Moe’s Original BBQ Hosts 'The Lift Off' to Kick Off Eagle River Jamboree

Have you ever stood in the parking lot of Moe’s Original BBQ in Eagle, watching the steam rise from your brisket plate, and wondered if the town’s soul is still beating beneath the quiet of late spring? That is the question hanging in the air this Friday as the community prepares for "The Lift Off," a kickoff party that promises to prove the Eagle River Jamboree isn’t just another calendar event, but a necessary pulse for a valley waiting for summer.

The weather has cooled, the skiers have largely packed their gear, and the mountain towns are settling into that peculiar, breathless lull between the ski season’s end and the summer’s roar. But on Friday, the air at Moe’s will smell of hickory smoke and bass guitar. The event kicks off the new Eagle River Jamboree, taking place August 8-9 at the Eagle County Fairgrounds, and organizers are betting that locals are hungry for a large-scale music event that actually showcases their own town’s culture. It’s not just about the music; it’s about the economic heartbeat. Zach Gilliam, the event’s organizer, notes that the response has been overwhelmingly positive, driven by a shared understanding that this gathering has the potential to create meaningful economic and cultural impact for the town.

You can feel that intent in the details. Moe’s isn’t just serving ribs; they are donating a portion of all food and drink sales to the Colorado Music Foundation, an organization dedicated to expanding access to music education and performance opportunities across Eagle County. Emily Brudwick, a manager at Moe’s Original BBQ, says music and community have always been central to their culture, making this feel like the perfect way to support a great cause. Doors open at 5 p.m., the music starts at 7 p.m., and entry is free. If you’re a local, you can take advantage of 10% off tickets to the main Jamboree event, a small discount that signals this celebration is truly about the locals, not just the tourists.

While the music heats up in Eagle, the snow is holding on tight in the high country, offering a different kind of weekend rhythm for those willing to drive east. With Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek Resort already closed for the season, the slopes of Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Loveland, and Arapahoe Basin remain open, and the air there is thin and crisp. At Arapahoe Basin, which boasts the longest ski and ride season in Colorado, the weekend is packed with events that blend sport with sustainability.

Telefest happens Friday and Saturday, inviting you to free the heel with discounted lift tickets, demos, and clinics, followed by a social event after the lifts close. Then there’s the Save Our Snow Sustainability Party on Saturday, where the Mountain Goat Plaza transforms into a village. You can win prizes for trivia or grab extra treats if you carpool with four or more people, a small incentive that underscores the community’s focus on shared resources. It’s a stark contrast to the BBQ joint’s warmth, yet both events speak to the same desire: connection.

There’s a texture to these weekends that wire services often miss. It’s the sound of a band tuning up in a crowded restaurant, the smell of wet snow on a high-altitude pass, the weight of a brisket plate in your hands. It’s the realization that even in the off-season, the valley is alive, vibrating with the promise of what’s to come. As you drive back down from the high country or walk out of Moe’s into the cooling evening air, you carry that energy with you — a reminder that the community is still here, still gathering, still making noise.