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September 05, 2007
SNOWMASS VILLAGE FASHIONS A FALL FEAST FOR THE SENSES
30 hot air balloons and 80 wineries converge for simultaneous festivals September 14-16
Snowmass Village, Colo. - The weekend of September 14-16 offers a feast for the senses in Snowmass Village when fall enthusiasts can find the perfect combination of colorful fall foliage, hot air balloons, cool jazz tunes, and culinary delights by local chefs and over 80 wineries.
"This is one of my favorite weekends of the year," says Town of Snowmass Marketing Director Susan Hamley. "The hot air balloons are simply majestic against the Elk Mountains as the fall foliage begins to hit its stride. Paired with the Snowmass Wine & Jazz Festival and affordable lodging, it’s simply an unbeatable combination for a weekend getaway."
The 32nd annual Snowmass Balloon Festival is one of the highest hot air balloon festivals in the nation and includes four days of morning competitions from 7-9 a.m. On Thursday, media compete against each other in the Hot Air Media Challenge (Media: to participate, contact aj@snowmasspress.com -space is limited). Friday's Colorado Rat Race spans the Roaring Fork Valley in a timed distance race. Saturday's Dawn Quixote competition sends 30 hot air balloons up in the space of a ballfield to joust with large tethered weather balloons. On Sunday, pilots skim low over reflecting golf course pools to aim tennis balls into large floating tubes.
The brilliantly colorful balloons juxtaposed against the fall colors and morning light make the competitions a photographic must-see, as is the Saturday evening Balloon Glow at 6 p.m., where tethered hot air balloons twinkle like stars in a spectacular nighttime showcase. The Balloon Glow also features a barbecue and free concert by the Spring Creek Bluegrass Band, a popular bluegrass group that took first place at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. A special family fun zone by Related Westpac is open on-site all three days offering street performers, a house of bounce, and more.
All events are free to spectators and launch from the Snowmass softball fields on Brush Creek Road. (Contact: 1-800-SNOWMASS or www.snowmassballoon.com)
The Snowmass Wine & Jazz Festival tickles the taste buds on Friday and Saturday with the ideal gustatory complement to the hot air balloon festival. The event kicks off on Friday evening at The Artisan restaurant with a sell-out four-course winemakers dinner ($125/person) featuring La Spinetta and Banfi Wineries and a special menu by award-winning Executive Chef David VanHolten. On Saturday, the Grand Tasting ($50/person) gives visitors the chance to partake of 80 different wineries and 15 cuisine samplings from local chefs on the Snowmass Mall from 1-5 p.m. The group Starwood kicks out jazz tunes, while a silent auction with over 100 different items ranging from specialty wines to vacations is held as well.
Funds from the festival support the Snowmass Village Rotary's grant program, which makes annual awards to local nonprofits providing youth programming. To date this year the Snowmass Rotary has awarded $19,000 to 10 local non-profits. (Contact: 970.379.6577 or www.snowmassrotary.org. Tickets available at Sundance Liquor, El Jebeverage, The Daly Bottle Shop, The Grog Shop or at the door for the Grand Tasting.)
Posted by Dina at September 5, 2007 10:55 AM
