The 23/24 winter season in Aspen Snowmass is well underway with the successful opening of all four mountains and an abundance of fresh snowfall in December. As well as new skiable terrain opening on Aspen Mountain, the resort’s calendar is jam-packed with a host of exciting events taking place across the mountains and the towns of Aspen and Snowmass, from the iconic Aspen Gay Ski Week to the exhilarating X Games. Here’s a round-up of what’s going on…
New Year’s Eve Celebrations (31 December)
End the year with a bang, with celebrations taking place in Aspen and Snowmass. The Snowmass Torchlight Parade and fireworks on Fanny Hill will begin at 6pm, where skiers and boarders are welcomed to shred the slopes by night as the mountain is lit red with flares and glow sticks, followed by fireworks at 10pm. In Aspen, the annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks will begin at 8pm. As fireworks fly over Aspen Mountain, get closer to the action with a New Year’s Eve feast at The Little Nell in Aspen, where visitors can indulge in a decadent dinner at either of The Little Nell’s two restaurants, Ajax Tavern or Michelin star Element 47, or attend the prestigious Dom Perignon Party with this year’s theme Studio 24.
Wintersköl (11-14 January)
A “toast to winter”, dating back to 1951 when locals decided to celebrate Aspen’s unique alpine lifestyle with an eclectic weekend of festivities, this four-day celebration is now in its 73rd year. Wintersköl will feature free family-friendly activities across Aspen and the resort’s mountains, where visitors can enjoy snow sculptures, downhill ski racing and a film screening, culminating with a torchlight descent down Aspen Mountain and fireworks.
PHOTO: © @mattpower
Gay Ski Week (14-21 January)
Gay Ski Week returns to Aspen Snowmass for its 47th year in 2024. Aspen Gay Ski Week is the oldest, annual, week-long gay ski event in the US, where visitors can enjoy four mountains of varied skiing and snowboarding terrain, as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking trails in the Elk Mountains. Further to skiing and snowboarding, the event offers seven days of late night dance parties, apres ski, film events, drag shows and pool parties.
X Games (26-28 January)
For the 23rd consecutive year, X Games returns to Buttermilk Mountain in January where nearly 100 of the world’s top winter athletes will compete in the biggest snow sport event of the year. Showcasing world-class action sports across 14 disciplines, visitors can witness epic action including Men’s and Women’s Ski and Snowboard SuperPipe, Slopestyle, Big Air and Knuckle Huck. X Games Aspen is free to attend.
Power of Four Ski Mountaineering (25 February)
A premier endurance race series, the Audi Power of Four utilises the unique, expansive terrain of each of the four mountains of Aspen Snowmass. Athletes will race in teams and cover 24 miles and more than 10,000 vertical feet; the sport division teams begin in Snowmass Village, before traversing to Buttermilk, then on to Aspen Highlands and then ending on Aspen Mountain. Participants also have the option to race a shorter course, The Power of Two, which begins at the base of Aspen Highlands and ends on Aspen Mountain.
Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series, Stifel Aspen Winternational (1-3 March)
The return of the Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series has recently been announced as part of this year’s exciting Stifel Aspen Winternational celebrations (which also includes the Audi FIS Ski World Cup). Taking place in downtown Aspen at Wagner Park, this year’s headliners include Shakey Graves and The Revivalists who will entertain crowds with live music surrounded by the snowy peaks of Aspen Mountain. Keep an eye out for more Bud Light concerts throughout the winter season.
Audi FIS Ski World Cup (1-3 March)
Aspen Snowmass is gearing up for the return of America’s Downhill™ course on Aspen Mountain – a steep, corkscrewing technical track overlooking the town. Taking place over three days, alpine racers from all over the world will compete in men’s Super-G and Downhill at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup as ski racing once again takes its home centre stage at the resort. Throughout the weekend, visitors can also enjoy free events, food from local vendors, ceremonies and incredible skiing and riding across all four mountains.
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