Over 10,000 shells explode in the sky above Avon during Colorado Rockies largest display that is choreographed to a musical score simulcast on local radio.  But that’s not all.  The concert and children activities begin at 5:00 p.m. and vendors are open selling food and drink.  The grand finale fireworks display kicks off at 9:45 p.m. over Nottingham Lake.

The fireworks display begins at 9:30 p.m.

Dogs, alcohol, grills and personal fireworks are prohibited. For more information, log onto www.avon.org.

The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo is pleased to announce a special performance on Thursday July 2, 2009 by Lynn Payne of the One Arm Bandit & Company.  Lynn Payne will entertain the crowd with his trained horse and give a demonstration of herding techniques with several steers. Take an Oklahoma horseman, and add a herd of buffalo, mustangs or longhorn cattle right off the range. Now round 'em up, and put them ON, that's right, on, not IN, your trailer. Finishing it up, Lynn will ride his horse onto the trailer with the cattle. This act is the only one like it in the world.  It truly is a "must see to believe". "For a small town rodeo, we have been lucky to have the Lynn entertain us for the past three years "says Mike Kennedy, Vice President  of the all volunteer, not-for-profit Carbondale Wild West Rodeo Association. "

Be sure not to miss this amazing act which has been awarded Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Specialty Act of the Year in 1989-90-91-92-93-94-95-96 and 2008 and are one of the most sought after gangs in the rodeo world today. The One Arm Bandit and Company has now taken their legendary act throughout the United States and Canada, appearing at all the top rodeos.  About the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo:  The rodeo series is produced by a not-for-profit, volunteer association committed to keeping the Roaring Fork Valley's western heritage alive by offering a fun family-oriented event for residents and visitors alike.  Gates open at 5:30.  Admission is $8 per person or $25 per carload. A carload is 6 people or less. For each additional person over 6 in a carload, admission is $5 per person.  Children under ten years are free.  

Visit www.carbondalerodeo.com

For one weekend in August, guests can grab a cowboy hat, hiking shoes and waders for one incredible weekend of wine, spirits and activities at the Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival, August 20-22, 2009.  This annual festival features culinary demonstrations, a wine dinner to benefit local charity The Bright Future Foundation and a variety of opportunities to learn, play and sample some of the finer things in life.

New for this year, the Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival wrangles at the rodeo, hosting a barbeque event with renowned chefs Richard Sandoval of Modern Mexican restaurants and Waldy Malouf of Beacon Restaurant in New York City.  Featuring VIP rodeo tickets, fabulous food and winning wines at the Beaver Creek Rodeo on Thursday, August 20, this event is sure to become a yearly staple.

Also returning this year are the popular “Fly Fish/Eat Fish” and “Walk & Wine” excursions.  Guests are able to experience some of the most popular Beaver Creek activities during the morning and then enjoy lunch at Spago at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.  Additionally, several cocktail seminars are planned as well as free Culinary Demonstrations on Friday and Saturday.  The weekend culminates with the “Best Of” walk around tasting on Saturday evening, featuring the wine and spirits winners as well as offerings from all of the renowned chefs.

The Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival features world-famous celebrity chefs from around the country:

Richard Sandoval     Modern Mexican Restaurants
(Pampano, NY; Maya, NY; Zengo, Denver; Tamayo, Denver)
Scott Conant              Scarpetta, New York
Waldy Malouf            Beacon Restaurant, New York
Keegan Gerhard       D Bar Desserts, Denver
Rick Moonen             rm Seafood, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

Schedule of Events

Thursday, August 20
Beaver Creek Rodeo Barbeque, $75
Beaver Creek Rodeo at Traer Creek
5 – 8 pm
Chefs Richard Sandoval and Waldy Malouf host this new event at the Beaver Creek Rodeo.  VIP tickets to the rodeo are included.

Friday, August 21
Fly Fish/Eat Fish, $200
Beaver Creek Fly Fishing Center & Spago at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
8 am-2:30 pm
Fish with the best guides around on the beautiful Eagle River, then indulge in a four-course wine pairing luncheon with Master Sommelier Sean Razee and Chef Mark Ferguson at Spago.

Walk & Wine, $100
Beaver Creek Hiking Center & Spago at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
10 am- 2pm
A guided hike with the experts of the Beaver Creek Hiking Center for all ability levels is followed by a four-course wine pairing luncheon Master Sommelier Sean Razee and Chef Mark Ferguson at Spago.

Culinary Demo Series, Free
Bon Appétit Tent on Plaza, behind Beaver Creek Sports
5 pm
Learn from Beaver Creek Chophouse’s Chef Jay McCarthy, and enjoy wines and spirits in our outdoor state-of-the-art kitchen. Open to the public, but space fills up quickly!

Wine Dinner
Splendido at The Chateau
7-10pm
Enjoy an amazing wine pairing dinner with Guest Chef Scott Conant and Guest Pastry Chef Keegan Gerhard.  Bid on amazing vacation packages benefiting local charity, The Bright Future Foundation.

Saturday, August 9
Deserts and Drinks Class, $100
Rimini
10am-1pm
Create sinful desserts with Guest Chef Keegan Gerhard in this intimate setting.  Sip cocktails and enjoy lunch while tasting your creations.  

“Mix it Up” Cocktail Seminar, $40
Beaver Creek Chophouse
3-4:30 pm
Learn how to mix specialty cocktails (and taste them all) while enjoying paired appetizers from the Beaver Creek Chophouse

Culinary Demo Series, Free
Bon Appétit Tent on Plaza, behind Beaver Creek Sports
5pm

Learn from one of Beaver Creek’s chefs and enjoy wines and spirits in our outdoor state-of-the-art kitchen. Open to the public, but space fills up quickly!

“Best of” Walk-Around Tasting, $50
Vilar Performing Arts Center

7-10pm
The one event not to miss! Taste more than 40 award-winning wines and spirits and dishes from all of the Celebrity Chefs and Beaver Creek favorites.

Tickets will be available on June 15 at the Vilar Center Box Office.  Please call 970.845.TIXS or visit www.vilarcenter.org

Special Ticket Packages
Walk & Wine Package (20% savings)
Includes one ticket to each of the following: Rodeo BBQ, Walk & Wine with lunch at Spago, Wine Dinner at Splendido, Mix it Up, and the "Best of" Walk Around Tasting.  

Fly Fish/Eat Fish Package (20% savings)
Includes one ticket to each of the following: Rodeo BBQ, Fly Fish/Eat Fish with lunch at Spago, Wine Dinner at Splendido, Mix it Up, and the "Best of" Walk Around Tasting.  

All ticket prices include tax and gratuity.

Click here for more information.

The 8th annual Dusty Boot Colorado-Eagle River Ride is just around the corner! Join over 1,000 riders for one of the finest centuries around - all proceeds go to benefit SOS Outreach, a youth development charity.

• Early-bird registration ends FRIDAY, June 26 at Midnight, so sign up before then for just $90.

• After June 26, register online at http://www.vailvelo.com through July 24 for $100.

• Race day registration is $130.

All information and FAQ's are covered on VailVelo.com, but if you'd prefer a little human interaction, contact us at sosride@sosoutreach.org or 970.926.9292.

Vail Velo has a New Home!

Vail Velo has been redesigned as a social network site for everything you need to cycle Eagle County.

More than two-dozen of the most popular trails in Eagle County are catalogued, including elevation profiles, satellite and terrain views of trails, difficulty levels and user ratings.

The maps were developed with the help of Leslie Kehmeier, a GIS consultant who helped create maps for the International Mountain Biking Association. No place on Earth has such a comprehensive online social network of trail information.

• Create your own page.

• Post events.

• Add photos and videos of your favorite rides.

• Talk shop in our blog and discussion forums.

• Join a group or create your own.

• Organize a group ride or trail maintenance day.

So stop by Vail Velo's new home. Together we can build a strong community online, show others the world-class terrain of Eagle County, and have some fun along the way.