Vail’s Opening Day, ski movie at Riverwalk Theater, silent disco, a pub crawl for charity and more this weekend
The season ramps up with fun events on and off the slopes
Vail Resorts/Courtesy photo
Vail opens for the season on Friday
Skiing and riding has returned to Eagle County. Vail Mountain is set to open this Friday for the 2024-2025 season. The first day of the season is always exciting, especially with all the natural snow that has fallen in the past few weeks. Vail Mountain has recorded nearly two feet of natural snowfall this month, and once you add the snow made from Vail Mountain’s best-in-class snowmaking system, there should be great coverage up on the mountain.
To kick off its 62nd year, Vail Mountain plans to open Gondola One (No. 1) out of Vail Village and the Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19) in Lionshead. The lifts will operate from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily until we get closer to Christmas break. Mountain Top Express (No. 4) will give skiers and riders access to Swingsville and Ramshorn runs in the Mid-Vail area. The Little Eagle Lift (No. 15) will access beginner terrain at Eagle’s Nest. In a press release sent out Tuesday, the resort shared that Avanti Express (No. 2) will be operating for Opening Day, too. There may be more announcements leading up to and including Opening Day, so pay attention to Vail Mountain’s social media accounts.
Come early to get complimentary strudel and hot cocoa and coffee. A live DJ will be spinning tunes at the base and there will be a ceremonial banner break for the folks on first chair at the top of the lift.
If you get hungry, on-mountain dining will be available. Eagle’s Nest Market Place will be open and Mid-Vail will be open. Make sure to check out the new bar, Powerline Pub at Mid-Vail. Its name comes from the unofficial run that many people love to hit for an ungroomed line that follows an opening in the trees cleared for power lines. Grab a bite to eat, have a drink and watch the game or check out the memorabilia throughout the space. After the ski day, come on down to Express Lift Bar at the base of Gondola One (No. 1) for an après ski party with a DJ.
Ski and Snowboard School will be open for lessons and please note, if you are booking beginner lessons, make sure to book out of the Lionshead location because that location will have access to the beginner area via the Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19). Scenic lift rides will be available on Gondola One (No. 1) and the Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19) for those who aren’t skiing. Scenic lift passes can be purchased at the ticket office.
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Speaking of passes, if you haven’t bought your Epic Pass yet, you can still do so, but the prices go up on Nov. 17. Go to EpicPass.com to find the right pass for you. Don’t forget, the My Epic app with Mobile Pass and Mobile Lift Tickets is available to download, allowing guests to use their phone as their ticket to the slopes. For more information, go to Vail.com.
Silent Disco in Vail
After the slopes close on Friday, head to Lionshead for some silent disco under the stars. If you’ve never been to a silent disco, it’s where you grab a pair of headphones, listen to the beat and seek out others who also are on that channel. You can turn to a different channel if you are looking for a different beat. The dancing will heat you up and the headphones will keep your ears warm. Headphones are complimentary and this event runs between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to DiscoverVail.com.
Runs for ALS Vail Village Pub Crawl
Runs for ALS usually does its annual fundraiser on the mountain to raise money for ALS research, but the organizers are once again hosting Crawl for ALS, a Vail Village pub crawl, to kick off the season from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Established in 2021, the Crawl for ALS will be more than just visiting one of the participating bars and grabbing a drink, there will be some fun activities and games, some games of chance, some games requiring skill, but by completing them you will fill your Crawl Card. Check in at Cucina at the Lodge at Vail to get your Crawl Card and find out the list of participating bars on the pub crawl, then come back to Cucina and drop off your Crawl Cards to win some prizes. Cucina is donating 25% of all sales to Crawl for ALS so help the charity raise more money by coming hungry and thirsty. The Lodge at Vail is offering $129 per night (plus tax) for Crawl for ALS event. Contact Julie Cassidy to reserve your room, JCassidy-Rosine@VailResorts.com. For more information, go to Runs4ALS.org/Events.
Ski movie at Riverwalk Theater
Get stoked for the season by watching some of the best skiers take to the steeps and high peaks at Riverwalk Theater in Edwards. “Calm Beneath Castles” is the latest film from Matchstick Productions and it follows skiers to the slopes of Canada, Japan, Austria, Alaska, California, Utah and more. The steepness, the scenery, the music and the adrenaline are palpable. The movie trailer will move you to come and see this movie. Or, if that doesn’t do it, maybe some free beer will. The Riverwalk Theater is giving away a free beer to the first 100 people, thanks to the Kind Bikes and Skis. Happy Hour will be from 6 to 7 p.m. with the movie starting at 7 p.m. Buy your tickets online at RiverwalkTheater.com and all ticket holders get a free raffle ticket. The Kind Bikes and Skis will be giving away some cool gear from top brands at the event.
Brew and Build with Grass Sticks ski poles
Need some new ski poles? If so, you can get a beer and a discount on a set of poles during the Brew and Build event on Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m. The event has been hosted several times before by Grass Sticks, a ski pole company based out of Steamboat. Head to Vail Brewing Company’s Eagle-Vail location and if you buy a set of poles from Grass Sticks, you’ll get 10% off and a free beer.
How it works is you pick your basket size and color, grip color, strap, length and then make your poles or they will make them for you if you’d rather drink beer and leave the pole-making to the professionals. It’s a fun way to create a conversation piece the next time you are on the lift with your snazzy new poles. To learn more about the event, go to Grass Stick’s Facebook Page. To learn more about Grass Sticks, go to GrassSticks.com.
