Vail Mountain will open for winter operations on Friday, November 18, 2016, and Vail Snow Daze will once again kick off the 2016-2017 winter season for the Town of Vail and for the resort. Taking place Dec. 9-10, Vail Snow Daze is the first of multiple events Vail will host during the early season this year.
The Michael Franti Trio and Lettuce will headline Vail Snow Daze, Vail Mountain’s signature early-season celebration, with two nights of free concerts. Bud Light presents The Michael Franti Trio on Friday, December 9, 2016, and Lettuce, on Saturday, December 10, 2016.
Photo by Stuart Sevastos - Michael Franti and Spearhead @ Fremantle Park (17/4/2011), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23471711
Michael Franti is a musician, filmmaker and humanitarian who is recognized as a pioneering force in the music industry. Long known for his globally conscious lyrics, powerful performances, and dynamic live shows, Franti has continually been at the forefront of lyrical activism, using his music as a positive force for change. Franti’s brand new single, “Once A Day,” from his upcoming debut album on Fantasy Records, was inspired by his son's diagnosis with a rare kidney disease in the hopes that this song would be inspirational and uplifting to anyone who is going through challenging times. This new song has the same feel-good, inspiring vibe as "Say Hey (I Love You)," his two-time platinum hit single.
For more than two decades, Lettuce has brought a new vitality to classic funk, matching their smooth and soulful grooves with a hip-hop-inspired urgency and mastery of beat. On their latest album Crush, drummer Adam Deitch, guitarists Adam Smirnoff and Eric Krasno, bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes, keyboardist Neal Evans, keyboardist and vocalist Nigel Hall, saxophonist Ryan Zoidis, and trumpet player Eric Bloom channel the sonic freedom and infectious energy of their incendiary live show. In recent years, Lettuce have sold out multiple shows across the US and watched their fanbase expand as they’ve hit bigger and bigger stages
and earned their name as a can’t-miss live act.
All Vail Snow Daze concerts are free of charge and will be held at Solaris in Vail Village. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and shows start at 6:00 p.m. The schedule of activities for Vail Snow Daze 2016 will also include the return of the sponsor expo village and gear demos at the base of Gondola One, as well as après and after-dark parties in the Town of Vail.
Also upcoming in Vail is Skadi Vail, a women’s-only ski fest December 14-16, and Vail Holidaze, a family holiday celebration, December 16-18.
Inspired by the Norse goddess of winter, the second annual Skadi Fest will treat female skiers to customized on-mountain guided experiences with female instructors, evening VIP events, and female-specific ski equipment demos.
Holidaze is designed to bring th holiday season to life in December with lights, sounds, events and cheer. Events include the annual tree lighting ceremony and lantern walk.
