ߣÏÈÉú

Valentine’s Day events around the Vail Valley

Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year and it also kicks off the Presidents Day Weekend. There are many ways you can spend the day with your sweetie in the Vail Valley, from a romantic dinner for two, a day-date on the slopes, a shopping spree at some of our unique boutiques, a concert or a moonlight snowshoe tour up a trail, the possibilities are as vast as your love. Here are a few places that are doing special events for Valentine’s Day. This is a partial list, so call your favorite place to see if they are doing something special.

Valentine’s Day Dinners

Stoke & Rye at the Westin Riverfront – A three-course dining experience with appetizers including smoked oysters, a filet mignon or halibut entrée and a dessert platter. $169 per couple and reservations are highly recommended at .

---

---

Tavernetta Vail at Four Seasons Vail – A multi-course Italian-inspired San Valentino dinner including antipasti, pasta, entrées and more. $250 per person and wine pairings are available. Go to .

Stuberl at Ludwigs at the Sonnenalp – A five-course meal made up of some of Colorado’s finest ingredients such as Colorado lamb and beef carpaccio from the 7X Ranch in Hotchkiss, Colorado. $125 per person and you can add on wine pairings for $70 per person. Learn more at .

---

---

Chill with your hottie at the Ice Castles in Eagle

Brand new this year, the Ice Castles in Eagle offers up ice slides, caverns, tunnels, frozen thrones, fountains and more to delight your date as you stroll through 25-foot-high walls all made of icicles. Discounted tickets can be found by using the code “LOVEWINTER” for a 20% savings on tickets now through Feb. 16. For more information, go to .  

Spa Anjali – Give a spa gift card and save $25 if you purchase by Feb. 14. Spa Anjali is doing a February special, a sugar-based treatment called Strawberry Seed Body Polish that’s full of antioxidants and vitamin C. Couples massages are also available. Visit  for more information.

DJ John Summit returns to Vail

You might be doing more dancing than skiing or riding this weekend as DJ John Summit brings his sounds back to Vail for a few days of shows during the afternoon, evening and late into the night.

The multiple days of musical line ups include Layton Giordani, Ranger Trucco, Cassian and more. In addition to the main events being held at Ford Park parking lot starting at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the music will spread across multiple venues with sets held at Avanti Vail, Chasing Rabbits and Dobson Arena. A free Mountaintop Pop-up will be held for John Summit at the top of Eagle’s Nest on Sunday starting at 12:30 p.m. Although it’s free, you do need to get a wristband, which will be available at the Friday and Saturday night shows at Ford Park from 4-7 p.m. or you can pick one up at the Lionshead base area starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

You can also check out Après All Day with DJ music at the base of Gondola One (No. 1) with DJs Alana English on Saturday and Amba on Sunday. The shows will be held from 2-5 p.m. each day. Go to for more details.

Avanti will continue DJ sets with DJ Bowie Jane and Kendoll playing Sunday and Monday from 1-5 p.m. Go to for more info.

Musicians and dance at the Vilar Performing Arts Center

On Saturday night, it’s a double-header of singer-songwriters with Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket) opening up for John Craigie. The show starts at 7 p.m.

“Craigie is a casual philosopher who has harnessed the beauty and humor of his travels into powerful and often hilarious songwriting. His colorful storytelling invites true connection and conversation among his audiences,” said Owen Hutchinson, artistic director of the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

Phillips, who has played at the Vilar Center with Toad the Wet Sprocket a few times, takes on a new sound with his own tunes that stray from what you might recognize from his alternative rock band formed in the mid 1980s, but you’ll get a few glimpses of Toad the Wet Sprocket’s sound now and then.

On Sunday, audiences will be in for a treat with “Counterpoint,” a unique collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and tap dancer and choreographer Caleb Teicher. This performance is presented in partnership with Vail Dance Festival.

For information on both shows visit  or call the box office at 970-845-8497.

Family activities at Beaver Creek

Many schools have Presidents Day off and some have the whole week off, so if you’re wondering what to do with the kids after skiing and snowboarding, head to the plaza level of Beaver Creek. Here you’ll find ice skating along with these activities:

• Caricatures with Ken Carpenter – Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays 3-5 p.m.
• Storytime for kids (suitable for ages 3-9) at Beaver Creek Sports – Saturdays 2 p.m.
• Helmut Fricker plays accordion, sings, yodels – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 1-3 p.m.
• Family Fun Fest – carnival games and prizes – Saturdays 3:30-5 p.m.
• Fossil Posse Dinosaur Adventures – Saturdays 3:30-5 p.m.

Hawk’s Nest Cabin is a fun place to go for tweens and teens with plenty of things to do like a ski racing simulator, dance floor, arcade and table games, mocktails and more. It’s open daily and from 2-4 p.m. it’s open to ages 10-18 for free and then from 4-9 p.m. ages 10-18 may enter with a $10 admission.

Also, this weekend Beaver Creek will be offering First Tracks presented by Helly Hansen, a rare chance for you to get out on the slopes before the lifts open. You’ll load the Centennial Express (No. 6) at 7:15 a.m. and either have wide-open corduroy runs or some fresh powder, depending on the forecast. Work up an appetite because from the slopes you will head to Allie’s Cabin for a scrumptious buffet before resuming your ski day. It’s a magical experience to see the sun come up and have the resort all to yourself, plus Helly Hanson is offering some fun products like a small Helly Hansen travel bag along with a card for a gift with purchase of $100 at the Beaver Creek store. To find out more, go to or call 970-754-5310.

Kids’ Swim Night Out at Avon Recreation Center

If your kids still have energy to burn after a day on the slopes, bring them to Kids’ Swim Night out, an offering at the Avon Recreation Center where they get to swim, play board games, dine on pizza and watch a movie. This is for ages 5-12 years old and runs from 6-8:30 p.m. (Parents, this could be your escape to grab a quick Valentine’s dinner together since this Swim Night Out falls on Feb. 14 this year). Sign ups are required for this event, visit .