No matter the season, Vail offers a rich assortment of culinary events that are big on flavor, from food festivals, craft-beer celebrations and wine tasting to a farmers market and farm-to-table dinners that highlight Colorado-sourced ingredients. Whether you’re planning an epicurean getaway or just looking for delicious things to do in Vail for food lovers, you’ll find unforgettable dishes and libations.
Annual Culinary Events in Vail
Many of the most popular Vail, Colorado, food events take place during the summer and early fall when outdoor dining and mountain views create the perfect setting.
The Vail calendar of events includes these highlights:
- Taste of Vail – April
- Vail Craft Beer Classic – June
- Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show – Sundays, June–mid-October
- Vail Farmers’ Market Farm-to-Table Dinner Series – July–August
- Vail Wine Classic – August
- Vail Oktoberfest – September
Taste of Vail: Get to Know the Vail Restaurant Scene & Chefs
April
Held each spring, the Taste of Vail is one of the premier food and wine festivals in the Rocky Mountains. This four-day culinary celebration typically takes place the first week of April and brings together acclaimed chefs, winemakers and culinary experts from near and far. Guests can sample wines from more than 40 wineries and taste dishes prepared by dozens of top chefs from the Vail Valley and across the country. Throughout the weekend, the festival offers wine seminars, a Grand Gala Tasting, chef competitions and even mountaintop wine tasting.
Vail Craft Beer Classic: A Beer-Tasting Event in Vail Village
June
Find a variety of Colorado brewers — like Wibby Brewing, New Terrain Brewing Co. and more — at the annual Vail Craft Beer Classic. This Vail beer festival sets the tone for summer events with an all-inclusive tasting of artisanal brews, seltzers and spirits, which culminates in voting for the “Best Beer of Summer.” Live music, tasty food-truck eats, keg bowling and a high-end marketplace are all part of the beer-centric weekend.
Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show: Stroll & Swoon
Sundays, June–mid-October
Looking for things to do in Vail on Sundays? You’re in luck when the Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show is in season, with East Meadow Drive transforming into a lively marketplace featuring Colorado farmers, food vendors, artists and artisans. Between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., put on your comfortable shoes, stylish hat and bring your largest bag as you stroll around, listen to live music and discover all the wonders and tasty treats, from fresh produce and baked goods to gourmet snacks and handmade products.
Vail Farm-to-Table Events: Fresh From the Market
Select dates, July & August
A highlight of summer Vail culinary events is the Vail Farmers’ Market Farm-to-Table Dinner Series, which takes place on select dates in July and August. These chef-crafted meals are sourced from the fields of Colorado farmers, featuring seasonal and local ingredients that you’d find at the farmers’ market. Guests come together for an intimate, multi-course dining experience complete with carefully selected wines and beverages and the beautiful backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.
Vail Wine Classic: The Ultimate Wine Tasting in Vail
August
Wine enthusiasts won’t want to miss the annual Vail Wine Classic, celebrating wines from around the world while featuring gourmet bites from some of the best restaurants in Vail. Over the course of this fabulous Vail wine festival weekend, guests can enjoy paired wine lunches and dinners, scenic wine hikes, live music, interactive wine tasting and more.
Vail Oktoberfest: Say ‘Prost!’
September
Grab your lederhosen and dirndls — Vail Oktoberfest’s two lively weekends in September serve up German flavors at one of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in Colorado. Time-honored traditions like keg bowling, bratwurst-eating competitions and stein-lifting competitions are all part of the fun. Both weekends feature Bavarian music, dance, endless beer, salty pretzels, all sorts of brats and, of course, strudel.