They range from humble to haute and include shopping, drinking, sunning, and playing at various treasured spots and shops.

This week we're looking forward to...

**********

EXPERIENCE

1) Say "Guten Tag!" to the fall and come check out the OktoberFest in Beaver Creek this Wednesday, September 5 through Thursday, September 6.  You know the drill: drink a beer, eat a brat, and a hang with everyone's favorite local accordian player, Helmut Fricker.  If you're like us and can't get enough of Helmut, check out the videos below:

- Meet Helmut Fricker (Watch Video)

- Helmut Fricker Reviews Mirabelle (Watch Video)

2) The Vail Jazz Festival gets into full swing with their annual Labor Day Weekend party, from Thursday September 3 through Monday, September 7.  This internationally-acclaimed event features five days and nights of truly incredible jazz musicians, including the Clayton Brothers Quintet, Antonio Hart, and the Jeff Hamilton Trio.

- Vail Jazz Workshop Hits High Note (Watch Video)

- Tony Guliza Honored at Jazz Fest (Watch Video)

**********

PLAY

3) We are very excited about the potential cuteness of this one...come out for the annual Rotary Duck Race in Vail Village, on Sunday, September 6 at 2 p.m.  You can sponsor one of the little guys for $5 for a chance to win $5,000.  Or, just for fun, come and watch the spectacle of 13,000(!) ducks floating down Gore Creek...just the thought quacks us up!

- Quack Heads (Watch Video)

4) Head over to Nottingham Park and support the participants of IronKids, on Sunday, September 6.  Kids ages 6-15 will compete over the weekend in a variety of categories, like swimming, biking, and running.  For more information, visit the website.

**********

SEE

5) Bring out your inner cinephile and see some more film at the Beaver Creek Film Festival.  On Wednesday, September 2 at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, see a special showing of Pather Panchali, a classic piece of Indian cinema. Discover more film in the Valley:

- Stars of the 2008 Vail Film Festival (Watch Video)

- Vail Film Festival: Ari Gold (Watch Video)

- Vail Film Festival: Christine Evangelista (Watch Video)

- Vail Film Festival: Amy Redford (Watch Video)

**********

If you attend any of these things, please report back to us with your thoughts on our suggestions and photos of your adventures! We want the good & the bad!

**********

Ideas for next week? e-mail Mike @ editors@plumtv.com