VAIL SNOW DAZE 2009 IS HERE: DEC. 7-13, 2009

VAIL, Colo., -Dec. 5, 2009- Vail Snow Daze, the country’s largest early-season mountain bash, is scheduled for Dec. 7-13, 2009. Now in its fourth year, the week-long festival celebrates the start to the winter ski and snowboard season in Vail and offers a super-charged mix of contests, parties, giveaways, on-mountain events and four free concerts. This year’s renowned performing musical groups include Barenaked Ladies, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Yukon Kornelius and Eve 6.

“Vail Snow Daze is a jam-packed week of on-mountain and in-town events,” said Adam Sutner, director of marketing for Vail Mountain. “>From on-mountain activities like Dummy Demolition Derby to in-town events such as the Snuggie Pub Crawl to the free Bud Light concert line-up, Snow Daze is the biggest mountain kick-off festival in the U.S.”

Free concerts for Vail Snow Daze is new for the 2009 festival and marks a changing event philosophy for Vail Mountain as part of the resort’s efforts to provide free, first-rate entertainment for all guests. The Barenaked Ladies concert will serve as a benefit for environmental non-profit Reverb and the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group; a $10 donation upon entry is encouraged. The Yukon Kornelius concert, though free, is a ticketed show with tickets being distributed through various music fan clubs, Bud Light and Vail Resorts’ media outlets. Tickets will not be available for sale.

Monday through Saturday, an online camera phone contest will be held on www.vailsnowdaze.com, as competitors can enter their favorite festival photos of the day for chances to win a variety of prizes. On Wednesday night, the streets of Vail and Lionshead Village will be packed with people wearing Snuggies for the Bud Light presented Snuggie Pub Crawl.

The legendary Dummy Demolition Derby will take place on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 5-7 p.m. and held “under the lights.” The competition will offer a full sensory experience for spectators including fireworks, giveaways and live DJs. All guests and spectators are invited to enjoy a bowl of chili at the Chili Chowdown from 5-6 p.m., compliments of Vail Mountain, while supplies last. Following the on-mountain event, rock band Eve 6 will perform an in-town concert at 7 p.m. at Checkpoint Charlie concert venue as part of the free Bud Light Concert Series.

Friday through Sunday, an Epic Lounge will be located at Lionshead’s ski yard with giveaways including food and beverages. Saturday and Sunday, the Reverb Expo Village, a green product expo, and Demo Daze will be located at Eagle’s Nest yard with free samples from a variety of brands including Stonyfield Farms, Bear Naked, Clif Bar, Honest Tea, Muscle Milk, Nordica, Burton and more. Also on Saturday, Roxy will host its second annual Gifts that Give Back holiday event at their Vail store from 1-5 p.m. The event will highlight vendors that give a portion of their proceeds to various charities.

The free Bud Light Concert Series will continue on Friday with star-studded band Yukon Kornelius. Anchored by Stefan Lessard, bass guitarist from Dave Matthews Band, and joined by Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, Adam Gardner of Guster and Eric Fawcett from N*E*R*D, Yukon Kornelius will take center stage at 7 p.m. at Vail’s Dobson Ice Arena with opening act Pete Kilpatrick Band. On Saturday, Barenaked Ladies will perform a free concert Vail’s Ford Park from 5-9 p.m. with opening act Pete Kilpatrick Band; gates will open at 4 p.m. And, Robert Randolph & the Family Band will close out the week’s events with an après concert on Sunday from 3-6 p.m. at Checkpoint Charlie in Vail Village.

''Vail Snow Daze’s musical line-up is fantastic,” said James Deighan of Highline Sports. “These bands are going to absolutely kill-it here in Vail. We’re thrilled to host them.”

A detailed schedule of events can be found on the Vail Snow Daze website at www.vailsnowdaze.com. Lodging packages start at $129 per night and include 2 tickets to the Yukon Kornelius concert (limited availability, first come, first served).

Vail Snow Daze 2009 is presented by Vail Mountain, Bud Light, Town of Vail, SoBe Lifewater, Zacapa and Skiing and brought to you in part by Neve Designs, Smith Optics, Liberty Skis, Reverb, US Army, Redfeather Snowshoes, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Vail Dentistry, Vail Daily and KZYR The Zephyr. The Reverb Eco Village is brought to you by IZSTYLE, Reverb, Stonyfield Farms, Bear Naked, Clif Bar, Honest Tea, Nordica and Burton.

Media Contacts:
Natalie Fandrey, Highline Sports & Entertainment, (970) 476-6797 x108, natalie@gohighline.com
Liz Biebl, Vail Mountain, (970) 754-3001, ebiebl@vailresorts.com