New & Notable in Aspen: Summer 2024

From outdoor adventures to cultural festivities, Aspen captivates residents and visitors alike with outdoor natural beauty, world-class amenities, and a vibrant cultural scene. 

For information or reservations, visit aspenchamber.org or call (970) 925-1940. For media updates, visit aspenchamber.org/media. 

ANNIVERSARIES | ARTS | CULTURE

The Aspen Music Festival and School, one of the premier classical music festivals in the country, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. The eight-week summer season features more than 300 classical music events— concerts by five orchestras, solo and chamber music performances, fully staged opera productions, master classes, and lectures. 

• In collaboration with the City of Aspen, Aspen One, and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, the AMFS will host its second Community Pride Celebration—a free event celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, friends, and families. Enjoy ice cream, fun and celebration, and visit with local partner organizations. This event will kick off a four-day celebration titled “Sounds of Pride” celebrating and honoring the legacy of LGBTQIA+ musical artists and marking the anniversary of Aspen’s landmark anti-discrimination policy protecting gays and lesbians—the first of any Colorado municipality.

Another venerable Aspen institution, the Thrift Shop of Aspen, also celebrates its 75th anniversary, representing Aspen’s long history of volunteerism and charity (raising more than $500k annually for local non-profits), and culture of reduce/reuse/recycle going back for generations. The Thrift Shop is one of the many second-hand stores in Aspen, which provide an affordable and engaging shopping experience.

Aspen Ideas Festival celebrates its 20th edition June 23-29, 2024, with its first guest curator, celebrated magazine editor and author Tina Brown. Panels, interviews, lectures and interactive sessions will delve into topics shaping the 2024 election, business and the economy, the role of art throughout all aspects of our lives, geopolitics, sports, leadership, and more. Amidst the serenity of the Aspen Institute’s campus, Brown will present a cast of truth-tellers, culture shapers, game changes, soul savers, and explainers of now. Passes and programming information available at www.aspenideas.org.

Part of Aspen’s vibrant arts and culture culture, the Red Brick Center for the Arts is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a redesign. The “Red Brick” is also spearheading Aspen’s first ever public art program.

Jazz Aspen Snowmass -  Back for its 33rd season, JAS has announced an exciting summer program with its June Experience, and the much-loved Labor Day festival in September. 

• JAS June Experience (June 20-23, 2024): The JAS June Experience consists of multiple staggered shows daily, taking place at twelve different venues, allowing attendees the opportunity to stroll around town and enjoy a full night of diverse music genres and settings. Tickets are available now. 
• JAS Labor Day Experience (Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2024): The JAS  Labor Day Experience will celebrate the end of Summer with an outdoor festival at Snowmass showcasing performances from Brandi Carlile, Sting, Tim McGraw, One Republic, The Black Crowes, Lukas Nelson, and Michael Marcagi. 

Internationally recognized Aspen Film organizes a major film event every season, along with an extensive education program: Aspen Filmfest, Academy Screenings, Aspen Shortsfest, Summer of Cinema, and FilmEducates. With a mission to enlighten, enrich, educate, and entertain through film, Aspen Film stimulates thought, encourages dialogue, and broadens our understanding of our world and selves through the diverse spectrum of ideas presented by filmmakers worldwide. Aspen Filmfest will take place Sept. 17-22, 2024. 

This summer, Theatre Aspen enters its fifth decade after a record-breaking 40th season. The upcoming 41st summer season includes Steel Magnolias (June 17-29, 2024), seven-time Tony Award®-nominated Legally Blonde The Musical (July 5-27), and Tony and Drama Desk Award winner Come from Away (August 2-24). Additionally, The Aspen Music Festival and School and Theatre Aspen recently announced their fifth annual co-production of the 9-time Tony Award®-winning Fiddler on the Roof in Concert for a one-night only performance on Tuesday, July 23 at 7:30 PM in the Michael Klein Music Tent in Aspen, CO. For information on the mainstage productions, summer cabarets, and exciting collaborations with Aspen Music Festival and School, visit www.theatreaspen.org.

Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a nonprofit, year-round organization serving the personal and professional development of amateur and professional artists through workshops, artist residencies, exhibitions, tours, lectures, and community outreach programs for artists of all skill levels. The annual Summer Series: Featured Artists and Conversations program includes some of the most influential artists of our time, explores the work of world-renowned creators and curators, and hosts conversations with today’s most significant critics and collectors in both lecture and Q&A formats. The 2024 Summer Series Lectures are now live at www.andersonranch.org.

The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies (the Bayer Center), located on the Aspen Institute campus in Aspen, CO, recently announced the opening of its new exhibition Bauhaus Typography at 100. A collaboration with San Francisco-based Letterform Archive, the exhibition, which will run through April 2025, features Herbert Bayer's innovative typographic design in conjunction with other Bauhaus icons including Johannes Itten, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, László Moholy-Nagy, Joost Schmidt, and Friedl Dicker. This traveling exhibition—a first for the Bayer Center—will feature books, magazines, course materials, product catalogs, stationary, promotional fliers, as well as objects created by Bauhaus students and teachers before and after the time of the school. Opens June 11, 2024, and runs through April 26, 2025.

This summer, the Aspen Art Museum will celebrate its 45th anniversary as well as the 10th anniversary of its current Shigeru Ban–designed building. The iconic Aspen Art Museum has been exhibiting some of the newest and most important artworks from around the world since 1979. For hungry visitors, Aspen Art Museum’s new Swedish Hill rooftop café will feature coffee, pastries, salads, and sandwiches, as well as unique soups, pastas and other specials. An expanded menu of cocktails, wine, and beer will also be offered as well.

SUSTAINABILITY

Aspen Destination Management Plan: Released in 2022, the ADMP aims to enhance resiliency in the community while protecting the quality of life for Aspen residents and preserve the very reason people enjoy coming to Aspen. The three pillars identified by the plan are address visitor pressure, enhance the Aspen experience, and preserve small-town character.  Read more about ACRA’s sustainability and responsible tourism initiatives here.

By taking the Aspen Pledge, Aspen locals and visitors are committing themselves to be responsible citizens and ensuring that Aspen remains protected for generations to come. For every pledge signed, ACRA will make a donation of $18.80 (the year Aspen was founded, 1880) up to $50,000 to either the Independence Pass Foundation or Roaring Fork Valley Outdoor Volunteers, two organizations dedicated to preserving Aspen’s vast outdoors.

Regenerative Tourism Projects in the Roaring Fork Valley: Regenerative Roaring Fork gives visitors a chance to become stewards of the destinations they love by participating in conservation work at five iconic attractions located between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. There are five Regenerative Roaring Fork tourism projects to choose from, starting in May 2024. Visitors may register for one, multiple or even all events, which are free. The projects are at different levels of physical ease, some are family-friendly and offer activities for children.

The Catto Center at Toklat, a 70-year-old wilderness center, provides a window into the wilderness for visitors to experience the beauty and to understand the ecological diversity of the upper Castle Creek Valley. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) will finalize the energy-efficient and sustainable renovation of Toklat by June 2024. 

The City of Aspen launched an ordinance enforcing mandatory composting for Aspen restaurants. Restaurants are the largest generator of organic waste in Aspen, making them the first part of a multi-year sustainability effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

LODGING & HOSPITALITY

The MICHELIN Keys, recently unveiled for hotels nationwide, recognize exceptional hospitality experiences. Recognized hotels in Aspen include Hotel Jerome, The Little Nell, and MOLLIE Aspen. The three hotels all received One MICHELIN Key. 

MOLLIE Aspen, a 68-room boutique hotel, opened in December 2023 across from Paepcke Park in the heart of Aspen. MOLLIE's interiors are a blend of understated luxury and residential comfort, utilizing native materials, accentuated with natural woods, earthen ceramics, and hand-dyed textiles. MOLLIE’s exceptional food & beverage program is curated by Gin & Luck, the group behind the critically acclaimed Death & Co brand and consists of a lobby bar and restaurant with year-round outdoor seating, a laid-back all-day cafe, as well as a rooftop pool and terrace bar turned intimate lounge by night. Room images here.

Three new spas opened in Aspen in Winter 2024 including the ski-in/ski-out all-spa-suite Spa at The Little Nell which debuted in December 2023. The new RAKxa spa opened at The St. Regis Aspen. Base State Longevity opened and offers on-trend regenerative and longevity treatments including private cold plunge and sauna suites, lymphatic compression, and wellness IV drips.

DINING 

From  Bosq Aspen earning its first Michelin star to more affordable dining like the new Buck (Bar Under Cooper Kitchen), Aspen’s dining scene continues to evolve.  

The Roaring Fork + Farm Map is a printed pocket guide to the Valley’s experiences that showcases “local food champions” including guest ranches, public gardens and visitor-ready farms, visitor attractions, along with specific restaurants, food outlets, and producers. These establishments support local and regional Colorado farmers through menu items and culinary offerings.

West End Social: The re-designed and re-concepted West End Social features 270-degree views of Aspen’s mountains and an approachable menu, designed by Chef de Cuisine Rachel Saxton, which highlights shareable plates that encourage conversation. 

sway Aspen: Newly opened in Feb. 2024, the new outpost of sway Thai promises to deliver the same exceptional and transportive dining experience that has captivated patrons in austin, texas since 2012. sway Aspen, a collaboration between new waterloo and infinite hospitality features a blend of tradition and innovation in its design, conceptualized by renowned architect Michael Hsu.

This June, Wild Fig will be re-opening in a new location on Mill Street and the renowned Sant Ambroeus, will debut a new restaurant in the former Main Street Bakery

Stranahan’s opened in Downtown Aspen in late February, Stranahan’s offers a captivating tasting room experience, marking a notable return for the Woody Creek-founded distillery. Visitors will enjoy a selection of the distillery’s renowned spirits as well as alpine-inspired culinary delights.  

Coming Fall 2024 - Belly Up Aspen will introduce a lounge and dining concept above its famed music venue and offer a sophisticated pre-show experience. Guests can sample a selection of cocktails and gourmet cuisine before enjoying the venue’s electrifying evening performances.  

Located in the heart of Aspen, Taco Pina Aspen is passionate about bringing the vibrant flavors of Mexico to the mountains. Taco Pina’s story began with a desire to share their love of traditional Mexican cuisine with the community, and they have been serving up delicious tacos, burritos, and more ever since. 

Westbound & Down and Aspen Brewing Company have joined forces at the base of Aspen’s slopes to serve up some of their deliciously awesome brews. Westy’s Tap & Tavern, a pop-up by Westbound & Down, is serving ice cold beer and delicious tavern style pizza for a limited time at Aspen Brewing.

GETTING HERE

Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) is located only three miles from downtown Aspen and is the most convenient airport in the Rocky Mountain region. Flying to Aspen has never been easier and is, by far, the quickest way to start your vacation. This summer, all three major airlines will offer direct nonstop flights between ASE and LAX, in addition to daily seasonal service to Austin, Houston, San Francisco, and year-round service to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Denver.