I just watched a headliner play under the backdrop of the Wasatch for the price of a High West Whiskey cocktail. The stunning mountain vistas were extra, and it didn’t cost a thing either. That’s the beauty of free summer concert series in ski towns. They bring the après without the cost of winter.
If we’re being honest, the whole situation is a bit of a paradox. Ski towns spend all winter charging you for everything from $30 chicken fingers to $14 beers. Then when summer rolls around, the script gets flipped on its head. The same town that ran up your credit card in January does a 180 and hands you a full season of free live music, every single week until September. No complaints here. In fact, this loophole might just be the best budget travel move in the mountains right now.
That said, here’s where the season is actually happening.
Snowmass, Colorado: Fanny Hill Thursdays
The Snowmass Free Concert Series runs Thursday nights on Fanny Hill from June 18 through August 27. Doors at 5:30 and the music kicks off at 6:30. The genre lineup swings from funk and rock to bluegrass without ever taking itself too seriously. Pack some food, grab beers from the bar, then find your spot on the lawn, and let the Elk Range serve as your amphitheatre.
Big Sky, Montana: Music in the Mountains
Photo Credit: @bigskyresort Instagram
Len Hill Park hosts Music in the Mountains every Thursday from June 6 through September 3. Quite honestly, it has a real claim to being the best free outdoor series in Montana. The lineup runs Americana, folk, and country, while the whole experience doubles as the town’s living room for a summer evening.
Vail, Colorado: Hot Summer Nights at The Amp
Photo Credit: Vail Valley Foundation
Bulleit Hot Summer Nights has been filling the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater since 1987. Quite a run for an award winning show that still continues to show up on national best of lists for outdoor concert series. Hosted at “The Amp” on select Tuesdays, June 16 through September 15, it features some of the country’s top musical acts and is completely free. If you’re staying down valley, Eagle Town Park runs its own free Thursday series, ShowDown Town, from July 2 through August 13, with a playground and food trucks thrown in for good measure.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Howelsen Hill Friday Night Concerts
Steamboat’s Free Summer Concert Series hits Howelsen Hill on Friday nights from late June through late August. The opener takes the stage at 5 with the headliner right behind. It is genuinely free, no fine print. Although bringing cash might not be a bad idea if you want a cold one from the beer tent and a food bank donation is always a good move.
Breckenridge, Colorado: AirStage Summer Music
Every Thursday evening from June 11 through September 24, Breckenridge turns its Riverwalk area into a picnic blanket free for all. Starting at 5 at the Ridge Street Arts Square, you can finish your hike, grab dinner and go. Let the kids run the lawn, while you hang around for the encore.
Park City, Utah: Free Canyons Village Concerts
Photo Credit: Jack Loosmann/Vail Resorts
Canyons Village runs a genuinely free weekly concert series. Produced by Mountain Town Music, a local nonprofit responsible for a good chunk of the free live music happening around Park City all summer, it runs from June 25 through August 20. You can also head over to the Pendry, located right in Canyons Village, where Mountain Town Music has a rotating lineup of live sessions playing at the Pendry’s Après Party all summer long. No cover, no confusion.
One thing worth noting, Concerts on the Slopes, at that same venue, is a paid series. Same lawn, different wallet situation. Check the show before you plan your night.
The Budget Friendly Part Nobody Mentions
No ticket app or little plastic card is required for any of these. In fact, you can even get there for free if you wanted to. Snowmass runs a free shuttle so you’re not fighting for parking. Vail has a free bike valet at the Amp. Steamboat’s city bus gets you downtown without moving your car at all. Pack a cooler bag for dinner, bring your own drinks if the venue allows, then the only real cost of the night is whatever you spend on a second beer when the encore begins.
The lifts are quiet this time of year. The stages are not. Find your town, bring a blanket, and let the mountain pick up the tab.
About the Author
Rich Stoner is the founder of the après-ski lifestyle clothing and media brand, All About Après. He is also the co-host of the Après All Day Podcast. No stranger to the ski and après-ski scene, Rich has been a long time contributor for many publications on topics like skiing, travel, gear, beer and food. However, his passion is on the slopes and enjoying good times with good people. You can find him perfecting his craft carving turns and drinking beers in the Green Mountains of Vermont. @allaboutapres