That's a wrap on 2016, Aspen! There’s no better place on earth to ring in the New Year and we've rounded up our top seven picks to celebrate the passage of time with gusto (also listed below). The annual 12 Days of Aspen is still in full swing with daily happenings from free ice skating and bonfires to carriage rides and concerts. Cheers to a fun and safe weekend and a happy and healthy year ahead!  

Friday, December 30

Audi Ajax Cup
9 a.m.–3 p.m., Aspen Mountain
Fundraising for the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club is action packed during these annual head-to-head slalom races on Aspen Mountain’s Little Nell run; each team includes a former pro skier. This year’s pros include: Daron Rahlves, AJ Kitt, Thomas Vonn, Erik Schlopy, Marco Sullivan, Alice McKennis and Kyle Rassmussen. It’s easy to cheer on the racers from the gondola base. 
Free, teamavsc.org

25th Aspen Film Academy Screenings
3, 5:30 & 8:15 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
Catch up before awards season at this film series (select dates through January 1), which highlights 20 acclaimed films actively campaigning for Academy Award consideration. Free to voting members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, British Film and Television Arts, and associated guilds, this annual tradition on Aspen’s holiday calendar is also open to the general public.
$20 (general admission), $15 (members), aspenfilm.org

Ullr Nights
5 p.m., Snowmass Mountain
Bundle up and ride the Snowmass gondola to some family-friendly snow play, including lift-served tubing ($34 per hour; reserve in advance), free ice skating, free snowshoe tours, snowbiking ($69 guided rides for ages 12 and up, free minibikes for younger kids), and climbing on a massive snow sculpture. Elk Camp restaurant serves dinner with live music, followed by s’mores and hot cocoa by the bonfire.
$10 (gondola ride), gosnowmass.com

JAS Café
7 & 9:15 p.m., Cooking School of Aspen
Jazz Aspen Snowmass presents this winter-long series of intimate shows by leading musicians and vocalists, with tonight’s performance from Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton.
$40, jazzaspensnowmass.org

Library Cinema
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
The Wheeler Film Society’s Jon Busch has resurrected his avant-garde film series in partnership with the Pitkin County Library and this holiday weekend’s pick is Sun Valley Serenade—the 1941 ski town cult classic.
$8 (available at the door or at The Wheeler Opera House box office), pitcolib.org

Chromeo
10 p.m. Belly Up Aspen
Has a New Year’s Eve tradition started at the Belly Up? The Canadian electro-funk duo returns for the second year in a row to usher revelers into the new year with fist-pumping good cheer.
From $85, bellyupaspen.com

Saturday, December 31

New Year's Eve at Shadow Mountain Lounge
5 p.m., The St. Regis Aspen
For a no-commitment plan, head to this  no-cover party in its lobby lounge, with a DJ and complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Get a primo view of the fireworks over Aspen Mountain through the bar’s floor-to-ceiling windows, or from the hotel’s central courtyard just outside, then settle in by the two-sided fireplace to give a warm welcome to the new year.
No cover, stregisaspen.com

Fireworks
5:45 p.m., Snowmass & 8 p.m. & 12 a.m., Aspen Mountain 
Welcome 2017 with a blast. Festivities at Snowmass Village start off with a torchlight parade (anyone 8 years and up is welcome to participate), then culminate with fireworks over the ski area at 10 p.m. Aspen sets off two rounds of fireworks over Aspen Mountain, one for the early birds (8 p.m.) with the second at midnight. A DJ and bonfire in Wagner Park provide a spot to meet up and warm up in between. So, yes, it’s possible to catch three fireworks shows in one night (our advice: take the bus between towns). 
Free, aspenchamber.org & gosnowmass.com 

Library Cinema
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
The Wheeler Film Society’s Jon Busch has resurrected his avant-garde film series in partnership with the Pitkin County Library and this holiday weekend’s pick is Sun Valley Serenade—the 1941 ski town cult classic starring Milton Berle. 
$8 (available at the door or at The Wheeler Opera House box office), pitcolib.org

The Doo Wop Project
8 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
Celebrate the coming of the new year with a look back, as this quintet takes you on a musical journey from the beginnings of Doo Wop to today’s hits. The show includes complimentary beer and wine, appetizers, and a midnight Champagne toast.
$125, aspenshowtix.com

Fernet About 2016
9 p.m., Hooch
This cozy subterranean lounge below the popular Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop (and under the same ownership) offers a low-key spot to sip and socialize, accessed with a blessedly reasonable cover charge. In addition to a DJ spinning tunes and drink specials, the party includes a midnight glass of Champagne or shot of Fernet with which to welcome the blank slate of a new year.
$40, hoochaspen.com

Chromeo
10 p.m. Belly Up Aspen
Has a New Year’s Eve tradition started at the Belly Up? The Canadian electro-funk duo returns for the second year in a row to usher revelers into the new year with fist-pumping good cheer.
From $85, bellyupaspen.com

Champagne Dreams
8 p.m., Limelight Hotel
One of Aspen’s favorite aprés-ski spots—the expansive lobby bar and restaurant at the Limelight Hotel—goes late night for New Year’s Eve with two DJs, an open bar from 9:30 p.m–1:30 a.m., passed hors d’oeuvres, party favors, and a midnight Champagne toast courtesy of Moet and Chandon.
$209, $3,000 VIP table for up to six, limelighthotel.com

Enchantment Under the Sea
10 p.m., Grey Lady Aspen
Count down more than just the remaining hours of 2016 with music from different decades every hour (we bet you’ll hear some David Bowie, Prince, and George Michael tunes as part of the mix). There’s also an open bar from 11 p.m.–1 a.m. and a Champagne toast at midnight.
$150, $175 VIP includes hors d’oeuvres, $5,000 VIP includes table service for up to eight, greyladyaspen.com

The Dom Perignon Party
10 p.m., The Little Nell
Aspen’s It party of the holiday season takes over Chair 9, the living room, element 47’s bar and outdoor lounge, and Grand Salon at the infamous resort with bottomless Dom Perignon, Belvedere cocktails and an open bar, and food stations. Electric Violinist Kat V, DJ Lexey, DJ Cyn, and the Josefina Mendez Jazz Trio will perform throughout the night. 
$495, thelittlenell.com

Sunday, January 1

25th Aspen Film Academy Screenings
5:30 & 8:15 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
Catch up before awards season at this film series (select dates through January 1), which highlights 20 acclaimed films actively campaigning for Academy Award consideration. Free to voting members of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, British Film and Television Arts, and associated guilds, this annual tradition on Aspen’s holiday calendar is also open to the general public.
$20 (general admission), $15 (members), aspenfilm.org