Aspen Weekend Agenda: August 19-21, 2016
Go under the big top to a one-ring circus that honors the Old-World Italian tradition—canine capers included.
While it’s back-to-school for a lot of our summer visitors, we’re still going strong with the family-friendly Zoppé Italian Circus and chalk art competition in Snowmass. Back in Aspen, there's music all over town as the JAS Café and Aspen Music Festival & School seasons wind down, along with nightly shows at the Belly Up too. Here, we arm you with an agenda to help you navigate the sea of arts and activity schedules—unparalleled among any other mountain town.
Friday, August 19
Zoppé Italian Family Circus
Times vary through Sunday, Snowmass Base Village
Drawing on age-old circus traditions, this family-centered troupe puts on a highly entertaining show filled with daredevil acts, capering canines, and, of course, the classic clown.
From $20
gosnowmass.com
Shakespeare in the Park
5:30 p.m., Galena Plaza
The Hudson Reed Ensemble, which attracts a talented group of local actors, stages the classic gender-bender As You Like It in an outdoor setting beginning this weekend and running on Saturdays and Sundays through September 4.
Free
hudsonreedensemble.org
JAS Cafè: Maraca & His Latin Jazz Allstars
7 p.m. & 9:15 p.m., Aspen Art Museum
One of the most popular names in Latin and Afro-Cuban music directs his 12-member group, Orlando Valle Maraca.
$25 (standing room only)
jazzaspensnowmass.org
An Evening With Drive-By Truckers
9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
The Southern rock band kicks off its national tour with a special show celebrating both the group's 20th anniversary and the new album American Band, due out September 30 from ATO Records.
$48
bellyupaspen.com
A young chalk artist gets creative in Snowmass Village.
Image: Courtesy Snowmass Tourism
Saturday, August 20
Chalk It Up!
8:30 a.m.—2 p.m., Snowmass Base Village & Snowmass Mall
Channel your inner artist and dust off your hands for this sidewalk chalk art competition for both kids and adults. Chalk is provided, and more than $1,000 in prizes will be awarded.
Free
gosnowmass.com
Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict
7 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
The Aspen Opera Center stages this adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, part of the mini-theme of Shakespeare in Music of this year’s Aspen Music Festival.
$50
aspenmusicfestival.com
Andrew Bird With Darlingside
8 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Don't miss this tour stop for the indie folk rocker's latest album, Are You Serious. Bird also happens to be a classically trained violinist and whistling aficionado who says, “I never walk onstage knowing what I’m doing.” Expect a whimsical show.
$61
bellyupaspen.com
Sunday, August 21
Aspen Festival Orchestra: Carl Orff's Carmina Burana
4 p.m., Benedict Music Tent
Pack up your last music lawn picnic of the summer for the culmination of the Aspen Music Festival & School's season. Led by AMFS music director Robert Spano, this rousing collection of 13th-century songs will be performed by singers Amanda Woodsbury, Matthew Plenk, and Noel Bouley, along with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony Chorus, and the Colorado Children’s Chorale.
$90 (seated ticket), free (lawn)
aspenmusicfestival.com
Guest Faculty Lecture: Leslie Shows and Brian Shure
7 p.m., Anderson Ranch Arts Center
Spend an evening with two of this summer's guest faculty as they present slides of their work and speak about their inspiration, creative process, and studio practice in painting, drawing, and printmaking.
Free
andersonranch.org
Live music at Justice Snow's
Image: Courtesy: Justice Snow's
Americana Music Series Live with Hot Eagle
9 p.m., Justice Snow's
One-time Aspenite and songwriter Jackson Emmer leads this band of Roaring Fork Valley locals and a rotating roster of touring musicians for what Justice Snow's describes as a "pure barroom romp."
Free
justicesnows.com
