Aspen Nightlife – Winterskol

Aspen Nightlife  - Since Aspen is a wintertime playground for so
many people, it is only fitting that everyone in
Aspen during the month of January participates
in Winterskol. This is literally a celebration of
winter, cold, and snow – which is a great deal
of what makes Aspen, well, Aspen! Winterskol
is the ultimate Aspen party.

Winterskol is held during the month of January
each year, and it is the wildest winter
celebration you will ever experience. The
highlight of Winterskol is the Canine Fashion
Show, where pets are dressed up in crazy
clothing, such as miniature bridal gowns.
Winterskol has been an Aspen tradition for
more than fifty years – and it will continue for
at least another fifty! The first Winterskol
celebration was held in 1951.

During Winterskol, more than 40 events are
scheduled in the downtown area, Aspen
Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk
Mountain, and Snowmass Mountain. The
entire area gets involved in the activities.
Winterskol is a celebration of Aspen’s Nordic
ancestry, as well as a celebration of winter.
While most events are scheduled in advance,
Winterskol also brings several surprises as
well. You just never know what you will find at
the Winterskol celebration – until you are there.

Favorite traditional activities include the Canine
Fashion Show, Winter sculpt, the Buttermilk
Uphill Race, and Snowmass Splash. Don’t
miss the torchlight descent and the fireworks
display over Aspen Mountain. Don’t miss the
unique competitions happening all over town.
There is constant live entertainment all around
town as well. If you are planning a ski vacation,
and you want to have the time of your life –
your destination should be Aspen, and your
arrival date should coincide with the start of
Winterskol.

Winterskol is an ongoing week long party with
something for everyone. Amusement,
entertainment, parties, and celebration are top
priorities during the week of Winterskol. You
have to experience Winterskol at least once in
your lifetime – and after you have been once,
you will be back. Winterskol is a celebration
that is comparable with Mardi Gras in New
Orleans – but a lot safer, and in many
opinions, more enjoyable.

As they do for Mardi Gras, people come from
all over the world for Winterskol. Event
packages are available, but all of the lodges,
hotels, motels, condos, cabins, and
campgrounds sell out early. Make sure that you
book lodging for Winterskol well in advance,
and take advantage of the packages that the
various lodges offer. Packages typically
include lodging, airfare, rental cars, and
other things that you may require as well.

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Aspen Nightlife – US Comedy Arts Festival

Aspen Nightlife  -  If you can visit Aspen in March, make sure that you
catch the US Comedy Arts Festival that is held in
various venues throughout Aspen. This is one of the
major events for comedians all over the country –
and it is some of the best entertainment you will
ever experience.

The US Comedy Arts Festival features every type of
comedy you can imagine, including Stand-up
comedy, film shorts, alternative comedy, and sketch
comedy. Tribute is given to some of the greatest
comedians from the past, such as Rodney
Dangerfield, Monty Python, and George Carlin. You
will also have the opportunity to enjoy many of
today’s famous comedians, and hear some unknown
or up and coming comedians as well.

Make sure that you don’t miss this festival – and
make sure that you make your plans and reservations
very early. The lodges and hotels will fill up fast for
this festival, and according to locals, this is the
hardest time of the year to find lodging in Aspen –
which is a good indication of how good the
entertainment is!

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Aspen Nightlife – The Sneaker Ball

Aspen Nightlife  -  You may have been to many balls in your
lifetime, such as Christmas Balls, Spring Balls,
and even Debutante Balls – but if you haven’t
been to the Sneaker Ball in Aspen, Colorado,
you are missing out on all the fun! Known as
‘Aspen’s Greatest Party,’ the Sneaker Ball is
held annually at the St. Regis Hotel on East
Dean Street every March.

Back in 1986, the very first Sneaker Ball was
held by Al Gross and David Nauss of Paine
Weber, Inc – in Boston. The party was a
celebration of Reebok shares trading on the
stock market for the very first time. This black
tie event was much like other balls – but
everyone was wearing Reeboks, and the first
Sneaker Ball was born.

The following year, Al Gross decided that this
was the kind of party that people really liked –
but instead of being limited to white Reeboks,
the idea would be for the guests to wear formal
gowns and tuxedos, with decorated tennis
shoes. The party was moved to Aspen, where
people know how to party – and thousands of
people from all over the world fly into Aspen to
attend.

One of the nicest things guests like about the
Sneaker Ball is that it is for a good cause. All
of the proceeds go to Grass Roots, which is a
program designed to help inner-city kids. These
kids are brought to Aspen to experience what
 life outside the city is. Many of these kids don’t
even realize that places like Aspen really exist.
 Tickets cost $125 per person, which isn’t too
bad considering that the money is for a good
cause.

People from diverse backgrounds attend the
Sneaker Ball each year. Famous people are
there, infamous people, and people who are
neither famous nor infamous attend – and
every one has a fantastic time. The party gets
started at about 9:30pm and ends around
1:30am – followed by many ‘after parties’ in
various locations throughout Aspen.

If you’ve ever wanted to attend one of those
glitzy ‘Hollywood type’ parties, here is your
chance! You will rub elbows with the famous,
show off your custom designed sneakers
along with your formal wear, and dance the
night away – and all for a very good cause.

This is an event that sells out fast. Contact the
Chamber of Commerce in Aspen to find out
when the Sneaker Ball is scheduled, and
purchase your tickets right away. Also check
with the various hotels and lodges to inquire
about package deals and get your
reservations set before everything is sold out!

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Aspen Nightlife – Taste Festival

Aspen Nightlife  -  Winter time isn’t the only time to visit Aspen.
There is a great deal going on each summer,
and one of the highlights each June is the
Taste Festival. This is also called the Food &
Wine Magazine Classic, and people from all
over the world arrive in droves for this three
day event.

Cookbook authors, wine experts, restaurateurs,
and famous chefs can all be found here.
Wolfgang Puck, Jacques Pepin, and Andrea
Immer have all attended the Taste Fest in
Aspen – because if food is your life, this is the
place to be! Each year, there are over eighty
cooking and food demonstrations, and visitors
can get a taste of it all.

There are many seminars and wine tasting
sessions held throughout Aspen during these
three days as well. If you want to attend this
incredible mouth watering event, make your
reservations months in advance – or you will
miss out! If you don’t make your reservations
early, try to find a hotel with space available in
a nearby town, and drive back and forth to the
event – check the local camp grounds as well.
Just make sure you don’t miss this event!

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Aspen Nightlife – Music in the Mountains

Aspen Nightlife  -  There is always something of interest going on
in Aspen, and September is no different. During
the month of September, every year, JAS
comes to Snowmass. JAS, or Jazz Aspen
Snowmass, began in 1991 to honor the art of
Jazz in the Roaring Fork Valley. It has now
become a music attraction that lasts all
summer long, with the biggest celebration
coinciding with Labor Day weekend.

While this is a Jazz celebration, for all intents
and purposes, all types of music are
celebrated, including reggae and rock-n-roll.
Famous musicians and singers from around
the world attend the four day Music in the
Mountains celebration.

All events take place in the breathtaking
Snowmass Town Park, located on Brush
Creek Road in Snowmass. Snowmass
Village is one of the most beautiful places in
the United States, and this festival is extremely
popular. It is vital that you purchase your tickets
well in advance, and arrange lodging well in
advance also. Snowmass advises that if you
do not have a ticket, to not show up for the
festival – it will be sold out.

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Aspen Nightlife – Getting Around

Aspen Nightlife  -  After a day on the slopes, you may be
wondering what there is to do for the rest of the
evening. Well, don’t use up all of your energy,
and leave the slopes early enough to get in a
short nap – you will need all of the energy you
can muster for the Aspen nightlife. No matter
how much skiing you get in or how many of
the runs you have mastered, you have not truly
experienced Aspen until you venture out after
dark!

Aspen has three basic areas: downtown, the
West end, and the East end. The town is
remarkably small, considering how many
people venture here each season – but
surprisingly, everyone and everything just fits.
The town is actually small enough to leave
your car parked at your lodge or hotel and walk
anywhere that you want to go. In fact, this is
recommended.

Not everyone pays heed to this advice, which
can make driving around and parking very
difficult. You can also take a free shuttle from
one mountain to another, take the Roaring Fork
Transit Authority Bus, or go to the Rubey Park
Transportation Center to get a ride anywhere in
the valley.

Don’t worry about getting lost. The town is well
laid out. Starting on the West end, you will find
a quiet Victorian neighborhood. While this is a
residential district, where locals live, you will
also find many hotels and condos on the West
end, particularly on Main Street. You will also
find the Aspen Meadows Conference Center
and Hotel. This is a 40-acre area where you
will also find the Aspen Institute, the Music Tent,
the Harris Concert Hall, the Paepcke Auditorium,
the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies,
the Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, and the
Aspen Center for Physics.

In the East end of Aspen you will find another
residential area, as well as the Roaring Fork
River and the Aspen Club and Spa. The East
end features more forests than the West end,
which has been developed a great deal more.
Between the West End and the East End, you
will find downtown Aspen. Downtown is where
most of the action is. Featuring old Victorian
buildings, downtown Aspen boasts pubs,
restaurants, shops, and everything else you
could ever possibly need – all housed in
beautiful historical landmark buildings.

Down the valley a ways, you will find Snowmass
Village. To the west, you will also find Roaring
Fork Valley. These two villages are
compliments of Aspen, and you should take
the time to visit them as well.

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Aspen Nightlife and the Altitude

Aspen Nightlife  -  There is more to do in Aspen than ski! The
Aspen nightlife is like nothing you will
experience elsewhere. The warmth and
camaraderie of all of the skiers, from all of the
different lodges is quite special, and remarkable.
You will have a good time in Aspen, no matter
what you choose to do, but there is one thing
that you should be very aware of before you
start your party – the altitude.

Aspen sits about 8000 feet above sea level.
Unless you live in a high altitude area, you will
need to adjust to this altitude. You may find
yourself feeling dizzy or light headed, and you
may even find it a bit difficult to breath. Altitude
Sickness is a serious problem, and if your
symptoms become extreme, you should seek
medical attention.

If you will be drinking, you need to know that the
altitude will have a large impact on the way your
body handles the alcohol. Many people who are
not used to such a high altitude find that they
become drunker on much less alcohol, in a very
short period of time. It is best that you avoid
drinking alcohol at all until you have adjusted
to the altitude.

It is also important to recognize the signs of
both Altitude sickness and Acute Mountain
Sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness can be
recognized by hyperventilation, shortness of
breath during exertion, increased urination,
changed breathing patterns at night, strange
dreams, and frequently waking from sleep
during the night. Acute Mountain Sickness, on
the other hand, is recognized by loss of appetite,
nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness,
dizziness, light-headedness, difficulty sleeping,
confusion, and a staggering gait.

As you can see, the symptoms of both Altitude
Sickness and Acute Mountain Sickness
somewhat resemble the symptoms of drinking
too much alcohol. The only way to rule out being
drunk is to not drink for at least 48 hours after
your arrival in the higher altitude. You should
also seek medical attention if your symptoms
last more than 48 hours, or if you show signs
of Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS can be
deadly if it is not treated.

Health care professionals suggest that you
avoid drinking alcohol because the effects are
magnified at a high altitude. Avoid strenuous
activity for the first couple of days after arriving
at the higher altitude. Drink extra fluid and visit
a doctor if you have symptoms of AMS
immediately for treatment.

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Aspen Nightlife

Aspen Nightlife  -  Finding things to do in Aspen, Colorado during the
day isn’t difficult – get out on the slopes and ski or
enjoy one of the other winter sports that you love.
At night, however, Aspen really comes to life with
Aspen nightlife! No matter how old or young you are,
there is something to do in Aspen twenty-four hours
a day, seven days a week.


Music and dancing are the biggest Aspen nightlife
attractions, but there is more to do than just that –
so if you aren’t quite old enough to get into the
various bars and clubs in the area, don’t think that
you will be bored at night – you won’t be! Start by
finding out what activities are planned for the
evening at your lodge or hotel. Most lodges and
hotels have events planned throughout the season
– and this is a good place to start finding things to
do after the slopes have closed for the day.


Shopping in Aspen is another highlight. There are
many galleries and specialty shops that you won’t
find in your own hometown. Take advantage of this.
Most shops are open after the slopes have closed
for the day, and many stay open late because they
understand that you want to spend your daylight
hours out on the slopes.


If you aren’t old enough for the club scene, take
advantage of the teen nights that are offered by many
of the resorts. These are safe fun nights for teens,
which parents will approve of. Teens also enjoy the
offerings at many of the spas. Spas aren’t just for
adults. Enjoy the skin treatments, massages,
saunas, and hot tubs. Some resorts also have game
rooms for the teens and younger kids.


If you are old enough for the bars and clubs – finding
something to do won’t be hard at all. Again, find out
what is happening in the evening at your lodge or
hotel first. If you aren’t interested, hit the streets.
Almost everything is within walking distance in Aspen,
and anything that is out of walking distance is
accessible by bus or taxi. If you will be drinking,
do not drive your car to the bar or club – find
alternate transportation.


The Aspen Recreation center has many planned
events throughout the season that are appropriate for
adults and kids. However, if you are planning to bring
the kids, but you want to enjoy some adult Aspen
nightlife as well, child care may be available through
your lodge or hotel.

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