Friday, September 7

Watercolor Workshop: Painting Plein Air
9 a.m.–12 p.m., The Catto Center at Toklat, Ashcroft
Join local artist Amy Beidleman for a morning of plein-air landscape watercoloring in the heart of the Castle Creek Valley. All abilities welcome. $45 ACES members/$55 non members, aspennature.org

Snowmass Balloon Festival: Carter Memorial Colorado Rat Race
6:30–10 a.m., Snowmass Town Park
This annual tradition features 15 pilots and their balloons racing to see who can fly the farthest downvalley in three hours. Non-racing balloons will fly over Snowmass for a spectacular show of colors. Free, gosnowmass.com

First Friday: Creative District Art Walk
5–9 p.m., Downtown Carbondale
Peruse the best local art, catch up with friends, and enjoy an inspired evening wandering through Carbondale's Creative District, including the opening of Scratch & Attach: A Year of Making at the Carbondale Clay Center. Free, carbondale.com 

Wilderness Workshop Crooked Creek Wetlands Project
5 p.m. Friday– 5 p.m. Sunday, Crooked Creek Pass and Lyme Park 
Join Wilderness Workshop, Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, Roaring Fork Conservancy, and the Forest Service for this family-friendly project that will revegetate the area with willows and other native species. Volunteer for the whole weekend and camp out, or just come for a day. Free, org2.salsalabs.com

Friday Night Movies: The Sandlot
7:30 p.m., Aspen Recreation Center (outside in the yard next to the pool)
Watch this family-friendly movie on an inflatable screen. Popcorn provided. Free, aspenrecreation.com 

Aspen Darkside Ghost Tour
8 p.m., Historic downtown Aspen
The scent of pumpkin spice is wafting through the air, and the leaves are starting to change colors, so why not get in the spooky spirit on a 60-minute walking tour that shares true stories of ghosts, murder and mayhem dating back to 1879. Reservations required. $35 adults/$25 for children, aspenwalkingtours.com

Lake Street Drive
9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
The indie-pop band's show is already sold out, but maybe ticket karma will be on your side. $50 day of GA, bellyupaspen.com 

Saturday, September 8

Snowmass Balloon Festival
7 a.m.–9 p.m., Snowmass Town Park
Get ready for the SnowMASS Ascension and X Marks the Spot target competition, kids' Elevation Station, and Saturday evening Glow Show, which will commemorate Snowmass's 50 years as a resort and be accompanied by live music. Free, gosnowmass.com

Aspen Parkrun 
8 a.m., Aspen Recreation Center
Every Saturday, the Aspen Recreation department hosts weekly 5K timed runs. The course follows the High School Trail through the school district to the Marolt Open Space, continues over the Castle Creek foot bridge, and then returns. Parkrun is an international movement that encourages communities to sponsor free runs open to all. Free, parkrun.us/aspen  

Lucky Day Animal Rescue's Annual Doggie Day 
9 a.m.–1 p.m., Aspen Recreation Center
Due to stage 2 water restrictions, there will be no "splash" portion of this annual event; instead it will be held on the lawn outside with wading pools, plenty of tennis balls, a large silent auction, dog trainer advice, and an "ask the vet" booth. Dogs must be current on rabies and spayed/neutered. Donations are welcome. Free, luckydayrescue.org

Family Workshop
10 a.m., Aspen Art Museum
Monthly workshops are designed to provide children and adults the opportunity to explore the galleries and create works of art on their own. Free, aspenartmuseum.org

2nd Annual Aether Games to benefit the Aspen Youth Center
11 a.m.–4 p.m., Rio Grande Park
Just like the field day you remember from childhood, but in this iteration you'll compete on a team with five people of your choosing and kids are the referees. There's an after party at Jimmy's Bodega. $500 per team, aspenyouthcenter.org

Fresh & Healthy Community Picnic
12–3 p.m., Aspen Valley Hospital
The family-friendly, end-of-summer celebration includes fresh and nutritious dishes prepared by AVH’s award-winning nutrition team, plus kids' games and live entertainment by local bluegrass favorite Timbermill. Suggested donation for lunch $10 for adults/$5 for kids and seniors, cash or check only. aspenvalleyhospital.org

Cidermass
1–4 p.m., Snowmass Mall
Welcome the arrival of cooler temperatures and changing leaves by sampling the offerings of more than 20 cider makers at the first year for this event. $25 in advance/$30 day of, gosnowmass.com

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 

Septemberfest
4–7 p.m., Snowmass Base Village
Keep the day of celebration flowing with tastings from Snowmass Village restaurants, kids' activities, and local vendors and artisans. Free, gosnowmass.com

Library Cinema: Eighth Grade
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library, Galena Plaza entrance
"Certified Fresh" with a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film by writer-director Bo Burnham and starring Elsie Fisher gives a realistic glimpse into the pivotal time period between middle and high school. $10 (includes free popcorn while supplies last), pitcolib.org

Comedy Sportz
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
An comedy improv "match" features two teams of players competing for laughs and points, with a referee on hand to call fouls and keep the action going. The show is appropriate for all ages. $14 in advance/$19 day of, ticketfly.com 

Aspen Science Center: New Moon Stargazing
8 p.m., Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork, Carbondale
A new moon means great viewing for the night sky. This stargazing evening includes long viewing times and lots of interpretation. Local astronomers will have 8″, 10″ and 16″ telescopes so you can see the rings of Saturn and deep into the cosmos.  Free (but registration is recommended for any changes based upon the weather), eventbrite.com 

MarchFourth
9:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Shake your booty and the end-of-summer blues with a night of riotous entertainment listening to this brassy, circus-funk band that's always an Aspen favorite. $18 GA, bellyupaspen.com

Sunday, September 9

Snowmass Balloon Festival
7 –10 a.m., Snowmass Town Park
Today's events include the Snowmass Ascension and Balloon Dance-Team Competition, in which pairs of pilots launch together, then compete to see which team can hold one end of flagging tape the longest. The kids' Elevation Station will also be open. Free, gosnowmass.com

Sunday Night Football at Belly Up Aspen
6:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Who's ready for some football? Watch the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers with sliders, wings, beer, and more served right to your table. Talk about easy. No cover, bellyupaspen.com

Library Cinema: Eighth Grade
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library, Galena Plaza entrance
"Certified Fresh" with a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film by writer-director Bo Burnham and starring Elsie Fisher gives a realistic glimpse into the pivotal time period between middle and high school. $10 (includes free popcorn while supplies last), pitcolib.org