STARS & GUITARS CELEBRATION | WEEKEND GUIDE
Keystone Festival’s mountain guide to Stars & Guitars Independence Day Celebration
Keystone Festivals are legendary for bringing summer fun to the mountains, but there’s so much more to do in Keystone, we can’t fit it all in one weekend! Lucky for you, we’ve narrowed down which Keystone activities pair best with each Keystone Festival so you can plan your perfect Keystone Festival weekend!
If you’re heading up for Keystone Stars & Guitars on July 1st, make sure to round out your mountain weekend with our ultimate Independence Day weekend mountain guide!
1. Cycle on the Rec Path
1. Cycle on the You don’t have to be gnarly mountain biker to enjoy putting the pedal to the metal (wait what?) in Keystone! First, grab a bike rental from Keystone Sports (mountain bikes and cruisers, located in River Run Village) or Christy’s Sports (e-bikes, located in River Run Village). Then, if you’re a planner, check out the rec path map to plan your route. If you’re looking for an open-ended adventure, skip the map and see where the path takes you! Did you know you can pedal all the way from Keystone to Frisco, Copper Mountain, or even Vail? Bring plenty of snacks and water to keep your energy up under the hot sun!
PLAYGROUND PRO TIP: Make sure to check the weather forecast as the high Rockies are infamous for afternoon thunderstorms!
2. Splash into fun at the Keystone Adventure Center
There’s more than one village in Keystone! River Run Village is home to the Keystone gondola and Keystone Festivals, but Lakeside Village provides a whole other adventure. As you might have guessed from its namesake, this village boasts a beautiful 5-acre lake with scenic views of ski runs at Keystone and north towards the divide. The Adventure Center provides kayak, paddleboard, and paddleboat rentals so you can make a splash, no matter your group size! Finish out your adventure day by visiting the new Rathbone Self-Pour tap room, where you can try different local beers on tap!
PLAYGROUND PRO TIP: Rent bikes and you can pedal back and forth from Lakeside Village to River Run Village!
3. Head up to the Mountains on Friday and catch the free Keystone Concert Series
There’s plenty to do in Keystone, even on weekdays! If you’re heading up to the mountains for the whole Independence Day weekend, swing by River Run Village between 4pm-6pm to catch Juba Juba, a Grateful Dead tribute band! We’re making it a full weekend of dead with a 2-hour Juba Juba set on Friday evening, and a 90-minute Rocky Mountain Grateful Dead Revue set on Saturday afternoon! Break out your red, white, and blue tie dye, grab some IPAs from the outdoor bar, and bust a move in honor of our great country’s rich music culture.
PLAYGROUND PRO TIP: Don’t forget your camp chair for this weekend only!
4. Take a scenic Gondola ride and check out Mountaintop Snow Tubing
Not ready to mountain bike down Dercum Mountain but want to take in the beautiful green views after a great winter? Purchase a scenic gondola ride ticket to take in the majestic views of Dercum Mountain, Lake Dillon, and beyond! Did you know the gondola takes just 12 minutes to reach the top of the mountain? Keep your eyes peeled and you might even see some mule deer, a fox friend, ermines, and more!
Craving another winter adventure? Mountaintop Snow Tubing opens June 29th, and only lasts as long as the snow! (Usually, the snow only lasts a couple weeks!) This is a unique opportunity to get on snow in the summer and go for a wild ride on Dercum Mountain!