Aspen Weekend Agenda: December 28–30, 2018
Friday, December 28
12 Days of Aspen
Downtown Aspen
Look for daily entertainment and activities through December 31, including fireworks on New Year's Eve. Free, aspenchamber.org
Aspen Film Academy Screenings
Paepcke Auditorium
Get a jump on the Oscar buzz with thrice-daily showings of movies most likely to be considered for nominations come January 22. $20, aspenfilm.org
History Ski Tour: Aspen Mountain
11 a.m. & 1 p.m., Guest Service Cabin below the Sundeck
Learn about the amazing mining and ski history lying literally beneath your feet as you tour Aspen Mountain with a long-time local historian. Free (lift ticket required), aspenhistory.org
The Friday tour at Rock Bottom Ranch is your chance to say "hi" to the animals.
Image: Courtesy: Rock Bottom Ranch
Rock Bottom Ranch Winter Farmyard Tour
11 a.m., Rock Bottom Ranch, Basalt
Staff and educators lead explorations of the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies' working ranch, including the animal paddocks, hoop houses, and gardens. They will also share the science behind vegetable production and livestock rotational grazing. Tours are appropriate for all ages. $5 per person/$10 per family/free for members, aspennature.org
Holiday Pop-up Market
12–6 p.m., The Collective, Snowmass (formerly Building 6)
Shop for all of the things you wanted for Christmas but didn't get at this selection of curated goods from Basalt’s Hollyann boutique, Lululemon, Woodland, All Things Sweet, iOmounts, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and many others. Open through December 31. thecollectivesnowmass.com
The Next
3:30 p.m., Aspen Art Museum
This new après-ski event touting caviar, cocktails, and a silent auction benefits the Aspen Art Museum. $300–$500, aspenartmuseum.org
Ullr Night
5–9 p.m., Elk Camp Restaurant and Meadows, Snowmass
Honor Ullr, the Norse god of snow, at this weekly winter wonderland party, complete with an à la carte dinner at Elk Camp, free ice skating, free snowshoe tours with an ACES naturalist, free mini bikes for younger kids, snowbike tours, a bonfire, live music, lift-served tubing, and rides on the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster. Reservations suggested. $10 gondola pass/$54 activity pass/$75 snowbike tour, aspensnowmass.com
JAS Café: Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles
7 p.m. (optional preshow dinner at 6 p.m.) & 9:15 p.m., Cooking School of Aspen
For their rich sounds and storytelling through afrobeat, blues, jazz, soul, R&B, and gospel, Rolling Stone called Henry and his ensemble "one of the more versatile groups on the planet right now." $143 for 7 p.m. show and three-course dinner/$65 for 9:15 p.m. show, jazzaspensnowmass.com
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
An Aspen favorite, the talented pedal steel guitarist brings his infectious mix of funky jams to a venue quite different from the Belly Up, where he normally plays. $40–$55, wheeleroperahouse.com
Flamenco Guitar with El Javi Trio
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
Get ready for a high-energy performance with the king of rock flamenco. $17 members/$19 in advance/$24 day of, tacaw.org
Ms. Lauryn Hill plays two shows at the Belly Up Aspen, including one the day after Christmas; concert tickets make superb stocking stuffers.
Image: Courtesy: Belly Up Aspen
An Evening with Ms. Lauryn Hill
9 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Performing music from her landmark album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the celebrated—and mercurial—singer (and former Fugees member) is apt to wow you with her sublime hip hop, R&B, and soul sounds. $185 GA/$495 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
Saturday, December 29
Aspen Parkrun
8 a.m., Aspen Golf Course (southwest corner near the tennis courts)
Every Saturday, the Aspen Recreation department hosts weekly 5K timed runs. Now at a new location, the Parkrun is on a more user-friendly (read: flatter) course consisting entirely of concrete paths that are cleared of ice and snow throughout the winter. Parkrun is an international movement that encourages communities to sponsor free runs open to all. Free, parkrun.us/aspen
Winter Workshops: Creating with the Five Senses
9 a.m., Aspen Art Museum
This winter break program for 4- to 5-year-olds and 6- to-10-year olds brings daily creative challenge, winter activities, and a chance to play through art making. $65, aspenartmuseum.org
Aspen Film Academy Screenings
Paepcke Auditorium
Get a jump on the Oscar buzz with thrice-daily showings of movies most likely to be considered for nominations come January 22.. $20, aspenfilm.org
The Collective at Snowmass is full of delightful holiday gifts (for yourself and others) until New Year's Eve.
Image: Jeremy Swanson
Holiday Pop-up Market
12–6 p.m., The Collective, Snowmass (formerly Building 6)
Shop for all of the things you wanted for Christmas but didn't get at this selection of curated goods from Basalt’s Hollyann boutique, Lululemon, Woodland, All Things Sweet, iOmounts, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, photography by David Clifford, and many others. Be sure to check the schedule, they are hosting the occasional free wine tasting, as well. Open through December 31. thecollectivesnowmass.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
Acrobats of Cirque-tacular
4:30 & 7:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House
The Wheeler stage has rarely seen action like this, as aerialists, contortionists, fire artists, singers, and dancers perform wow-worthy feats of artistry and athleticism. $45 adult/$28 child, wheeleroperahouse.com
Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles play four JAS Café shows in Aspen this weekend.
JAS Café: Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles
7 p.m. (preshow dinner at 6 p.m.) & 9:15 p.m., Cooking School of Aspen
For their rich sounds and storytelling through afrobeat, blues, jazz, soul, R&B, and gospel, Rolling Stone called Henry and his ensemble "one of the more versatile groups on the planet right now." $143 for 7 p.m. show and three-course dinner/$65 for 9:15 p.m. show, jazzaspensnowmass.com
Son Tres: Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, and Merengue
9:30 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
This evening of live Latin music and dancing includes a Bachata lesson from 8:30–9:15 p.m. $10 women/$15 men/$20 couples, tacaw.org
Diplo
10 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
If you aren't rocking out at this sold-out show, you may be left wondering, "Where are you now?" $145 GA/$375 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
Sunday, December 30
It's time to ski fast and take chances at the annual Audi Ajax Cup ski race to benefit the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club.
Image: Courtesy: Aspen Snowmass
Audi Ajax Cup
9–6 p.m., Aspen Mountain
The Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club fundraiser features head-to-head GS races on Aspen Mountain’s Little Nell run; each team of six includes a former pro skier. Cheer at the gondola base or purchase a benefit ticket to access a special viewing platform and the all-day hospitality tent catered by Shlomo’s, plus an après-race party. Free to watch/$500 for VIP ticket, teamavsc.org
Holiday Pop-up Market
12–5 p.m., The Collective, Snowmass (formerly Building 6)
Shop for all of the things you wanted for Christmas but didn't get at this selection of curated goods from Basalt’s Hollyann boutique, Lululemon, Woodland, All Things Sweet, iOmounts, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, and many others. Open through December 31. thecollectivesnowmass.com
Aspen Film Academy Screenings
Wheeler Opera House
Get a jump on the Oscar buzz with thrice-daily showings of movies most likely to be considered for nominations come January 22. $20, aspenfilm.org
Justice
9:30 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
The French electronic-dance duo, who sold out tonight's show, will also play on New Year's Eve. $145–$300 GA/$315–$695 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
