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June 19, 2006
Chili Pepper & Brew Fest kicked off summer with record-setting attendance, microbrews, chili and music
Snowmass Village just posted the latest press release on the Chili Pepper & Brew Fest:
Chili Pepper & Brew Fest kicked off summer with record-setting attendance, microbrews, chili and music June 9-11, 2006
(Snowmass Village, CO) Snowmass kicked off its summer of smokin' festival fun this past weekend with a Chili Pepper & Brew Fest that far surpassed previous attendance records and proved that high caliber paid concerts are feasible for this mountain resort town.
"It was a simply awesome way to start off the summer," Snowmass Village Marketing Director Susan Hamley says, "and we achieved peak numbers in what has traditionally been considered an off-peak time. Both days delivered an incredible level of music, and the microbrews and chili flowed freely. In fact, we had so much chili on Saturday that we kept serving it well after the published ending at 4 pm."
Hamley estimates that over 1,200 visitors and locals attended Friday's festivities, while Saturday easily topped 4,000 attendees, just about matching the one-day record set when the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band came to town for the free July 4th weekend in 2004. The over-5,000 total for the weekend is up from 3,000 last year and 1,200 in its first year in 2004.
"I think we've shown that the combination of chili, microbrews, and great music is a winning concept for Snowmass," says event organizer Josh Behrman. "Even the music appealed to a multigenerational crowd, and we were thrilled to see locals and visitors jamming out in such numbers together in Snowmass this weekend."
An estimated 25% of attendees came from Denver, the Front Range and other Colorado mountain towns thanks to aggressive print and radio advertising, the Denver Post Sponsorship, KBCO.com, street teams and other promotional efforts that started months ago. Additional visitors came from Grand Junction, Summit County, Vail, and the Roaring Fork Valley from Glenwood to Aspen. The free Chili Express bus from Aspen was extremely popular as well and Hamley was pleased with the number of people who utilized it to celebrate responsibly. All in all, the celebration was a success and an extraordinary kick-off to a season of many great events to come in the Roaring Fork Valley.
"It was a great way to start off the summer," says Eddie Zane, owner of Zane's Tavern on the Snowmass Village Mall. "The most food sales we've ever had was at last year's Mardi Gras and on Saturday we did just under that. For June, that's simply phenomenal."
Snowmass's concert scene returns with the start of the free weekly Snowmass Summer of Free Music Series on June 29 featuring talented singer/guitarist Tab Benoit. On July 1, a spectacular free concert by the renowned gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama is followed by a laser light show specifically designed for Snowmass by internationally recognized light designer Jeff Silverman, who has put on prestigious shows from Las Vegas to Asia. For more information on these and other upcoming Snowmass summer events, please visit www.snowmassvillage.com or call 1-800-SNOWMASS.
Chili Pepper & Brew Fest Winners:
Friday International Chili Society District Competition: Chili Red: First Place Mike Rook, Highlands Ranch, Colorado Chili Verde: First Place Ericka Knudson, Greeley, Colorado Chili Salsa: First Place Mike Rook, Highlands Ranch Best Booth: Robert and Sharone Marcen, Pueblo, Colorado
Friday Winner of the Best Summer Ale Brew Fest 2006 Award: "Double IPA," Bristol Brewing Company, Colorado Springs
Saturday International Chili Society District Competition: Chili Red: First Place Lynn Virant, Omaha, Nebraska Chili Verde: First Place Paul Cordova, Pueblo, Colorado Chili Salsa: First Place Kay Rook, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Sunday: People's Choice Locals Chili Cook-Off Winner: First Place: Zach Ornitz, Aspen, for third straight year
Winner of the Locals' Homebrew Competition: David Mark, Roaring Fork Valley
Snowmass Village, Colorado, is located in the heart of the Elk Mountains 9 miles from Aspen, Colorado. Snowmass is accessible via four regional airports: Aspen, Eagle, Grand Junction, and Denver and recently announced new direct summer jet service from Aspen to Salt Lake City on Delta and Aspen to Los Angeles on United. For a summer media guide of this popular mountain destination, please visit www.snowmasspress.com.
More Information on the Chili Pepper & Brew Fest in Snowmass Village, Colorado
Posted by jmidthun at June 19, 2006 04:15 PM
