Aspen Weekend Agenda: January 25–27, 2019
Friday, January 25
ESPN Winter X Games are back with a weekend full of adrenaline-pumping and gravity-defying competitions, a full concert line-up, athlete meet-and-greets, and more.
Image: Courtesy: ESPN
ESPN Winter X Games
Events throughout the weekend, Buttermilk
Four days of high-flying action sports in 18 disciplines return to the base of Buttermilk. Join the thousands on the ground and watch for free, or splurge on a Platinum Pass ($275–$1,680) and spectate from a heated hospitality suite overlooking the superpipe, and get admission to the concerts. New this year: the X Games Athlete Experience ($50)—essentially a fan press conference with five X Games stars. xgames.espn.com
Friday Morning Uphill Breakfast Club
8:45–10 a.m., Cliffhouse, Buttermilk Mountain
Geared for the uphill crowd, breakfast tastes just as good whether you hike, skin or take a lift. $8–$12, aspensnowmass.com
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
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
Shake Shack Pop-Up
12–4 p.m., EMP Winter House
For the first time, the fast-casual favorite that grew out of an NYC hot dog cart brings its signature burgers and fries to Aspen, setting up shop for three days (starting Thursday) in Winter House's outdoor Yurt Village. In addition to the ShackBurger and crinkle cut fries, nosh on gourmet tweaks courtesy of EMP like an alpine Swiss burger, chicken schnitzel sandwich, and truffle gravy fries. Payment is by AmEx card or cash only. empwinterhouse.com
Native Storytelling
3:30–4:30 p.m., The Collective, Snowmass Base Village
Join Spellbinders storyteller and Aspen Historical Society Education Director Nina Gabianelli for an hour of native storytelling. Stories are best suited for kids age 4-12. Free, aspenhistory.org
Ullr Night is a perfect time to gather around the bonfire with family and friends.
Image: Allison Pattillo
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
Local Comedy Showcase
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
The lineup of local funny people includes Beth Brandon, Don Chaney, Chad Abraham, Kevin Herzing, host Todd Hartley, and special guest Mike Monroney. $6 members/$8 in advance/$12 day of show/$60 for a table of four with a bottle of wine, tacaw.org
The Chainsmokers
10 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
The Grammy Award–winning duo is taking a break from a Wynn Nightlife Residency in Las Vegas to bring its electronic and rock dance vibes to Aspen. The show is sold out (the group is also playing a sold-out show at the X Games Aspen venue at Buttermilk on Saturday night). $195 GA/$495 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
Saturday, January 26
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
The slopes will be even more festive today as Aspen Snowmass celebrates Australia Day with Australian treats, restaurant specials, and more.
Australia Day at Aspen Snowmass
9 a.m., all four mountains
This is the sixth annual four-mountain celebration of Australia's premier national holiday. The fun begins with the Aussie edition of First Tracks at Snowmass; continues with Tim Tams, stickers, flags, and more at Guest Services on all four mountains. In the morning, look for Vegemite toast served at the Aspen Mountain Gondola and fairy bread at Guest Services on the Snowmass Mall; in the afternoon, Lamington (a kind of cake) will be served at Aspen's Gondola Plaza. Free, aspensnowmass.com
Snowmass Snowshoe Tour
10 a.m. & 1 p.m., Elk Camp Meadows
Learn about local wildlife and winter ecology with a naturalist from Aspen Center for Environmental Studies during a 1.5 mile stroll. The tours, which are offered daily, include snowshoe rental, snack, and hot drink. $66 adults and $46 for youth and seniors/$40 adults and $31 youth and seniors if you have a ski pass, aspennature.org
CrafterDay
10 a.m.–2 p.m., Basalt Regional Library
Drop in for a fun craft project. Free, basaltlibrary.org
Shake Shack Pop-Up
12–4 p.m., EMP Winter House
For the first time, the fast-casual favorite that grew out of an NYC hot dog cart brings its signature burgers and fries to Aspen, setting up shop for three days (starting Thursday) in Winter House's outdoor Yurt Village. In addition to the ShackBurger and crinkle cut fries, nosh on gourmet tweaks courtesy of EMP like an alpine Swiss burger, chicken schnitzel sandwich, and truffle gravy fries. Payment is by AmEx card or cash only. empwinterhouse.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
Library Cinema: Border
7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
This film about a customs officer with an extraordinary sense of smell is Sweden’s submission to this year’s Academy Awards and an award-winner on the festival circuit. $10 (includes free popcorn while supplies last), pitcolib.org
Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams
8 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
The first Honky Tonk dance night of the year happens this Saturday! $13 for members/$15 in advance/$20 day of the show, tacaw.org
Rapper, hip-hop artist, and CEO of Young Money Records Lil Wayne will perform two shows in Aspen this weekend, one at Belly Up Aspen, the other at the ESPN Winter X Games.
Image: Courtesy: Belly Up Aspen
Lil Wayne
10 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
A winner of four Grammy awards, with the most solo male artist entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, this hip-hop and rap artist is going to rock the house. The show is sold out (he's also playing a sold-out show at the X Games Aspen venue at Buttermilk on Friday night). $185 GA/$325 reserved, bellyupaspen.com
Sunday, January 27
Town Race Series: Giant Slalom
1:30 p.m., Snowmass
Come out for the second race of the season of the longest running town-race series in North America. The race series will be scored both on an individual and a team basis. $35 per race, aspensnowmass.com
Alliance Film Series: Rafiki
4 p.m., The Temporary, Basalt
Shown in partnership with Aspen Film and AspenOUT, this 2018 Kenyan drama explores the friendship and love that grows between two young women amid family and political pressures. There will be a pizza party after the screening for students. Free, tacaw.org
Library Cinema: Border
4 & 7:30 p.m., Pitkin County Library
This film about a customs officer with an extraordinary sense of smell is Sweden’s submission to this year’s Academy Awards and an award-winner on the festival circuit. $10 (includes free popcorn while supplies last), pitcolib.org
Louis the Child
10 p.m., Belly Up Aspen
Close out the weekend with a night of upbeat EDM from this Chicago-based duo, which also plays a sold-out show at the X Games Aspen venue at Buttermilk on Saturday evening. $95 GA/$195 General Admission, bellyupaspen.com
