Aspen’s annual “toast to winter,” dates to a quiet January in 1951 when locals decided to celebrate Aspen’s unique alpine lifestyle with an eclectic weekend of festivities. The four-day celebration features on-mountain activities, snow sculptures, a torchlight descent down Aspen Mountain, fireworks and more. One could spend the next four days attending events from 8:00 am to 12:00 am, but we would like to highlight a few of our favorites for you!
Apple Strudel Downhill – Highlands – Friday, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
This race, where everybody wins, started in 1988 when Gretl Uhl began making apple strudel at the Merry Go Round Restaurant. It became a fun race held during Winterskol on the Apple Strudel Run at Aspen Highlands. Follow the signs from top of Exhibition Lift, past the Merry Go Round Restaurant to top of Apple Strudel Run to enter race. No pre-registration necessary! Join the race on Friday, January 14th from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, run the course, then join the other racers at the finish line for strudel and hot chocolate.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center Kidsculpt – Aspen – Friday, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Looking to entertain the kids instead? Kidsculpt is a lively snow sculpting competition as part of Wintersköl festival. With a little teamwork and a few good pairs of mittens, kids work together to transform their four square foot snow cubes into freestanding creations. Snow sculptures available for viewing throughout the weekend.
Location: Mill Street Mall adjacent to Wagner Park. In Aspen
Anderson Ranch Arts Center, 970.923.3181 or andersonranch.org
Snowmass Luminescence – Snowmass – Daily After Dusk
When the lifts close at Snowmass, things really light up. Snowmass Luminescence, an interactive art and light display presented by Snowmass Tourism and Aspen Snowmass, immerses guests and community members in a dazzling world of light and art. Skip the Skittles Gondola ride between the Snowmass Mall and Base Village and instead, stroll through The Tunnel, an interactive series of LED illuminated walkways and arches that will ignite the senses.
JAS Café, Diego Figueiredo with special guest Adrian Cunningham – Aspen – Friday/Saturday, 7:00 pm and 9:15 pm
Grammy Nominated Diego Figueiredo (pronounced fig-a-ray-doe) is considered one of the most talented guitar players in the world today. He is the winner of several important competitions including the Montreux Jazz Competition and the VISA Prize. Diego has released over twenty albums to date, three DVD’s, and several instructional books. His music is a fusion between Jazz, Bossa Nova and Classical. Diego’s unique interpretations, along with his phenomenal technique and emotion, has created an explosion of adoring fans and concert goers. Diego has performed in over forty countries around the world.
Tickets: https://www.axs.com/series/13427/jas-cafe-winter-series-tickets?skin=jasaspen
Torchlight Descent & Wintersköl Fireworks – Aspen – Saturday, 8:00 pm
This iconic event is the pièce de résitance of Wintersköl! Seeing a line of torchlight skiers descending the face of Ajax is a magical experience only to be made even more memorable by the fireworks to follow. If there is one event to see this weekend, this is it!
Wintersköl Snow Sculptures – Aspen – All Day, Every Day
Finally, stop by the fountain at the end of Hyman Street Mall all weekend to see incredible, live artwork. The Aspen Chamber Resort Association presents snow sculptures created by local artist Thomas Barlow. Two 8’ x 8’ snow blocks will be carved into works of art beginning on Thursday, January 13th. The 2022 installations are inspired by the “Wintersköl 2022 – Positive Altitude”. We hope you enjoy this historic weekend in Aspen/Snowmass. See you out there!
Happy New Year from Klug Properties in Aspen, Colorado! We hope you had a fantastic holiday and got to enjoy some of the 100 inches of snow we received in December. With that much snowfall, all winter activities are in full-swing. We would like to share some of our favorite ways to experience the world-renowned beauty that is winter in Aspen.
If skiing untouched powder is at the top of your priority list during your time here, then you won’t want to miss out on booking an Aspen Mountain Powder Tour via snowcat. These tours allow pow-seekers to indulge in some of the best stashes in Colorado on the backside of Aspen Mountain as well as a gourmet lunch with breathtaking views. The tours are meant for experienced skiers/riders who are ready to tackle the backcountry, so make sure you and your crew are prepared! Both SkiCo and the Little Nell offer tours starting early in the morning. SkiCo tours fit 10 individuals at a rate of $625/person and Little Nell tours fit 12 individuals at a rate of $750/person. Both options offer group packages for a discounted rate. To book your tour, see contact information and websites below.
SkiCo Tour: PowderTours@aspensnowmass.com or 970.920.0720
https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/winter/aspen-powder-tours
Little Nell Tour: SkiConcierge@thelittlenell.com or 970.920.6315
If you are looking for more of a family-friendly outing that will have all ages entertained for a full day, look no further than the snowmobile tours at T-Lazy 7 Ranch! They do offer a half-day tour, which takes you to a scenic view of the Maroon Bells after winding through mature Aspen groves, but the real magic is in the full-day lunch tours. Choose from exploring either Independence Pass or even more terrain below Maroon Bells on the Klondike Cabin tour with an expert guide who will point out impressive features in the landscape and wildlife romping through the snow. Elk sightings are very common out there! Our favorite part of the excursion has to be enjoying a T-Lazy 7 raised, grass-fed burger in the Klondike Cabin tucked away in the trees with views of 14,000 ft. Pyramid Peak. For more information, see contact information and website below.
https://www.tlazy7.com/snowmobile-tours/
Looking for more of a romantic experience with your significant other? Aspen Carriage and Sleigh can take care of that! You have the option of booking three different types of tours including the Town Tour, West End Tour, or Historic Tour. In each tour, the carriage driver will provide fun and/or historic facts about our beloved mountain town that you won’t be privy to outside of this experience. The tours always start right across the street from the legendary Paradise Bakery, allowing riders to enjoy a warm beverage during the tour. Aspen Carriage and Sleigh can also be booked for private events such as engagements, weddings, birthdays, portrait backdrops, and many more. For more information, see contact info and website below.
970.925.3394
https://www.aspencarriage.com/carriagerides.htm
Finally, if entertaining the kids is of the upmost importance, these two options at Elk Camp on Snowmass Mountain will have them reminiscing for years to come! The “Breathtaker Alpine Coaster” and tubing carved into The Meadows at Elk Camp. On the coaster, riders will wind their way through over a mile of forest on an elevated track at speeds of up to 28mph. Located adjacent to the Elk Camp Restaurant, riders and passengers will be able to experience the thrilling ride during the day and during special “Ullr Nights”. For tubing, the multiple lanes are lift-served and offer endless fun for children, with lighting facilities to illuminate the runs at night during Ullr Nights festivities. For booking information, see contact information and websites below.
Alpine Coaster: 866.857.8769
https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/summer/lost-forest/breathtaker-alpine-coaster/winter
Tubing: 866.857.8769
https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/winter/tubing
Whatever you decide to do with your time in this one-of-a-kind valley, we sincerely hope you have some of the most memorable experiences to look back on for years to come! Please feel free to reach out for more recommendations or if you have any sort of real estate questions, big or small. We would be happy to help! Hope to see you on the slopes.
