Celebrate Summer with Bacon, Beer, Wine, Art, Music and Lederhosen at Keystone’s 6 Summer Festivals
It’s time to celebrate summer at Keystone Resort with bacon, craft beer, wine and music.
The Keystone Neighbourhood Company’s summer festival season is back in River Run Village with a few new twists on Colorado’s most popular lineup of summer events, including a new name for the 7th Annual Bacon and Bourbon Festival, formerly known as The Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour.
“The momentum continues at Keystone Resort for our summer season,” says Maja Russer, marketing and events director for the Keystone Neighbourhood Company, the organization that organizes and produces six summer festivals in River Run Village at Keystone Resort. “We’ve been working hard to get an incredible lineup of bands, musicians, seminars, special events and culinary offerings and are enhancing the festivals and growing the attendance and the energy.”
According to Russer, the festivals have grown more than 35 percent for the summer over the past seven years. In addition to the new name for the 7th Annual Bacon and Bourbon Tour, the KNC team is adding a new line up of Bacon Education Center topics, new wine seminars and the Eat, Drink, Pick beer maker’s dinner for Bluegrass and Beer.
“Our six Keystone summer festivals continue to be a huge draw to River Run Village every summer” Russer says. “Keystone offers the perfect weekend in the mountains with mountain biking, hiking, kids’ activities. Our weekend festivals, such as the Bacon and Bourbon Festival, the Keystone Wine Festival and the Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival are oftentimes the main reason for their visit to Keystone and enhance their overall mountain experience.”
Here’s information on each festival to help with your summer plans:
New Name, New Seminars for The Keystone Bacon and Bourbon Festival June 24-25
A few things won’t change for the ever-popular bacon event in June. River Run Village will still be filled with 3,000 pounds of sizzling bacon and will offer the Bacon Education Center and the Bacon Eating Contest. Here’s what will change – the name of the event (The Keystone Bacon and Bourbon Festival), the seminars, an expansion from one to two nights of Hell’s Belles (the popular AC/DC all-female cover band) and a growth in the size and scope of the Jim Beam Bourbon Tour.
When:
Saturday, June 24 – Sunday, June, 25 2017. 1pm – 6pm daily.
Tickets:
Free music. Get tickets for bacon samplings.
BUY BACON FESTIVAL TICKETS HERE!
Advance tickets: $20 Piglet Package; $30 Samplin’ Swine; $50 Hungry Hog.
(at the gate, tickets will be $22 / $35 / $55)
A-la-carte Tasting Tickets: $4 for one Tasting Ticket – each tasting ticket will be exchanged for one item at any of the participating food vendor tents.
Bacon Education Center:
Saturday, June 24 :
• “Makin’ Bacon – the art of handcrafted bacon, in your home” with Chef Jason Morse of 5280 Culinary
• “Camp Bacon…You Know, for Kids” with Marshall Porter, Certified Bacon Instructor
• “Bourbon Tasting Seminar” with Jim Beam
Sunday, June 25
• “Makin’ Bacon – the art of handcrafted bacon, in your home” with Chef Jason Morse of 5280 Culinary
• Earn your “Bacon Diploma” with Marshall Porter, Certified Bacon Instructor
Music:
Hell’s Belles, the all-female AC/DC cover band, returns to rock River Run Village for their 7th year of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Tour. This year, they’ll perform both nights – Saturday and Sunday. Other free music is provided by: Coaltown Reunion and Mike Clark & The Sugar Sounds.
Hashtag: #keystonebacon
Raise Your Glass to 300 Wines at the Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival July 15-16
Clink your glass for the Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival in River Run Village July 15-16 with more than 300 different varieties of wines to sip and savor.
The festival kicks off on Friday night with a special Reserve Wine Tasting event at Warren Station (tickets are $85 in advance). Then, the grand event – the River Run Grand Tasting with samplings of 300 varieties of wine – happens at 1 pm on Saturday and continues on Sunday afternoon. Don’t miss the wine seminars in Warren Station for the Arts and the Sunday morning Prosecco & Pancakes.
Throughout the weekend, tap your toes and pair your wine with free tunes by Joel Rodney Simieon, Scruffy Pearls, Flat Irons Jazz Orchestra, Brian Simpson Band, Michael Lington, Vincent Ingala and festival favorite, Phil Denny Band. Download the Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival app to keep track of the wine seminars, wine tastings, jazz performances and culinary events.
When:
Saturday, July 15 – Sunday, July 16, 2017. 1pm – 5pm with free admission and music daily. Don’t miss the Reserve Tasting which kicks off the event on Friday, July 14 at Warren Station Center for the Arts
Tickets:
Free music. Get tickets for the wine tasting and food sampling.
GET YOUR WINE AND JAZZ TICKETS HERE!
Advanced tickets for Wine Tasting Glass: $60 per person for one day; $100 for 2-day pass per person, unlimited wine tasting plus gourmet food tickets. Prices will increase at the gate to $65 for one-day and $120 for a 2-day pass.
Wine Seminars at Warren Station Center for the Arts: Price varies for each seminar (range from $25-$35)
Special events include:
Friday, July 14: Reserve Wine Tasting at Warren Station Center for the Arts: $85 per person in advance ($90 at the door)
Sunday, July 16: Prosecco & Pancakes at Warren Station Center for the Arts: $30 per person in advance ($35 at the door)
Music:
Free jazz music from Joel Rodney Simieon, Scruffy Pearls, Flat Irons Jazz Orchestra, Brian Simpson Band, Michael Lington, Vincent Ingala and festival favorite, Phil Denny Band
Hastag: #keystonewine
River Run Village Art Festival Returns for Second Year July 29-30
River Run Village will blossom with color, music and art July 29-30 with the return of The River Run Village Art Festival. Local and national painters, sculptors, photographers, ceramic artists, jewelry artisans and other artists will gather for this juried show that will also feature strolling musicians and a wine garden. Admission is free and open to the public.
When:
Saturday, July 29 – Sunday, July 30, 2017. 10 am. – 6 p.m. daily.
Tickets:
Free admission. Prices for art vary.
Hashtag: #keystoneart
Celebrate Craft Beers Aug. 5-6 at the 21st Annual Keystone Bluegrass and Beer Festival
The longest running craft beer festival in the state returns to River Run Village Aug. 5-6 with the 21st Annual Keystone Bluegrass and Beer festival. The festival will feature 100 brews from 40-plus breweries.
The festival kicks off Friday night with the Eat, Drink, Pick Beer Maker’s Pairing dinner in Warren Station for the Arts with New Belgium. Music will be provided by the Shaky Hand String Band with culinary tastings by Chef Chris Rybak and pairings with New Belgium brews.
Then, on Saturday the Craft Beer Sampling begins at 1 pm and continues on Sunday afternoon. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, free music will get your toes tapping in the village from: The Lonesome Days, The Wooks, The River Arkansas, Liver Down the River, Wood & Wire, The Brothers Comatose, The Railsplitters and headliner Peter Rowan Band
Back by popular demand – The Homebrew Hub is expanding at Warren Station for the Arts with more seminars, demonstrations and samplings. And, this year, look for the New Belgium Playground at Warren Station for the Arts.
When:
Saturday, Aug. 5 – Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. 1pm – 5pm daily
Tickets:
Free music. Get tickets for the beer tastings and food samplings.
BOOK YOUR LODGING TODAY!
Beer Glass Pass: $40 per person for one day in advance; $75 in advance for a weekend pass per person with unlimited beer tasting. (at the gate, the prices will be $45 and $80)
Food tickets are $1 per ticket.
Music:
The Lonesome Days, The Wooks, The River Arkansas, Liver Down the River, Wood & Wire, Darlingside, The Brothers Comatose, The Railsplitters, back for another year headliner Peter Rowan Band
Special events:
Friday, Aug. 6: Kickoff the weekend with “Eat, Drink, Pick” in Warren Station Center for the Arts. It’s a beer makers pairing featuring brews from New Belgium and tasting dishes from Chef Chris Rybak. Tickets are $55 in advance and $65 at the door.
Saturday, Aug. 6 – Sunday, Aug. 7: Join us on the Warren Station Patio during the Bluegrass and Beer Festival for New Belgium’s “Fat Tire Hangout” including oversized yard games, a swing set bar, and swag giveaways throughout the event! The Fat Tire Hangout is the perfect place to get off your feet, enjoy lawn games, and crack a cold beer. In additional, New Belgium will be debuting their new beer, “Fat Tire Belgium White.” Swing by the Warren Station Patio for this brand new addition to the Bluegrass and Beer Festival!
Hashtags: #keystonebrew
The Mountain Town Music Festival Celebrates the Best of Colorado Aug. 19
The Mountain Town Music Festival celebrates the best of Colorado from warm summer days to free outdoor concerts to the fresh sweet peach harvest paired with Colorado brews from New Belgium.
Stay tuned for the announcement of the bands. Past performers have included Brett Dennen, Rusted Root and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. The festivities end with a bang – a signature fireworks show on Saturday night.
When:
Saturday, Aug. 19. 1:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Weekend Lodging Packages:
BOOK YOUR LODGING TODAY!
Tickets:
Free music. No tickets are needed for the festival.
A-la-carte Tasting Tickets: $1 for one Tasting Ticket – each tasting ticket can be exchanged for food items at all participating food vendor tents or beer, wine or liquor at the bar tents.
Music:
To be announced
Hashtag: #mountaintownmusic
Keystone’s Oktoberfest Saturday, Sept. 2 – Labor Day Weekend
Start your day with the Das Bier Burner 5K Race. Wear your Lederhosen or dirndl during the race and dash over to the Oktoberfest festivities in River Run Village to celebrate with a stein of bier and some chicken dancing. Prost! You’ve earned it.
Your favorite seasonal beers will be on tap throughout the day. Indulge and enjoy some German fare, Those Austrian Guys Polka Band and the Edelweiss Polka Dancers in the afternoon,
Don’t forget about the face painters, bounce house and other activities for the littlest Oktoberfest lads and lassies.
When:
Saturday, Sept. 2
Tickets:
Free music, admission and polka dancing. Get tickets for bier tastings.
$35 for a Commemorative Keystone Stein and 3 Beers or purchase beers a-la-carte for $6.
Weekend Lodging Packages:
BOOK YOUR LABOR DAY LODGING NOW!
Special event:
The 5K Das Bier Burner Fun Run starts at noon. Register in advance at active.com
Hashtag: #keystoneoktoberfest