Organizers encourage biking to Buttermilk summer concert festival

Belly Up organizers are seeking to minimize the impact an upcoming summer concert series at Buttermilk Mountain has on Colorado Highway 82. The solution? Bikes.

Belly Up co-owner David Goldberg during a Tuesday Pitkin County Commission work session laid out transportation logistics progress for the “Up in the Sky Festival.” The event, slated for Aug. 8 through Aug. 9 and expected to draw as many as 16,000 visitors, will be headlined by Kasey Musgraves, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and Glass Animals.

By encouraging more folks to bike to the live performances, organizers hope to decrease car traffic, potential for drunk drivers, and danger to motorists.

In the meeting, tentative plans were outlined for bike parking and registration meaning that event organizers would have a rough idea of how many attendees will bike to the event, enabling them to create storage solutions that can allow keeping bikes overnight. 

“I think, in one way or another, people are going to bike,” Goldberg said of the event. “So, for us, rather than just knowing that it’s going to happen and not being prepared for it, it felt like an easy decision for us to promote it as a feature.”

Bikers originating from Aspen can take the Rio Grande Trail 3.5 miles down to Buttermilk. Bikers from further downvalley can also take the Rio Grande Trail but will be faced with additional elevation and increased mileage on their bike ride. People coming from west of the Brush Creek Park and Ride are encouraged to drive or take a Roaring Fork Valley Transit Authority bus. 

Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione later on Tuesday offered advice to potential event riders to maximize their own safety while biking to and from the event. The sheriff’s office is working in close collaboration with Belly Up for the festival. 

“Bike single file, have something that makes a sound whether it’s a bell, horn, or your mouth,” Buglione said. “Make sure your bike is in good condition … and don’t bike intoxicated.”

Two-day general admission tickets for the event start at $359, while one-day tickets start at $259. Discounted tickets for Roaring Fork Valley locals have sold out.

Visit https://www.upintheskyfestival.com/tickets for ticket options.