Summer is right around the corner! This means there will be events almost every week in Aspen Snowmass ranging from concerts, speakers, races and plenty more. While there won’t be a shortage of things to do, you’ll want to plan ahead for some of the big events that have been staples in our small mountain town for years. If you want to experience an Aspen summer in full form, don’t miss out on the following events.
Aspen Food & Wine Classic – June 17-19 – Tickets Here
The Aspen Food & Wine Classic is the ultimate foodie and oenophile event. For just three days out of the year, the top names in food and beverage gather for this incredible festival. Attendees get to meet celebrity chefs, taste incredible dishes and frequent a mix of more than 80 classes and talks. Currently only wait-list tickets are available, but they typically add more tickets as we get closer to June.
Aspen Ideas Festival – June 25-July 1 – How To Attend
For over 60 years, the Aspen Institute has been the nation's premier gathering place for leaders from around the globe and across many disciplines to engage in deep and inquisitive discussion of the ideas and issues that both shape our lives and challenge our times. With topics ranging from sustainability, health, energy, mindfulness, politics and much more, anyone can find speakers and events that interest them. It’s special that we get such a diverse group of intellectuals in our small mountain town. We are very excited to attend!
Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) – September 2-4 – Tickets Here
If you haven’t heard about JAS and you live in the valley, get your head out of the sand! Every summer this is the biggest music event from Aspen to Rifle. Located in Snowmass, JAS has brought names such as B.B. King, The Black Crowes, Steve Miller Band, Hozier, Mumford & Sons, and many more! This year you can see Stevie Nicks, Chris Stapleton, Leon Bridges, Little Big Town, Zach Bryan and Black Pumas among others. This is a family friendly event with delicious food, drinks merchandise from local vendors.
Aspen Music Festival – June 30-August 23 – Tickets Here
Founded in 1949, the Aspen Music Festival and School is regarded as one of the top classical music festivals in the United States, noted both for its concert programming and its musical training of mostly young-adult music students. The typical eight-week summer season includes more than 400 classical music events—including concerts by five orchestras, solo and chamber music performances, fully staged opera productions, master classes, lectures, and children’s programming—and brings in 100,000 audience members. You’ll also find music students scattered throughout town as they showcase their talent.
Bonus: Free to Attend: Snowmass Concert Series & Aspen’s Saturday Farmers Market
Starting June 16, Snowmass will be kicking off the much-anticipated FREE summer concert series with band Hot Buttered Rum. These free afternoon concerts are beloved by locals and always deliver. Just be sure to bring an umbrella because it almost always drizzles on Thursdays in the summer. Don’t ask us why! Lastly, the Saturday Farmers Market starts on June 11 and features the best in local food, clothing and wares. Start your Saturday off with a hike up Ute or Smuggler then walk into town to enjoy the market. At least that’s how we prefer to do our Saturday mornings! Happy springtime and we hope to see you soon.
Get ready for an epic couple of weeks ahead here in beautiful Aspen! It really feels like springtime today! Tonight, head to the base of Buttermilk for the first ever Après Music Festival! This three-day festival starts with a performance by Umphrey’s McGee tonight, followed by back to back performances by The String Cheese Incident on Saturday and Sunday.The Après Music Festival marks the start of a series of fantastic closing day parties on all four of our local resort mountains. Before the concert on Sunday, participate in Buttermilk’s closing day party, or as locals like to call it, Bacon appreciation day. Starting at 9 am head to Buttermilk for all things bacon, including bacon and waffles from the Cliffhouse Restaurant, bacon doughnuts from ColoraDough, and various bacon samplers scattered around the mountain from 11 am until it’s all gone. From 1 - 5 pm there will be live music, kids games, face painting, and a bacon and beer happy hour at Bumps Restaurant from 2-4!
Personally, my favorite closing day experience is found on Highlands starting on April 14th. I like to start by picking out the most ridiculous costume I can get my hands on. Last year I wore one of those inflatable T-Rex suits, and while dressing up isn’t required, I strongly recommend it. Start your day by hiking the bowl for a free ski patrol BBQ at the top. From there head on down to Cloud Nine for a drink and to watch, or even participate in, a champagne war! Finally, join the rest of the closing day partiers for a beer and a slice of Pizza at the Ale House, the natural conduit for all skiers and borders coming off the mountain. This is great place to mingle with other locals or out of towners to say goodbye until next year.
The next weekend after Highlands Closing Party we also have Snowmass Mountain’s Surf and Snow Beach Party to celebrate the closing of Snowmass Mountain on the 20th, followed by the 80’s Prom Party on Aspen Mountain for their closing on April 21st. What a month to be in Aspen! Happy Friday! Have fun at The Apres at Buttermilk this weekend!
