Winter Park Heats up for Summer Music
As winter continues to fight to hold onto its crown in the high country, we know that inevitably Summer will soon take the throne.
Soon the rivers will be swollen with runoff water, fields will be green and hillsides will be lush with wildflowers – if you haven’t experienced summer in the mountains before, she’s a sight to behold, not to mention a sneaky seductress that has turned most of us seasonal ski-bums into year-round Winter Park lifers.
The iconic Julie Andrews is famous for her twirling frenzy atop Switzerland’s finest; well Winter Park not only approves, it does it’s very best to make ‘mountain twirlers’ of all its visitors with a non-stop line up of summer music events. 
Winter Park Summer Event Schedule
Here’s our quick at-a-glance schedule of music events to mark your calendar:
- June 16th– Friday Music Series kicks off its scason
- June 22nd – Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Big Head Todd and the Monsters
- June 23rd– Music On the Square kicks off its season
- June 24th-25th– Blues From the Top Festival
- July 4th– Annual Lance Gutersohn 4th of July Celebration with Country artist Buckstein
- July 8th– Tequila and Tacos
- July 15th-16th-Winter Park Jazz Festival
- August 5th– Winter Park Beer Festival
- August 12th– Solshine Music Festival
- August 19th-Winter Park Uncorked
- August 25th-Music on the Square and Friday Music Series close their seasons
Weekly Live Music Events
Every weekend starts off with High-Note Thursdays free concert on Hideaway Park’s brand new stage. These free events are lawn seating style and bring a range of musical styles from Americana, Bluegrass, Rock, Folk and more each week. Bring the family and kick off the weekend right with a free show on the lawn of Hideaway Park, every Thursday between 6-8 PM, June 29th- August 24th, 2017.
Friday music in downtown Winter Park is hosted by Music In The Square in the Copper Creek square. Local musicians and acts from Denver will be jamming away in the square. A variety of shops, restaurants and other establishments line the square for your enjoyment. This event runs every Friday between 6-8 PM, June 23rd-August 25th, 2017.
Winter Park Resort also hosts Friday Music Series on Friday nights during the summer. This series takes place at the resort base and features bands such as Coral Creek, Sweet Lillies, the Jazz Spiders and more. Music runs from 4-6 PM followed by the Coca-Cola Family Movie night on the Great Lawn. This is a prime event for the whole family, especially if you’re staying mountainside. Happening every Friday between 4-6 PM, June 16th-August 25th, 2017.
High Note Thursdays and Friday Music Series are just the start of weekend fun. The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce has a summer long lineup each weekend to fulfill your live music and dinning needs.
The New Stage
In early 2015 Winter Park announced a concept for a permanent year-round stage in Hideaway Park. The idea was to showcase the unique natural area surrounding the town of Winter Park and the beautiful Fraser Valley.
That concept comes to fruition June 22nd when the new Hideaway Park Stage in downtown Winter Park opens for business with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a BIG band! Following the ribbon cutting, Colorado’s own Big Head Todd and the Monsters take the Stage from 6-8 PM with FREE live music. Roughly defined as rock music, Big Head Todd and The Monsters have been around for over 25 years and have a groove rock style all their own.
Winter Park Signature Music Events 2017
The opening weekend, June 24th-25th, does not let up as the Blues From the Top Festival, presented by the Grand County Blues Society and named Colorado’s Best Blues Music Festival two years in a row, takes center of the new stage. Fabulous Thunderbirds headline this weekend long festival. Their sound has been described as is a mix of blues, R and B, and rock and roll. They too have been together for over 25 years
Other bands include Little Hurricane, C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Dany Franchi Band, and many more. The wide range and styles of blues music presented in a weekend long line up of bands will, at some point, have you on your feet, dancing and singing, awestruck by the music and mountains. Life is good.
As the summer heats up, so does the music. Enjoy Independence Day with Lance Gutersohn’s 4th of July Celebration at Hideaway Park. This a FREE family fun event from 6-10 PM with a magic show, face painting and FIREWORKS! Country music musician, Buckstein, will be on stage for the event.
The Hideaway Park stage rolls right into the freedom weekend with High Note Thursday’s free concert followed by the second annual Tequila and Tacos on July 8th (time TBD).
This event showcases sampling tequila, tacos, outlandish fun and of course, live music. Tequila and Tacos, an off the charts hit last summer, is back by popular demand.
Become awestruck once again the weekend of July 16th with the 35th annual Jazz Festival. As always, the weekend begins with High-Note Thursdays free concert at Hideaway Park Stage. The main event Saturday through Sunday will bring big name Jazz acts such as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Nick Colionne, Marsha Ambrosius, and more. This event has been called the show stealer of all the summer events in Winter Park, that’s for you to decide.
The Beer Festival in Hideaway Park is the next event in the Summer lineup. This annual event at the park features over 25 brewers with unlimited beer tasting from noon to 5 pm August 5, 2017. There will be three music acts, food from local vendors and retail vendors, Price TBD). This is a great event to book one of our lodges at Trailhead or Sawmill, a stones throw from the stage (see below for special event lodging deals). “MMMMMM Beeerrrr”
The weekend of August 14th begins with High-Note Thursday followed by a sleeper event, the Solshine Music Festival. This free, weekend-long, blue grass show is part of Odell Brewing Company Summer Concert Series. The acts have not been announced but Leftover Salmon is rumored to be making an appearance. Past acts have included Little Feat and Trampled by Turtles.
The Hideaway Park Stage main events wrap up with Winter Park Uncorked on August 19th. This family friendly outdoor event is free for spectators. If you wish to participate, general admission tickets or VIP tickets can be purchased. General admission tickets include wine and food tasting, live music and Champagne 
cork-off. VIP tickets include a pre-wine tasting event with a private lunch and seminar.
If you’re a wine novice, prepare to have your pallet inundated with flavors you never thought existed. Savor the deliciousness as you take in the music and gaze at the mountain peaks while a different but familiar feeling of “awestruck” sets in.
Ready For A Summer Adventure?
Summer is going to be taking that crown from winter before you know it. While you may still long for some of those great powder turns you experienced this past winter, know that that void is easily filled with Summer fun in Winter Park. We have the music, the mountains, the trails, and the rivers.
We have the town and the best places to stay. Winter Park Lodging Company has you covered with fantastic lodges next to the stage in the heart of the action, options a little further away in town, or tucked into the hillsides for peace and quiet.
So round up your family, your sandals, lawn blankets and chairs, and your passion for an awe striking good time and plan a weekend or eight in Winter Park this summer. Let Winter Park Lodging Company be your guide for great lodging and great fun all Summer long!
Stay With Us
Winter Park Lodging Company has a great lineup of deals and specials for Summer events for you to take advantage of!
