – three days of live music on top of the mountain and at the base of the slopes. This free weekend is presented by Toyota, which will have tents set up for some swag and activities at the base of Lionshead and Vail Village. The musicians are playing on the rooftop of Eagle’s Nest as well as the base of Vail Mountain at Gondola One.

Friday – Eagle’s Nest Rooftop

Head up to 10,000 feet to hear some bluegrass from Magoo with support from Blue Ox Boys. The concert will run from 2:30-5 p.m. and is free, but you need to get a wristband at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead. Wristbands will be handed out at the Toyota tent starting at 10 a.m. the day of the show. Use either your Epic Pass for the 2025-2026 Ski Season or purchase a scenic gondola ride lift ticket to get up to the venue.

Never ask, “What should we do this weekend?” again.

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Saturday – Base of Gondola One in Vail Village

Hear music sensation Evan Honer play from 5-7:30 p.m. with support from Wood Belly and wind down your Saturday with refreshments from Express Lift Café. Come early and enjoy free activities from Toyota. This concert is also free and no wristband nor lift ticket is necessary.

Sunday – Eagle’s Nest Rooftop

The music heads back up to the top of the mountain for an afternoon session from 1:45-4 p.m. with Byrne, who plays a variety of pop, folk and alternative tunes. He will offer a high energy show after opening act Moonstone Quill warms the crowd up. This is another free show, but a wristband will be needed to attend. Wristbands will be available at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Use either your Epic Pass for the 2025-2026 ski season or purchase a scenic gondola ride lift ticket to get up to the venue. For more information, go to Vail.com.

Bravo! Vail Music Series welcomes the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra returns for its 24th season with the Bravo! Vail Music Festival. This Saturday, a piano concerto by Amy Beach will be performed by Bravo! Vail’s artistic director, Anne-Marie McDermott.

“The opening night concert of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s residency in Vail is always a thrill,” McDermott said. “It is a rare opportunity to hear a gorgeous piano concerto by the brilliant American composer, Amy Beach. The DSO and I performed the concerto together last fall, and I am so excited we will be joined by Peter Oundjian, music director of the Colorado Music Festival, in his Bravo! Vail conducting debut.” 

Beach was an American composer and performer who found talent at a very young age. The Amy Beach Piano Concerto, premiered in 1900 by the composer herself with the Boston Symphony, is notable as the first piano concerto written by an American woman.

On Sunday, it’s time for music and a movie. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform “The Princess Bride” note-for-note while the movie is playing at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Will Buttercup ever see Westley again? Or will she have to marry Prince Humperdinck? Please note that this show starts later than other Bravo! Vail shows just so it can be dark enough to see the movie on screen. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and gates open at 6:30 p.m. For ticket and information go to BravoVail.org.

Eagle Flight Days

Eagle Flight Days starts on Friday afternoon and continues all day Saturday in Eagle. Eagle Flight Days has been going on for over 100 years and has nothing to do with aviation. It signifies when the county seat was taken from Red Cliff and moved to Eagle back in 1921. Highlights include a kids obstacle course, the Color Fun Run and the Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast.

The main event in the morning is the Parade on Broadway from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday. The theme is Red, White and Blue and prizes will be given out to the top floats. The fun continues with a whole afternoon and evening with a Kids Zone, vendor market and a pet contest with prizes given out for things like best costume and best trick.

Music is a big part of Eagle Flight Days. On Friday, Bravo! shares the Sinfónica de Minería Brass Ensemble with a debut performance from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Stop at the Bravo! Vail booth and the kids can enjoy a fun musical craft and an instrument petting zoo and see the instruments up close. Later on Friday, Eagle’s own Danger Mountain String Band will take the Centennial Stage at Eagle Town Park from 7-9 p.m. with its traditional bluegrass sound infused with a modern twist. On Saturday, the Stratus Blues Band will play early from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by Banshee Tree from 5-6:30 p.m., a band from Boulder that describes itself as having influences from early jazz and swing to jam band-style melodies. Headlining the weekend is March Fourth Band and this group is so entertaining with its dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers – it’s an instant party with its own unique sound.

For the full schedule go to EagleOutside.com/FlightDays.