Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Men's Vows to host the first of its kind – a summer mountain festival for the LGBTQ community – Aspen Summer Holiday™. The four-day event will take place in Aspen, Colorado from 24 – 27 August 2017.

For those who think of Aspen as just a ski & winter destination, summer in Aspen is also magical. Aspen Summer Holiday™ will take place with the backdrop of the glorious Rocky Mountains and in this charming mountain town filled with elegant hotels and lodges, boutiques, stunning galleries, and exciting restaurants, speakeasies, and music venues.

The inaugural Aspen Summer Holiday™ parlays the success of Aspen's annual Gay Ski Week, which recently celebrated its 40th year, attracts over 4,000 attendees, and has a significant economic contribution to the City of Aspen.

Aspen Summer Holiday™ is a fundraiser for the National LGBTQ Task Force.  The Task Force was formed in 1973 and continues to make great strides in advancing full freedom, justice and equality for all LGBTQ people.  The Task Force currently hosts the Winter Party Festival in Miami Beach with more than 13,000 attendees. 

The grand opening event will also benefit One Colorado, dedicated to advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families. A couples mixer and singles speed-dating event will benefit The Generations Project, which fosters relatable intergenerational storytelling to bring life to the history of the LGBTQ community.

Aspen Summer Holiday™ is proud to have the support of HBO, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and Room & Board and has sponsorship opportunities still available.

Daytime Activities

The four-day Aspen Summer Holiday™ will provide attendees with a fun-filled authentic Rocky Mountain experience. Daytime activities include the following activities taking place in the mountains and rivers surrounding Aspen: guided hikes, mountain biking, cycling, river rafting, horseback riding, and more.

Evening Events

Evening events include the following: themed sponsored parties and fundraisers, gallery walks to Aspen's more than 30 galleries; dine-arounds in some of Aspen's celebrated restaurants, daily afternoon poolside tea dances, and more.

Friday Night Fashion Show

In addition to the opening and closing parties, the signature event for Aspen Summer Holiday™ will be the Friday night fashion show featuring internationally recognized designers and global haute couture brands.  This premier event will accommodate 350 attendees and begin with a sponsored cocktail party, prior to the runway show.  Following the runway show, the event will transition into a high-energy dance party. 

Accommodation for Aspen Summer Holiday™

Rooms have been reserved with special rates for Aspen Summer Holiday™ attendees at The St. Regis Resort Aspen, The Limelight Hotel Aspen, and Hotel Aspen/Molly Gibson Lodge. For further information or reservation, please visit http://www.aspensummerholiday.com or contact the hotels with reference to #AspenSummerHoliday in order to receive the special rate.

Tickets for Aspen Summer Holiday Events

All evening events and parties will be individually ticketed, with advance tickets available online at www.aspensummerholiday.com. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards fundraising for the National LGBTQ Task Force, which has a broad base of support and reach throughout the community, and is directly partnering on marketing Aspen Summer Holiday. 

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ABOUT MEN'S VOWS

Men's Vows is the digital channel dedicated to providing gay men advice for every stage of the wedding process including engagement, wedding planning, registry and honeymoon. The site's content is developed from a male perspective, following a carefully articulated aesthetic and includes expertise from recently married couples and wedding industry leaders. Recognizing that men have a differentlevel of experience, interest in and approach to planning a wedding, Men's Vows has developed its content for the gay men's market. Men's Vows is based in Denver, CO and Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT ASPEN  

Aspen, Colorado is a world-class destination with outdoor adventures from skiing to biking, with a flair for arts and culture, all year round. Aspen truly is a unique diamond nestled in the rough of the Rocky Mountains that has a knack for bringing big city features to international guests in a way that defies ordinary. The town has embodied Mind, Body and Spirit, which together is called today "The Aspen Idea". This idea drives the internal energy of Aspen. Enjoy a day on the ski mountains in the winter or a bike ride along the Rio Grande Trail in the summer, fantastic food, incredible environment, but most of all great people. 

GETTING TO ASPEN  

Getting to Aspen & Snowmass has never been easier. There are one-stop connections between London Heathrow and Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) on both American and United Airlines through hubs including Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago-O'Hare, Los Angles International, Houston, and San Francisco International.  During the summer months, American Airlines offers nonstop flights from Manchester to Chicago, while United Airlines offers nonstop flights from Edinburgh to Chicago, both of which easily connect to or from ASE. Aspen is located 3 miles and Snowmass is located 6.5 miles from Aspen-Pitkin County Airport; most hotels offer complimentary airport.