Friday, April 6

Artists in Residence: Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre

All day, The Launchpad, Carbondale

This New York– and Palestine-based company begins a weeklong residency with Dance Initiative, April 6–13. Through dance, the group tells a story of underrepresented communities, with the aim of inspiring transnational dialogue and social discourse. Over the next week, rehearsals are open to the public, and the troupe will also host numerous events. Free, danceinitiative.org

Aspen Shortsfest

All day, locations include Wheeler Opera House & Crystal Theatre

One of North America’s premier short-film festivals, Shortsfest is screening 77 works at this annual Oscar-qualifying celebration, and there will be a slew of premieres: four world, four international, nine North American, and six US. The selections include drama, comedy, documentary, stop-motion animation, and more. What they all share is a running time of 40 minutes or less. $20 per program, aspenfilm.org

Friday Morning Uphill Breakfast Club

8:45–10 a.m., Cliffhouse Restaurant, Buttermilk

For the last Friday of the ski season, uphill skiers are able to enjoy breakfast in the restaurant after hiking up the mountain. Offerings include coffee, tea, and hot chocolate; an oatmeal and yogurt station featuring dry quick oats in a mason jar and a toppings bar of healthy add-ons; and two hot breakfast items. $12 (hot items), $8 (oatmeal bar), aspensnowmass.com

History Ski Tour

11 a.m. & 1 p.m., Aspen Mountain

Learn about the amazing mining and ski history lying beneath your feet as you tour Aspen Mountain with a long-time local historian. For the last time this ski season, the tour meets at the mountaintop Guest Services cabin below the gondola. Free with lift ticket, aspenhistory.org

Active Art

1:30 p.m., Aspen Art Museum

These memory-enhancing activities on the rooftop deck engage seniors in the social dimensions of art. Free, aspenartmuseum.org

Sunset Skiing and Sundeck Party

2:30–9 p.m., Sundeck Restaurant, Aspen Mountain

Shred the slopes on Ajax until the sun sets for the last time this season. Afterwards, head to the Sundeck for après drink specials, food, and live music into the night. Foot passes to ride the Silver Queen Gondola are available for $10 after 4 p.m. Free, aspensnowmass.com

Defiance Stringband Après Ski

4:30–7:30 p.m., Limelight Hotel

Come enjoy an acoustic set from this local trio, which has an eclectic mix of styles from bluegrass and folk to Celtic and country. Food and drink available for purchase. Free, limelighthotels.com

Ullr Nights

5–9 p.m., Snowmass

For the last time this ski season, bundle up and ride the Snowmass gondola ($10) to some family-friendly snow play, including the new Breathtaker mountain coaster and lift-served tubing ($49 for a two-hour activities pass to access both; reserve in advance), free ice skating, free snowshoe tours with a guide from the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (6 and 7:30 p.m.), snowbiking ($72 guided rides for ages 12 and up, free minibikes for younger kids), and climbing and sliding on a massive snow sculpture. Elk Camp restaurant serves dinner with live music, followed by s’mores and hot cocoa by the bonfire. aspensnowmass.com

Pro Tem Gallery Opening

6–8 p.m., The Carbondale Clay Center

Local artists Matthew Eames and Jay Phillips have created a dual show inspired by the impermanence of time and how it's often represented through art. Eames and Phillips used a variety of mediums to convey the theme in this exhibition, which runs through April 27. Free, carbondaleclay.org

Spellebration 2018

6 p.m., Hotel Colorado

Adults will put their skills to the test in this light-hearted spelling bee that benefits Literacy Outreach and the Colorado Mountain College Learning Labs. The event also includes food, a silent auction, a costume contest, and a cash bar. Free, literacyoutreach.org

First Friday

6:30–10:30 p.m., Downtown Carbondale

This month’s First Friday includes live music from singer-songwriter Jeff Crosby at the Marble Distilling Co. starting at 6:30 p.m. Later on (around 9:30 p.m.), enjoy music on the other side of downtown from local rock/alternative band Echo Monday at Carbondale Beer Works. Free, marbledistilling.com, carbondalebeerworks.com

The Snowball Party

6:30 p.m., Everywhere in Aspen

A party with few details but many reassurances for just how cool it is, this unique event, part of the nationally touring “Tribal Pop-Up Social Adventure,” will encourage you to explore town in a new way.  This is the second time this event is happening in Aspen. It made its debut last month. More details are available once you purchase a ticket. $55, thesnowballparty.com 

The Taylor Scott Band

8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt

Denver-based guitarist and singer-songwriter Taylor Scott has toured across the globe with blues legend Otis Taylor and other musicians. His current group is an original rock-and-roll band that also reflects heavy influences of soul and funk. $14 in advance, $18 day of, tacaw.org

Missio

9 p.m., Belly Up

The Austin-based electronic duo is known for its hit single “Middle Fingers,” which scored No. 9 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart last year. The group consists of songwriter and vocalist Matthew Blue and producer and engineer David Butler. Singer-songwriter Morgan Saint opens. $22 advance general admission, $25 day of general admission, bellyupaspen.com 

Saturday, April 7

Artists in Residence: Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre

All day, The Launchpad, Carbondale

This New York– and Palestine-based company is in a weeklong residency with Dance Initiative through April 13. Through dance, the group tells a story of underrepresented communities, with the aim of inspiring transnational dialogue and social discourse. Over the next week, rehearsals are open to the public, and the troupe will also host numerous events, including an all-levels technique and composition workshop today ($15) from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. taught by the company’s artistic director, Samar Haddad King. and the associate artistic director, Zoe Rabinowitz. Free, danceinitiative.org

Aspen Shortsfest

All day, locations include Wheeler Opera House & Crystal Theatre in Carbondale

One of North America’s premier short-film festivals, Shortsfest is screening 77 works at this annual Oscar-qualifying celebration, and there will be a slew of premieres: four world, four international, nine North American, and six US. The selections include drama, comedy, documentary, stop-motion animation, and more. What they all share is a running time of 40 minutes or less. $20 per program, aspenfilm.org

Aspen Parkrun

8 a.m., Aspen Recreation Center

Starting this weekend, the Aspen Recreation department will host weekly 5K timed runs. The course will follow the High School Trail through the school district to the Marolt Open Space, continue on over the Castle Creek foot bridge, and then return. Parkrun is an international movement that encourages communities to sponsor free runs open to all. Free, parkrun.us/aspen

Guided Tour

1 p.m., Aspen Art Museum
Drop-in for a spotlight tour of the latest exhibitions led by museum staff. Free, aspenartmuseum.org

Play-Ground Theatre: Professor Big Brain’s Time Travel Experiment

3 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt

The Play-Ground Theatre returns to the valley for this educational show, which is fun for the whole family. It gives kids the chance to get on stage and explore a narrative through their own creative ideas. This particular story is about Professor Big Brain, who travels through time into the prehistoric world of the Stink Foot. $8 in advance, $12 day of, tacaw.org

Native American Pow Wow Exhibition Dancing & Drumming

3:30 p.m., Wagner Park

Tribal members of the Northern Ute, Lakota, Dine', Paiute, Hopi, Cheyenne, and Cherokee Nations dressed in full regalia will perform traditional songs and dances for this celebration of indigenous culture. The event is put on by the Aspen Ute Foundation and is open to the public. Free 

Red Bull Homerun

4:30 p.m., Buttermilk

From a shotgun start, skiers and snowboarders will sprint to their equipment at the top of the West Buttermilk lift, click in, and race along a marked course to the base of main Buttermilk in this unique event, which makes its North American debut. Registration is from 9–11 a.m. today, and competitors must be 18 or older. An after party and awards ceremony will start at 5 p.m. at Bumps restaurant, with music from DJ Naka G and DJ DC. $25 registration fee, aspensnowmass.com

Sunday, April 8

Artists In Residence: Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre

All day, The Launchpad, Carbondale

This New York– and Palestine-based company is doing a weeklong residency with Dance Initiative through April 13. Through dance, the group tells a story of underrepresented communities, with the aim of inspiring transnational dialogue and social discourse. Over the next week, rehearsals are open to the public, and the troupe will also host numerous events.  Free, danceinitiative.org

Aspen Shortsfest

All day, locations include Wheeler Opera House & Crystal Theatre in Carbondale

One of North America’s premier short-film festivals, Shortsfest is screening 77 works at this annual Oscar-qualifying celebration, and there will be a slew of premieres: four world, four international, nine North American, and six US. The selections include drama, comedy, documentary, stop-motion animation, and more. What they all share is a running time of 40 minutes or less. $20 per program, aspenfilm.org

Aspen Highlands Closing Day

All day, Aspen Highlands

There’s no party quite like it all year, as locals—and, now, scores of visitors—let way loose to close down their favorite mountain for the season. Free, aspensnowmass.com

Bacon Appreciation and Buttermilk Closing Day

8 a.m.–4 p.m., Buttermilk

Need we say more? This daylong celebration features a full schedule of swine, including bacon waffles and bacon samplers around the mountain, plus an uphill race with best-costume prizes. Get there early to enjoy the bacon delicacies, which are all free while supplies last. Race registration $15 or $40 for a family of four, aspensnowmass.com

Kodak’s Point and Shoot Workshop

10–12 a.m., The Temporary, Basalt

In this workshop,  in partnership with Kodak and Aspen Film, you'll learn the basics of filmmaking using a Kodak Super 8 camera and 8mm film. Space is limited so email to make a reservation. Free, tacaw.org

Walt Smith and Special Guests: Spring Jazz

4 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt

Back by popular demand, some of Colorado’s best jazz artists will perform, including Walt Smith on piano, Kathy Morrow on vocals, Mark Gray on bass, Tim Fox on horn, Steve Cole on saxophone, and Chris Goplerud on drums. $19 in advance, $23 day of, tacaw.org

The Spazmatics

9:30 p.m., Belly Up

Transport back in time to the 1980s with hits like “Come on Eileen,” “Video Killed the Radio Star,” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” The L.A.-based cover band comes to Aspen often, and each time it’s a lively party. Decade-appropriate attire is highly encouraged. $25 general admission, $40 reserved, bellyupaspen.com