Aspen Weekend Agenda: September 8-10, 2017
This year, the beloved Balloon Glow on Saturday night is throwback themed featuring 90s cover band Nevermind The 90s.
Image: Paul D deBerjeois
Friday, September 8
Snowmass Balloon Festival
Times vary through Sunday, Snowmass Softball Field & Base Village
Over three days, 30 pilots compete in challenges such as a distance race that covers the whole Roaring Fork Valley. One of the highest-altitude balloon events in the country, the celebration continues after sunset Saturday with an “Evening Glow” on Fanny Hill with bright balloons lighting up the sky and live music. Free, gosnowmass.com
Opening Reception: "Pattern Recognition" & "Homecoming"
6–8 p.m., The Launchpad, Carbondale
Carbondale Arts presents “Homecoming: A site-specific installation by Lara Whitley” and “Pattern Recognition: Observations and Explorations by Lindsay Jones”, both opening in the R2 Gallery. Whitley built her installation using glass she foraged from abandoned town dumps in the valley and the resurrected miner’s shack she created digs into both the history of our community and the zeitgeist of our time: throwaway culture. Abstracting images from architecture and landscape, Lindsay Jones creates drawings, small sculptures, and installations out of materials such as paper, collage, and balsa wood. Free, carbondalearts.com
Drink-up, Dig-in and Doughnate
6–9 p.m., Marble Distilling Co., Carbondale
Spearheaded by local Brad Stevenson, this documentary film crowdfunding party will help get an award-winning film crew on an expedition through remote Nepal to finish their project, Perseverance. The sweet details include fried chicken from Open Fire Catering, a doughnut bar by Sweet Coloradough, auction items, Bronco's cheerleaders, drink specials, and an appearance by film producer Dirk Collins. $25, marbledistilling.com
Johnny Lang
9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
The Grammy-winning prodigy plays his signature blues guitar sound, with opener Guthrie Brown. From $55, bellyupaspen.com
On Saturday, the Aspen Recreation Center pool is open for dogs only in support of Lucky Day Animal Rescue.
Image: Ross Daniels
Saturday, September 9
Snowmass Balloon Festival
Times vary through Sunday, Snowmass Softball Field & Base Village
Over three days, 30 pilots compete in challenges such as a distance race that covers the whole Roaring Fork Valley. One of the highest-altitude balloon events in the country, the celebration continues after sunset Saturday with an “Evening Glow” on Fanny Hill with bright balloons lighting up the sky and live music. Free, gosnowmass.com
Aspen Saturday Market
8 a.m.–3 p.m.
The best way to spend a summer Saturday morning in Aspen? At the U-shaped farmer’s market in the heart of town, perusing plenty of locally grown produce, handmade crafts, jewelry, and souvenirs. Free, aspenchamber.org
Lucky Day Animal Rescue Annual Doggie Day & Splash
9 a.m.–1 p.m., Aspen Recreation Center
This pool day for dogs only is the canine social event of the year and includes a boatload of tennis balls to chase, “Ask the Vet” sessions, and a large silent auction—all in support of this foster-based rescue group. $10 (first dog), $5 (each additional dog), luckydayrescue.org
Family Workshop
10 a.m., Aspen Art Museum
This month’s artist and theme for the drop-in workshop is Wade Guyton and "print play." The session begins in the Education Workshop, giving families choices for self-guided or educator-led activities and art-making stations. Free, aspenartmuseum.org
Aspen Youth Center's 1st Annual Aether Games
11 a.m.–4 p.m., Rio Grande Park
Channel your elementary school field day memories for a cause and compete in events such as dizzy bat relays, egg toss, ip cup, obstacle courses, and some new surprises. Up to 20 teams of five adults will go head to head, plus enjoy lunch from Home Team BBQ, brewdoggers from Roaring Fork Beer Company, Aether swag, and an after party at Jimmy's Bodega. $500 per team, aspenyouthcenter.org
Aspen Valley Hospital’s Fresh & Healthy Community Picnic
12–3 p.m., Aspen Valley Hospital
This family-friendly afternoon features a fresh, healthy barbecue with dishes prepared by Aspen Valley Hospital’s award-winning nutritional team, games for the kids, and live entertainment by local bluegrass favorite, Timbermill. Suggested donation $10 (adults), $5 (kids), aspenvalleyhospital.org
7th Annual Mac & Cheese Festival
2:30–5 p.m., E. Hopkins Ave. (between Monarch St. & Mill St.)
Sample everyone's favorite childhood staple in a variety of its grown-up forms, as local restaurants vie to win over judges and the popular vote. B.Y.O.S (bring your own spoon) to help make the event more environmentally friendly. $5, aspenrecreation.com
Septemberfest
4–7 p.m., Snowmass Base Village
This new fall celebration supports Bridging Bionics Foundation and features wine and sake tastings, food tastings from local restaurants, music, kids’ activities, local vendors, artisans, and more. Free with cash donation, gosnowmass.com
Artist Reception: America at Heart | Behind the Shutter
5–7 p.m., Ann Korologos Gallery
This new exhibition celebrates the colors, characters and contours of America’s West captured through photography by Michael Fain, Tom Korologos, Kathryn Rabinow, Gayle Waterman, and emerging artist, Devin Pool. Free, korologosgallery.com
Carbondale Clay Center’s 20th Anniversary Fête
6–9 p.m., Carbondale Clay Center
Local ceramic artists have created dinner plates specifically for this annual fundraiser, each one a work of art with each guest taking home the dish at their seat as a gift. The evening will feature live music by Canary Feathers and Pearl & Wood, farm to table food by renowned chef Mark Hardin of Field2Fork Kitchen with wine pairings by Rhumba Girl Liquors. At the bar, enjoy signature cocktails by Marble Distillery and Suerte Tequila, plus beer on tap from Roaring Fork Beer Co. and Capital Creek Brewery. Bid on items in a silent auction featuring local creative packages and unique works of art. $100, carbondaleclay.org
The Salon 5 Year Anniversary
7:30–9:30 p.m., The Launchpad, Carbondale
The Salon is an award-winning performance series featuring contemporary, classical, jazz, folk, world, spoken word, multimedia and dance forms, founded in Philadelphia by composer Andrea Clearfield in 1986 and in Aspen by Andrea and Michele Kiley. Co-curated and co-hosted by local performance artist Alya Howe with Andrea Clearfield, the Salon features a diverse array of performers and celebrates arts in community. $25, eventbrite.com
South of France
9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
This Denver-based indie-pop band self-describes its sound to “melodic noise pop influenced by everything on planet earth.” No cover, bellyupaspen.com
Chef Chris Lanter's infamous Fried St. Louis Ribs from Home Team BBQ are one of the 11 sizzling dishes planned for Sunday's Aspen BBQ Cook-Off.
Image: Courtesy: Home Team BBQ
Sunday, September 10
Snowmass Balloon Festival
Times vary through Sunday, Snowmass Softball Field & Base Village
Over three days, 30 pilots compete in challenges such as a distance race that covers the whole Roaring Fork Valley as part of one of the highest-altitude balloon events in the country. Free, gosnowmass.com
Basalt Sunday Market
10 a.m.–2 p.m., Downtown Basalt
We love the community and family-friendly vibe at this weekly farmer’s market filled with local produce, unique art, handmade crafts, and freshly prepared foods. Plus, there’s live music. Living or staying up valley? We recommend biking down the Rio Grande Trail in the morning to get there (the bike rack–outfitted RFTA bus can bring you back). Free, basaltsundaymarket.com
City of Aspen Community Picnic
11 a.m.–2 p.m., Aspen Golf Club
This free, locally sourced, BBQ-style lunch (until the food runs out) is an end-of-summer tradition for families to reconnect over rounds of miniature golf, bocce ball, frisbee, kickball, football, kite flying, and more. Don’t forget to bring your furry family members, too—it’s a dog-friendly celebration. No parking is available on-site so check website for transportation details. Free, aspenrecreation.com
The Salon 5 Year Anniversary
6–8 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
The Salon is an award-winning performance series featuring contemporary, classical, jazz, folk, world, spoken word, multimedia and dance forms, founded in Philadelphia by composer Andrea Clearfield in 1986 and in Aspen by Andrea and Michele Kiley. Co-curated and co-hosted by local performance artist Alya Howe with Andrea Clearfield, the Salon features a diverse array of performers and celebrates arts in community. $25, wheeleroperahouse.com
2nd Annual Barbecue Cook Off
6–9 p.m., Gondola Plaza
Join The Little Nell for a BBQ competition and community fundraiser featuring talented chefs from Aspen’s top restaurants and live music from the Poser Band. Each chef will showcase their best BBQ bites and let you be the judge. Admission includes food, drinks, and dancing with all proceeds benefitting Lift Up, Stepping Stones, Feed My Sheep, and the Aspen Homeless Shelter. $95, thelittlenell.com
Sunday Night Football: New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
6:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Catch Sunday Night Football on the big screen with both bars open and the kitchen serving up wings and things. No cover, bellyupaspen.com
Cash’d Out
10 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Post-game, wind down the weekend with this award-winning Johnny Cash tribute band. $8, bellyupaspen.com
