Free Hot Summer Nights concert doubles as celebration for Vail landing 2015 ski championships

While there are still approximately 1,662 days until the Opening Ceremonies of the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships, it's not too early to get the party started.

And organizers will do just that this coming Tuesday evening, July 20, as the 2015 World Championships Community Celebration will be hosted in conjunction with the weekly Bud Light Hot Summer Nights free concert at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.

“Due to the timing of the vote (June 3) and how busy everyone has been so far this summer,” explained Harry Frampton, Chairman of the Vail Valley Foundation board of directors, “we have not had the chance to bring the community together to celebrate the fact that we will soon begin preparations to host the world once again. We invite everyone who would like to toast to our success to come to the Ford Amphitheater on Tuesday to officially take the first step on the road to 2015.”

In addition to the free concert, featuring the funk, progressive R&B and pure soul of the Laura Reed Trio, the evening will also include free 2015 bumper stickers, 2015 food and beverage specials, face painting and tattoos for the kids and a chance to win a brand new pair of Atomic skis.

Vail/Beaver Creek won the right to host the 2015 World Championships on the first ballot at the FIS Congress in Antalya, Turkey, defeating Cortina, Italy and St. Moritz, Switzerland in the process.

“It was a long and arduous road,” concluded Frampton, “but to hear (FIS President) Gian-Franco Kasper say the words ‘Vail/Beaver Creek' made it all worth it. We waged the campaign for everyone in our community and now, it's time to celebrate with those same people.”

The gates of the Ford Amphitheater will open at 5:30 p.m. in anticipation of the free concert, which is scheduled to get underway at 6:30 p.m.

The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater and Bud Light Hot Summer Nights free concert series are projects of the Vail Valley Foundation. For more information, check out www.vvf.org.