Friday, December 15 

Snowmass 50th Celebration
Times & venues vary through Sunday

Snowmass is partying like it's 1967 all weekend long in honor of the big 5-0 with champagne toasts, costume parties, and more. For the complete #Snowmass50 schedule of events click here or pickup a copy of our Holiday Issue. Prices vary, gosnowmass.com 

History Ski Tour
11 a.m., & 1 p.m., Aspen Mountain

Learn about the amazing mining and ski history lying literally beneath your feet as you tour Aspen Mountain with a long time local historian. Meets at Guest Services cabin below the gondola at the top. Free with lift ticket ($94), aspenhistory.org 

A Christmas Story
7 p.m., Third Street Center, Carbondale

Stage of Life (SoL) Theatre Company presents a local production of the holiday classic. $20 (adults), $15 (students), soltheatrecompany.org

A Rocky Mountain Christmas: A Tribute to John Denver
7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House

Thiis tribute to John Denver’s iconic album, A Rocky Mountain Christmas, features Mack Bailey, Chris Nole, and Mollie Weaver who will perform holiday favorites like “A Baby Just Like You,” and “Silent Night” as well as John’s own “Christmas is for Cowboys,” “Alfie, The Christmas Tree,” and “The Peace Carol.” Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit local nonprofits, Challenge America and Huts For Vets. From $50, wheeleroperahouse.com

Constellations
7:30 p.m., Thunder River Theatre Company, Carbondale

TRTC’s banner winter-season play, directed by Mike Monroney and featuring Roaring Fork Valley locals Nikki Boxer and Nyle Kenning, follows the spellbinding, romantic story of a beekeeper and a physicist who meet and fall in love. $15 (students), $20 (YP), $30 (adults), thunderrivertheatre.com

Library Cinema: Pan’s Labyrinth
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library

By now you’ve probably seen or read about Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s new film The Shape of Water which screened at the Telluride Film Festival and is a likely Oscar Best Picture nominee. It’s being compared with this earlier effort by the director and Library Cinema is bringing it back. Free, pitcolib.org 

Grand Opening Celebration: La Pompe Jazz with Jeremy Money
8 p.m., The Temporary

Gypsy jazz group La Pompe Jazz with Jeremy Mohney headline opening night with appetizers and a champagne toast. The evening is generously sponsored by Coldwell Banker Mason Morse. $14 (advance), $16 (door), tacaw.org  

Atmosphere
8 p.m., Belly Up Aspen 

Don't miss this stop of the legendary hip-hop duo's "Welcome to Colorado Tour" with MInk, deM atlaS, The Lioness, and DJ Keezy. From $40 (SOLD OUT), bellyupaspen.com

Saturday, December 16

Snowmass 50th Celebration
Times & venues vary through Sunday

Snowmass is partying like it's 1967 all weekend long in honor of the big 5-0 with champagne toasts, costume parties, and more. For the complete #Snowmass50 schedule of events click here or pickup a copy of our Holiday Issue. Prices vary, gosnowmass.com 

Grand Opening Celebration: Kid Flix

3 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt

Explore new worlds at a screening of the best short films from New York International Children’s Film Festival, the largest film festival for kids and teens. Each year, NYICFF scours the globe for the best new films from around the world. Recommended for ages 3-7. $7 (advance), $9 (door) tacaw.org

6th Annual Tree Lighting Ritual & Velvet Buck Grand Opening
5 p.m., St. Regis Aspen

Bundle up and kick-off the holiday season as General Manager Heather-Steenge Hart illuminates the St. Regis Aspen's 30-foot tree. The festivities feature a performance by the Aspen High School Band and Singers, photo booth with Santa Claus, holiday cookies, festive beverages, and a dual champagne sabering. This evening also marks the debut of the reconcepted and renovated restaurant, Velvet Buck. Meet the Chefs, sample the new menu ,and explore the newly designed space. Free, stregisaspen.com 

Aspen Choral Society’s Handel’s Messiah
7 p.m., Wheeler Opera House

One of four performances of The Messiah that the Aspen Choral Society will present throughout the Roaring Fork Valley this holiday season, Handel’s masterpiece is a staple of classic Christmas music. $15 (advance), $20 (door), wheeleroperahouse.com    

A Christmas Story
7 p.m., Third Street Center, Carbondale

Stage of Life (SoL) Theatre Company presents a local production of the holiday classic. $20 (adults), $15 (students), soltheatrecompany.org 

Constellations
7:30 p.m., Thunder River Theatre Company, Carbondale

TRTC’s banner winter-season play, directed by Mike Monroney and featuring Roaring Fork Valley locals Nikki Boxer and Nyle Kenning, follows the spellbinding, romantic story of a beekeeper and a physicist who meet and fall in love. $15 (students), $20 (YP), $30 (adults), thunderrivertheatre.com 

Library Cinema: Pan’s Labyrinth
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library

By now you’ve probably seen or read about Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s new film The Shape of Water which screened at the Telluride Film Festival and is a likely Oscar Best Picture nominee. It’s being compared with this earlier effort by the director and Library Cinema is bringing it back. Free, pitcolib.org 

Grand Opening Celebration: Otis Taylor
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt 

Celebrate the opening of the Temporary with blues singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Otis Taylor. Taylor is capable of exploring any musical mood at any given time, and it’s an important reason why he is considered one of the most talented artists to emerge in recent years. The new album from visionary roots music songwriter and bandleader Otis Taylor, Fantasizing About Being Black, is a stark and poetic lesson on the historical trauma of the African American experience, from the voyages of slave ships to the Mississippi Delta. Taylor simultaneously travels back in time while moving forward as a musical artist. Free (ticket reservation recommended), tacaw.org

Sunday, December 17

Snowmass 50th Celebration
Times & venues vary through Sunday

Snowmass is partying like it's 1967 all weekend long in honor of the big 5-0 with champagne toasts, costume parties, and more. For the complete #Snowmass50 schedule of events click here or pickup a copy of our Holiday Issue. Prices vary, gosnowmass.com 

World Snow Polo Championships
12–4 p.m., Rio Grande Park

Hobnob with the horsey set during three days of matches between top polo players from around the country. The first day’s action (Dec. 16) takes place at Carbondale’s Aspen Valley Polo Club, while the next two are in Aspen. The best place to watch is from the VIP tent, with light bites and cocktails served up by the St. Regis Aspen. $350 (VIP), free to spectate outside the tent, aspenvalleypoloclub.com

Constellations
2 p.m., Thunder River Theatre Company, Carbondale

TRTC’s banner winter-season play, directed by Mike Monroney and featuring Roaring Fork Valley locals Nikki Boxer and Nyle Kenning, follows the spellbinding, romantic story of a beekeeper and a physicist who meet and fall in love. $15 (students), $20 (YP), $30 (adults), thunderrivertheatre.com 

Santa is Coming
2 p.m., Aspen Recreation Center

Bring your kids, family, and friends for a meet and greet with Santa, complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, cookie decorating, and a Christmas craft. Free, aspenrecreation.com 

A Christmas Story
2 p.m., Third Street Center, Carbondale

Stage of Life (SoL) Theatre Company presents a local production of the holiday classic. $20 (adults), $15 (students), soltheatrecompany.org

Artre en Español

2 p.m., Aspen Art Museum

Drawing on the wealth of Spanish speakers in the Roaring Fork Valley, the museum presents an afternoon of activities for all ages, entirely in Spanish. Featuring guided tours, family art-making activities, and more, this special event is free and open to the public en Español. Free, aspenartmuseum.org 

Chanukah on Ice
5:30 p.m., Aspen Recreation Center

Celebrate the sixth night of Chanukah at the ARC with an open skate, Israeli music, ice menorah, buffet dinner, dreidel games, and face painting. $20, jccaspen.com

Library Cinema: Pan’s Labyrinth
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library

By now you’ve probably seen or read about Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s new film The Shape of Water which screened at the Telluride Film Festival and is a likely Oscar Best Picture nominee. It’s being compared with this earlier effort by the director and Library Cinema is bringing it back. Free, pitcolib.org  

Aspen Laugh Festival preview: Heather McDonald
7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House

This funny gal doesn’t hold back on anything. Her top rated podcast “Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald” is downloaded over one million times per month and she recently debuted her first Showtime Stand-up Special “I Don’t Mean to Brag.” She was staff writer, story producer and regular on E!’s top rated show “Chelsea Lately” for its entire seven year run. Her last performance in Aspen was in 2016 as part of the Aspen Laugh Festival, where she'll be back to headline in February. $45, wheeleroperahouse.com

Bradman with Mike Duffy
9 p.m., Justice Snow’s