Kentucky Derby parties, highway cleanup, spring parties on the slopes and more in and around the Vail Valley this weekend

Kentucky Derby Parties

The 151st Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday at 4:57 p.m. and here are a few places you can go for watch parties:

Lookout Bar at Westin Riverfront in Avon

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby on Saturday with the Lookout Bar’s second annual Derby Party. Before or after you watch the fastest two minutes in sports, come for some bites and the Kentucky Derby inspired cocktails, including:

• The Lookout Mint Julep – Bourbon, mint, simple syrup and crushed ice 
• Run for the Roses – Cucumber and mint-infused vodka, Chareau cucumber liqueur, blackberry and lemon juice
• Off to the Races – Bourbon, grapefruit, Velvet Falernum liqueur and allspice 
• Home Straight – Rye, Amaro and Chartreuse

Guests are encouraged to dress in their most dapper Kentucky Derby outfits and hats in order to win great prizes, including Lookout Bar gift certificates. The Lookout Bar Derby Party is free and open to those 21 years old and older, but reservations are required, to go LookoutBarAvon.com/Happenings.

 The Gambit at Sebastian Vail

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The Gambit, located in the lobby of the Sebastian Vail, is hosting a Kentucky Derby watch party, inviting you to come in and drink some Maker’s Mark, wear your best derby hat, seersucker suit or party dress and cheer on your favorite horse. For more information, go to TheSebastianVail.com/Events/Derby-Party.

10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits Company

10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits Company is hosting Kentucky Derby parties once again and welcomes everyone to join them before, during and after the race. There will be prizes for best hat and best dressed and mint juleps will be served by the whiskey experts. These watch parties will be held at the tasting room in Vail Village and at the distillery in Gypsum. For more information, visit 10thWhiskey.com.

Community Pride Highway Cleanup

For 25 years, residents and friends of Eagle County have done their part to help keep the county looking good along the major roadways that run throughout the area. The 25th Annual Community Pride Highway Cleanup is put on by the Eagle River Coalition and this event is being held this Saturday and hundreds of volunteers are expected to come out for a short time – from 9 a.m. to noon – to pick up the trash that’s been uncovered now that the snow has melted.

The Community Pride Highway Cleanup covers several miles along Interstate 70 and crews also clean up areas along U.S. Highways 6, 24 and 131. Many communities host their own town cleanups around this time, too, so if you can’t volunteer on Saturday, there may be other opportunities to give back in the coming weeks. To learn more, go to EagleRiverCo.org.

First Fridays in Minturn

Head out to Minturn this Friday as the town and greater community comes together to share drinks, food and fun for First Fridays. The Minturn Makers Space, located at the Battle Mountain Business Center, will host the gathering. The Minturn Makers Space features several different art mediums, including glass blowing, ceramics, photography and more. There will be some live glass blowing and pottery demonstrations. Minturn’s Wild Mountain Cellars will be on hand pouring wines, and beer will also be available from Vail Brewing Company. The Chi-Shack will serve up Chicago-Style hots dogs and sausages. Stick around and listen to Scotty Kabel play live music during the event, which takes place from 5-7 p.m. For more information, go to Minturn.org.

Books in Bloom

The Eagle Valley Library District is once again offering Books in Bloom and will host three award-winning authors at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards this Saturday. Kevin Fedarko, Melissa Payne and Bethany Turner will share with the audience inspirations and insights into their experiences as writers.

Fedarko is a seasoned author and journalist renowned for his exploration of the American Southwest and his fervent advocacy for environmental conservation. Payne’s stories feature small mountain towns with characters searching for redemption, love and second chances. Turner adds a bit of humor to her romantic comedies while still tackling the sticky issues of life. Their stories should make for a fun event for you and fellow book lovers.

This year, the event will be held in the morning with a brunch kicking things off at 10 a.m. followed by the presentations, a meet-and-greet and book signings with the authors. Books will be for sale as well, so you can add these to your summer reading list. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at EVLD.org/Events/Books-Bloom-2025. You’ll also get to see the new Library Bookmobile which will be parked outside of Colorado Mountain College.

Skiing, riding and spring parties in Summit County

The Slush Rush and live music at Copper Mountain

The Slush Rush will challenge teams of three skiers, snowboarders, snowbladers or a combination of gear to different feats like the Subaru Superpipe Slalom, where the first competitor will navigate around gates set in the resort’s 22′ Superpipe walls. The second team member is tasked with going around banked turns while holding a full mug of Gatorade in the Nokian Tyres Cross Course, the last leg is the YETI Rails & Pond Skim, where the final competitor will ride a rail slide, do a trick on a medium size jump and finish the course across an ice-cold pond skim. There will be several prizes given out for the top teams and it will be a fun spectator sport.

There will also be live music with El Paso Lasso playing for free from 3-5 p.m. at Eagle’s Landing at the base area as part of the Copper Live music series. For more information, go to CopperColorado.com.

Shakin’ at the Basin concert series

Check out Shakin’ at the Basin, a popular concert series you can enjoy whether you are hitting the spring snow, hosting a barbecue at The Beach or just want to hear some live music in a beautiful setting. The tunes go from 12:30-4 p.m. at Mountain Goat Plaza. Here’s a list of performers:

• May 3 – The Violet Pines
• May 10 – Boogie Machine
• May 17 – Princess and the Evolution
• May 24 – Schaffer Brothers Band
• May 25 – Ronnie Raygun
• May 31 – Devon Worley Band

Go to ArapahoeBasin.com for more details.