Annual Colorado Winter Festivals – Let the Fun Begin!

Aspen Winterskol Ice Musician (Photo Credit: Rich Pearce)

When people think about Colorado, they think about the outdoors, and during the winter they often think about skiing, snowboarding and the countless other winter activities the state has to offer.

Of course, this time of year, locals and visitors alike are focused largely on all the festive holiday events and activities going on, but there are many other entertaining and fun annual Colorado winter festivals at other times as well.

Here are a few of the more notable annual Colorado winter celebrations:

Having a laugh or two in Aspen – Things to Do Besides Skiing

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a really good laugh – and I needed one. Even though I had really been enjoying the skiing in all of the great snow we’ve had this year, having to shovel all of it was making me grumpy. I needed something else to do besides skiing to get out of my funk, and the Aspen Laff Festival was just the “ticket”.

Things to do in Aspen (Besides Skiing) – Community Theatre’s a Hit!

The Producers (1968 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ok, I know the buzz around Aspen last weekend revolved around all of that great snow arriving just in time for the lifts to open for the season, but this did not overshadow some of the other much-anticipated things to do in Aspen in November.

One of those other things to do in Aspen before the ski season begins in earnest, is to take in the Aspen Community Theatre’s annual fall production. We did this for the first time last year and were so thrilled with the experience that we just had to do it again.

Last year, I was going to do a post about the theatre’s presentation of the romantic love musical,  “Crazy For You, but I got lazy and didn’t write the post, This year, I was determined to hammer one out.

Halloween Activities in Aspen and Beyond

Halloween Activities Near Aspen - Luigi (Photo credit: Amanda Ciccone)

I just finished downloading photos of a great pre-Halloween weekend with my step-kids and their kids in Palisade and Grand Junction, Colorado. Suddenly, it dawned on me that Halloween itself is coming up fast, and I have been so caught up with other things that I hadn’t even checked out all of the upcoming Halloween activities in Aspen itself.

A quick search on the internet led me to the Aspen Chamber’s website. Here’s what’s going on in Aspen for Halloween this year:

Cross-Country Running Event in Aspen, Co - Chris Severy Invitational

Aspen Cross Country Running Event 2013 - Boy's Varsity Start (Photo credit: richpalpine)

One doesn’t always have the opportunity to watch a cross-country running event in October in Aspen, Colorado. And, one especially doesn’t always get to see one run in the snow – but a couple of Saturdays ago, we did.

This annual event is named and run in memory of local aspen cross-country phenom, Chris Severy, who sadly died at the young age of 22 in a bicycle accident on Boulder, Colorado’s Flagstaff Road in 1998. Some years it has taken place in the warm Aspen fall sunshine, sometimes there has been rain - but this year we got snow!

Things to do in Aspen – It’s the Off-Season, Now What?

Off-Season Getaway - Dualakoo (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Now that off-season has arrived, some of us are looking for interesting things to do in Aspen, Colorado this time of year.

Many fill the void created by the end of skiing, snowboarding and other winter-oriented activities by leaving town to go on their own vacations. Those who can afford it, time-wise and budget-wise, often go on fanciful vacations to warm-weather locations like various places in Mexico, or even closer to home, like Moab, Utah. Others take the opportunity to go back “home” to visit family.

For me, however, it’s “birthday season” – time to head to Palisade, Colorado to visit my kids and grandkids – Abraham in March, Thomas in April and Sidd in May! It also gives me the opportunity to see my stepson’s band, Dualakoo, play once again in that Grand Junction center of the music universe, Cruisers Bar on Horizon Drive.

Aspen Colorado Activities - Apres Ski at Aspen Hotels and More

Aspen, Colorado Activities - Paragliding (2) (Photo credit: richpalpine)

What do après ski and paraglidinghave in common? Not much usually, but they do demonstrate the range of winter Aspen Colorado activities that one can engage in (or at least observe).

Apres Ski - A Favorite Aspen Colorado Activity

While après ski in general is one of the most popular Aspen, Colorado activities, some venues are more interesting to me than others. Recently, I was invited to a guest/invite après ski at one of the iconic Aspen hotels the other day, and a Gluhwein Party broke out!

Things to do in Aspen - Cross-Country Ski Extravaganza

Aspen Cross-Country Ski Extravaganza - eager vendors (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Every year, I look forward to the Cross-Country Extravaganza at the Aspen Municipal Golf Course! It has become one of my favorite things to do in Aspen during the winter.

The Extravaganza is a great opportunity to test out new cross-country gear (skating and classic) and on top of that, one can also take advantage of free lessons in either discipline as well. Of course there’s more – a free ski hot wax, food and an extensive raffle before it all wraps up.

December 2012 Activities in Aspen, Colorado – Moon Watching and Cross-Country Skiing

Too busy at the end of December with holiday activities, cross-country skiing and the awesome full moon display to post anything this week but these photos.

Have to say that Jupiter sneaking in was amazing as well!

Aspen, Colorado - December Moon in the Clouds (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Aspen, Colorado - Moon Above the Clouds (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Aspen, Colorado Moon Riding the Clouds (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Aspen, Colorado - Moon with Jupiter Crashing the Party (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Aspen Colorado Activities -- Cross-Country Skiing 2012

Cross-Country Skiing in Aspen, Colorado December 9, 2012 (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Well, it finally snowed again here in Aspen, Colorado. The timing couldn’t have been better because I, like many visitors and locals, was beginning to get cranky from the lack of snow.
Thankfully, I at last got to engage in one of my favorite wintertime Aspen activities – cross-country skiing.

I was pleasantly surprised that enough of the white stuff fell over the weekend so that even though the actual ski tracks were not yet in place, the basic cross-country skiing trails at the Aspen Municipal Golf Course could be laid out.

Aspen Hotels & Ski Techs – Winternational World Cup Alpine Ski Races 2012

Aspen Events - Aspen 2012 Winternational World Cup Ski Races (Photo credit: richpalpine)

What does it take to win a World Cup alpine ski race? One of the old-time Aspen hotels knows.

I found out a little bit more about this subject last Friday at the Mountain Chalet Aspen, where the main ski tech room labyrinth was set up once again for the NatureValley Aspen Winternational women’s World Cup alpine ski races.

A given athlete’s performance obviously depends largely on how well they’ve trained, how they feel that day, if a specific course fits their skiing style, and on how well their skis are tuned and waxed. What I did not know was just how big a production it is to get these skis in shape.

Colorado Fall – Snowmen, Bears, and Pumpkins

Aspen Snowman - Taking A Break (Photo credit: richpalpine)

One of things I love most about fall in Colorado is the diversity in climate, weather, and all of the variety of activities available at this time of the year.

Last week my step-daughter, Michelle, and her two children, Elizabeth and Sean, traveled from Corpus Christi, Texas to visit us here in Colorado.

The plans were to “see snow falling” in Aspen and to carve pumpkins later on at their cousin’s place in Palisade. I was also hoping that they might be able to get a glimpse of one of Aspen’s infamous bears.

 

 

Aspen Events – Balloons, Fall Colors and Rugby

Assorted Aspen Events 2012 - Fall Colors, Balloon Festival, Rugby IMG_1126 (Photo credit: richpalpine)

After a busy summer, I sometimes lose track of the fabulous Fall Aspen events that we have available as well.

I know – it’s still technically summer -- but here in the mountains of Colorado, once September hits it begins to feel like Fall, especially with the coolness of early mornings and late evenings.  Still, the daytime temperatures often remain quite warm, so we can continue to enjoy the signature events that make Aspen so special.

The Summer to Fall transition begins with the annual Labor Day Aspen events such as the Motherlode Volleyball Classic and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival. We missed these this year because we were hiking Huron Peak, but we made up for it last weekend.

Hiking and Hot Springs

Full Moon near Huron Peak - Colorado (Photo credit: richpalpine)

My girlfriend, Jo, and I were looking for something fun to do over Labor Day weekend - my only real “vacation” opportunity for the summer. We thought we would head over Independence Pass from Aspen to the Buena Vista, Colorado area to do a little hot springs soaking and some hiking in an area we had not explored before.

We hadn’t really planned on hiking all the way up one of Colorado’s 54 (some say 58) 14ers, but that’s what we did!