2024 Wrapped: The year in photos in the Vail Valley

News | Dec 27, 2024

Chris Dillmann

Chris Dillmann

cdillmann@vaildaily.com

The first canoers of the season paddle around Piney Lake near Vail in June.
Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily

Vail Daily photographer Chris Dillmann snaps thousands of photos each year. Every December, it’s a challenge to whittle down all those images into a concise photo essay that tells the story of a year in Eagle County.

There’s always the news, and there was plenty of it in 2024 as Dillmann captured shots of celebrations, happenings, powder days and visits from the governor. But among these photos, plenty of tiny moments provide a unique glimpse into daily life in this remarkable valley we call home.

We hope you enjoy our 2024 year in photos as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

John Steinbrenner warms up the horses on the sleigh on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott. The day had mixed weather with wind, snow and sun.

First grader Victoria Chairez begins the first day of the school year on Tuesday, Aug. 20, with coloring at Gypsum Elementary School in Gypsum.

Anton Nootenboom, of the Netherlands, who goes by The Barefoot Dutchman, walks along the Gore Creek Trail on Saturday, May 25, near East Vail. Nootenboom was walking across the country to raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health.

Thousands gather for the Avon Salute to the USA event on Wednesday, July 3, in Avon. The annual event features live music, kid activities and fireworks.

Jake Proffit with Alpine Ice works on ice blocks for the Vail Winterfest in January. The sculptures feature around 25,000 pounds of ice. The tallest sculpture will be more than 12 feet tall.

A Christmas tree is dragged to the fire during the annual 12th Night bonfire in January in Eagle. Every year trees are burned as part of the community event.

Taylor Meador gets air in Beaver Creek.

From left, Allan Ingram, of Redstone, skates with his granddaughters Kestley Cotton, 9, Colbie Cotton, 6, and daughter Anna Cotton, of Eagle in Eagle.

Bryan Calcaterra of Avon gets the goods during the opening of Grouse Mountain on Wednesday, Jan. 10, in Beaver Creek.

Fireworks light up the sky during Avon’s winter firework show on Saturday, Jan. 13, in Avon. The annual show features fireworks, the Battle Mountain drum line, free hot chocolate, and a dash of schnapps for those 21 and older.

Fresh snow coats the trees on Sunday, Feb. 4, in Beaver Creek. The resort picked up 15 inches of new snow in 24 hours.

Leah Handelsman and Erika German make a splash as a moose watches in the background (top right corner of photo) during the GoPro Mountain Games Pacifico Gore IV Raft Challenge on Thursday, June 6, in Vail. The raft race featured class four rapids from Vail Village to West Vail.

Ben Zuckerman, Steve Zuckerman’s son, moves the puck down the rink against Vail Ski Patrol during a benefit game between ski patrol and Eagle County first responders on Wednesday, April 17, at Dobson Ice Arena in Vail. The game was played to benefit Zuckerman who passed away this winter responding to a backcountry avalanche accident.

Portugal the Man performs on Saturday, July 13, at the Gerald Ford Amphitheater in Vail. Tegan and Sara opened up the night of music.

A bear takes a bath in the Eagle River in Avon.

Guests walk around the top of Eagles Nest in Vail after the gondolas opened for the summer season.

Bode Cobb, of Eagle, practices surfing the wave at the Eagle River Park in Eagle in June.

Benjamin Pere, 1, of Gypsum, checks out the UH-72 Lakota helicopter with the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (HAATS) his mom, Brenda, during the National Night Out event Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Gypsum. The annual event was held in multiple locations around Eagle County.

Dancers from the Colorado Ballet perform “White Swan” during the Vail Dance Festival’s Dancing in the Park in Avon. The annual event brings dancing to Nottingham Park in Avon.

The Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet streaks through the night sky above Castle Peak near Wolcott in October.

A hummingbird eyes up a feeder in Vail. Hummingbirds can dive as fast as 50 mph.

Racers begin the Dunk-N-Dash on Monday, Aug. 12 in Avon. It was the last race of the year.

Gov. Jared Polis is filled in on the details and tours one of the modular homes of the Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley’s Third Street project on Monday, Jan. 29, in Eagle. The project will add 16 homes to the valley for Eagle County School District employees making between 80-100 percent of the Area Median Income.

Taylor Jones with TJ Studios demonstrates her paintings during the Alpine Arts Center Riverwalk Art Battle and Block Party on Friday, Aug. 23, in Edwards. The annual event features live music, drinks and fun.

The crowd is doused with water at the end of the Eagle Flight Days parade on Saturday, June 29, in Eagle. The two-day event has been taking place for 103 years.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado Department of Early Childhood Executive Director Lisa Roy, right, visit with children Wednesday, March 27, at Edwards Early Learning Center in Edwards. Polis and Roy were visiting preschools around the state to see the success of the Colorado Universal Preschool program, which began in fall 2023.

Kids with YouthPower365 help with the appetizers during the Mediterranean Collaboration Dinner with chef Santosh Koradi and guest chef Diane Kochilas during the Beaver Creek Winter Culinary Weekend in January at the Park Hyatt in Beaver Creek. The kids worked alongside the chefs to help with dinner.

The Vail Precision Lawn Chair Demonstration Team performs during the Vail America Days parade Thursday, July 4, in Vail. This year was the group’s 40th year performing for the crowds during the July 4 holiday.

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