THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11
ARTIST CONVERSATION
The Aspen Art Museum hosts “In Conversation with Jacqueline Humphries and Glenn Ligon,” two featured artists, from 4 to 5pm. Register at www.aspenartmuseum.org
BANNED BOOK CLUB
The Banned Book Club discusses “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher at the Basalt Library from 4 to 5pm.
‘ANNIE JR.’
SoL Theatre Company continues its run of “Annie Jr.” at Thunder River Theatre at 6pm tonight, tomorrow and Saturday. Matinees are at 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Find tickets at www.soltheatrecompany.org — this event is sold out.
WINTERSKÖL IN FILM
Kick off the Wintersköl weekend at the Wheeler Opera House with a selection of “retro films,” courtesy of the Aspen Historical Society, at 5:30pm followed by a screening of ’90s favorite “Aspen Extreme” at 7pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
HANDLEBAR TRIVIA
The Homestead Handlebar (303 River Valley Ranch Road) hosts trivia night from 6 to 8pm.
FROM THE VAULT
5 Point Film presents a selection of standout films from its archive at 7pm at the Crystal Theatre. This event is sold out.
ELDER WISDOM
The Center for Human Flourishing welcomes Woo Du-An for conversation, silence, meditations, music and movement. Tickets and more at www.bit.ly/3Kk1ipX
CONSENSUAL CHRISTMAS
TACAW presents “A Consensual Christmas” tonight and tomorrow at 8pm — blending original comedy sketches with holiday-themed improv, digital shorts and more. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12
FISH AND CHIPS
The Hook food truck parks outside the Dollar Tree serving fish and chips from 11am to 7pm.
PHOTOS WITH SANTA
The Carbondale Police Department invites families to stop by The Orchard Church from 3 to 8pm for photos with Santa. Proceeds benefit the Shop with a Cop program which helps local children and families in need experience the joy of the holidays.
150ISH
Explore Books in Aspen launches a new book club featuring critically recognized novels around 150 pages from 4:30 to 6pm. The first book is “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey.
BAKING SANS OVEN
Participants bake cookies, without using a conventional oven but with other appliances, such as toaster ovens and microwaves, at the Basalt Library from 5:30 to 7pm. All supplies will be provided.
CRYSTAL THEATRE ALLIANCE
Catch “Eternity” tonight and tomorrow at 7pm and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 5pm (captioned) at the Crystal Theatre.
CUP AUCTION
The Carbondale Clay Center’s annual cup auction takes place at the Old Thompson Barn (333 River Valley Ranch Road) from 6 to 8:30pm with an afterparty featuring DJ Benny from 9 to 11pm.
GLENWOOD GRAND HOLIDAY
Glenwood Springs welcomes families to meet Santa (and the Grinch) at Bethel Plaza with live music, craft vendors and more from 3:30 to 7:30pm.
BASALT BLOCK PARTY
A Band Called Alexis performs at Basalt’s Merry on Midland block party from 4 to 6pm (with a tree lighting at 5:15pm).
SNOWMASS & HATCH
Slope & Hatch, a Glenwood Springs favorite, celebrates the opening of a new location in Snowmass Village (49 Wood Road) from 5 to 9pm with a DJ, tacos and more!
“BOTH/AND”
The Wheeler Opera House welcomes back Visual Opera for a performance of “BOTH/AND” by LUCIA, contraposing the beauty and hardship of mountain living from 5:30 to 9:30pm. This event is free and open to all.
SWEEP JESSUP
Sweet Jessup & The Dirty Buckets perform at Mountain Heart in Basalt from 6 to 8pm. Better yet, it’s an ugly sweater contest!
AI WEATHER
Roaring Fork Conservancy presents Joel Gratz of OpenSnow on AI innovations for weather, snow and avalanche risk at Bristlecone Mountain Sports from 7 to 8:30pm. Register at www.roaringfork.org
HANDEL’S MESSIAH
The Aspen Choral Society presents its 49th annual rendition of Handel’s “Messiah” at 7pm at the Wheeler Opera House tonight, Basalt Middle School tomorrow night and St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Glenwood Springs Sunday.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
PAPER ROSE WINDOWS
Jill Scher teaches making paper rose windows that imitate stained-glass using tissue paper at Colorado Mountain College’s Carbondale location from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Registration is required at coloradomtn.augusoft.net
HOLIDAY SING-ALONG
The Silt Branch Library hosts Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra for a holiday sing-along concert from 10am to noon.
FREE-FOR-ALL BOOK FAIR
Discover brand-new and gently-used reads for every age at the Free-for-All Book Fair at the Glenwood Springs Community Center from noon to 5pm.
SATANK HOLIDAY MARKET
Take Dolores Way through Satank and toward the river and you’ll find a holiday market along County Road 106 from 1 to 3pm.
GINGERBREAD BASH
Colorado Mountain College’s Carbondale location hosts gingerbread construction for kids 8 and older from 1 to 4pm. Registration is required at coloradomtn.augusoft.net
SAWLIDAYS
The Studio for Arts + Works (SAW) hosts its annual SAWlidays open house and sale at its headquarters (525 Buggy Circle, Carbondale) from 1 to 5pm. Paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass, prints and jewelry by SAW artists will be on view, and each artist’s studio will be open. There will be an art auction and a food drive benefiting Lift-Up. Details at www.sawcarbondale.com
HOLIDAY MOVIES
Continuing its holiday run, the Crystal Theatre shows “Elf” at 3pm today and Wednesday, Dec. 17, followed by “It’s a Wonderful Life,” also on Dec. 17 at 7pm.
LOL
In celebration of Aspen’s Wintersköl, local comics Beth Brandon, Dan “Gonzo” Machanik, Greg Studley and Mike Hammock perform stand-up at the Wheeler Opera House at 5pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
CONTRA DANCE
Swing on over to the Carbondale Community School for a contra dance with live music from 7:30 to 9:30pm. No need to bring a partner. Lessons at 7pm.
CHAD GOES DEEP
Following local comics, Chad and JT (known for viral antics at city council meetings) perform a live show at the Wheeler Opera House at 8pm. Tickets at www.aspenshowtix.com
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies invites folks to take part in the 126th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, covering a 15-mile diameter around Aspen. Participants meet at Hallam Lake at 7:30am and wrap up at 3pm. Register at www.aspennature.org
METAPHYSICAL FIELDS
A Spiritual Center (room 31 of the Third Street Center) hosts Carmen Iacino speaking on the challenges and limitations of three-dimensional physics, rules and procedures from 10 to 11:30am.
MEET THE MYSTERY
True Nature hosts Erin McElroy for guided breathwork and more from 10am to 4pm. Tickets at www.truenaturehealingarts.com
MOVIE MARATHON
TACAW screens “The Polar Express” at 1pm, “Elf” at 3pm and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (PG-13) at 5pm.
WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE
The Meeting Place in Carbondale hosts a white elephant gift exchange at 981 Cowen Drive at 3:30pm. Gifts should be valued at $15 or less and dinner will be provided.
ECSTATIC DANCE
Join Alya Howe for a special birthday ecstatic dance with DJ Alejandra (and friends) providing tunes at 13 Moons Ranch (6334 Highway 133) from 6 to 8pm.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15
SMALL WONDERS
The Aspen Chapel Gallery has a reception for its “Small Wonders” exhibit from 3 to 5pm. All sales benefit the Holiday Baskets nonprofit.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16
GRIEF SUPPORT
Join Sopris Lodge and HomeCare & Hospice of the Valley at the Carbondale Library for grief support on the third Tuesday of each month at 3:30pm. This session will be led by Thom Jones, worship pastor at Grace Church of the Roaring Fork Valley. RSVP at www.soprislodge.com/events or by calling 970-432-8772.
VISITING ARTIST
Meet artist Joel Mesler at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass Village as he shares about his paintings from 4:30 to 5:30pm.
NORDIC SOCIAL
Members of the Mt Sopris Nordic Council are invited to kick off the Nordic and skate skiing season with a toast at El Dorado. Members will receive a drink ticket between 5 and 7pm.
DRAWING CLUB
The Roaring Fork Drawing Club gathers this week at the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale at 6:30pm.
CHANGEMAKER SPEAK
For its next Changemaker Speaker Series event, the Wheeler Opera House presents “Exploring our Wild Nature: Wolves, Chimps & Gorillas,” featuring wildlife biologist Ronan Donovan, at 7pm. Tickets at www.wheeleroperahouse.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17
REINDEER AT THE LIBRARY
A pair of reindeer from Noel Productions will be hanging at the Carbondale Library from 2 to 4pm. All are welcome to come see.
HERBERT BAYER
Andrew Travers speaks about the bird and death of Herbert Bayer’s “Walk in Space Painting” which disappeared in 2024, apparently destroyed by its current owner, at the Aspen Institute’s Bayer Center from 2 to 3pm.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
TAROT READINGS
Todd at Crystal Tuning in Glenwood Springs (802 Grand Avenue) offers tarot readings every Thursday from 1 to 3pm.
MOONLIGHT RACE
Sunlight and Cripple Creek Backcountry team up for an uphill race up the mountain! With races at 6 and 8pm. Find details at www.sunlightmtn.com/events
FUNGI FILM FEST
The Western Colorado Mycological Association presents the sixth annual Fungi Film Fest, to include 14 short films “that are often funny, intriguing, bizarre and always strange,” at the Crystal Theatre at 7pm.
HOLIDAY CABARET
Theatre Aspen and TACAW present “All I Want for Christmas: A Holiday Cabaret,” “featuring a special performance starring the best of Broadway,” at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19
SOLSTICE AT THE LIBRARY
The Basalt Library hosts a celebration of the shortest day and longest night of the year from 5:30 to 7pm, featuring storytelling, warm beverages and more.
‘THE NUTCRACKER’
Crystal River Ballet performs “The Nutcracker” at Basalt Middle School tonight and tomorrow at 6:30pm. Catch a 2pm showing tomorrow or Sunday. Tickets at www.tinyurl.com/CrystalRiverNutcracker
DRUM & BASS
McMission Presents throws a drum and bass party at The Cocoa Club in Carbondale from 8 to 11pm. Ugly sweaters encouraged!
QUEEN BEES
The Queen Bees perform a holiday show at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
BONEDALE BONANZA
The town-wide Bonedale Winter Bonanza kicks off at 10am in Carbondale for a day of holiday cheer, cozy charm and shopping local. A pop-up holiday farmer’s market, to include local jams, meats and more, will be open at The Launchpad today (10am to 4pm) and tomorrow (11am to 4pm).
WINTER FARMERS MARKET
Stop by The Launchpad today (10am to 4pm) and tomorrow (11am for 3pm) for locally-produced culinary goods. Deck the Walls continues through Dec. 24 (closing at 2pm) with unique gifts for sale crafted by local makers.
REDSTONE COOKIE EXCHANGE
Make three-dozen cookies, divide them into six cookies per container and exchange them with other bakers at the Redstone Gazebo at noon.
TWO RIVERS SOLSTICE
Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists and The Center for Human Flourishing invite the community to a two-part solstice celebration, “The Longest Night: Persephone’s Journey.” It’s “an unusual blend of ceremony, participatory ritual, music and myth,” beginning with the “Descent Into Darkness” in the Community Hall at the Third Street Center at 7pm tonight and continuing tomorrow morning (10am) with “Return of the Light” in the Calaway Room. Details at www.truu.org/event
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
COMEDY AT TACAW
Comedian Pete Lee performs at TACAW at 8pm. Tickets at www.tacaw.org