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”.

Aspen Cross-Country Skiing Extravaganza

Aspen Events - Cross-Country Ski Extravaganza - Lesson Time (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Cross-country skiing is a hot, cold weather topic in Aspen these days. Locals Simi Hamilton and Noah Hoffman have just been named to the 2014 Sochi Olympics cross-country ski team, and the Owl Creek Chase (self-proclaimed as “Colorado’s largest x-country ski race”), just took place.

Additionally, for the rest of us merely recreational cross-country skiers, the recent annual Aspen Cross Country Center’s free Aspen Cross-Country Ski Extravaganza event once again ignited fantasies of reaching those levels of cross-country skiing prowess.

Winterskol - Aspen Event’s Rich History

Aspen Winterskol 2007 - Blowing Off Some Steam! (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Now that the winter holidays have officially passed, it’s time to look forward to one of the most anticipated and fun Aspen events of the entire ski season, Winterskol - a celebration of "Aspen's unique Nordic lifestyle".

This exciting annual winter carnival in the internationally renowned ski resort town of Aspen, Colorado, started as an attempt to bring people into the town during an annual lull in business during the 3 weeks after Christmas. 

 

Aspen Holiday Events - Annual Traditions Make the Season Special

Aspen holiday tree lighting event with Dan Sheridan (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Last Sunday, I once again took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy one of the most cherished annual Aspen holiday events – the annual Sardy House holiday tree lighting.

Occurring before the big winter holiday tourist rush, this festive event kicks off the holiday season in Aspen for the locals. It features free homemade cookies and hot chocolate, live music, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. It, of course, culminates in the lighting of what is believed to be one of the tallest live Christmas trees in the nation.

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!