The Hills Really Are Alive With The Sound Of Music
The snow may be gone from the ski slopes, but summer is still a fun time to be on the mountains.
The cutting edges of your skis may have been music to your ears during the winter, but warm weather brings a new music to the mountain air. Classical, jazz and reggae can be heard under a canopy of blue ski at Northwest ski resorts this summer.
Many resorts offer hiking, biking and nature programs. Some permit their chairlifts to carry mountain bikes to the top for some scenic cycling. In addition to these outdoor recreations, a few resorts have found an appreciative listening audience to a variety of music festivals.
Here’s what’s happening at your favorite ski hill. At press time, final confirmation of some performers and respective ticket prices were not available. Performances are subject to change.
Big Mountain Ski and Summer Resort
Whitefish, Mont.
Huckleberry Days is a Whitefish tradition held the second weekend in August in conjunction with the native berry’s ripening season. Big Mountain’s slopes are covered with them, and hikers and bikers on the mountain’s trails can be seen carrying buckets to gather the berries.
The annual Huckleberry Music Festival will be held at the resort’s village area on August 13. The openair amphitheater offers lawn seating on a slope, so everyone gets a good view of the stage. There are food and beverage booths, volleyball, a playground for children and plenty of room for dancing and playing.
The 5th Annual Microbrewery Festival will be held on August 25 and 26 at the Summit House Restaurant on top of Big Mountain. The evening features a six-course dinner and specialty beer matching; each course is served with a couple of different brews that are paired with the food. Live music, beer critiquing and socializing are all part of the fun. Reservations are limited to 125 people.
The Summertime Blues Festival will be Sept. 3. It is the resort’s way of saying goodbye to summer and getting ready for winter ski operations.
For updated information and tickets: (406) 862-2900.
For on-mountain lodging reservations: (800) 858-4157.
Big Sky Ski and Summer Resort
Big Sky, Mont.
The Big Sky Arts Festival will be held July 22 and 23. The Utah Symphony will be performing at the Meadow Village Pavilion. Admission is $14.
Additional performances are tentatively scheduled during the summer, but performers had not confirmed their dates by press time.
Shakespeare in the Park will perform “All’s Well That Ends Well” on Saturday evening, September 2, at the Meadow Village Pavilion. Admission is free.
For updated information and tickets: (406) 995-2742.
For on-mountain lodging reservations: (800) 548-4486.
Brundage Mountain
McCall, Idaho
Summerfest will be held August 4-6 at the mountain’s open-air amphitheater, in conjunction with the McCall Music Festival. Tickets will be about $10.
For updated information, tickets and on-mountain lodging: (800) 888-7544.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort
Sandpoint
Student concerts in jazz and chamber music will be performed July 30 through August 19 at the resort, in conjunction with Sandpoint’s summer music program. Admission is $8 for each concert.
For updated information and tickets: (208) 265-4554.
For on-mountain lodging reservations: (800) 831-8810.
Silver Mountain
Kellogg
Silver Mountain has confirmed several performers throughout the summer. Tickets are available at G & B Select A Seat locations or at Silver Mountain. The resort does not assess a service charge on tickets ordered directly from its administrative office. July 21, Kathy Mattea. Tickets are $22.50 and $27.50.
July 22, Everly Brothers. Tickets are $24.50 and $29.50.
August 11, Diamond Rio. Tickets are $22.50 and $27.50.
August 13, Michelle Wright. Tickets are $22.50 and $27.50.
August 26, Tracy Lawrence. Tickets are $24.50 and $29.50.
August 30, Collin Raye. Tickets are $22.50 and $27.50.
Silver Mountain will host its Micro-Brew Festival on August 5. Entertainment and cost will be available at a later date.
For updated information and tickets: (208) 783-1111.
Sun Valley
Sun Valley, Idaho
The Sun Valley Music Festival offers several classical and jazz music performances in July and August at the Trail Creek Cabin. Admission prices will vary.
For updated information and tickets: (208) 726-9491.
For central reservations: (800) 786-8259.
Whistler Mountain
Whistler, British Columbia
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Mountain Top Concert will be held August 12. The Whistler Village Gondola will carry people up to the natural amphitheater. Advance tickets are about $30 (approximate U.S. dollars).
The Whistler Mountain Alpine Wine Festival will be held September 9 and 10 on top of the mountain. Ticket price has not been determined yet.
For other summer events in Whistler Village area: (604) 932-3928.
For tickets: Vancouver Ticketmaster, (604) 280-4444.
For tickets and on-mountain lodging reservations: (604) 932-3434.
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: JUST FOR KIDS A children’s concert performed by Chip Jasmine will be held at City Beach on Whitefish Lake, Mont., on Saturday, August 12, as part of Whitefish’s Huckleberry Days and Big Mountain’s Huckleberry Music Festival. Brundage Mountain, near McCall, Idaho, will host a children’s ballet performance on Saturday afternoon, August 5. Admission is free.