Aspen Snowmass
Aspen Snowmass salutes to springtime in the mountains with an abundance of free events across all four peaks. Events range from three Bud Light Hi-Fi concerts headlined with acts such as Big Gigantic, Terrain Park Boot Camps at Snowmass, a Bacon Appreciation Day at Buttermilk, two fireworks shows in Snowmass and more. In addition to spring event happenings, Aspen Snowmass continues to provide over 5,000 acres of spring skiing/riding across the four peaks of Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk.
16th Annual Bud Light Spring Jam – March 18-27
The 16th annual Bud Light Spring Jam, the premier spring festival in the Rocky Mountains, will bring two weekends of competitions, downtown concerts and parties to Aspen Snowmass. The festival features everything from the 17th annual KickAspen Big Air, where skiers and snowboarders compete under the lights at the base of Aspen Mountain, to free Bud Light Hi-Fi Concerts with acts such as Nahko & Medicine for the People, Big Gigantic and Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers. Other events include a snowboard Banked Slalom competition, fireworks shows after the Bud Light Hi-Fi concerts, Terrain Park Boot Camp sessions that offer instruction on how to slide a box or hit a rail in a mini-park at Snowmass as well as the inaugural Colorado Collegiate Freeride Championships.
17th Annual KickAspen Big Air Invitational – March 18 at Aspen Mountain
The 17th Annual KickAspen Big Air night competition will feature 20 invited skiers and 20 invited snowboarders that battle it out under the lights on a big air terrain park jump located at the base of Aspen Mountain. Athletes will compete to take home a portion of the large $7,000 prize purse that will be divvied up amongst first, second and third place finishers as well as the athletes that throw down the best trick in both skiing and snowboarding. For spectators, the event is free to watch and will include music by DJ Naka G and a Bud Light beer garden.
Colorado Collegiate Freeride Championships – March 19-20 at Snowmass
In its inaugural year, The Colorado Collegiate Freeride Championships is headed to Aspen Snowmass as an IFSA-Sanctioned Freeride World Qualifier. Skiers and Snowboarders ages 18-24 (or registered college students) will take on a technically challenging course on Snowmass and will be judged on line choice, fluidity, control, technique, style and energy.
Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert: Nahko and Medicine for the People – March 19 at Snowmass
Kicking off the 16th annual Bud Light Spring Jam, Nahko and Medicine for the People will hit the stage in Snowmass Base Village at 4 p.m. Nahko, an Oregon-native born a mix of Puerto Rican, Native American and Filipino bloodlines considers himself a citizen in service to the planet. Disillusioned by the world around him and inspired by vagabond, Americana musicians and storytellers like Conor Oberst and Bob Dylan, Nahko left home as a teenager in search of adventure and self-discovery. He began producing a public, musical journal of his journey toward personal, spiritual and social healing, and, thus, Medicine for the People was born. Nahko describes his music as a mix of hip-hop and folk rock with a world message. Satsang, a unique blend of reggae, folk and hip hop, will open the show with a set at 3 p.m. The evening will finish with a special fireworks show at 8 p.m.
Terrain Park Boot Camp – March 19-20 & 26-27 at Snowmass
Over the course of two weekends in March (Mar. 1920 and Mar. 2627), Aspen Snowmass offers Terrain Park Boot Camps at Snowmass which provide the perfect opportunity to learn rails, boxes and jumps from professional coaches and athletes. Part of the annual Bud Light Spring Jam, the clinics offer features that are the perfect size for beginners of all ages. The event is free to participants.
Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert CORE Party featuring Big Gigantic – March 25 in downtown Aspen
Colorados own Big Gigantic will be the featured performer at this years free Core Party, the most anticipated outdoor concert of the season and the pinnacle of the Bud Light Spring Jam. The Core Party is situated in the heart of downtown Aspen, on the corner of Cooper St. and Galena St. where DJ Naka G will warm-up the crowd with a set starting at 8 p.m. The main act, Big Gigantic, will hit the stage at 9 p.m. The Core Party will feature a beer garden with proceeds benefitting the Aspen Environment Foundation, a mobile food truck called The Sled serving up quick and fresh culinary creations and event sponsor prize giveaways prior to the show.
Banked Slalom – March 26 at Buttermilk
The third annual Banked Slalom snowboard event will take place at Buttermilk on the footprint of the X Games snowboardcross course. Join or watch as the local snowboard community gathers to enjoy a friendly competition. This year, the race will consist of two Banked Slalom courses on which snowboarders will take one run on each. Competitors combined time from each course will determine the winner. Also, participants are invited to join in a course build day, Thursday, Mar. 24. Course build workers will receive preferred course access, design input opportunities and a special gift. Entry fee is $30 and advance registration is required. Visit www.aspensnowmass.com/while-you-are-here/events/banked-slalom to sign-up now.
Aspen Snowmass
Elk Mountain Grand Traverse – March 26-27; Aspen to Crested Butte
This 40-mile backcountry ski race spans across an old mail route from the 1880s 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 athletes mental and physical toughness.
Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert: Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers – March 26 at Snowmass
Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers will be the headlining performance at the final installment of this season’s Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series at 4 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 26. Nicki is often recognized from her cameo performances with bands like Galactic, The Avett Brothers, Bob Weir, Karl Denson and Grace Potter. Over the past three years, the group has evolved into a bona-fide band and a notable force to be reckoned with in the rock, soul and folk genre. Up and coming local duo Hurricane Carter will open the show at 3 p.m. The evening will wrap-up with a special fireworks display at 8 p.m.
Smith Optics Grudge Match – April 3 at Buttermilk
The Smith Optics Grudge Match is a snowboard only rail jam event that will take place Apr. 3 at Buttermilk Mountain. Featuring a head-to-head bracket style snowboard competition, the winner will take home $1,000 in cash and a pair of Smith I/O goggles. The event will also include food and drinks specials as well as a DJ playing in the Bumps Restaurant patio area. Registration for the rail jam is free.
Bacon Appreciation Day – April 3 at Buttermilk
In celebration of Buttermilks closing day, the mountain hosts an annual Bacon Appreciation Day featuring a schedule of all things bacon including bacon waffles at the summit in the morning, bacon samplers around the mountain throughout the day, kids games in the base area, a bacon and beer happy hour at Bumps restaurant as well as a bartenders brawl featuring Aspen Skiing Company bartenders duking it out for the honors of the best bacon inspired cocktail. A cost is associated with the lunches, happy hour and the bartenders brawl, but all other bacon items are free while supplies last.
Schneetag – April 10 at Aspen Highlands
Taking place Sunday, Apr. 10 at the bottom of Aspen Highlands, the eightannual Schneetag (pronounced Sch-knee Tog) invites teams of four to create a craft they will pilot down a slope and attempt to float across a 75 by 20 foot pond. Schneetag is the German word for “snow day.” Put simply, it translates to “daredevils willing to propel themselves down a hill, over a jump and across a pond on a craft they built themselves.” Each team will present a theme and perform a skit before they descend. Entry is free, but pre-registration is required. Visit https://www.aspensnowmass.com/while-you-are-here/events/schneetag to register now.
For more information about Aspen Snowmass, visit www.aspensnowmass.com or call (800) 525-6200. Follow Aspen Snowmass @aspensnowmass on Twitter and Instagram or at www.facebook.com/aspensnowmass.
