Although summer in Aspen shines as the high season for elevated cultural offerings, many organizations continue to bring in world-renowned artists, performers and events for a variety of spring entertainment. For a calendar listing of all upcoming events in Aspen, visit the official online monthly event calendar.
Music
The JAS Café Winter Series features intimate jazz performances at Here House/Local Coffee in Aspen and Jazz after dark for late night shows at the Sterling Aspen. Enjoy candlelit performances from some of the greatest jazz artists from around the world alongside delicious food and beverages. Wine, dine and unwind with live jazz music with 7pm and 9:15pm shows through the end of March.
Belly Up Aspen is one of our mountain town's premier spots to see headliner musicians and local talent perform year round. From headliner favorites such as Billy Idol, Louis the Child, and Steve Aoki to upcoming talent featuring Flipturn - check out the full spring calendar here.
Since 1889, the Wheeler Opera House has been Aspen’s community performance venue and has become the Roaring Fork Valley’s premiere site for concerts, movies, festivals, lectures, community events, opera, and more. Check out their full spring line up here.
Aspen Music Festival presents the following celebrated musicians as part of the Winter Music Recital series at the stunning Harris Concert Hall:
- March 7 – Isidore String Quartet
- March 21 – Yefim Bronfman piano
Film
Aspen Shortsfest, one of the world's premier showcases for short film, returns April 1-7, 2024. Festival goers will enjoy a film filled week featuring nightly screenings and dozens of filmmaker guests. Seventy shorts represent more than 30 countries-- including world premiers, critically acclaimed films and favorites from the international festival circuit. Tickets and information on all films are located online here.
Literature
During the winter and spring seasons Aspen Words presents Winter Words, their annual winter series offering guests a chance to meet their favorite authors at four different evening events. Book signings follow all discussions, and Explore Booksellers will be selling books from the featured authors at the event for guests.
Series
Aspen Chamber Resort Association and Aspen Center for Environmental Studies are pleased to announce our partnership for the Potbelly Perspective series for winter 2024. Since the release of the Destination Management Plan, ACRA has focused on ensuring visitors to Aspen enjoy our community in a responsible and respectful manner, preserving small town character and building community which aligns closely with the objectives of the Potbelly Perspectives speaker series. The community members that participate in the Potbelly Perspective speaker series are seasoned travelers, visiting unique destinations and coming back home to share their stories. The synergy between Potbelly Perspectives and ACRA’s Destination Management initiatives is really exciting and we are very pleased to partner with ACES to bring this series to life this winter.
Dust off your 80’s Ski Attire and join Aspen Film Every Wednesday Night in February as they partner with Ski Legend and U.S. Hall of Fame member Greg Stump in presenting four of his classic ski films exclusively at the AF Isis Theatre. More information here.
An Evening with Bob Inglis and Adam Davidson Brought to you by Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, Aspen One, and Audi. Now that climate change is blindingly obvious, it’s time to think seriously about how to fix it. To do that, we’re going to need national policy, and that will likely require Republican buy in. Join ACES on March 13 with former South Carolina Republican congressman Bob Inglis, who has devoted his life to solving the climate problem by jump-starting free enterprise through carbon pricing. Joining him will be award-winning journalist, Adam Davidson, who will address the challenge of getting attention for climate change in the media and why it has been so difficult in a world programmed to jump from disaster to disaster. What policies could move the needle and get them through the morass that is congress? What new approach to media might help us move forward?
Exhibits
Decade by Decade: Aspen Revealed (Aspen Historical Society) Located at the Wheeler Stallard Museum, this exhibit explores the stories that shaped the community’s distinct identity: from mining boom to dilapidated ranching town to today’s international recreational and cultural resort, Aspen forged a unique path. Featuring photographs and artifacts that represent Aspen’s connection to national events and trends, the exhibition reflects on the community’s place within the larger historical landscape of the nation – sometimes congruent, sometimes divergent – but always exciting.
Don't miss the Aspen Art Museum's exhibits through April:
- John Chamberlain: THE TIGHTER THEY’RE WOUND, THE HARDER THEY UNRAVEL (Dec 15-April 7)
- Cauleen Smith: Mines to Caves (Dec 15-April 7)
- Lena Henke: You and your vim (Dec 15-April 7)
Aspen’s City Hall Art Exhibition The City of Aspen is pleased to present a curated selection of works by local and regional artists in the newly built City Hall. The works reflect themes and experiences relevant to contemporary life and particularly life in the mountain west and are a testament to the incredible talents of our regional artists. The current collection includes works by Leah Aegerter, Brenda Biondo, Ghislaine Boreel, Jessie Chaney, Emily Chaplin, Brian Colley, Chris Erikson, Sam Harvey, Michael McConnell, Johanna Mueller, Trace Nichols, Esther Macy Nooner, Kristin Wright, and a selection of Tom Benton political posters on loan from the Gonzo Gallery. City Hall is open to the public Monday – Friday, 7am – 5:30pm and is located at 427 Rio Grande Place.
The Bayer Center, which offers complimentary admission and welcomes visitors Tuesdays - Saturdays from 12 - 5 p.m., preserves the art and legacy of Herbert Bayer, an influential modern artist, and designer who studied and taught at the Bauhaus before emigrating from Germany to the United States in 1938. After relocating to Colorado in 1946, Bayer helped lead the postwar revitalization of the city of Aspen, shaped the early artistic and programmatic vision of the Aspen Institute, and designed the historic Aspen Meadows campus.
Searching for more? Discover all of the arts and cultural offerings in Aspen.
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