Aspen Weekend Agenda: April 7–9, 2017
The 26th annual Aspen Shortsfest kicked off Tuesday, April 4, and runs through Sunday.
Image: James Dimagiba
Friday, April 7
Aspen Shortsfest
All day, locations vary
One of North America’s premier short film festivals and now in its 26th year, Shortsfest screens some 80 animation, documentary, and live-action films in its Oscar-qualifying international competition, followed by filmmaker Q&As after each program and other filmmaker-focused events. $20, aspenfilm.org
Freestyle Friday
12–2 p.m., Aspen Highlands
Rescheduled after last week's lightning storm, it’s flashback Friday at this all-out, throwback on-mountain party with vintage skiwear, double denim, and neon attire highly encouraged. Register from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Merry-Go-Round for the old-school bumps challenge and receive a complimentary JammyPack to rock for the rest of the season. Free to spectate, $25 entry fee to participate, aspensnowmass.com
Colorado Mountain College 50th Anniversary
3–6 p.m., CMC Aspen
Come together at the Aspen campus and reminisce at this reception and survey of artwork by CMC Western Region's faculty and staff, past and present. Free, cmcbecauseofyou.com
High 5 RFV Launch Party
5–8 p.m., The Launchpad, Carbondale
Welcome CORE's worthy new energy-saving initiative with images of Sonja Hinrichsen’s snow artwork, an “Energy Confessional” art installation, electric vehicle rally, refreshments, and door prizes. Free, high5rfv.com
Ullr Nights
5 p.m., Snowmass Mountain
For the final time this season, 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
Phutureprimitive
9:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
The moniker of Bay Area producer and songwriter Rain, Phutureprimitive's downtempo ambient psytrance dub beats bring the dance party to town. $15, bellyupaspen.com
For the first time in Aspen, the Aspen Skiing Company, in partnership with the City of Aspen, is opening up Buttermilk Ski Area after the lifts have closed for the season to uphill travelers only.
Image: Courtesy: Aspen Snowmass
Saturday, April 8
Aspen Ascent Weekend
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Buttermilk Mountain
The City of Aspen and Aspen Skiing Company are teaming up to extend the season for a full weekend of free uphill access at Buttermilk, including a Festival Village with rental options, demo booths, and clinics. Although the lifts will not be running, crews will have groomed 70 percent of the terrain to all three portals: Tiehack, Main, and West for all-mountain access. Free, aspensnowmass.com
Family Workshop
10 a.m., Aspen Art Museum
This month’s artist and theme for the drop-in workshop is Haris Epaminonda and mix and match. The session begins in the Education Workshop, giving families choices for self-guided or educator-led activities and art-making stations. Free, aspenartmuseum.com
Aspen Shortsfest
All day, locations vary
One of North America’s premier short film festivals and now in its 26th year, Shortsfest screens some 80 animation, documentary, and live-action films in its Oscar-qualifying international competition, followed by filmmaker Q&As after each program and other filmmaker-focused events. $20, aspenfilm.org
Bud Light Hi Fi Concert Series
The Main Squeeze
3 p.m., Snowmass Base Village
For the final series concert of the season, L.A.–based The Main Squeeze, which has played at Red Rocks and Bonnaroo, takes the stage to perform a blend of soul, hip-hop, rock, and funk. You'll be grooving in your ski boots before you know it.
Shakedown Street
9:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Aspen heads alert: One of the longest-running Grateful Dead tribute bands is back in town for a jam sesh of greatest hits. No cover until 10 p.m., $10 after, bellyupaspen.com
Two words: Highlands Closing.
Image: Courtesy: Aspen Snowmass
Sunday, April 9
Aspen Ascent Weekend
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Buttermilk Mountain
The City of Aspen and Aspen Skiing Company are teaming up to extend the season for a full weekend of free uphill access at Buttermilk, including a Festival Village with rental options, demo booths, and clinics. Although the lifts will not be running, crews will have groomed 70 percent of the terrain to all three portals: Tiehack, Main, and West for all-mountain access. Free, aspensnowmass.com
Aspen Shortsfest
All day, locations vary
One of North America’s premier short film festivals and now in its 26th year, Shortsfest screens some 80 animation, documentary, and live-action films in its Oscar-qualifying international competition, followed by filmmaker Q&As after each program and other filmmaker-focused events. $20, aspenfilm.org
9th Annual Schneetag and Aspen Highlands Closing
12 p.m., Merry-Go-Round & Base of Aspen Highlands
Pronounced "sch-knee tog," it's the German word for "snow day" and invites teams of four to perform a skit, then pilot a self-created craft down a slope and across a 20-by-40-foot pond. The party, which is pretty much pure debauchery, then moves to the patios at Highlands Ale House and Willow Creek Bistro at the Ritz-Carlton, where costume-clad co-eds close out the season. Free, aspensnowmass.com
The Blockbusters
9:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Keep the Highlands Closing Day festivities going at the after-after party with this ’90s cover band, which plays all the hits from Nirvana to TLC. $15, bellyupaspen.com
