Friday, December 6

Adrienne Brodeur
5:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House

The executive director of Aspen Words, a writer herself, will read from and discuss her new buzzworthy memoir, Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me, about her childhood complicity in an affair with far-reaching consequences. Writer (and Aspen Sojourner contributor) Julie Comins will lead the discussion. Free but registration requested, aspenwords.org

Saturday, December 7

14th Annual Summit for Life
5:30 p.m., Gondola Plaza

Race some 3,000 vertical feet to the top of Aspen Mountain—in the dark? You bet, when it’s to benefit the Chris Klug Foundation’s mission of raising awareness for organ and tissue donation. If you’re more into spectating than a lung-busting physical challenge, ride the gondola to the lasagna dinner and after-party at the summit ($70, adult; $35, child under 12). Race registration $70 plus minimum $100 raised, summitforlife.org

Powder Awards
8 p.m., Hotel Jerome

Rub shoulders with pro skiers, filmmakers, and industry legends at the 20th anniversary of Powder Magazine’s annual tribute to best ofs in the most recent crop of ski flicks. Categories include best female and male skiers, best air, best line, best cinematography, and more. A post-show party with DJ Naka G follows the awards ceremony. Tickets $20, powder.com

Sunday, December 8

7th Annual Tree Lighting
5 p.m., The Little Nell

Gather ’round the tree in the Nell’s courtyard for complimentary cookies, hot cocoa, and caroling led by the Aspen Middle School Choir, with visits from Santa and “reindeer” pups from the Aspen Animal Shelter. thelittlenell.com

A Very Electric Christmas
5:30 p.m., Wheeler Opera House

Internationally renowned for its electroluminescent artistry, Lightwire Theater sets aglow this charming yuletide story about a lost bird spending Christmas at the North Pole. $40 (adult), $28 (child), wheeleroperahouse.com