Aspen Snowmass announces the 2019 spring events line-up that includes a variety of free events across all four mountains. This year’s calendar contains a host of returning signature events as well as newer happenings throughout the months of March and April.
New to the event calendar this spring, Aspen Snowmass will host The Après Music Festival Apr. 5-7 featuring the main acts of The String Cheese Incident and Umphrey’s McGee.
Back for the 19th year in-a-row, the Bud Light Spring Jam Festival will see the return of Freestyle Friday, the Banked Slalom, free Bud Light Hi-Fi concerts, and more. Other spring favorites will include Bacon Appreciation Day and Sunset Skiing alongside newer events such as the Helly Hansen 4 Mountain Mission and Aspen Mountain 80’s Prom Closing Day.
2019 Spring Events Calendar
19th Annual Bud Light Spring Jam Festival
Mar. 15-24
Aspen Snowmass
The 19th annual Bud Light Spring Jam, the premier spring festival in the Rocky Mountains, will bring a schedule filled with competitions, concerts and parties to Aspen Snowmass. The festival features everything from free Bud Light Hi-Fi Core Party Concerts with acts such as Chromeo and Robert Randolph & The Family Band, to competitions such as the Banked Slalom, Freestyle Friday, KickAspen Big Air and the Helly Hansen 4 MTN Mission.
Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert: Chromeo
Mar. 15
Core Party Downtown Aspen
Chromeo, a world famous Canadian electro-funk duo, will kick-off the annual Bud Light Spring Jam Festival with a performance downtown Aspen as part of the free Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series. The Montreal duo of David Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel first came together musically when Macklovitch joined Gemayel’s band. When the band fell apart, the duo began producing music together. In 2004 David and Patrick (or Dave 1 and P-Thuggg as they are known) released their debut album entitled ‘She’s In Control’ which cemented their sound. On tour after the release of their highly anticipated LP: Head Over Heels, Chromeo returns to the Aspen stage. The downtown Aspen Core Party will take place Mar. 15 on the corner of Cooper Ave. and Galena St. and will include a Bud Light beer garden with proceeds going to Aspen Skiing Company’s Environment Foundation and Caring for Community Fund. DJ Naka G will hit the stage at 8 p.m. followed by the main act, Chromeo.
Sunset Skiing and Sundeck Party
Mar. 15
Aspen Mountain
Sunset skiing returns to Aspen Mountain Friday, Mar. 15 with extended ski/ride hours followed by a party at the Sundeck hosted by the Après Ski Cocktail Classic. The Silver Queen Gondola and Ajax Express will run until 6 p.m. for sunset turns. The Sundeck will host a party under the stars until 9 p.m. complete with live entertainment, drink specials, s’mores kits, food and a dance party. Food and drinks will be served until 8:30 p.m. and the last gondola ride down will be 9 p.m. The event is free for kids ages three and under as well as Aspen Snowmass season passholders. The gondola is $10 for foot passengers after 4 p.m., not including lift access for skiing and riding. For more details, call 970-429-6971.
Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert: Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Mar. 16
Core Party Downtown Aspen
Robert Randolph & The Family Band will round-out night two of the Bud Light Spring Jam Festival Core Party with a free concert downtown Aspen as part of the Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series. The band’s unique combination of rock, funk, soul and jazz will hit the stage at 9 p.m. after opener DJ Naka G performs at 8 p.m. Randolph, the renowned pedal steel guitarist, vocalist and songwriter led a childhood and adolescence upholding a long but little known gospel music tradition called sacred steel with members of his own family. Known for improvisational sets and dazzling steel guitar performances Robert Randolph & The Family Band will have everyone dancing. The downtown Aspen Core Party will take place Mar. 16 on the corner of Cooper Ave. and Galena St. and will include a Bud Light beer garden with proceeds going to Aspen Skiing Company’s Environment Foundation and Caring for Community Fund.
Terrain Park Boot Camp Presented by Noosa
Mar. 16-17 and Mar. 23-24
Snowmass
As part of the Bud Light Spring Jam Festival, Aspen Snowmass will host two weekends of Terrain Park Boot Camp presented by Noosa. This event gives amateurs and kids the opportunity to learn skills on terrain park features such as rails, boxes and jumps under the supervision of Aspen Snowmass based professional ski and snowboard athletes. Terrain Park Boot Camp will be held on Fanny Hill in Snowmass Mar. 16-17 and Mar. 23-24. This event is free and open to the public, helmets are required and minors must have a waiver signed by a guardian.
Helly Hansen 4 MTN Mission
Mar. 17
Aspen Snowmass
The Helly Hansen 4 MTN Mission will take participants on an adventure across the four ski areas of Aspen Snowmass. The event will take place within the timeframe of one day and will begin in Aspen and end in Snowmass. Similar to a scavenger hunt, teams will follow clues to designated locations and earn points along the way. The event will kick-off at 9 a.m. in Aspen’s Upper Gondola Plaza and the after party and awards ceremony will take place in Snowmass Base Village from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in conjunction with the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Teams will use a mobile phone app to navigate between the designated check-points on Snowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain. Prizes from Aspen Snowmass’ partners, including Helly Hansen, Stance, Smith Optics, Rylo, Audi, Supergoop, RX Bar, Coca Cola and more, will be awarded when teams reach certain thresholds. The total number of points collected across the four mountains will determine the winner. All registrants will receive Helly Hansen gloves for signing up.
Freestyle Friday
Mar. 22
Aspen Highlands
Aspen Highlands will once again host Freestyle Friday, an event which consists of freestyle skiers competing in a single elimination competition where they will race side-by-side down a course consisting of bumps and jumps. The winner will be crowned by a combination of the fastest time and overall trick impression. The competition will begin at 1 p.m. and consist of two divisions; Men’s and Women’s 16 and over and Boy’s and Girl’s 15 and under. For the men’s and women’s brackets prizing will consist of $250 for first place, $175 for second place and $75 for third place. For the Boy’s and Girl’s category, prizing will be awarded as $150 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place. Entry costs $25 and online registration is available here. Day of registration will be available at the Bud Light tent outside the Merry-Go-Round restaurant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Helmets are mandatory.
KickAspen Big Air
Mar. 22
Aspen Mountain
KickAspen Big Air is a one-night ski and snowboard Big Air competition in which 20 invited skiers and 20 invited snowboarders battle it out under the lights at the base of Aspen Mountain. Athletes will compete to take home a portion of the $5,000 prize purse, with $1,500 going to first place, $750 going to second place and $250 going to third place in both the ski and snowboard disciplines. The competition will begin at 8 p.m. and include music and a Bud Light beer garden.
Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert: Snakehips
Mar. 23
Aspen Mountain Gondola Plaza
Continuing the free Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series, Snakehips will perform Mar. 23 in the Aspen Mountain Gondola Plaza at 7:30 p.m. The UK duo, Oliver Lee and James Carter, have garnered a growing reputation for their unique signature sound; a sensual, contemporary take on old school R&B, influenced by 90s hip-hop throwbacks and 1970s string samples.
Slash the Mass Banked Slalom
Mar. 24
Snowmass
The sixth annual Aspen Snowmass Banked Slalom Snowboard Race will take place on Garrett’s Gulch trail at Snowmass Mar. 24. Join or watch as the local snowboarding community gathers for a day of fast-turning and friendly competition. All participants are invited to join in community course build days Mar. 16 and 23. Course build workers will receive preferred course access, design input opportunities, lunch and a special gift. Entry fee is $35 and advance online registration is required. Proceeds to benefit the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club’s Snowboard Program. Visiting registered racers may purchase a discounted racer lift ticket for $52. Bib pickup will take place in the Snowmass Village Mall Ticket Pavilion Sunday, Mar. 24 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. To register and for more information, email race director Tyler Lindsay attlindsay@aspensnowmass.com. Helmets are mandatory.
Elk Mountain Grand Traverse
Mar. 30-31
Crested Butte to Aspen
This 40-mile backcountry ski race spans an old mail route from the 1880’s that connects the towns of Aspen and Crested Butte. The race begins at midnight in Crested Butte and climbs more than 7,800 vertical feet before the extreme endurance event comes to an end in Aspen. In order to maintain safety, the race is done in teams of two and all racers must have the mandatory gear in order to compete. The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse has been a staple event since 1998 and truly tests athlete’s mental and physical toughness.
Aspen Ascent
Mar. 31
Buttermilk
In partnership with the City of Aspen, the Aspen Ascent uphill festival will return for the third year in a row at Buttermilk with gear demos, vendors, and uphill clinics Mar. 31 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The vendor village will be located at the base of Buttermilk and feature a chance for participants to demo the latest uphill gear as well as partake in clinics. The beginner and intermediate clinics will take place every half-hour at 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Expert clinics will take place every hour at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. All clinics will begin at the base area in the event village. Designated uphill routes will be used by all participants. Four Mountain Sports will be open for the weekend with uphill gear rentals and other end of season specials. Parking at Buttermilk is free and open to the public.
The Après Music Festival
Apr. 5-7
Buttermilk
Aspen Snowmass will play host to a brand-new, music and mountain festival at the base of Buttermilk Mountain on Panda Peak, Apr. 5-7 with three days of music, spring skiing and riding and the celebration of Buttermilk closing weekend. The Après, promoted in collaboration with renowned music venue The Belly Up, will include live performances by Umphrey’s McGee on Friday, Apr. 5 followed by two nights of performances by The String Cheese Incident Saturday and Sunday Apr. 6-7. Tickets are now on-sale with the option to buy a three-day music pass for $99.99 or a three-day music pass plus two-day Aspen Snowmass lift ticket for $219.99. The concert gates will open at 4 p.m. daily. The festival will take place snow or shine. For more information visit, https://www.aspensnowmass.com/theapres.
Bacon Appreciation Day
Apr. 7
Buttermilk
In celebration of Buttermilk’s closing day, the mountain hosts an annual Bacon Appreciation Day featuring a schedule of all things bacon including bacon waffles at the Cliffhouse starting at 9 a.m., bacon doughnuts at 10:30 a.m., bacon samplers around the mountain from 11 a.m.-it runs out. There will be a bacon and beer happy hour at Bumps restaurant from 2 to 4 p.m. A cost is associated with the lunches and happy hour but all other bacon items are free while supplies last.
In conjunction with Bacon Appreciation Day, Buttermilk will also host an uphilling event called ‘Fueled by Bacon Sizzle Up’ that will begin at 8 a.m. at the base (registration day-of starting at 7:30 a.m. at the base of Buttermilk) and end at the Cliffhouse. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Costume, the Center Cut (person who is in the middle of the pack) and for the fastest, with additional prizes raffled off as well. Bacon will be available at the base and finish line and bacon waffles will be served at the Cliffhouse. Cost is $15 for individuals and $40 for a family of four. To register online prior to the event visit, www.aspensnowmass.com/while-you-are-here/events/bacon-appreciation-day.
Smith Optics Grudge Match
Apr. 7
Buttermilk
The Smith Optics Grudge Match, a snowboard only event, returns to Buttermilk for closing day, on a specially constructed plaza-style terrain park. Competitors will spin the “trick wheel” to determine the maneuvers performed by all competitors, and a panel of shred celebrity judges will pick their favorites to determine a top eight for the final jam. Registration is free, and will take place at Radio Boardshop in downtown Aspen. The winner will take home $1,000 in cash and a pair of Smith I/O goggles. The rail jam will take place just off the deck at Bumps providing the perfect venue to grab a Bud Light and watch all the action.
Red Bull Homerun
Apr. 13
Snowmass
Sponsored by Red Bull, this intense skiing/snowboarding competition is a downhill sprint from top-to-bottom at Snowmass Ski Area. Skiers and Snowboarders will start together in a Le Mans-style mass sprint to strap into their gear. Then, racers will go as fast as possible down a marked course and finish at the base. The fastest man and woman, in both skiing and snowboarding, will take home a trophy, an Ikon Pass, a Red Bull prize pack and of course, bragging rights. There will also be a separate prize category created for “Dressed for Success.” Each competitor will be assigned a commemorative race bib which will provide access to the après-ski party in Snowmass Village where DJ Naka G and DJ DC will be performing. Participant registration is open here for just $25. Those who register must be at least 18 years of age to participate.
Second Annual Surf & Snow Beach Party Presented by Goslings
Apr. 20
Elk Camp Restaurant, Snowmass
For the third year in a row, Elk Camp restaurant at Snowmass will host an end-of-season party featuring free leis, a dance party, and margarita blender bikes. As the party comes to an end, party-goers ski down to the base in just their swimsuits. New this year, the Surf & Snow Beach Party will play host to a pond skim. Both skiers and snowboarders are invited to participate in the pond skim.
Aspen Mountain 80’s Prom Closing Day Party Presented by Goslings
April 21
Aspen Mountain
Aspen Mountain will round-out the ski season with an 80’s Prom Closing Day Party presented by Goslings, Sunday, Apr. 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sundeck. The party will include drink specials with Gosling Rum, a DJ spinning tunes and a prom King and Queen crowned during the event.
For more information about spring events, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/while-you-are-here/events.
For lodging deals and packages at Aspen Snowmass, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/plan-your-stay/packages-and-deals.
Spring event sponsors include Bud Light, Rylo, Audi, Helly Hansen, Coca Cola, Noosa Yogurt, Lavazza, Alchemy, Snowmass Tourism, Belly Up Aspen, Smith, Hublot, Goslings, RXBAR and Head.
