A Month by Month Guide to Breckenridge Events

May 1, 2024/in Breckenridge Events/by Cody Mendoza

Off-season? What off-season! No matter what time you visit, the town of Breckenridge will be bustling with energy and events! From daunting athletic endurance events to delicious culinary feasts and everything in between, Breckenridge has a wide variety of events that cater to all different sorts of visitors & locals. Start planning your trip and use this guide to figure out which events you want to attend.

Snow Sculpture Competition

January Events in Breckenridge

1/3/24—1/5/24: Big Beers Festival
1/22/24: Five Peaks Music Festival
1/22/24—1/26/24: International Snow Sculpture Carving Competition

Cheers to the New Year! Kick off 2024 with tunes on the snow at the first installment of the Five Peak Music Series, at the Base of Peak 8 hosted by Breckenridge Ski Resort on January 22. If you’ve ever built a snowman, watch what the pros can do at the International Snow Sculpture Carving Competition! Professional sculptors from different countries form teams and descend upon Breckenridge to turn 5-ton blocks of snow into intricate works of frozen art. The sculpting can be viewed from January 22 to 26, and the viewing period is from January 26 to 31 at the Tiger Dredge Parking Lot.

Nordic Center

February Events in Breckenridge

2/23/24—2/25/24: Breckenbeiner at Gold Run Nordic Center

This first-time event is calling to all endurance athletes! A new winter triathlon is coming to Breckenridge hosted by the same crew who put on the Breck Epic (more about that event below)!

Big Mountain Competition

March Events in Breckenridge

3/3/24: Five Peaks Music Festival
3/23/24: Five Peaks Music Festival
TBD: Breckenridge Ski Resort IFSA Qualifier, Big Mountain Competition

During March, you can soak up the sun and groove to the sounds of Spring at two more installments of the Five Peaks Music Festival.

Pond Skim Imperial Challenge

April Events in Breckenridge

4/1/24—4/7/24: Breckenridge Helly Hansen Spring Fever
4/6/24 (Weather dependent): Helly Hansen Big Mountain Challenge, IFSA Qualifier
4/6/24: Imperial Challenge
4/27/24: Peak 8 Pond Skim

Spring rolls on this month, and Breckenridge Ski Resort’s high elevation keeps the snow great late into the season. If you’re ready to watch some of Breck’s top skiers and snowboarders go big on some big mountain terrain, check out the Big Mountain competition hosted by Breckenridge Ski Resort. The Big Mountain Comp brings the vibes for viewers with a great viewing coral at the bottom of Breck’s famed “Six Senses” terrain and with tunes blasting to get the audience and competitors pumped up. Looking for a challenge yourself? You can join in on the Imperial Challenge, which starts in town by bike; competitors pedal to the base of the mountain, skin all the way up to 12,996ft (the top of Imperial Chair), and then ski or ride down! It is a brutal endurance event, but the fun costumes and energy of the competitors make it a light-hearted affair. If a suffer-fest up the mountain isn’t your thing, how about making a splash? To celebrate Peak 8 closing for the season, Breckenridge Ski Resort hosts a pond skim under the Colorado Superchair. Skiers and boarders go from snow to air to water in an attempt to make it out dry, all to the cheers of hundreds of spring break revelers.

Closing Day

May Events in Breckenridge

TBD: Breckenridge Ski Resort Closing Day

The long ski season winds down and finally comes to a close. This event is TBD depending on weather and snow conditions, but whatever the date, you will find die-hard skiers getting their last turns and celebrating the season past.

Summit Foundation Golf Tournament

June Events in Breckenridge

6/9/24: Breck Sunday Market
6/9/24: Summit Foundation 36^th Annual Golf Tournament
6/20/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
6/27/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
6/28/24—6/30/24: Breckenridge Agave Fest

Summer’s arrival brings a lively atmosphere to town with the Breck Sunday Market every week from June 9 to September 8 at Main Street Station. You can shop local crafts or fresh produce while strolling near the Maggie Pond. Music will set the mood for summer sunsets when the BreckCreate (our local arts district) Airstage opens its door. The classic tow behind chrome trailer has been retrofitted with a stage that can be parked nearly anywhere in town to supply a vibe. And if tequila and mezcal are more your flavor, a new festival is coming to town, the Breckenridge Agave Fest!

Independence Day

July Events in Breckenridge

7/4/24: Independence Day Celebration
7/4/24: Firecracker 50
7/11/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
7/13/24: Summer Beer Fest
7/18/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
7/25/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
7/26/24—7/28/24: Breckenridge Food & Wine Festival

Celebrate Independence Day with a parade, the Firecracker 50, a 5K Trail Race, and BreckCreate’s activation in the Arts District. The Firecracker 50 isn’t just any old bike race; this is a 50-mile-long endurance Mountain Bike event where locals and visitors alike can earn their stripes and become stars. Breckenridge has abstained from fireworks shows for the past couple of years with respect to our environment and fire prevention purposes. July continues with the AirStage Après on Thursday nights, the Breckenridge Food & Wine Festival, and a tentative Summer Beer Fest at Beaver Run.

Wine Classic

August Events in Breckenridge

8/1/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
8/8/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
8/11/24—8/16/24: The Breck Epic
8/15/24: AirStage Après Thursday Nights
8/23/24—8/28/24: Breck Bike Week
8/16/24—8/25/24: Breck International Festival of the Arts
8/23/24: Wine Classic
8/30/24: Breckenridge Hogfest Bacon & Bourbon
8/31/24: Annual Rubber Duck Race

August brings two-wheeled adventures with the Breck Epic road bike race and Breck Bike Week, and culinary delights at the Breckenridge Food & Wine Festival. Don’t miss the Breckenridge Hog Fest – Bacon & Bourbon at Main Street Station and the 24th Summit Foundation Annual Rubber Duck Race. If you haven’t seen thousands of ducks floating down a river for a good cause, make sure to bookmark the rubber duck race. Rumor has it the world’s largest Rubber Duck will be in attendance.

Oktoberfest

September Events in Breckenridge

9/13/24—9/15/24: Oktoberfest
9/19/24—9/22/24: Breck Film Fest
9/27/24—9/29/24: Breckenridge Strings, Beers, & Ciders

Prost! In September, the leaves will be changing and the beer will be flowing at Breckenridge’s Oktoberfest. Main Street transforms into a walkable Bavarian festival complete with polka music, a stein hoisting competition, strudels and schnitzels, and of course, beer! If German beer isn’t your thing, check out the Strings, Beers, and Ciders event for live music and a variety of beverages to try. Lastly, the Breckenridge Film Festival brings renowned filmmakers up to 9600’ to showcase short films that will get your heart pumping or tug at its strings.

Día de Muertos

October Events in Breckenridge

10/11/24—10/12/24: Día de Muertos
10/31/24: Breck-o-ween
TBD: Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival

Celebrate with spirits in more than one way during this month. Breck Create hosts a traditional Día de Muertos celebration every year with dancing, art, and other cultural aspects of this Day of the Dead. Breck-o-ween is an event hosted by Après Ski that partners with local bars and businesses to get spooky on Halloween night. Traditionally they have had costume contests, a “Mummy Walk” bar crawl, and more. If that is too ghoulish, kick back and sip a cocktail at the Breckenridge Spirits Festival, which showcases some amazing libations from near and far.

Opening Day

November Events in Breckenridge

TBD: Wake Up Breck
TBD: Underground Snowboards Local’s Day
TBD: Breckenridge Opening Day

It’s time to get back on snow! Breckenridge Ski Resort hosts Wake Up Breck the day before the mountain opens and partners with local coffee houses all through town to give out free mugs and coffee – you better be at a coffee spot before 7:30 am if you want a mug! The following day is the true kickoff to winter in Breck: Opening Day! Depending on snow, there might only be one or a few trails, but the vibes are through the roof with people reuniting with the mountain and friends.

December Events in Breckenridge

12/7/24: Lighting of Breckenridge, Running of the Santas and the Bernese Mountain Dog Parade
12/12/24—12/14/24: Ullr Fest

In the final month of the year, it’s time to get festive! The Running of the Santas and Lighting of Breck christen the holiday season as thousands gather to take in the spectacle happening on Main Street. Ullr Fest is our local gathering to revel and call upon the Norse God of snow for a good winter. Complete with a parade, bonfire, and plenty of Ullr chants, this event is truly Breckenridge’s own and has been going on since the 1960s! Just be prepared, both of these events in December happen outside and can be downright frigid if the weather is right (so make sure to bundle up and sip on a hot chocolate).

As you can see, there is no lack of events happening in Breckenridge no matter what month you decide to visit. If you are looking for a place to stay while taking in one of these events check out these great deals at the Grand Colorado on Peak 8!

Breckenridge Fly Fishing

April 22, 2024/in Breckenridge Summer Activities/by Bec Metras

Breckenridge, Colorado is a world-class destination for fly fishing enthusiasts. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the area boasts pristine rivers, streams, high alpine lakes, and an abundance of trout species. Whether you are a seasoned angler or a beginner, fly fishing in Breckenridge is an experience that should not be missed.

Electric Biking in Breckenridge

April 22, 2024/in Breckenridge Summer Activities/by Laurel Coffman

If you’d like to get around Breckenridge and Summit County on two wheels but need a little assistance, give electric biking a try. This mode of transportation has quickly gained popularity and is an eco-friendly way to sightsee in the high country. Come take a ride with us and see what it’s all about!

What is an Electric Bike?

An electric bicycle, commonly known as an e-bike, is a bike that is equipped with an electric motor that gives you a boost while you’re pedaling. You still have traditional bike gears, but you can opt to add a little juice whenever you need some assistance. While climbing hills at 9,600’ we can tell you we appreciated the extra help!

How Does it Work?

Before you get going, you’ll turn on a power switch and a display panel. The display panel is conveniently located on the handlebars and shows you your speed, charge level and pedal assist level. On the left handlebar you can control your pedal assist level, while on the right handlebar you have your traditional gears.

The pedal assist levels of zero to five correlate with how much power you are relying on from the motor compared to your pedaling. At zero, you receive no power; while at level five you receive maximum power and need to do little to no pedaling. The higher level of power you use, the more of the battery charge you will use.

Fun fact: With pedal assist, bikes can go up to 20 miles per hour and a charged bike can last up to 45 miles per trip on average!

Where We Rented From

We rented our e-bike cruisers from Craniologie right on Main Street in Breckenridge. Craniologie rents Class 1 e-bikes with pedal assist, which are the only type of e-bike permitted on the Rec Path. We opted for a half-day rental so we would have just enough time for leisurely riding and stopping for lunch at Lake Dillon. The rental included bike locks and helmets and the staff were helpful with explaining features and safety before we were on our way.

Rental Options & Pricing

Bix Sol Eclipse: Classic Cruiser Style

Half Day: $59
Full Day: $79
24 Hours: $99

Blix Packa Genie: Cargo Bike with Bike Rack

Half Day: $69
Full Day: $89
24 Hours: $109

Optional Child Trailer Add-On: $30

Tips Before You Go

E-Bike Etiquette

The most popular option for e-biking around Breckenridge is taking the Blue River Recreation Path, better known as the Rec Path. This paved path can take you from Breckenridge to Frisco, Dillon, Copper and Keystone!

The Rec Path is a popular place for walkers, joggers and bikers alike, which means you’ll be passing a lot of people along the way. Always let people know when you are approaching or passing with something as simple as, “On your left,” and make sure to slow it down. If you are e-biking with a group, be sure to ride single file when passing others and be aware of your surroundings so you do not take up too much space.

What to Bring

Our e-bike rentals only had a small pouch on the front, so bringing a small backpack was the best option to hold our belongings. In your bag, don’t forget to pack water and sunscreen. The sun is strong in Summit County and even if you aren’t pedaling as hard, you’ll still need to hydrate!

Our Half-Day Itinerary

11 a.m.: First, we picked up our rentals at Craniologie and hopped onto the Rec Path, conveniently located right behind the shop. We took our time getting used to the bikes and taking in the mountain views while enjoying our ride along the Blue River. Once we passed Summit High School, we stayed to the right and took the underpass so we could enjoy scenic views of Lake Dillon (highly recommended!). From there, it was only a short jaunt to the Frisco Bay Marina.

12 p.m.: Since we had an hour of hard work (only kidding), we decided to stop for lunch and beverages at Island Grill at Frisco Bay Marina. It was a perfect sunny day and our combination of grilled fish tacos and frozen cocktails really made us feel like we were on island time.

1:15 p.m.: After our pit stop, we reapplied sunscreen, powered up our bikes and hopped back on the path to Breckenridge. Since we were familiarized with the bikes, we sped up our pedal assist to level five and cruised. The way back to Breckenridge is slightly uphill the whole way so it was a treat to have the help pedaling!

2 p.m.: As we approached the town limits of Breckenridge, we still had an hour of rental time left so we decided to make a pit stop at Broken Compass Brewing on Airport Road. Broken Compass is a local staple, with a welcoming tap room and a wide selection of beers. We enjoyed our brews outside under sun shade sails before hopping back on the bikes.

3 p.m.: It was only a 10-minute pedal from Broken Compass back to Craniologie were we returned our bikes and headed on our merry way.

In total, the ride was about 20 miles (10 miles each way), and we had a great time! Admittedly, it’s been hard going back to regular old biking, and we think we’ll be adding e-bikes to our wish lists.

Spring Activities

March 5, 2024/in Breckenridge Activities/by Lauren Parker

Temperatures are getting warmer, days are getting longer, and the snow is still here! Click here to read more about what you can enjoy in Breckenridge during this season.