I walked next door to the Vail Library during my lunch break one summer day and listened to an amazing chamber music quartet for free! It was one of the Public Performances that are part of the Bravo! Vail Music Festival.
Bravo! hosts a variety of free performances like this, in addition to its regular concert schedule in Vail each summer. It also has events like the “Instrument Petting Zoo” where kids can get hands on with real instruments, and the occasional Free Family Concert. What was really cool about the Public Performance that day – aside from the music – was listening to the musicians talk about when they first started playing, their backgrounds and their instruments. The oldest was a violin from 1704 made by a master from Italy, but all of the instruments had fascinating histories.
There are other great free cultural events in Vail to take advantage of all summer. Here are just a few:
- Sundays – Jazz at the Market takes place as part of the Vail Farmers’ Market and Vail Jazz Foundation
- Tuesdays – Hot Summer Nights concerts featuring a different genre each week – rock, jazz, funk, bluegrass, reggae, etc.
- Wednesdays – Vail Bluegrass offers 4 weeks of free concerts throughout July
- Thursdays – Jazz at Vail Square highlights great jazz groups leading up to the Annual Labor Day Vail Jazz Party
Also, watch for free around-town performances in Vail Village and Lionshead as part of the Vail International Dance Festival each August.