A new publication aims to answer the age-old Summit County question, “What should I do to have fun this week?”

Appropriately named the Explore Summit Weekender, the new weekly informational magazine – a publication of Summit Daily News – made its debut last Friday, and gives both visitors and locals alike an updated way to connect with Summit’s booming events scene.

“This product’s all about having fun in Summit County,” said publisher Matt Sandberg. “It basically provides a snapshot of the week and what’s going on.”

The magazine zeros in on a few key categories: dining, shopping, history, pampering, and of course, playing in Summit County. The first edition, on display through Thursday, features articles and information about the Frisco BBQ Challenge, Keystone Bike Park, Breckenridge Fun Park and Kingdom Days, fishing and rafting locally and the National Repertory Orchestra. For those looking for the inside scoop on mountain living, there’s a feature on skin care for the high-altitude gal, staying healthy at altitude, and of course, the best mountain gear.

But it’s not just the articles that are meant to educate visitors and locals, according to Sandberg. Everything, even the advertisements, provide information about what’s going on in Summit County.

“Really, the entire product we look at as content,” Sandberg said. “This product allows (advertisers) to tailor their message and generate the result they’re seeking that week.”

The Weekender will print 36 times annualy during peak winter and summer periods, but not during off-seasons. It is available in about 100 locations, including 35 bright-green boxes placed in high-traffic locations around the county like hotels, lodges, main streets and visitor information centers.

The publication fills a void, Sandberg said – while the Summit Daily publishes seasonal magazines focused on what-to-do, it’s hard to fit three or four months of content into one publication. On the flip side, if a reader misses the Daily’s Friday Summit Scene section – which highlights weekly events – they might not know what’s going on.

“It’s really taking the great content we have in our Friday Summit Scene section, and expanding that,” Sandberg said. “This product has a weekly shelf life to ensure that folks have the opportunity to pick it up and see what’s going on.”

In keeping with the publication’s fun theme, the magazine made its debut Friday at the Frisco BBQ Challenge, where it co-sponsored the Summit High School football team’s booster club’s fundraising station. The children’s bouncy houses and other games raised a much-needed $7,000 for equipment, according to booster club head Debbie Nelson, and a great time was had by both football players and parents.

Weekender employees were also set-up at their own station at the challenge, where they sought to bring awareness to the new publication, and give away a $2,000 camping package provided by Wilderness Sports.

Sandberg said he talked to a lot of locals, who all had positive reactions to the magazine’s intent, mission and packaging.

“Everyone acknowledged that it is filling a void,” he said.

Check out the new publication at http://www.exploresummit.com

For more information, contact the Summit Daily News at (970) 668-3998.