Telluride Blues & Brews Offers Live Internet Video Stream of Festival, Sept. 12-15

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival celebrates 20 years.

Telluride Blues & Brews is again offering a live internet video stream of the entire festival,Sept. 12-15; (for details and schedule visit tellurideblues.com).

The summer music season of Colorado’s Western Slope region is capped off by four days of live tunes and craft libations at this year’s Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Celebrating 20 years means bringing a standout lineup of national touring acts and a record 56 regional and national microbreweries for the festival and its patrons.

Primarily taking place in the 36 acre venue outfitted for choice live music experiences, Town Park sits adjacent to the downtown Telluride section at the end of the scenic box canyon bordered by high elevation peaks. New amenities this year include an enhanced food selection from 13 vendors, exclusive campground music sessions, an onsite camping gear vendor provided by Project Shelter, and a Main Street parade featuring the Rebirth Brass Band.

This year the iconic Fred Shellman Stage will take on the strong top-to-bottom lineup with headliners The Black Crowes, Jim James and Melissa Etheridge leading the charge. Last year The Black Crowes frontman played a memorable set at Telluride Blues & Brews with side project the Chris Robinson Brotherhood that serves as a testament to what his core band will offer this year, while My Morning Jacket vocalist Jim James will make his first solo appearance in Telluride after a huge summer of sets at the country’s biggest festivals. Melissa Etheridge’s extended 135 minute slot to close the festival on Sunday promises to be another notch in the event’s history of music legends playing at their highest level.

Telluride Blues & Brews never strays too far from its blues roots, and this year Booker T. Jones will be representing the electric blues category with his Hammond B3 mastery at the free kick off party on Thursday night. Booker’s modern counterpart and recent collaborator on Sound The Alarm Gary Clark Jr. will also flex his prodigious and progressive blues guitar chops the following evening on the Main Stage. Also on board for Thursday’s 20th Annual Celebration Show is trance blues stringsmith and Blues & Brews veteran Otis Taylor.

The modern rock landscape finds multi-instrumental soul-stress ZZ Ward, Austin’s retro-rockers Bright Light Social Hour, one-man-band Low Volts, American rock guitarist/pianist John Hiatt, and Telluride favorite Anders Osborne layering the lineup.

Telluride Blues & Brews goes heavy into the cast of funk players this year with England’s The New Mastersounds, the world class Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans, and the resurrected 70s psychedelic funk of The Relatives. The thriving neo-soul sound will be also be properly represented by Washington’s “hippie with soul” Allen Stone and UK acoustic soul singer/songwriter James Bay.

Between the 170 individual beers offered at the Grand Tasting on Saturday, the five hand selected House of Brews local representatives Aspen Brewing Company, Durango Brewing Company, Ska Brewing Company, Smuggler’s Brewing Company, and Telluride Brewing Company, and the official beer sponsor Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Telluride Blues & Brews stays true to its legacy as a premier beer showcase in a booming microbrewery era.

When the lights go down, the party continues at the four late night Juke Joint venues. Booker T. Jones and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Jim James and Karl Denson claim the Telluride Conference Center. A revamped Fly Me To The Moon Saloon sees The Rebirth Brass Band and The New Mastersounds. The intimate Elks Lodge houses Bright Light Social Hour and Selwyn Birchwood Band. The historic Sheridan Opera House hosts an Allen Stone and ZZ Ward co-bill, Anders Osborne, and then Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe for the Fais do-do closing celebration.

The coveted Saturday single day tickets for the 20th installment of Telluride Blues & Brews have officially sold out, but limited 3-day passes and single day tickets for Friday and Sunday are still available. All limited Juke Joint tickets are still available, as are 4-day camping passes at tellurideblues.com.

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Celebrate Holidays in the Rockies in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

A snowy mountain backdrop, lots of good cheer and plenty of unforgettable activities for all ages combine to create amazing holiday moments in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colo.  The season for snowy fun kicks off just in time, with Crested Butte Nordic Center opening Nov. 17 and Crested Butte Mountain Resort opening Nov. 21.

November Rings in the Season

The 38th Annual Sugar Plum Festival is a prime stop for handmade gifts such as wreaths made out of sagebrush, Christmas decor, stained glass, pottery, jewelry and canned goods on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center.  Carols and a visit from Santa also make the Sugar Plum Festival a sweet experience.  Call (970) 641-6931.

Work off turkey dinner and all the trimmings with the Crested Butte Nordic Council’s annual Thanksgiving Training Camp on Nov. 22 – 24. Beginner, intermediate and advanced skate and classic clinics as well as clinics for women and master racers are planned. Pilates classes for Nordic skiers also will be offered. Anyone is invited to watch ski movies at Crested Butte Center for the Arts at a cost of $10 that benefits the Crested Butte Nordic Center. On Saturday night, a Nordic Season Kick-Off Party & Silent Auction at Montanya Distillers begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for kids ages 5 – 18, and free for children under 5.  Call (970) 349-1707 and visit http://www.cbnordic.org to register and for more information.

Gunnison will formally usher in the Christmas season with Night of Lights held downtown on Nov, 30 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.  Admire lighted displays, warm up at bonfires for roasting marshmallows and booths for hot cocoa and other free treats, and enjoy local entertainment groups at various downtown venues. Santa will arrive at 6:30 p.m., escort the crowd to the community tree lighting and greet children at the Elk’s Lodge.

December Holidays Happenings

Holiday Open Houses will be held Dec. 1 and 2 at downtown Gunnison merchants, complete with shopping specials and refreshments from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon – 4 p.m. on Sunday.  For Night of Lights and the open houses, contact the Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce at (970) 641-1501.

Shop for great gifts at the annual Crested Butte Community School Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The bazaar features handcrafted items, tasty baked goods and more.  For information, call (954) 614-9562.  There’s more great gift buying and browsing at Gunnison’s First Friday Artwalk & Music on Dec. 7 from 5 – 8 p.m.  Call Gunnison Gallery at (970) 641-6111.

Kids can make their own presents at The Trailhead Children’s Museum, located at the ski area base, during Gift Making Workshops on Dec. 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.  The price is based on the project selected.  On Dec 21, join Santa and his elves for holiday crafts, science projects, storytelling, caroling and more during Santa’s Workshop at the museum from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.  The cost is $5 per person.  Call (970) 349-7160 or visit http://www.trailheadkids.org.

Nationally recognized ice sculptors will be back from Dec. 15 – 22 to decorate Mountaineer Square and other locations around Crested Butte Mountain Resort with beautifully crafted ice creations. Local carolers will add to the festive scene at the ski area base throughout the season.

Light Up Night on Crested Butte’s historic Elk Avenue is all about lighting the community Christmas tree, hearing favorite holiday tunes performed by local musicians and a bell choir and enjoying visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus and Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s Bubba and Betty Bear.  The festivities are scheduled for Dec. 15, 5 – 6 p.m., and will take place between Second and Third Streets. For information, call the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce at (970) 349-6438 or visit http://www.cbchamber.com.

Crested Butte Mountain Theatre’s annual holiday production on Dec. 20 – 23 and 27 – 29 will be “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” a book and play by Barbara Robinson.  Six delinquent children go to church for the first time and are given roles in the Sunday school’s Christmas play.  The story ends up being told in a nonconventional and hilarious fashion.  Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students.  For times and to purchase tickets, call (970) 349-0366 or visit http://www.cbmountaintheatre.org.

The Art Studio of the Center of the Arts, located in downtown Crested Butte on Elk Avenue, is offering fun for all ages during Holiday Paint Your Own Pottery events on Dec. 21 and 29 from 2 – 5 p.m.  Choose from a wide selection of holiday pottery, ornaments, mugs, bowls, plates, kids’ items and more.  Prices range from $4 to $45 based on pottery selected.  Call (970) 349-7044 or visit http://www.crestedbuttearts.org.

Embark on an easy snowshoe or cross-county ski (approximately one mile with guides available) to the Crested Butte Nordic Center’s Magic Meadows Yurt and feast on a five-course gourmet meal for a Pre-Christmas Yurt Dinner on Dec. 23 and Full Moon Dinner on Dec. 28.  Dinner is prepared by local chef Josephine Kellett of Creative Catering and served at 6:30 p.m.  The cost is $70 for adults and $35 for children (under age 12) and includes a trail pass and equipment rental; alcohol and gratuity are extra.  For reservations, visit http://www.cbnordic.org or call (970) 349-1707.

On Christmas Eve, it’s exquisite to watch skiers and boarders winding down the slopes with lights during the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.  A few days later, gather up the family and enjoy moonlit trails during CBMR’s Moonlight Snowshoe Tour on Dec. 28. Catch a ride from a snowcat to the top of Red Lady Express chairlift and traverse trails bathed in the moonshine to the base area on this magical outing that runs from 7 – 9 p.m.  For reservations and cost, contact (800) 544-8448 or visit http://www.skicb.com.

New this year is the Gunnison Nordic Club’s Full Moon Hartman Rocks Ski/Snowshoe Tour on Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m.  Bring the entire family and enjoy a beautiful ski or snowshoe on trails with club guides. Hot chocolate and treats will be served indoors on Hartman Rocks Road after the tour.  The event is free and open to all skill levels.  Bring your own equipment.

New Year’s Eve Magic, Dec. 31

Kids Rock – Noon Year’s Eve from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. will launch the celebrating for families with a concert, kid-friendly cuisine and hands-on art and science activities.  Presented By The Trailhead Children’s Museum, Crested Butte Music Festival and Crested Butte Center for the Arts, the event will be held at Lodge at Mountaineer Square Ballroom in Mt. Crested Butte.  The cost is $10 per person.  Call (970) 349-7160 or visit http://www.trailheadkids.org.

Greet 2013 in style by visiting the wide array of art galleries in downtown Crested Butte during ArtWalk Evening from 5 – 8 p.m.  Light refreshments, music and on-site artists are part of the fun.  Visit http://www.awearts.org.   The New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks on the slopes of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in early evening also is a great way to celebrate for all ages before heading out for dinner.  For information, visit http://www.skicb.com.

Join the Crested Butte Nordic Center for its New Year’s Eve Yurt Dinner by skiing or snowshoeing to the fun at Magic Meadows that begins at 7 p.m.  Enjoy a five-course dinner prepared by Josephine Kellett of Creative Catering, wine, beer and live music by Alpine Soul for a cost of $90 per person.  Also included is a trail pass and rental equipment.  A New Year’s Eve Yurt Party will begin at 10:30 p.m. and includes wine, beer, snacks, DJ music and a trail pass, all for $35.  For information and reservations, visit http://www.cbnordic.org or call (970) 349-1707.

Holiday Vacation Packages

The Grandest Christmas package features four nights of lodging at Grand Lodge in Mt. Crested Butte, three days of skiing or riding, and Adventure Park access for tubing, mini golf and bungee trampolines at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.  The $999 package is for two adults and two children, ages 17 or younger, and is good for travel from Dec. 14 to Dec. 23, 2012.  This deal must be booked by Dec. 16, cannot be combined with other offers, and is subject to availability and prior to all fees and taxes.  Call Crested Butte Vacations at (800) 600-2803 and visit http://www.skicb.com.

Take advantage of the Gunnison Getaway package for great ski vacation rates over the holidays. When not skiing or snowboarding at nearby Crested Butte Mountain Resort, ice skate on the three rinks at Jorgensen Park (indoor, covered and Pac-Man Pond), stop by the Gunnison Arts Center, and rock climb, swim and more at the recreation center.  Prices ranges from $61.50 at Wanderlust Hostel to $99.50 at Holiday Inn Express & Suites per adult, per night (includes a lift ticket at Crested Butte Mountain Resort) from Dec. 14, 2012 – Jan. 4, 2013.  Price is based on double occupancy with two adult lift tickets and does not include taxes. Young adult and children’s lift tickets can be purchased when booking the stay, and properties may charge fees for children and other additional occupants staying in the room.  Go to http://www.gunnisongetaway.com.

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages

To find out more, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association’s toll-free line, (800) 814-8893, or visit http://www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com.  Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on http://www.twitter.com/gcbta.  The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served by United Airlines year-round and by American Airlines during winter.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado.  Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.  Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities.  In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding.  Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options — from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels.

Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State Colorado University, which offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional fields.  Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.

Recognized as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2008, Crested Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.  Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area’s conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails.

Marble is located in the Upper Crystal River Valley along the Elk Mountains and is the gateway to nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country. Marble has seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is the location of the Yule Marble Quarry.

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country’s newest national parks.  Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

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Tickets on Sale for Vail’s Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival

Tickets for the 13th Annual Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines Festival are available for purchase on the event website at http://www.bigbeersfestival.com. Vail Cascade Resort is once again the host location for the event being held January 10-12th, 2013. Returning favorites and usually sold out/standing-room only programs include the opening Calibration Dinner, a Traditional Brewmaster’s Dinner, the experimental brewing seminar, “Brewers Gone Wild,” and CraftBeer.com’s Beer & Food Pairing Taste-off. Both dinners are five-course white tablecloth beer pairing dinners with commentary from the brewmasters and chefs. Many more programs are listed on the event website; special guests and seminars continue to be added to the already packed line-up.

Designed to welcome the beer connoisseur, the innovative homebrewer, and the novice taster, participants will find events appropriate for all levels of interest. Throughout the course of the entire festival, breweries from around the world participate, offering literally hundreds of choices of elite brews.

2013 Featured Brewmasters

One of the most eagerly awaited announcements is the designation of the two Featured Brewmasters, considered a high honor in a festival of this caliber. This year, the two craft beer celebrities will be Matt Brynildson, Brewmaster for Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, California and Kevin DeLange, Owner/Founder of Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora, Colorado. DeLange’s Dry Dock Brewing was awarded “Small Brewing Company of the Year” in 2009 at one of the industry’s largest events: the Great American Beer Festival. Brynildson’s Firestone Walker has been recognized in the media as “the most award-winning craft brewery in the world,” and most recently won Champion Brewery/Brewmaster for Mid-Size Breweries at the 2012 World Beer Cup.

The role of the Featured Brewmasters is to co-host the Traditional Brewmaster’s Dinner on Friday evening, and each brewmaster will present a seminar on their choice of topic on Saturday. Avery Brewing Co. and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery open the weekend annually with the Cailbration Dinner.

The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival is a three day event featuring educational seminars including a Cicerone workshop (similar to the Sommelier designation in the world of wine), two Brewmasters dinners, and a wildly popular and uber-competitive homebrew competition. A Commercial Tasting tops off the events with more than sixty breweries and importers showcasing their wares. A majority of the breweries are represented by the actual owner or brewmaster, a unique opportunity compared to other festivals.

Brewmasters, Brewery Owners & Importers

The brewmasters, brewery owners and importers that showcase their wares at the Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival come from all over the world. Previous attendees have had the opportunity to sample American craft beer from California, Delaware, Maine, Hawaii and Alaska. The international offerings hail from far and wide with a concentration of beer from European countries, particularly Belgium, and the importers make a point of providing extreme diversity both in style and in origin.

New VIP Pass Option

New for this year are a limited number of VIP passes, available on the event website, which include

A seat at each of the Brewmasters’ Dinners on Thursday and Friday

A Commercial Tasting & Seminars Ticket

Reserved Seat/Media access at each Seminar

Welcome Reception admission

Early admission to the Commercial Tasting

Commemorative 2013 Glassware (two tulip glasses)

Choice of Festival-wear: hat or t-shirt

Choice of Festival-wear: hoodie or jacket

Taxes & gratuity for all of the above are included in the package price.  Pass price is $500

Beneficiary

The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival actively supports the efforts of the Vail Valley Charitable Fund, a local organization that helps individuals who live and work in the Vail Valley that have critical financial need due to medical catastrophes, accidents or long-term illnesses. For more information about the VVCF, visit www.vvcf.org

Lodging Partners

Other Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines partnering properties offering special lodging rates for Big Beers participants & attendees include the Holiday Inn/Apex Vail, Simba Run and the Lionshead Inn. More information about lodging options is listed on the event website, http://www.bigbeersfestival.com.

For more information on the Big Beers, Belgians and Barleywines event, email bigbeersfestival@hotmail.com.

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Single Day, Bal de Maison Tickets to Telluride Blues & Brews Festival on Sale, June 15

Single day and Bal de Maison show tickets for the 19th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, held September 14-16, go on sale Friday, June 15.

Single day and Bal de Maison show tickets for the 19th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, held September 14-16, will go on sale Friday, June 15 at 10am (MST). Tickets can be purchased online at tellurideblues.com, by phone at 866.515.6166, or in person at both Telluride Music, located at 123 E. Colorado Ave and Wizard Entertainment, located at 126 East Colorado Avenue.

Every September, the bands, the fans, and the barrels of beer roll into Telluride Town Park for a 3-day celebration of music in mountains at the renowned Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

“This year marks the 19th Annual, and the weekend promises to be the best one yet,” said Steve Gumble, Festival Director. “There is an enormous amount of musical talent this festival season from all genres of music.”

The 2012 Festival weekend features headliners Phil Lesh & Friends, Gov’t Mule, and The B-52s. Additional performances include Little Feat, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Anders Osborne, Heartless Bastards, MarchFourth Marching Band, Tab Benoit, Little Hurricane, The Lee Boys and many more. For the complete Festival lineup and schedule, please visit tellurideblues.com.

Additional Festival highlights include a wide variety of food and craft vendors, the Rainbow Kids area and Kid’s parade, Blues for Breakfast concerts, late night shows at local Juke Joints, and the Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition.

Three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and Camping passes are currently onsale now.

For festival information or to purchase tickets visit tellurideblues.com or call toll-free at (866) 515-6166.

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Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Announces Complete 2012 Lineup

With three days of continuous live blues, rock, funk, and gospel, and Saturday’s renowned Brews Grand Tasting, the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival is quickly gaining worldwide notoriety as the “Coolest Blues & Brews Festival in the United States.”

Phil Lesh & Friends, Gov’t Mule and The B-52s Headline Amazing Mountain Fall Festival, Sept. 14-16, 2012

The 19th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival featuring Phil Lesh & Friends, Gov’t Mule, and The B-52s announced recently added musical geniuses Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Little Feat, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Anders Osborne, Heartless Bastards, Phil Wiggins & Rev. John Wilkins, Orgone, Kelley Hunt, Pickwick, Monophonics, and Big Jim Adam & John Stilwagen to the festival lineup. Previously released acts will include peformances by The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, MarchFourth Marching Band, Tab Benoit, Little Hurricane and The Lee Boys.

Tickets for the 19th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival are currently on sale now.

“September can’t come fast enough,” said Steve Gumble, President and founder of the Festival. “The Festival weekend will see longtime musical greats with some new emerging acts never to have graced the stage here in Telluride.”

With three days of continuous live blues, rock, funk, and gospel, and Saturday’s renowned Brews Grand Tasting, the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival is quickly gaining worldwide notoriety as the “Coolest Blues & Brews Festival in the United States.”

On Saturday, the premier beer tasting event features more than 150 beers from over 50 accredited national microbreweries, including Telluride Blues & Brews Festival’s official beer sponsor, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Aside from phenomenal beer, music is the main festival focus, and 2012 promises to be the best yet. With a variety of performances and the most talented musicians on the festival circuit today, festival-goers are guaranteed a magical, and amazing experience. There is something for everyone with main stage music all day, the Acoustic Blues Competition, Kids activities, blues with breakfast, and the famous late-night Juke Joint jams.

Three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and Camping passes are on sale now. Single day tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday go on sale June 15th. Juke Joint tickets are $25 per night, and feature late night jams at various intimate venues. Festival 4-day Camping passes are $40 per person, with camping located adjacent to the Festival grounds starting Thursday, September 13.

For festival information or to purchase tickets visit tellurideblues.com. To purchase tickets by phone call toll-free at (866) 515-6166. Like on Facebook and follow  on Twitter for up-to-date news and contest ticket giveaways.

Watch the Lineup Announcement video here.

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Tickets for Telluride Blues & Brews Festival On Sale

Tickets for the 19th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, to be held September 14-16, 2012, have just gone on sale.

Renowned as one of the most scenic and intimate music festivals in the country, Telluride Blues & Brews is located within the world-famous resort town of Telluride, Colorado, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Blues & Brews is known in Telluride as the ‘locals’ festival, and is a three-day celebration of music and microbrews held in Telluride Town Park, an outdoor music venue with breathtaking 13,000 foot mountains as a backdrop. The festival offers an eclectic mix of live blues, funk, rock, jam band, gospel and soul performances, and some of the best microbreweries in the country, with a wide variety of food and craft vendors, children’s activities, late night jams, and much more.

Tickets for Early Bird, VIP, Juke Joint (night venue), Camping, Campground Vehicle, and RV passes will all go on sale at 10 AM (Mountain Standard Time). Early Bird, VIP, Campground Vehicle and RV passes are in limited quantities and sell out quickly. The Early Bird 3-Day pass is $145 and the VIP 3-Day pass is $385.

For festival information or to purchase tickets visit http://www.tellurideblues.com. To purchase tickets by phone, call  866-515-6166.

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Gunnison-Crested Butte see best rafting season ever for Gunnison River Festival

The community raft race at the Gunnison River Festival. This year's event takes place June 23 – 26.

Just as what goes up, must come down, Colorado rivers are rushing with whitewater after record snowfalls this past winter and local outfitters in Gunnison-Crested Butte are expecting one of the best rafting seasons ever due to snow pack in the Taylor River Drainage that is approximately 150 percent of normal levels.

Not only is there great rafting and kayaking, ranging from Class I to IV for guided trips on the Gunnison and Taylor Rivers, but you’ll see amazing tricks at the Gunnison Whitewater Park, the annual Gunnison River Festival which takes place this year June 23 – 26. Some of the toughest kayaking in the United States is on the Crystal River in Marble, ranging from Class II to V+.

“We’re really excited about the water levels and should have great levels all year long. It also opens up some routes for the Upper Upper Taylor in an area we call Lottis Creek, with Class III and IV water that hasn’t been doable for the last couple of seasons,” says Matt Brown, co-owner of Scenic River Tours with offices in Gunnison and seven miles up the Taylor Canyon, www.scenicrivertours.com.

“We are now offering raft trips every day.  The Taylor River is running higher right now than all of last year and summer flows may be at the highest level we’ve seen in 14 years.  Some think this is scary, but it actually makes the river less technical and smoother to navigate since the rocks are under water and it’s more fun because of the bigger waves,” adds Mark Schumacher, owner of Three Rivers Resort & Outfitting in Almont, www.3riversresort.com.

Gunnison River Festival, June 23 – 26
For a unique blend of hardcore and lighthearted outdoor recreation for all ages, don’t miss the ninth annual Gunnison River Festival.  Where else can you find a mix of USA Freestyle kayaking, a costume river parade, downriver raft race, hooligan race, kayak enduro, raft rodeo, foam boat and Strider Cup bike races for kids?

Gunnison Whitewater Park, redesigned in 2007 and 2008 and with a new feature and footbridge added in 2010, serves as home base for the festival at the corner of Highway 50 West and County Road 38.  Add in Taylor River near Almont and Oh-Be-Joyful Creek near Crested Butte and there is serious fun to be had on area waters.

The USA Freestyle Kayak (USAFK) tour returns to the festival in 2011 with a national point series. Classes include cadet (youth), open men/women and pro classes.  Also, National Whitewater Rafting paddlers will join the North Bridge Paddle Race.  “This brings a new element of great kayaking and rafting to our event as we are now part of the pro tour.  Freestyle kayaking is making an effort to become an Olympic sport by 2020,” says event organizer Angie Mauldin.

For costs, information, and registration forms, visit www.gunnisonriverfestival.com or call (970) 596-7094.

The following schedule is subject to change.

Thursday, June 23
• Go With The Flow Yoga on the River, 6:45 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Event registration and live music by “Red Lady String Quartet,” 5 – 7 p.m. – IOOF Park

Friday, June 24
• Vendor’s Arena/Demo Expo, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Sunset Concert with live music by “Better Late Than Never,” 6 – 8 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Go With The Flow Yoga on the River, 6:45 p.m. – Whitewater Park

Saturday, June 25
• Registration Booth, Opens at 8 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• Community River Parade, 9 a.m. – Northbridge to Whitewater Park
• Downriver Raft Race, 9:30 a.m. – Northbridge to Whitewater Park
• Opening Ceremony, 10 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• SUP Downriver Race, 11 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• USA Freestyle Kayak Races, all day – Whitewater Park
• River City Fun Zone for kids featuring interactive and educational activities to understand watersheds and underwater life, foam boat races and a Strider Cup bike race. Opens at 11 a.m. – Whitewater Park
• SUP Surf Comp, 2 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Raft Rodeo, 2 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Hooligan Race (competitors race in boats made from non-boat materials such as inner tubes, kegs, barrels, etc.), 3:30 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Live Music by “Simpler Times,” 4 – 6 p.m. – Whitewater Park
• Raft Sprint Race, 5 p.m. – Whitewater Park

Sunday, June 26
• Registration, Opens at 8 a.m. – Almont
• Taylor Canyon Endure, 10 a.m. – Whitewater Put-In to Confluence
• Upper Taylor Downriver Race, 10:30 a.m. – Whitewater Put-In to South Bank
• Lower Taylor Family Float, Noon – 5-Mile Put-in
• Barbeque and live music, 4 p.m. – Almont Resort, Almont

Adventure Packages
Dinner Float Trip
Enjoy the area’s only dinner cruise, Rocky Mountain style!  Start out at Three Rivers Resort in Almont by 4 p.m. and enjoy a 10-mile scenic float trip on the Gunnison River to Garlic Mike’s Restaurant for a delicious Italian dinner. You will receive the float trip, vehicle shuttle and a voucher for Garlic Mike’s (tip is extra). The total time required is approximately three hours.  The trip is available seven nights a week with at least 24 hours notice and a minimum of four people.  For prices and reservations, call Three Rivers Resort at (888) 761-3474.

Lodging & Rafting Deal
Save on lodging and rafting when staying two nights or more at Three Rivers Resort in Almont from May 1 – June 10 and Aug. 15 – Sept. 30.  For only $100 per person, receive two night’s lodging in a lodge room or small, one-room cabin and one Upper Taylor whitewater raft trip each.  Price is based on two-person occupancy and does not include lodging taxes.  This offer is not valid with any other offers or existing reservations and can be booked by calling (888) 761-3474.  Other lodging options and custom packages can be arranged.  Visit www.3riversresort.com.

Rock & Raft Package
Scenic River Tours is offering a new Rock & Raft Package, featuring a full day of adventure that includes lunch by the river.  Participants will whitewater raft the Taylor River until noon, stop for lunch, and raft some more before stopping to rock climbing in a new area being developed by Scenic River Tours.  Wrap up the day with more time on the water.  For more information and the cost, call (970) 641-3131 or visit www.scenicrivertours.com.

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages
To find out more about Gunnison-Crested Butte’s calendar of events and personalized vacation packages, call the Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association’s toll-free number (800) 814-8893 or visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com.  Find the Tourism Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gcbta or follow us on www.twitter.com/gcbta.  The Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is served year-round by United Airlines with flights from Denver.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado
Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado.  Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.  Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities.  In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding.  Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options — from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels.

Gunnison, county seat and a real western town, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, which offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in liberal arts and sciences and pre-professional fields.  Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities.

Recognized as the “Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado” by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2008, Crested Butte is 28 miles from Gunnison and the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.  Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area’s conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails.

Marble is located in the Upper Crystal River Valley along the Elk Mountains and is the gateway to nearby Crystal, home to one of the most photographed mill sites in the country. Marble has seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places and is the location of the Yule Marble Quarry.

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country’s newest national parks.  Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

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Robert Cray, Willie Nelson Among Headliners at 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Sept 16-18

Robert Cray will be performing at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

Five-time Grammy winning Robert Cray will be among the musical lineup at the 18th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival  at Telluride Town Park September 16-18.

The 18th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival will also feature headliners Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Additional performances include Zappa Plays Zappa, moe., Marcia Ball, Fitz and the Tantrums, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Mavis Staples, Anders Osborne, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and many more.

Robert Cray leads the Blues Hall of Fame for the Class of 2011. Cray has established himself as one of the most popular artists in blues and has been a dominant force in blues ever since. He helped to reignite the blues on the national scene in the 1980s with his breakthrough album “Strong Persuader” in 1986. His soulful voice, creative guitar work, meaningful songs and dazzling live performances, shows why Cray has earned his rise to international fame and an inductee for the 2011 Blues Hall of Fame. Don’t miss Robert Cray’s intimate performance under the stars in Telluride Town Park.

Renowned as one of the most scenic music festivals in the country, Telluride Blues & Brews is located within the world-famous resort town of Telluride, CO, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.  The Festival is a three-day celebration of music and microbrews held in an outdoor music venue nestled within a box canyon of the San Juan Mountains. A humble wooden stage with towering mountain peaks provides a natural showcase for the Festival’s talent. For Festival-goers, the pristine mountain valley makes the perfect dance floor.

By day, experience live blues, funk, rock, gospel and soul performances, and the best microbrews in the country, a wide variety of food and craft vendors, children’s activities, and much, much more – all within the Festival grounds and only a couple blocks from the heart of Main Street, Telluride. By night, follow the festival music as it flows into town, where late-night juke joints fill indoor venues for after-hours jams, where you never know who’ll show up!

Three-day passes, Juke Joint tickets, and camping passes are currently on sale now. Single day tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday go on sale July 1st.

For Festival information or to purchase tickets online visit http://www.tellurideblues.com or call 1.866.515.6166 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1.866.515.6166      end_of_the_skype_highlighting today. Tickets can be purchased locally at Telluride Music, located at 123 E. Colorado Ave.

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Rafting season opens on the Arkansas River in Chaffee County, Colorado

Chaffee County in Colorado is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast. Visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, biking, ATVing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, camping, zip lining, swimming, tennis, golfing and horseback riding © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

As the snow melts on the mighty Sawatch Range, the Arkansas River becomes the center of attention and action in Chaffee County. The Arkansas flows through the heart of Chaffee County, gracing the downtowns of both Salida and Buena Vista with her beauty and world-renowned whitewater, fly-fishing, scenery and river festivals. High water levels translate to the start of summer river rafting and kayaking fun up and down the county. The Arkansas River and specifically Brown’s Canyon is the most rafted area in the world. The great winter snows will make this rafting season one of the best on record.

Memorial weekend officially kicks off the Whitewater season with PaddleFest 2011 and the BV Pro Rodeo. Not to be out done by the Granddaddy of whitewater festivals, the 63rd Annual New Belgium FIBArk, June 15-19, 2011. Around these two events, rafters, kayakers, river strollers and fly fisher-persons come to Chaffee County because it is the perfect river community.

For rafting enthusiasts, Browns Canyon is sure to please as splashy class III whitewater winds through a dramatic canyon. The adrenaline junkie can head upstream to class IV-V sections like Pine Creek and the Numbers, where even the most seasoned boaters tremble in their booties. Or, if drifting in warm sun is more your style, try a mellow float trip. With more than 30 outfitters in the county, beginning May 1st, the rafting trip of your dreams can easily become a reality.

For play-boating kayakers, both Salida and Buena Vista have world class playholes right downtown. For those who prefer dry land picnic and strolls, the river walk in Salida and footbridge in Buena Vista have beautiful scenery and trails to wind away the hours.

Dropping a fly or line into the current more your speed? Indulge your need for solitude and sport on the cool waters of the Arkansas. Brown and rainbow trout lurk beneath stunning vistas and shady cottonwood-lined banks as the river sets an ambling pace from its headwaters near Leadville.

PaddleFest 2011 and the BV Pro Rodeo, May 27-29, 2011 starts the summer whitewater boating season Memorial weekend in downtown Buena Vista. Join a pro kayaker for a freestyle clinic, take a guided tour on the river, participate in a ‘how to’ clinic, show off your skills in a fun kayak competition in the new river park or relax and watch live music and videos. The entire weekend will also promote awareness and raise funds for all aspects of the Buena Vista River Park. This includes trails, open space, river access, climbing boulders, and instream river features. This action-packed weekend of fun, educational activities, demonstrations, pro kayakers and camaraderie is for all ages and abilities.

The BV Pro Rodeo will be the centerpiece of Paddlefest 2011 with the world’s top athletes battling it out on the new and improved Buena Vista River Park, Friday and Saturday. Winners will be crowned the king and queen of the Buena Vista Riverpark and will take home one of the largest cash purses of the 2011 Pro Rodeo circuit. For more information visit www.ckspaddlefest.com.

The Granddaddy of all river events belongs to Salida, this year the 63rd Annual New Belgium FIBArk will once again draw international competitors and thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to the banks of the Arkansas in downtown Salida, June 15-19, 2011. This festival celebrates history, beer, wild boats, free music and mountain folk. Competitions in every aspect of boating is the history of the festival, but a parade, running hill climb, skate competition, new mountain bike race, Hooligan race, pancake breakfast and carnival are only a handful of the great fun that consumes Riverside Park in downtown Salida. A true local favorite, this is the oldest, most prestigious and perhaps toughest river competition in North America or the world for that matter! For more information visit www.fibark.com.

Whether you are rafting, kayaking, angling, hanging out at a festival or just relaxing by the river watching birds and clouds float above, the Arkansas and Chaffee County is the perfect place to enjoy time together or find the perfect antidote for the stresses of modern life.

ABOUT CHAFFEE COUNTY:

Chaffee County is located in Central Colorado, the Heart of the Colorado Rockies. As Colorado’s Headwaters of Adventure – it stars the small towns of Buena Vista, Salida, Poncha Springs as well as Monarch Mountain. Folks drawn here enjoy the welcome contrasts to the state’s more glamorous destination resorts. You don’t need the trendiest clothes or newest equipment to fit in with the locals. However, if you do have a thirst for adventure we have more than 100 miles of Arkansas River to raft, fish, float or kayak in. Twelve of the states 53, 14,000 foot peaks touch the sky here in Chaffee County.

In spring, summer and fall Chaffee County is a mecca for the outdoor enthusiast. Visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, biking, ATVing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, camping, horseback riding, zip lining, swimming, tennis and golfing. Winter sports fans can enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Monarch Mountain, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Year-around visitors in the “banana belt” can enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops, incredible art galleries and a large selection of antique shops in the historic towns of Salida and Buena Vista. Lodging options range from motels to rustic inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels, beautiful campsites to guest ranches.

For more information and a complimentary brochure, visit www.NowThisIsColorado.com.

CRESTED BUTTE ADDS DIRECT FLIGHTS FOR 2010-11 SKI SEASON

Access to Crested Butte this winter is quick and easy thanks to direct, non-stop flights into the Gunnison/Crested Butte (GUC) Airport from several major cities across the country. Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) announces air service for the 2010-2011 winter season from three major carriers, including American Airlines, Continental Airlines and United Airlines, with flights from Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH) and Denver (DEN). Through each carrier’s extensive flight network guests can get to Crested Butte from anywhere in the world. And, CBMR’s Friends & Family Fly Free offer makes travel affordable and accessible.

United Airlines flights between Denver and Gunnison/Crested Butte run throughout the year. New flights from Houston on Continental, and Dallas/Ft. Worth on American Airlines begin in mid-December 2010 and continue through early April 2011.

The Gunnison/Crested Butte airport is located in Gunnison, Colo. and features a hassle-free, convenient travel alternative to the larger airports in the state. Crested Butte is an easy 30-minute drive from the GUC airport and shuttle service and car rentals are available.

The Montrose Regional Airport offers another great alternative to driving from one of the state’s larger airports. Montrose is located about one and one-half hours from Crested Butte and the airport hosts direct, non-stop flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark and Phoenix. Shuttle service and car rentals are also available from the Montrose Regional Airport.

Again this year, guests to CBMR can take advantage of the resort’s Friends & Family Fly Free offer when traveling by air to the Gunnison/Crested Butte airport. The offer is simple: buy two airline tickets and get the third free when staying in CBMR lodging. The maximum number of free tickets per itinerary is three. Four-night minimum stay required. For information or reservations visit the website at www.skicb.com or call Crested Butte Vacations at 800-600-2803.

Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Crested Butte is committed to preserving the pristine landscape and mountain lifestyle. With vibrant Victorian store-fronts and expressive local characters, the small historic town remains true to its heritage and radiates an unparalleled welcoming and inviting spirit that celebrates a simpler life and time. Thanks to a widely diverse landscape, whether beginner or burgeoning national champion, outdoor enthusiasts of all levels will find a new challenge with each visit. From world-class mountain biking, to legendary skiing and snowboarding, to a secluded fly-fishing experience, Crested Butte is one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets.

For more information about Crested Butte’s lodging, conference, meeting facilities, and special packages, call Crested Butte Vacations, (800) 600-2803 or visit the web site at www.ridecb.com. For information on ski area real estate opportunities call (970) 349-4999 or (877) 805-6109 or visit the website at www.cbliving.com.

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