5 Things to Do in Avon this Summer

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April 27, 2021

Avon is a spectacular summer destination with plenty of activities for everyone! Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, you’ll find just what you need from a vacation in Avon.

1. Take a Beach Day

It’s easy to sunbathe in Colorado, but true beach days can be few and far between in the Centennial State. When you’re eager to put some sand between your toes, Harry A. Nottingham Park offers a beautiful high-alpine beach on the north shore of Nottingham Lake. With stunning views of Beaver Creek, guests can enjoy all the amenities of Nottingham Park including barbecue grills, picnic shelters and the four-acre lake. Nottingham Lake has one of the most vibrant recreational lake scenes in Colorado and paddling this little lake may be one of the most fun things you do all summer! Stand Up Paddle Colorado offers a variety of rentals, from sleek and fast, to big and stable enough for a whole family. Each rental includes a complimentary paddle talk and required PFDs. Bring your own lake and beach toys or just set up a beach chair or hammock and bring a good book to bask in the sunshine.

Whether you’re an experienced angler, a novice fisherman, or looking for a family friendly fishing experience, Nottingham Lake is the perfect spot to cast a line. With iconic surrounding views of Beaver Creek Mountain, Nottingham Lake is stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout several times a year and offers excellent family-friendly fishing. Try fishing from the wooden fishing pier located on the north shore or fish from the rocks or banks of this 15-acre lake. Don’t be surprised if you pull up something other than trout–rumor has it there are some pretty big crayfish in there! Using a paddleboard or small boat cal provide a different angle on the fishing, and being out in the middle allows you to cast 360 degrees. Remember: a Colorado fishing license is required to fish anywhere in Avon, and is available for purchase at many retail stores. Please check with the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife regarding more specific regulations related to fishing these bodies of water.

 

2. Enjoy the Eagle River

A tributary of the Colorado River, the Eagle River flows right through Avon, offering an abundance of recreational activities. Whether you’re looking for the adrenaline rush of white-water rafting or more interested in a relaxing float trip, many guide services in Town can help direct you to the right sized adventure. White-water rafting and kayaking on the Eagle River in Avon is highly seasonal—with most trips running from mid-May through early July. After the peak runoff, the river gets a little bony for boat floating, but is a perfect destination for fly fishing.

Whether you’re an experienced angler, a novice fisherman, or looking for a family friendly fishing experience, the Eagle River is the perfect spot to cast a line. Well-known for dry fly fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout, the Eagle River begins high above Camp Hale and travels to its confluence with the Colorado River in Dotsero. Best known for the prolific Caddis hatches that come off in the spring and early summer, the Eagle can be fished year-round and offers excellent public access from the Eagle Valley Trail in Avon. Fly fishing guide services throughout Eagle County offer full-day or half-day family-friendly trips, providing an excellent way to see Avon and the Vail Valley from the river. These trips are educational and a great way for anglers of all levels to refine their skills and increase their fishing knowledge.

A Colorado fishing license is required to fish anywhere in Avon and is available for purchase at many retail stores.

3. See a Concert

Avon is home to so many free summer events, they hardly fit on a calendar.

The Avon Performance Pavilion, located in Nottingham Park, is the center of concert activity in Avon throughout the summer and offers a blend of free and ticketed events. Beginning mid-June, Avon kicks off the AvonLIVE! free summer concert series in the park every Wednesday through August. A community tradition, AvonLIVE! concerts showcase award winning national and regional talent in a relaxed, family-friendly environment that includes a free kids zone

Weekends in Avon wrap up with SunsetLIVE! concerts on the Terrace overlooking Nottingham Lake. These casual performances by local Eagle County musicians can be enjoyed from the south lawn of the pavilion, while lounging on your SUP board or pedal boat, or from the beach on the north shore. SunsetLIVE! is uniquely Avon and the perfect venue to wind down your weekend.

You may be surprised and delighted to find yourself at a concert you didn’t plan to attend—one of Avon’s Saturday Pop-Up Music concerts. Enjoy the relaxing sounds of local musicians as you stroll the Main Street Mall enjoying the exquisite bronze statue collection and other temporary art installations. Each Saturday, featured acoustic musicians will perform for a 90-minute period somewhere in Town between noon and 5:00 p.m.

Special Edition AvonLIVE! concerts on Saturday evenings will be peppered throughout the summer, so keep an eye on the event calendar. Concerts in Avon are not to be missed! Grab your friends and family, pack a picnic, bring some lawn chairs, and enjoy a golden opportunity to get your groove on and experience live music on a gorgeous summer evening.

4. Take a Hike

Despite being surrounded by mountains on four sides, the center of Avon is relatively flat with lots of connected paved paths. To the north of town, Avon has excellent hiking at the West Avon Preserve, which offers trails of all levels of difficulty from easy to strenuous winding through the mountainside. All trails are dog friendly, so bring your four-legged friends along! The Beaver Creek Point trailhead is a great option for family hikes and “Our Backyard” is a one-mile loop perfect for sunset with fabulous views from Vail to Edwards and beyond. Please be advised that seasonal trail closures are in effect in the West Avon Preserve from December to mid-April.
On the south side of Avon, Beaver Creek Mountain has fantastic hiking accessible by foot, chairlift or gondola. Several trails are accessible from Beaver Creek village, so grab a summer trail map. Elevation got you feeling your lungs? Enjoy a relaxing, scenic ride up the Centennial Express lift to mid-mountain, where hikers can explore aspen glades and wildflower fields on trails of all ability levels. So slap on the sunscreen, pack up your water and snacks, and take a hike!

 

5. Art Around Avon

As you walk around Avon, you will notice many beautiful bronze sculptures on display. Avon is proud of its rich heritage and places a high value on public art. In addition to the 29 bronze statues around Town, Avon also launched the Art Around Avon program in 2021, which includes temporary art installations rotated in locations throughout Town. The annual selections are presented through the community through the Art Around Avon event (June 11th) and walking map (link).

On Wednesday afternoons and evenings throughout the summer, Avon boasts Possibilities in Avon: Weekly Art Expo. This weekly art expo will provide a consistent art showcase for the community and visitors to happily discover great artists with amazing works.

In addition to the weekly art expo, Avon hosts several art-related events during the summer including the first annual Avon Festival of the Arts (formerly located in Beaver Creek) on August 7-8. The Avon Art Celebration (July 23-25) returns for a second year in Avon, featuring juried works in several mediums including printmaking, ceramics, mixed media, jewelry, wood, fiber and photography. The Avon Arts Festival celebrates fine visual artists and handcrafted goods by featuring the works of more than 80 juried artists from across the nation. A great way to enjoy Labor Day Weekend in Nottingham Park, the Avon Art Festival runs from September 4-6.

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