Telluride happenings
Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or chair and enjoy the sounds of the free Summer Sunset Concert Series Wednesday and Sept. 7 at Town Plaza in Telluride Mountain Village. Visit sunsetconcert.com for additional information. Friday and Sept. 9, the Telluride Farmers Market sets up on South Oak Street, providing locally produced organic vegetables, fruits, grass-fed beef, lamb, poultry, buffalo, elk, freshly baked breads, homegrown honey, fresh flowers and more. Those looking for outdoor adventure can run on rugged terrain during the 17-mile Imogene Pass Run that winds from Ouray to Oak Street in Telluride Sept. 10. Visit imogenerun.com.
Not to be missed is the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Sept. 16-18. The festival will feature three days of music, including the Black Crowes, Susan Tedeschi, the Robert Cray Band and Joan Osborne on the Telluride Town Park stage. Fifty microbreweries will pour their best brews during Saturday’s Grand Tasting. See tellurideblues.com or call 866-515-6166.
Moab Music Festival
Three nights of concerts will be Sept. 9-11 at the Moab Music Festival in Moab, Utah. The outdoor pavilion at Sorrel River Ranch on the banks of the Colorado River sets the stage for Friday’s concert at 6 p.m. After the concert, the audience can enjoy a barbecue dinner. In a concert tent below the Fisher Towers on Saturday, festival participants will hear European chamber works beginning at 6 p.m. On Sept. 11, audiences are treated to a performance in a room overlooking Castle Rock and the La Sals. The limited-seating benefit begins at 5:30 p.m. with preconcert cocktails and ends with dinner on the patio. Tickets are available at 435-259-7003 and online at mo abmusicfest.org.
Vail Oktoberfest
Traditional Oktoberfest celebrations take place in the heart of Vail and Lionshead villages Sept. 9-11 and 16-18 featuring a variety of authentic music and street entertainment. Revelers will also be able to sample traditional German cuisine and German bier as well as some of Europe’s finest wines. More details at 970-476-6797 or by visiting vailoktoberfest.com.
New Mexico mountain bike race
The annual Top of the World Mountain Bike Race in the Enchanted Forest Cross-
Country Ski and Snowshoe Area, 2 miles east of Red River on State Road 38 in New Mexico gets underway Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. The 5 1/2-mile loop through the forest includes grueling climbs, sharp turns and a steep downhill finish in this NORBA-sanctioned event. For more, hang around for the Bobcat Pass cycling contest after the mountain bike race at approximately 3:30 p.m. at no additional cost. Sept. 11 is the Enchanted Circle Century Bike Tour, 100 miles of scenic, high-altitude, alpine cycling through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The mass start begins in front of Red River Town Hall at 8 a.m. and takes riders through Taos, Questa, Black Lake and Angel Fire, past Eagle Nest Lake State Park and over both Palo Flechado and Bobcat passes. Also on tap, Brandenburg Park will feature a beer garden and live music noon-
8 p.m. both days. For complete information and registration, contact the Red River Chamber of Commerce, 800-348-6444 or 505-754-3104; visit redrivernewmex.com.
Snowmass gets Bavarian makeover
Snowmass Village will be transformed on Sept.10 into a Bavarian bazaar of music, food, dancing, shopping, and kids’ activities for Okterberfest. Biergartens on the mall will be filled all day with singing and traditional music, contests, and authentic German fare. Admission is free. Details at 800-766-9627 or at snowmassvillage.com.
Estes Park Tramway
Enjoy the ride on the Estes Park Aerial Tramway with views of the Estes Valley, Estes Lake and Estes Park Village below and the surrounding mountain peaks, including 14,255-foot Longs Peak, the ranges of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain National Park. The Tram operates daily 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. through Sept. 11. No reservations are required. Upon arrival at the summit, visitors are welcome to stay as long as they wish, taking in the scenery from the observation deck and enjoying lunch or a snack at the deli, hiking on the trails of Prospect Mountain, or with a picnic. The Estes Park Aerial Tramway is located at 420 East Riverside Drive in Estes Park. Adult round-trip tickets are $9, riders over 60 years of age are $8, children 6-11 years old are $4, and children under 5 ride free with a parent. For more information, call 970-586-3675, e-mail info@estestram.com or visit estestram.com.
