Summer 2019 is the perfect time to visit Aspen and Snowmass in Colorado. This year several of Aspen’s great institutions are celebrating important anniversaries. The celebrations will showcase the best that Aspen has to offer. From incredible music to inspiring films, travel PR agency Pilot PR discovers there is something for everyone in Aspen and Snowmass this summer.
Here are our tips for what’s happening and when, so you can join in with the festivities:
100th Anniversary of Bauhaus - January to August 2019
Aspen is participating in the world-wide centennial anniversary celebrations of the Bauhaus School. The Bauhaus School was a Modernist Art School established by Walter Gropius in 1919 in Germany. The school focused on the idea that all of the Arts were equal and should be integrated together.
In 1946, Herbert Bayer, a Bauhaus teacher of typography and design, was invited by Walter Paepcke to move to Aspen. Paepcke wanted him to help design a cultural utopia. This all fed into 'The Aspen Idea', a philosophy that still influences and shapes the City of Aspen today. During his time in Aspen, Bayer left many enduring monuments to the Bauhaus, and these can still be seen today. For instance, the Anaconda sculpture at Aspen Meadows is in the Bauhaus style. Another example of the Bauhaus style can be seen at the Aspen Institute.
To celebrate the legacy that Herbert Bayer left Aspen, there is a calendar of events from January to August 2019. These will be arranged by several organizations including the Aspen Art Museum, the Aspen Institute, and Aspen Film among others. Further information: Bauhaus 100 Aspen.
70th Anniversary celebrations of the Aspen Music Festival & School June 27 – Aug 18
The Aspen Music School and Festival is the USA’s leading classical summer music festival. This year, the music school and festival is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The occasion will be marked by more than 400 classical music events from late June to mid- August.
These events will include concerts, solo and chamber performances, master classes as well as a select programme for children. This year, the theme will focus on “being American”; highlighting the role immigration has played on classical music. Guests can enjoy musical works by Gershwin, Ives and Wynton Marsalis, as well as poetry by Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. There will also be performances from acclaimed musicians such as Renee Fleming, Joshua Bell, Edgar Meyer and Sara Chang.
40th Anniversary of Aspen’s Film Fest - Sept 23 -29
Aspen’s annual FilmFest is observing its 40thanniversary this year. The festival focuses on acclaimed independent films and documentaries, from the international film circuit. The festival audience will be among the first in America to view these films. Furthermore, they will have the chance to have panel discussions with the filmmakers themselves, and to be inspired to create their own films.
40th Anniversary of Aspen Art Museum
Founded in 1979, Aspen Art Museum is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year. Aspen Art Museum showcases an ever-changing range of contemporary art from a variety of artists.
Aspen Art Museum aims to display the newest and most innovative works in order to be thought-provoking and educational. This summer, Rashid Johnson and Margaret Kilgallen will display works to mark the anniversary.
In addition to displaying the latest works from relevant, contemporary artists, the museum is housed in a fittingly innovative building. Designed by Pritzker prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, the design of the building is based on transparency and open view planes - so effectively bringing the outside in.
The rooftop restaurant, So Cafe, offers 360 degree views of the City and Aspen Mountain making this a must-visit in its own right!
15th Anniversary of the Aspen Ideas Festival June 20-29
Finally, the Aspen Ideas Festival is also celebrating an important anniversary this year. The festival will bring together international leaders to discuss ideas that will impact the future. This year’s festival is divided into three parts. The first part will be Aspen Ideas Health, which will examine pressing issues in the world of medicine and health. festival 1 (June 23 - 25) and festival 2 (June 26 – 29) will follow. Both festivals 1 and 2 focus on topics such as “Hope Made Visible/Innovation by Design” and Mental Health.
The Ideas Festival is open to the public, and guests are encouraged to interact with people from all walks of life. These include economists, artists, scientists and entrepreneurs. The Aspen Ideas Festival is a chance to gain new perspectives and challenge outdated outlooks.
New Openings
As well as enjoying all the exciting celebrations taking place this summer, visitors can stay at two new hotels. The Limelight Hotel Snowmass and the W Aspen.
The Limelight opened in December 2018 in Snowmass Base Village, next to the Elk Camp Gondola. Featuring 99 spacious guest rooms, The Limelight comes equipped with a bar and restaurant, a children’s game area and fitness facilities.
In addition, The Limelight offers an expanded continental breakfast, après ski in the Limelight Lounge, live music, a ski concierge and pet-friendly rooms.
One of the highlights of this hotel is that it's home to Colorado’s largest indoor rock-realistic climbing wall, towering 54 feet high. The five-story climbing wall has a granite-like surface that mimics what it’s like to climb the popular Grotto area on Independence Pass. Furthermore, the climbing wall is free for hotel guests and includes climbing shoes and harness rental.
Located on Aspen Mountain, the new W Aspen is a mountain chalet designed to give guests a sense of alpine adventure. Slated to open this July, W Aspen will have 88 guest rooms, suites & 11 residences featuring bespoke furnishings influenced by the decadence of the 70s.
There will be WET Deck, an all-weather rooftop with a fire-pit and live DJ sets. Additionally, there will be a Living Room Lounge and walk-up terrace, perfect for Après Ski. The terrace will serve bar snacks and exquisite drinks, accompanied by music from local DJs. W Aspen will also have its own underground nightclub, Retox at 39°, where you will be able to dance the night away.
For further information and to join in with the celebrations, please visit www.aspenchamber.org