WHAT: Event dates for Winter X Games 13

WHEN: January 22-25, 2009

WHERE: Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado

DETAILS: The Winter X Games, the premier winter action sports event in the world, will be held January 22-25, 2009 from Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado. The annual event features athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: Skiing, Snowboard and Snowmobile. January 20-21 will serve as practice and elimination days. All Winter X Games competitions will take place at the resort's Buttermilk Mountain. Winter X Games 13 will air live on ESPN and ABC and will feature nighttime events. The event will remain at Aspen/Snowmass through 2010, for a total of nine consecutive years (2002-2010).

Forthcoming details on Winter X Games can be found on www.stayaspensnowmass.com

Theatre Aspen's 25th anniversary season offers a dynamic mix of musical, comedy, drama and family entertainment. Something for everyone, including: Little Shop of Horrors, Rounding Third, Crimes of the Heart and Seussical the Musical. Take advantage of special offers like the Local's Pass and reduced-price season passes before June 5th.

Theatre Aspen's 2008 summer season calendar and subscription and ticket information is available at www.theatreaspen.org. To buy tickets, contact the Wheeler Box Office at 970-9205770, or www.AspenShowTickets.com.

For more information on summer activities and events, click here.

The Wheeler Opera House today announced the final line-up of participating stand-up comics for its new comedy festival for Aspen, in partnership with RooftopComedy. The inaugural festival will take place over two days with six public events, on Friday and Saturday, May 30 and 31.

"Rooftop and the Wheeler culled through the entire roster of comics associated with Rooftop's website," said Wheeler Executive Director Gram Slaton, "and came up with just over thirty that we thought could really shine in this first festival. Next came figuring out the arrangement of shows, and then which comics for which shows. It's always a lot of work, but it's also a labor of love for both parties. And everyone who's coming really wants an Aspen shot, which means they'll all be at the very top of their game." RooftopComedy estimates about 2,500 stand-up comics have material posted through its website.

Individual stand-up sets will vary between ten and about twenty-two minutes, depending on the comic. "As in any festival situation, there's always the chance that not all of the talent is going to appeal to every patron, but the good news is that you only have to wait a few minutes and a completely different new face will be onstage for you. But we really think we have the possibility of a festival that scores high with every player," said Slaton.

The final roster of events for the Rooftop Comedy Festival with their participants includes:
- ROOFTOP'S BEST AND BRIGHTEST #1 (Friday, 6:45pm) will feature new faces Dave Waite, Lisa Landry, Paul Varghese, Mike E. Winfield, Kevin Camia, and Geoff Tate in this kick-off event.

- ROOFTOP AT LARGE (Friday, 8:30pm) features extended sets by fast-rising stars Chris Porter, Vince Morris, and Robert Hawkins.

- ROOFTOP AFTER DARK (Friday, 10:15pm) Tyrone Hawkins, Andi Smith, Isaac Witty, Steve Wilson, and Auggie Smith, are the comics that will be taking the material into a more adults-only direction, with hysterical results.

- THE ROOFTOP NATIONAL CAMPUS COMEDY COMPETITION FINALS (Saturday, 6:45pm) will feature four comics awarded finalist slots through online voting at Rooftop's website, as well as four short films also chosen as viewer favorites.

- ROOFTOP'S BEST AND BRIGHTEST #2 (Saturday, 8:30pm), with John Ramsey, Matt Braunger, Erin Foley, Robert Buscemi, Nathan Trenholm, and Lamar Williams representing a second helping of Rooftop’s cream of the crop.

- THE BIG SHOW (Saturday, 10:15pm) features Tig Notaro, Mike Lucas, and Jimmy Dore - three fast-rising comedians that have been featured on Comedy Central, VH-1, MTV, and other top broadcast media.

Select comics will have clip links featured at the individual show descriptions on the Wheeler Opera House website (www.wheeleroperahouse.com), but comedy fans can find a full variety of sample clips for each comedian at www.RooftopComedy.com.

A limited number of "Independence Pass" lanyards, which will provide first-seating access to all six shows, will be sold for $65.00 each, with a special discounted price of $55.00 each for inclusion in room packages and as stand-alone purchases for Roaring Fork Valley residents. The Wheeler has teamed up with Stay Aspen Snowmass and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association to promote special rooms-and-passes packages for out-of-town patrons that will be available directly from the Aspen Groups division of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, at 800-673-5043, or via the web at rooftop.bookaspensnowmass.com. Locals wishing to take advantage of the Independence Pass discount will need to purchase in person at the Wheeler's Aspen Show Tickets box office, with proof of local residence. "Independence Pass" lanyards will go on sale at 10am on Monday, May 5th.

For more information on the festival and lodging specials, visit us at www.stayaspensnowmass.com

Yesterday, Stay Aspen Snowmass Staff got a preview of the new Limelight Lodge. The Limelight Lodge will replace the Limelite Lodge, Snowflake Inn and Deep Powder Cabins. The Lodge has been family-owned for the past 50 years.

Tahnee Perry, Director of Marketing studies the renderings of the new lodge.

It is located in downtown of Aspen, minutes away from the Silver Queen Gondola and world-class restaurants. It will feature a heated pool and hot-tub and be one of the rare properties in town to be pet-friendly. You will find too, that all this luxury comes at a moderate price.
The Lodge is scheduled to open for Thanksgiving 2008, but don't hesitate contacting at us at 1-877-602-7736 with your questions or visit see what the property will look at www.stayaspensnowmass.com

Sean Keery checks out the view.

Camp Aspen/Snowmass
This exciting program allows kids to revel in hiking, swimming, music, arts and crafts, games, field trips, and more - right on the mountain. Daily and weekly adventure programs. Recommended for ages 3 to 14.
More information at www.stayaspensnowmass.com

Kids' Krafts
The mountains are sure to inspire unique creations at this free craft hour for children. Parents can join in the fun or drop off their children to fashion unique vacation mementos such as felt animals, beaded bracelets, and bird feeders. Every Thursday from 4pm - 5pm though August 30th. Meet in the Treehouse in Base Village. The cost is FREE.

Storytelling & Sing-a-Longs Under the Stars
A crackling campfire, s'mores and hot chocolate, master storytellers, and croonin' cowboys bring the West to life in this cozy star-lit activity for families. Come snuggle up in blankets and join along in well-known camp songs and interactive tall tales. Light refreshments served. Every Wednesday, through August 30 from 7-8pm on the Snowmass Village Mall. The cost is FREE.

EuroBungy Trampoline
The world of extreme sports is just a bounce away with a bungee trampoline. Kids can leap and somersault toward the stars.All climbers are harnessed and supervised. Open daily through August at the end of the Snowmass Village Mall.

Snowmass Recreation Center
Check out this brand new facility in its inaugural year! State-of-the-art amenities include Matrix cardio equipment, a weight room, four outdoor pools with water features for kids and an adult hot tub. One day, punch, and yearly passes are available.
Visit www.stayaspensnowmass.com

The Snowmass Club - Golf & Tennis
The 18-hole, par-72 Snowmass Club Golf Course boasts a 7,008-yard semi-private course designed by Jim Engh. Voted "Best New Course" by Colorado Golf Magazine, amenities include a learning center, practice area, golf clubhouse, and the Black Saddle Bar & Grille. For tennis, 11 outdoor courts surrounded by breathtaking views of the Elk Mountain Range are available. USTPA pros offer private, semi-private and group lessons.
When: Open through October 14 (weather permitting)
Where: Snowmass Club
Contact: Golf: 970.923.9155 Tennis: 970.923.0818

Run & Gun Paintball
Snowmass offers an outdoor paintball course and lots of games at the top of the Burlingame chairlift for children ages 7 and older, and adults. Special group rates and packages available. Design your own group experience - birthdays, private parties, corporate team building, special events, and more.
When: Daily
Where: Meet in the Ticket Pavilion at the end of Snowmass Village Mall
Cost: $40/person. Group rates available. Reservations required.
Contact: 970.923.1227

Fishing: Kid's Trout Fishing Experience.
Snowmass Mountain Outfitters, end of Village Mall. Kids age 4 to 12 experience the thrill of four-wheeling to our secret mid-mountain fishing pond to land brook and rainbow trout. Three-hour morning and afternoon fishing trips are available.

For more information on these summer events and camps, visit www.stayaspensnowmass.com or call us at 1877-602-7736

(Carbondale, Colo.) - Unscripted and intimate in nature, the 5Point Festival debuts May 8-10, 2008 in Carbondale, Colorado, featuring a five-star roster of adventure films, special guests and programs to engage audiences and build passion with a conscience through the power of the moving image. All events will take place at the Carbondale Recreation Center, Thunder River Theatre and other local hot spots. The complete festival program will be announced April 1st at www.5pointfilm.org.

Confirmed special guests of the 5Point Festival include outdoor luminaries such as Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer, surfing's greatest legend Gerry Lopez, the world-renowned rock climber Tommy Caldwell, extreme kayaker Rush Sturges, Kate & Mark Rutherford, and pioneering adventurer/author Dick Dorworth. Roaring Fork Valley personalities Aron Ralston, Chris Klug and Lou Dawson, among others, will also be present.

Not your average film festival…

Event founder and dedicated mountain chic, Julie Kennedy, explains, "Our vision is to provide a forum where filmmakers, innovators and members of the community at large can gather together, share their films and ideas, build relationships and come away transformed by the experience. It is a brief moment in time when the right people come together in the right place, supported by the right creative stimulation to make real change," adds Kennedy. "That's what it's all about."

Named for the "five point" climbing grade, the new festival is built on five guiding principles: respect, commitment, humility, purpose and balance. These same principles also form a foundation for individuals who lead lives of adventure and connect those with an elemental passion to explore.

What's the point?

The 5Point Festival is on a mission to inspire adventure of all kinds, to connect generations through shared experience and respect, and to engage passion with a conscience through film.

The new festival's expanded mission provides additional perspective: On the edge between desire and fear, between the known and unknown, is a place deep inside us all where the spirit is transformed - pushed beyond its limit by our deliberate commitment to usher in something new and original. In this soulful place we are catalyzed to learn, expand and engender newfound understanding to inspire others on their journeys. It is this spirit, this thirst for adventure that the 5Point Festival celebrates and shares with the community and filmmakers that gather for its annual Festival in Carbondale.

For more information, please call 970.963.2188 or visit www.5pointfilm.org.
For a full program of the 5point festival, visit us at www.stayaspensnowmass.com

As it marks its Aspen territory.

WHAT: Aspen Animal Shelter supporters will greet Frontier Airlines' inaugural flight this Saturday, April 26. Supporters will gather with their dogs in the commercial/taxi area, where they will be visible to the arriving plane. More than 100 supporters, with their dogs, are expected to be there along with large banners welcoming this "whole different animal" to town.

WHEN: Saturday, April 26 at 9:00 a.m. to greet the arriving 9:29 a.m. Frontier plane

WHERE: Sardy Airport, outside baggage claim door in the commercial/taxi parking area.

For more information on Frontier and flying to Aspen, click here.

The Merry-Go-Round restaurant will have a beer garden and limited lunch menu with barbecue, chips and beverages. All Aspen/Snowmass season passes are valid, Adult lift tickets will be $39 per day, youth and seniors will pay $35 and children's tickets will be $25. As always children six and under ski for free.

More information on Aspen Highlands

Aspen Skiing Company is building a new Sheer Bliss lift at Snowmass for next winter. The new lift will be a high speed quad, providing easy access to Big Burn and Sheer Bliss areas. The lift is 155 feet higher than the old chair, can carry 2,000 people an hour and will reach the top in just nine minutes. A much cushier ride than the old double attached that took 16 minutes to reach the top and was built in 1975. The new lift's lower terminal lift will be downhill and on the opposite side of Cabin trail situated to reduce congestion. The new upper terminal will be on the west side and above the Cirque Lift bottom terminal providing convenient repeat use of the Cirque Terrain as well as direct access to Sneaky's trail.

Aspen Skiing Company will also open a new restaurant in the base village at Snowmass. The restaurant will be in Capital Peak "A" Lodge (Building 2A) directly on the plaza at the base of Fanny Hill. Specifics are still being finalized, but the restaurant will feature a lively apres scene, outdoor seating and a family-friendly menu. As of next winter season ASC will no longer operate The Cirque Bar and Grill location.

GO here for full news release, http://www.aspensnowmass.com/companyinfo/mediacenter/newslist.cfm

Go here to find out more information on a Snowmass ski vacation

Stay Aspen Snowmass Spring Skiing

Stay Aspen Snowmass

Frontier sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which would allow it to reorganize its debt, on Thursday after its primary credit card processor said it would withhold a greater share of proceeds from ticket sales for a longer period. Frontier wanted to prevent the move by First Data Corp.

"They are going to need our help more than ever," Tomcich said. He urged passengers to continue considering Frontier as an option. Anyone with concerns can make reservations through a travel agency and use a credit card to eliminate any potential risk, he said.

More information on Frontier flights into Aspen Snowmass.

Go here for the full article.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080412/NEWS/774689765

A different kind of animal": A baby fox on the Aspen's Q400 tail

ASPEN - Frontier Airlines executives are gearing up for the company's arrival into Sardy Field later this month.

Joe Hodas, director of corporate communications for Frontier, was in town this week with two other company executives to make the rounds with media and tourism officials.

First landing in Aspen for Frontier's Bombardier Q400, aka the "green machine".

The visit was in preparation for Frontier's debut into the Aspen market on April 26.

Hodas said he met with about 60 people, mostly tourism officials and lodging representatives, on Wednesday at a reception at the St. Regis.

The key message he delivered was stick with Frontier and Frontier will stick with Aspen.

Bill Tomcich, President of Stay Aspen Snowmass, Satnding in Front of Frontier's Bombardier Q400.

To book you Frontier flight, click here.

Hodas acknowledged that launching service during off-season is not only awkward but challenging. But the slow start will give the airline plenty of time to be prepared for the busy summer season.

"We can get the bugs out before the summer and get the loyalty of the local market," he said, adding the recently introduced commuter pass should be a shot in the arm for business in the short term.

The airline is offering a commuter pass of six or 10 one-way tickets that will allow customers to fly between Denver or Colorado Springs and Aspen at significantly reduced prices.

Travelers can purchase six one-way passes for $99 per ticket or 10 one-way passes for $89 per ticket. All travel must be completed by June 30.

Hodas said Frontier isn't ruling out going to seasonal operations to offset the costs of flying during offseason but airline executives have a wait-and-see attitude.

Frontier Airlines announced in February that it will offer five daily flights from Aspen to Denver, ending a decade-long run of virtually no competition for United Airlines in the local market.

The airline's expanded service also includes Colorado Springs, Durango and Grand Junction, along with Fargo, N.D., Jackson, Wyo., and Missoula and Bozeman in Montana.

Hodas said he will visit Durango and Jackson in coming weeks. Other company executives are traveling to the other destinations before Frontier launches in those markets.

Frontier is doing most of its marketing online and partnering with local organizations like Stay Aspen Snowmass, the resort's central reservations system. The airline also will work with the Aspen Skiing Co., the Colorado Tourism Office and Colorado Ski Country USA.

"The price point message is important here," Hodas said, adding the Aspen market was the company's highest priority for the Rocky Mountain region. "Aspen was one we always were going for. It's the crown jewel.

"It's part of a bigger plan to be the airline for Colorado," he added. "Aspen is a big identifier for that."

Hodas said Frontier will announce other Colorado destinations later this year, which may include Eagle/Vail and Steamboat Springs.

Frontier had hoped to have service started on its low-cost subsidiary, Lynx Aviation Inc., in December. The announcement has been expected for months and has been referred to by industry observers as the worst-kept secret in aviation history.

Anticipating that Aspen would be included in Frontier's expanded service plans, the airline was waiting for operating authority from the Federal Aviation Administration, which it received on Dec. 6. Frontier couldn't market its new service or sell tickets until those approvals were granted.

Lynx Aviation will operate the Bombardier Q400 into Aspen, a regional aircraft labeled as the "Green Machine," for its fuel efficiency, resiliency and speed.

"It's 35 percent more fuel efficient and has a smaller carbon footprint," Hodas said, adding fuel costs are a challenge so the Q400 gives the airline an advantage.

The aircraft has no weight restrictions in the summer and is more resilient to tailwinds than other models.

"It's a high and hot aircraft," Hodas said.

Gretchen Bleiler Takes first in the in the inaugural COVERGIRL Snow Angels Invitational in Snowmass
The World's Best Women Snowboarders Competed for a Prize of Over $20,000

Aspen/Snowmass, CO, April 5, 2008 - Gretchen Bleiler took home a significant $10,000 today, Saturday, April 5, for dominating the inaugural CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational. The competition was fierce, with nearly fifteen of the world's best women snowboarders competing for over $20,000 in prize money.

Hannah Teter
Final results:
1st - Gretchen Bleiler, Aspen, CO. - $10,000
2nd - Kelly Clark, Mount Snow, VT - $4,500
3rd - Elena Hight, South Lake Tahoe, CA - $2,000
4th - Hannah Teter, Belmont, VT - $1,000
5th - Manuela Pesko, Lenzerheide, Switzerland - $500
Best Trick - Kelly Clark with a frontside nine hundred
Highest Air - Kelly Clark
Most Progressive Riding - Gretchen Bleiler

Best Trick, highest air, and most progressive award winners received a spa therapy and message treatment good for the Snowmass Club during the ESPN Winter X Games 13, January 22-25, 2009.

Podium

In addition to these awards, every athlete who competed received a portion of the $20,000 prize purse. The competition included an hour and fifteen minute jam session with full superpipe runs.

"This first year has been above and beyond all my hopes and expectations," said Bleiler. "We had amazing weather, a perfect halfpipe, an extremely progressive session in the park and relaxing off-the-hill activities. I couldn't ask for anything more."

The Snow Angels Invitational began on Friday, April 4 and continues this evening with the Oakley's Girls Night Out at Fly Lounge, opening to the public at 11 p.m. with a $5 cover charge. The proceeds will benefit Aspen Skiing Company's Environmental Foundation.


Group Photo

The world's best snowboarders are in attendance, including Bleiler, Hannah Teter, Kelly Clark, Tricia Byrnes, Elena Hight, Clair Bidez, Soko Yamaoka, Kaitlyn Farrington, Shiho Nakashima, Ellery Hollingsworth, Paulina Ligocka, Lizzy Beerman, Meg Pugh and Manuela Pesko.

for more information, on Aspen/snowmass, click here

Snowmass Village, CO (April 4, 2008)- Snowmass Village is pleased to announce its complete line-up of festivals and events for summer, 2008. There's never been a better time to "Take 5" in Snowmass as multiple events celebrate five year anniversaries. The Aspen/Snowmass season kicks off in June with the popular 5th Annual Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, while Massive Music, The Snowmass Wellness Experience, Oktoberfest, and Ride for the Cure also celebrate fifth anniversaries.

"This is a strong and diverse summer schedule and we're thrilled to be offering so many different events for visitors and locals," says Susan Hamley, Marketing Director for Snowmass Village. "From our new calendar additions to those events celebrating anniversaries to the incredible music we offer all summer long, this is by far our strongest schedule yet."

Snowmass is home to three new events this season. In June, the Professional Disc Golf Association-sanctioned Snowmassive Disc Golf Open takes players up for 54 holes of on-mountain play. In August, the Snowmass G3 offers challenging downhill and Super D races as the newest event in the prestigious Mountain States Cup Series and includes a special new free concert by a major national act on August 9.

The third new event is the Twelve Hours of Snowmass mountain bike race which is a fundraiser for the Aspen Youth Center and Extreme Sports Camp. This dawn-to-dusk race on Snowmass' beautiful fall trails is modeled after (and excellent training for) the 24 Hours of Moab in October and takes place the same weekend as the Snowmass Balloon Festival and the Snowmass Wine & Jazz Festival.

For more information on summer activities in snowmass, call us at 1.877.602.7736 or visit www.stayaspensnowmass.com

JUNE 2: ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER. Summer workshops for adults and children begin at this renowned arts center. Internationally-respected artist faculty includes Enrique Martinez Celaya, Holly Roberts, Laura McPhee, Robin Lasser and Richard Notkin. Additional free lectures, art auctions and events are held throughout the summer. (www.andersonranch.org or 970.923.3181)

JUNE 6-8: 5TH ANNUAL CHILI PEPPER & BREW FEST. Elite invitational microbrew and International Chili Society sanctioned chili competitions and tastings are paired with outstanding concerts on Pepper Hill. Previous acts include Ziggy Marley, Del McCoury, The David Grisman Quintet, Johnny Lang and Keller Williams. (www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

JUNE 14-15: 2ND ANNUAL SNOWMASS LA SPORTIVA TRAIL RACE TRIFECTA. This weekend of trail running on Snowmass’ scenic 40 miles of trails includes a 5k, a hill climb, and a half marathon for individual and combined prizes. (www.runtherockies.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

JUNE 19-AUG 21: 36TH ANNUAL SNOWMASS RODEO. Running every Wednesday, this popular event is the oldest consecutively running community rodeo in the state and offers everything from mutton bustin' for the kids to bull riding, barrel racing, a barbecue dinner, campfires sing-a-longs and more. (www.snowmassrodeo.org or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

JUNE 21-22: NEW! SNOWMASSIVE DISC GOLF OPEN. This sanctioned PDGA tournament includes 54 holes of on-mountain play and a Doubles Best competition. Come check out one of the highest disc golf courses in the country and the only Colorado mountain resort with two 18-hole on-mountain courses. (www.snowmassvillage.com, 1.800.SNOWMASS, or ssakai@aspensnowmass.com)

JUNE 24-30: OVER THE BARS WOMEN'S BIKE CAMP. A wholistic camp designed to improve mental and physical performance for women mountain bikers, this camp is open to all levels and includes a full week of training, workshops, and other activities. (www.womensmountainbikecamp.com)

JUNE 26-AUG 21: SNOWMASS SUMMER OF FREE MUSIC SERIES. This free weekly Thursday night concert series is "one of the best line-ups of free music in the nation" (Los Angeles Times) and is programmed by the venerable Jazz Aspen/Snowmass. With the best outdoor sound system in the mountains, look for the full line-up later this spring. (www.snowmassvillage.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

JULY
JULY 3-5: INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. This patriotic extravaganza with a free outdoor concert by Mavis Staples and fireworks is the highlight of July 4 festivities in the Aspen/Snowmass area. Previous acts included The Blind Boys of Alabama and Keller Williams. (www.snowmassvillage.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

JULY 9: 11TH ANNUAL ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER RECOGNITION DINNER. Honoring the accomplishments of artists, patrons and community leaders, this evening celebrates outstanding members of the arts community. (www.andersonranch.org or 970.923.3181)

JULY 11-13: 8TH BLAST THE MASS. The prestigious Mountain States Cup Series draws over 1,000 top regional competitors to town for downhill, cross-country, and mountain-cross events for regional champion titles and UCI points. (www.racemsc.com or 970.333.1159)

JULY 20-22: SNOWMASS ANTIQUES FAIR. Forty nationally recognized antique dealers fill the Snowmass Mall with historic treasures & vintage gifts. Fine European antiques, rustic furnishings, estate jewelry, glass and fine art are just a few of the items showcased in this MC Presents event. (www.mcpresents.com or 303.570.9763)

JULY 24-26: U.S. OPEN MOUNTAINBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS. Featuring world champion riders, this premier national event holds gravity-defying competitions in Dirt Boardercross and Slopestyle Big Air. An expo, demonstrations, and the U.S. Open Mountainboard Camp with the pros round out this epic weekend. (303.886.1812 or www.usopenmountainboarding.com)

JULY 31- AUG 2: 5TH ANNUAL SNOWMASS MASSIVE MUSIC. This immensely popular and free mountain music weekend celebrates five years in 2008 and includes major national music acts performing on the Fanny Hill outdoor stage. Previous acts have included The Derek Trucks Band and John Hiatt. (www.snowmassvillage.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

AUGUST
AUGUST 2-3: MOUNTAIN MASTERPIECES ARTS FAIR. Over 40 artists gather on the Snowmass Village Mall for this decades-old Snowmass tradition that showcases beautiful works of art. Items range from inexpensive to extravagant and from photographs to pottery to clothes and jewelry. (www.snowmassvillage.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

AUGUST 8-9: 27TH SNOWMAGICAL FAMILY FUN FEST. This free weekend of events is for kids of all ages with some of the state's best magicians and performers. Workshops, movies, music, performances and nonstop entertainment await. (www.snowmassvillage.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

AUGUST 8-10: NEW! SNOWMASS G3. Riders vie against gravity in challenging downhill and Super D races as the newest event in the prestigious Mountain States Cup Series on the slopes of Snowmass. The event includes a new free G3 by a major national act. (www.racemsc.com and 970.333.1159)

AUGUST 9: ANDERSON RANCH ANNUAL ART AUCTION. Drawing more than 1,000 attendees from all across the globe, this event is one of the Aspen/Snowmass art highlights of the summer. More than 250 works of art are donated by national and local artists and auctioned in silent and live auctions. (www.andersonranch.org or 970.923.3181)

AUGUST 16-17: 5TH ANNUAL SNOWMASS WELLNESS EXPERIENCE. Encompassing all the elements of a balanced lifestyle, this weekend celebration addresses nutrition, fitness, and healthy living topics with best-selling authors and speakers, enriching workshops, cooking demonstrations, al fresco yoga and fitness classes, nature walks and more. (www.snowmasswellness.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

AUGUST 29- SEPT 1: JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS LABOR DAY FESTIVAL. This perennial favorite draws massive crowds and major headliners such as Widespread Panic, John Fogerty, Dwight Yoakam, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Jerry Douglas for spectacular mountain daytime concerts and intimate evening shows at local hot spots. (www.jazzaspen.org or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER 6: 5TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST PRESENTED BY BECK'S. The festival combines authentic German beer, music and cuisine, with more modern live music, crisp fall air and fantastic mountain views. Biergartens, street performers, kids' crafts and more toast the season with Teutonic cheer. (www.snowmassvillage.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

SEPTEMBER 6: 5TH ANNUAL ASPEN/SNOWMASS RIDE FOR THE CURE. A 100-mile bike ride between Aspen and Snowmass (with a flatter 26-mile option) celebrates fall and benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year's ride attracted 424 riders of all levels and raised $655,000 for the cause. (www.komenaspen.org or 970.920.0250)

SEPTEMBER 12-14: 33RD ANNUAL SNOWMASS BALLOON FESTIVAL. One of the highest-altitude balloon events in the country, this three-day festival sends 30 pilots airborn to compete in competitions such as Dawn Quixote where pilots joust with tethered weather balloons. The Saturday Evening Glow, where brightly colored balloons light up the night sky and twinkle on and off like stars, is a highlight. (www.snowmassballoon.com or 1.800.SNOWMASS)

SEPTEMBER 12-13: SNOWMASS WINE & JAZZ FESTIVAL. Yin to Aspen's Food & Wine Classic yang, this relaxed fall festival pairs food, wine, jazz, and fabulous fall weather. Over 80 vintners line the mall along with silent auctions, local tastings and a Winemaker's Dinner the night before. (www.snowmassrotary.org or 970.379.6577)

SEPTEMBER 14: NEW! TWELVE HOURS OF SNOWMASS. This dawn-to-dusk twelve-hour mountain bike race on Snowmass' trails benefits local youth organizations Aspen Youth Center and Extreme Sports Camp. Racers can participate in solo, team, or corporate divisions. (www.aspenyouthcenter.org or 970.544.4130)

SEPTEMBER 27: VASQUE GOLDENLEAF HALF MARATHON. Called one of the most beautiful races in the country by Trail Runner Magazine, this running race takes participants from Snowmass to Aspen over spectacular mountain trails and roads at the height of foliage season. (www.utemountaineer.com or 970.925.2849)