Monday, December 1
Nicholas Ward: Dreams from the Margins (Monday – Friday, Red Brick Center for the Arts) Ward’s work explores the mythologized image of the American West—a vision shaped less by historical fact and more by cinematic fantasy, collective memory, and personal dreaming. Reanimating fragments of subconscious narrative into surreal compositions of scale and form, Ward evokes a world that feels both uncanny and familiar, inviting viewers to question what is remembered, imagined, or invented. His paintings probe the porous boundary between truth and fiction, particularly in the context of 18th and 19th century frontier narratives, when storytelling, emotion, and the fragility of memory blurred the line between history and myth. In this body of work, personal dreams fold into the larger mythic landscape of the West. By filtering these stories through the lens of his own dream life, he questions who gets to author history—and how easily it bends under the weight of imagination. The result is a series of paintings and sketches that blur not only the line between truth and fiction, but between private reverie and collective memory. The exhibition will be available until January 8, 2026; to learn more, click here.
Aspen’s Past to Present Tour (1:00 pm, Downtown Aspen) This classic historical walking tour of Aspen tells it’s history from humble mining camp to world famous resort. A casual 12 block stroll through historic downtown Aspen acclimatizes you to Aspen’s energy and possibility. A great experience for both the first time visitor and the regular.
Tuesday, December 2
Winter Birding at Hallam Lake (8:00 am, Hallam Lake) Birding in fall, winter, and early spring is great exercise for your identification and field craft skills. Join ACES on the first Tuesday of the month from November through April and discover the joy of birding! You will learn about non-breeding plumages, winter foraging strategies, and behaviors of migratory and resident birds. This class requires advanced registration to ensure appropriate planning for the field experience. Participants must register by 5pm on the day prior to the outing.
Decade by Decade: Aspen Revealed (Tuesdays – Saturdays, 12 – 5 pm, Wheeler/Stallard Museum) Currently on display, the history exhibition Decade by Decade Aspen Revealed, offers a comprehensive view of the area’s fascinating past; 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.Decade by Decade Aspen Revealed, appeals to visitors and locals of all ages, showcasing the depth of the AHS Collection. To learn more, click here. On Friday November 21st, the Aspen Art Museum is set to unveil two new exhibitions, Glenn Ligon: Break It Down and Shahryar Nashat: Raw is the Red. Admission to the Aspen Art Museum is free and open Tuesday - Sunday from 10 am - 6 pm.
Betula Aspen hosts Aspen High School Spirit (Betula Aspen) Join for a special dinner supporting the Aspen Highschool spirit and dance team. Bring your friends, family and your skier spirit with live music from Simon Cox and Noah Lyla.
Wednesday, December 3
Gingerbread House Construction (5:30 pm, CMC Aspen Kitchen) Unleash your holiday creativity as you build a classic Gingerbread House or favorite festive adornment—sweet, fun, and guaranteed to bring holiday cheer! Decorations provided but feel free to bring fun or unique candies and confections to make your structure special! Course registration closes at noon the day of class. Chef Kristi Keasler.
Northrup Studios World Premier: An Aspen Christmas Conspiracy (7:00 pm, Wheeler Opera House) Walk the Red Carpet at the World Premiere of An Aspen Christmas Conspiracy – a romantic holiday comedy with a twist of mystery, at the historic Wheeler Opera House. To purchase tickets and learn more click here.
Indie Showcase: SIRÁT (7:00 pm, ISIS Theatre) Join Aspen Film on Wednesday, December 3, at 7 PM for their Indie Showcase screening of SIRĀT—the Cannes Jury Prize winner and Spain’s official submission for the 2026 Best International Feature Film Oscar—directed by Oliver Laxe.
Thursday, December 4
Aspen Art Museum New Exhibitions (Tuesday – Sunday, Aspen Art Museum) On Friday November 21st, the Aspen Art Museum is set to unveil two new exhibitions, Glenn Ligon: Break It Down and Shahryar Nashat: Raw is the Red. Admission to the Aspen Art Museum is free and open Tuesday - Sunday from 10 am - 6 pm.
Aspen Historical Society Á la Carte Experiences (Daily, Downtown Aspen) Hire a history guide for custom experience on your schedule, offered based on staff availability. Choose from a menu of tour options, guided museum visits or dream up your own history adventure with Aspen History Society's interpretive guides and historians.
Layton Giordani (9:30 pm, Belly Up Aspen) Layton Giordani is a beacon in the techno scene, representing a new wave of talent. A New York native, Giordani’s journey into electronic music began in his teens, inspired by the legendary sets of Danny Tenaglia at Pacha NY. This profound experience drove him to pursue a career behind the decks, eventually securing a pivotal residency at Output NY in Brooklyn. Here, Giordani’s talent flourished, catching the eyes of notable figures in the techno scene. To purchase tickets and learn more click here.
Friday, December 5
Highlights of Aspen Tour (12:00 pm Tuesday & Friday, Downtown Aspen) Embark on a leisurely stroll through town, where intriguing historical narratives, enchanting storytelling, and fascinating tidbits effortlessly blend together. This 60-minute scenic walk not only acquaints you with the local heritage but also grants you a genuine sense of belonging, acting as a splendid springboard to fully indulge in the abundant wonders that Aspen has to offer. To learn more or register, click here.
The Jacob Jolliff Band (8:30 pm, Wheeler Opera House) The Jacob Jolliff Band, one of the most cutting-edge progressive bluegrass groups on the scene today. They’ve released three albums, the most recent of which, “Instrumentals, Vol. 2: Mandolin Mysteries,” dropped in May 2024. The band plays a combination of complex original instrumental music and vocal repertoire that spans from trad bluegrass to unlikely pop covers. Improvisation and ensemble interplay are at the forefront.
Saturday, December 6
The Met Opera HD I Live: The Magic Flute (Holiday Encore) (1:00 pm, ISIS Theatre) A treasured holiday tradition, Mozart’s heartwarming fairy tale takes the stage in the Met’s abridged, English-language production by Julie Taymor, the Tony Award–winning director of Broadway’s THE LION KING. Featuring some of opera’s most popular melodies and brought to life with colorful sets, costumes, and dazzling puppetry, it’s perfect for audiences of all ages. To purchase tickets and learn more click here.
14th Annual Tree Lighting at St. Regis Aspen (5:00 pm, St. Regis Aspen) The Resort's hallmark event and kickoff to the Festive Season and guest holiday offerings. Area General Manager Heather Steenge-Hart will welcome the holiday season at The Resort, for the 14th year in a row with the illumination of a 30ft festive tree. The St. Regis Aspen Resort invites guests to marvel at this year's handcrafted gingerbread house, enjoy hot cocoa and holiday treats, and be dazzled by winter ballerinas and other festive entertainment.
Complimentary & Open to the Community
Summit for Life (5:00 pm, Aspen Mountain) Summit for Life (S4L) is a nighttime uphill race up Aspen Mountain, and the biggest awareness and fundraising event of the year for CKF. Join hundreds of racers as they skin, snowshoe, run, or hike the 3,267 feet from Gondola Plaza to the Sundeck. Then join the party with a dinner catered by The Little Nell, live music, and the awards ceremony. Afterwards, ride the Silver Queen gondola back to the base, and enjoy breathtaking views of Aspen at night. To learn more click here.
Aspen’s DarkSide Ghost Tour (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 6:00 pm, Downtown Aspen) True stories of Aspen's tarnished past of Ghosts, Murder & Mayhem from 1879 to today on an entertaining evening walk. This tour visits some of Aspen Colorado’s most haunted places and tells the stories behind them as well as some truly darker happenings. This is a great tour for the whole family or just the adults. To register, click here.
Moxie Events Presents: A Magical Motown Christmas (7:30 pm, Wheeler Opera House) A journey through Motown’s Best including: The Temptations, The Jackson Five, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and a special set dedicated to your Christmas favorites! Click here to learn more.
Sunday, December 7
Warren Miller’s “Sno-Ciety” (4:00 pm & 7:00 pm, Wheeler Opera House) Bring on winter with Warren Miller! From the Scottish Highlands and the streets of Finland to the back bowls of Whitewater, BC and a local hill-turned-terrain park in downtown Denver, Warren Miller’s SNO-CIETY celebrates the spirit of winter—wherever you ride and however you connect to the snow and the community around it. Featuring all-new, original segments with Olympians, urban riders, and local legends, the 76th Warren Miller film hits theaters this fall.
The Little Nell: Tree Lighting (5:00 pm, The Little Nell) Join The Little Nell on December 7th for The Little Nell’s Annual Tree Lighting Celebration, a cherished community tradition in partnership with the Aspen Animal Shelter and The Buddy Program that transforms The Little Nell's Wine Bar and Courtyard into a magical winter wonderland. Festivities take place from 5–7 pm, with the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 pm. Enjoy complimentary freshly baked cookies, rich hot cocoa, and warm apple cider crafted by their pastry chefs while the Aspen High School choir fills the air with beloved carols. Capture special moments with Santa and celebrate the spirit of the season alongside friends and neighbors.
The Sardy House Annual Tree Lighting (6:00 pm, Sardy House) Celebrate the holidays in the heart of Aspen at the Annual Sardy House Tree Lighting.
Monday, December 8
Nicholas Ward: Dreams from the Margins (Monday – Friday, Red Brick Center for the Arts) Ward’s work explores the mythologized image of the American West—a vision shaped less by historical fact and more by cinematic fantasy, collective memory, and personal dreaming. Reanimating fragments of subconscious narrative into surreal compositions of scale and form, Ward evokes a world that feels both uncanny and familiar, inviting viewers to question what is remembered, imagined, or invented. His paintings probe the porous boundary between truth and fiction, particularly in the context of 18th and 19th century frontier narratives, when storytelling, emotion, and the fragility of memory blurred the line between history and myth. In this body of work, personal dreams fold into the larger mythic landscape of the West. By filtering these stories through the lens of his own dream life, he questions who gets to author history—and how easily it bends under the weight of imagination. The result is a series of paintings and sketches that blur not only the line between truth and fiction, but between private reverie and collective memory. The exhibition will be available until January 8, 2026; to learn more, click here.
Aspen’s Past to Present Tour (1:00 pm Mondays & Thursdays, Downtown Aspen) This classic historical walking tour of Aspen tells it’s history from humble mining camp to world famous resort. A casual 12 block stroll through historic downtown Aspen acclimatizes you to Aspen’s energy and possibility. A great experience for both the first time visitor and the regular.
Andy Thron of Leftover Salmon & Erik Deutsch of Black Crowes (6:30 pm, Wheeler Opera House) In Colorado in 2016, pianist Erik Deutsch ( Black Crowes) and banjoist Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon) met for the first time, when Erik showed up for his first Leftover Salmon gig at the Stanley Hotel. It didn’t take long for the like-minded musicians to click. Over the next four years, Leftover Salmon’s stage-left lit up as the two developed an undeniable musical chemistry. In their original collaborations, they blend piano and banjo to create lush acoustic landscapes and classical-inflected forays. Their original songs dance between bluegrass, jazz, and folk, while showcasing the musical connection and language that these two accomplished players have honed on stage over the years. Click here to learn and purchase tickets.
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