What's New in Aspen this Summer
This summer, Aspen joins the nation in celebrating America's 250th and Colorado's 150th anniversaries with memorable moments all season long.
From Mall Fest 50 to spirited 4th of July festivities, along with new exhibitions and openings, discover what's new this summer.
Activities and Events
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Aspen Pedestrian Mall, Aspen Public Art, the Red Brick Center for the Arts, and City of Aspen will host Mall Fest 50 Art Parade on June 27th in the downtown core, ending with a block party at Sister Cities Plaza. Led by local artists and produced with up-cycled materials, the parade is a community event filled with costumes and performances. In addition to the parade, programming runs from May - October as part of the Colorado 150 celebration and features public art installations including Shifting Light by textile artist Rachel B. Hayes and a bold asphalt mural by a local artist.
Aspen's Old Fashioned 4th of July
In celebration of America's 250th birthday and Colorado's 150th, Aspen's Old Fashioned 4th of July is expanding to a full weekend (July 3-5) under the theme “1776!” with Olympic Gold Medalist and Aspen local Alex Ferreira serving as Grand Marshal. New this year, a free carnival comes to Rio Grande Park on July 3 & 4, featuring a 65-foot Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, big slide, dizzy dragon, and more from Brown’s Amusement; entry and rides are free, with games and food available for purchase. In addition to the carnival, the weekend is packed with events, including live music, Boogie's Buddy Race, the Kids on Bikes parade, the beloved, Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade through downtown, an evening Drone Show on Aspen Mountain and much more.
Arts and Culture
Aspen Art Museum
The Aspen Art Museum is set to unveil a diverse range of new exhibitions: Adrián Villar Rojas: First Gods, Lost Animals (July 2-Oct. 18, 2026), Arch Connelly: Straighten Your Wig and Pray (June 12-Oct. 11, 2026), and Kerstin Brätsch’s rooftop commission, Fossil Psychic Stone Mimicry (Aspen) (May 20, 2026-March 31, 2027).
Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies
The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies will open a new exhibition, Double Take: Recurrent Dialogues in the Art of Herbert Bayer (June 9, 2026-April 3, 2027). The exhibition explores key motifs across Bayer’s work, spanning seven decades from 1920s Germany to 1980s Southern California, and his enduring relationship with the Aspen landscape. In celebration of the opening, the center will host an Exhibition Open House on June 12th, inviting community members of all ages to enjoy drinks on the lawn, make art alongside Koko Bayer, Herbert Bayer's granddaughter, and toast to the new installation.
Aspen Historical Society
Step back into the 80s with the Aspen Historical Society's (AHS) new exhibition, Aspen in Excess: The 1980s. Set to open on June 16th in the Wheeler/Stallard Museum, the exhibition explores the decade that transformed Aspen from a small town to a global hotspot through stories, archival photographs, newspaper clippings, and more. In addition to the new exhibition, the AHS Archives Building Community Gallery features the photographic display Mountainscapes: The Photography of David Hiser.
The JAS Café Series returns this summer with a full lineup of jazz, blues, soul, gospel, New Orleans, and world music. For the first time, the summer series will be hosted at the Paul JAS Center, which opened last winter above the historic Red Onion.
The above is a snapshot of summer arts and culture in Aspen; discover more events here.
Loding and Hospitality
Set to open on June 15th on the corner of Main Street and Garmisch Street, White Elephant Aspen is conveniently located steps from downtown Aspen, the Aspen Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival and School. With luxury hotels along Nantucket Harbor and the East Coast, White Elephant Resorts will bring their established reputation for service excellence, boutique accommodations and awarding winning hospitality to Aspen.
Dining
LoLa 41º, a Nantucket restaurant known for seafood and sushi specialties, is set to make its debut inside White Elephant Aspen alongside a speakeasy lounge.
Shopping
FoundRae Aspen
Foundrae recently opened its boutique at 520 E. Hyman Avenue, with interior design taking inspiration from a stately library for an intimate yet elevated aesthetic.
Chanel
Chanel opened a stunning new seasonal boutique in February 2026 at 516 East Hyman Avenue — a 2,693-square-foot, two-level space in the heart of Aspen.
Marfa Stance
Marfa Stance opened its first long-term pop-up store in Aspen, running through July 31, 2026.
OMEGA
Oliver Smith Jeweler opened an OMEGA watch boutique in Aspen, with a permanent location set for fall.
Destination News
Aspen is Accessibility Verified by Wheel the World
In October 2025, it was announced that the Aspen Chamber Resort Association would participate in the Colorado Tourism Office’s Accessible Travel Program alongside Snowmass Tourism. The Accessible Travel Program advances accessible tourism in destinations across Colorado in partnership with Wheel the World, a travel platform specializing in accessible tourism. Through the program, ACRA and Snowmass Tourism will work with the Colorado Tourism Office and Wheel the World to assess accessibility in the community, provide training for local businesses, and highlight accessible experiences through marketing channels.
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