Celebrate song and dance at the Breckenridge Music Festival and Vail Dance Festival

This summer, celebrate song and dance in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at the Breckenridge Music Festival and Vail Dance Festival. Treat yourself to a summer arts getaway in these historic and charming towns high in the alpine.

This season, the three-week Breckenridge Music Festival is entitled Songs & Dances, with performances ranging from poetic and lyrical to energetic and kinetic. Throughout July and August, an ensemble of 45 world-class musicians will perform chamber and orchestral music throughout Breckenridge. Several guest artists in residence, such as vocalist Jessica Aszodi and folk band Folklife, will also perform this summer.

Breckenridge Music Festival is a pillar of Breckenridge Music, a nonprofit dedicated to music performance and education. Alongside the festival, Breck Music hosts a year-round concert series called Breck Music Presents, which features a wide variety of musical genres and popular touring artists. This series continues through the festival, so be sure to grab tickets to those performances while you’re in town.

If the music in Breckenridge inspires you to get dancing, the Vail Dance Festival is only a short 45-minute drive away. The dance festival features more than 150 dancers, musicians, composers and choreographers for 11 performances and many events from July 26 to August 10.

A highlight of this season is the NOW: Premieres performance, which features never-before-seen creative works and collaborations in dance and music. The performance will feature choreographic works from the festival’s artist in residence, New York City Ballet principal dancer Lauren Lovette.

“Every year, I can’t wait to see the new works we commission take shape and then come to life. The NOW: Premieres performance on August 5 is the apex of our creative work,” Damien Woetzel, artistic director for the Vail Dance Festival, says. “The Vail Dance Festival is all about the energy of next steps, of seeing incredible dancers trying new roles, of taking on unlikely collaborations, all in the extraordinary atmosphere of Vail’s natural setting.”

Tickets for the Breckenridge Music Festival are available online at breckmusic.org.

Tickets for the Vail Dance Festival are at vaildance.org.

BRECKENRIDGE

Where to stay:

Crystal Peak Lodge – Treat yourself at this luxury rental condominium that includes a movie theater and private bowling alley.
Beaver Run Resort – This hotel boasts a variety of room styles (including pet-friendly), an arcade and a spa.

What to eat:

Canteen Tap House and Tavern – This restaurant specializes in modern comfort food and beer and is highly reviewed for its friendly atmosphere.
Piante Pizzeria – This plant-based pizzeria serves delicious, gourmet, New York style pizzas, salads and desserts.

How to play:

Spend a day at Breck’s Epic Discovery adventure park! Slide down the mountain on a coaster, zip line or scenic chair ride.
Escape the summer heat and head up to the Rocky Mountains for hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, paddle-boarding and more.

VAIL

Where to stay:

Hotel Talisa – This luxury hotel recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and features a restaurant, spa and sophisticated decor.
Tivoli Lodge – This hotel offers stunning mountain and village views and is a location along the free Town Shuttle route.

What to eat:

Almresi – Enjoy authentic German food at this family-owned restaurant with friendly staff and rustic decor.
The Little Diner – Don’t skip breakfast! This local full-service diner serves breakfast classics all day, made from scratch in front of you in an open kitchen.

How to play:

Take the whole family on a ride up Vail’s Scenic Gondola at Epic Discovery. Kids ride free!
Enjoy mountain-top morning yoga hosted by Supergoop! Start your weekends above 10,000 feet at this class overlooking the Gore and Holy Cross Range. Classes are on Fridays and Saturdays from June 28 to August 31.

Summer Arts Getaway in Breckenridge and Vail