Everyone knows the winter Aspen, when the streets and surrounding slopes of the tiny resort town swell with celebrities and socialites and all their attendant glitz and glamor.
Which is why we much prefer summer Aspen, when its artsy side emerges with concerts, art talks and museum events — many of them free.
Here are our summertime picks for what to see — and where to stay — in this Rocky Mountain retreat.
Artcrush and Aspen Art Museum opening
Cool contemporary art isn’t solely the province of New York and Miami. Aspen boasts a thriving cutting-edge art scene that’s about to get even edgier — thanks to the opening of the new 33,000-square-foot Shigeru Ban-designed Aspen Art Museum.
If you want a sneak peek of the new space before it opens to the public, buy tickets ($4,000/two) to the 10th annual ArtCrush gala, taking place Aug. 1 on the museum grounds with a live auction featuring work by art-world bigwigs like Laurie Simmons, Terence Koh, Gabriel Orozco and Ai Weiwei.
If you can’t make the event, the museum’s public grand opening begins Aug. 9 at 5 p.m., with a free 24-hour program of art, music, film, talks and more.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass
It may be called a jazz festival, but it’s a rather liberal definition of jazz when folks like Ziggy Marley, Earth, Wind & Fire and Carrie Underwood are the headliners.
Regardless, it will be a Labor Day weekend filled with great music in a fantastic outdoor setting, at Snowmass Town Park in Snowmass Village. Aug. 29 to Aug. 31. Single-day tickets, $65 and $75; three-day passes, $180.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center
The Symposium Series is the centerpiece of the summer season at this artists’ community located in Snowmass Village.
This year’s two-day event, titled “Making the Change They Want To See,” features director Steve McQueen (of 2014’s Oscar-winning film “12 Years a Slave”), along with noted visual artist Mel Chin and performance artist Pedro Reyes (tickets, $500).
If that’s too pricey, consider the free Featured Artists Series, where noted artists visit the center to present and chat about their work. Upcoming talks include photographer Catherine Opie (July 31) and sculptor Ron Nagle (Aug. 7).
Where to stay
Just for summertime visitors, the 173-room Viceroy Snowmass has put together a series of seasonal packages at its dreamy 7,000-square-foot spa. The Summer Spa Indulgence program includes “Invigorate,” which begins with a one-hour private fitness training session and ends with a half-hour Alpine express massage to release stress and improve circulation ($240), while the “Path to Tranquility” massage is priced at $125 (reg. $165). Through Nov. 2. (Rooms from $175/night.)
The 179-room St. Regis Aspen is offering a Summer Resort Credit, available through Sept. 17 with a three-night minimum length of stay in Deluxe or Grand Deluxe rooms. It includes a $100 food and beverage credit for each night. (Rooms from $479/night.)