14th March 2016 - Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado are delighted to announce a series of exciting events, launches and anniversaries this Summer. With the addition of new mountain bike trails in Snowmass, a new “Very Important Kids” V.I.K. Summer Programme, the 50th anniversary of Anderson Ranch Arts Centre, the opening of The Cooking School of Aspen, and the 25th Anniversary of the Snowmass Free Summer Concert Series, the two destinations offer a vibrant summer playground for outdoor enthusiasts, health advocates, music lovers and family travellers alike.

NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS & BIKING EVENTS

• NEW 25 MILE SNOWMASS LOOP TRAIL – With over 90 miles of trails, Snowmass is a mountain biker's heaven, whether it's a gravity-defying rush of a world-class downhill trail or a gentle single track through meadows bursting with wildflowers. From lift-served terrain to cross country trails, Snowmass offers some of Colorado's best mountain biking trails.

The new Snowmass Loop trail debuts in late June 2016, consisting of 25 miles of sinuous and continuous single track combining over 10 different trails beginning and ending at Town Park by the Snowmass Recreation Center. The terrain ranges from high desert and Oak mountain shrub lands to cool shaded Conifer forest and it can be divided into three or four different routes. A further three miles of trail will be added by the end of Summer 2016 with the addition of the “7-Star Trail,” which will connect the North Rim to the Ditchline Trail in Sky Mountain Park in Snowmass.

NEW PROGRAMMES & EVENTS

• V.I.K. PROGRAMME – Following its successful debut this winter, Snowmass Village is offering a new “Very Important Kids” V.I.K. Summer Programme. Activities will include mountain fishing, tennis, wildflower hikes, family biking, kids' crafts, mountainboarding, family pool day, BBQs, day camps for kids, free concerts and bowling to entertain the little ones. A full calendar of V.I.K. events and activities is available at www.VIKSnowmass.com.

• SNOWMASS ICE AGE DISCOVERY CENTER – With FREE ADMISSION this summer, Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Centre is built for kids but will charm adults as well with its creative displays, educational panels and interactive programming. Guests can touch mammoth and mastodon teeth, wonder at a half-sized 6-foot Wooden Mammoth Skeleton, read Ice Age books, see video from Denver Museum of Nature & Science and learn the story of the Snowmass Ice Age discovery.

• SNOWMASS RODEO – The longest running rodeo in Colorado is celebrating its 44th anniversary this summer. This authentic Western event includes fun for the whole family with bull riding, barrel racing, team roping and kids' activities. Campfire sing-a-longs and marshmallow roasts complete a perfect Colorado evening. (Wednesday nights, 8th June – 17th August 2016)

• NEW AND RETURNING MAJOR EVENTS – In Snowmass Craft-Beer Rendezvous on 11th June, more than 50 craft brewers from around the state will each showcase multiple beers in a grand tasting, and there will be homebrew workshops and a pre-event 5k run as well. Also, returning this summer are the popular culinary events Heritage Fire and Grand Cochon, the Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highlands Games.

FOOD & WINE NEWS

• COOKING SCHOOL OF ASPEN will open in spring 2016 in downtown Aspen offering recreational classes, celebrity guest chefs, team building events and private parties.

• David Burke Group has launched ASPEN KITCHEN, an artisanal market-to-table restaurant in the heart of downtown Aspen. Led by executive Chef Matthew O'Neill, Aspen Kitchen showcases Chef Burke's classic style of cooking, featuring authentic, all-American ingredients with items sourced locally from Colorado along with an inspired beverage menu and handcrafted cocktails. The outdoor terrace offers breathtaking views of Aspen Mountain and downtown.

• NELLO ALPINE by famed restaurateur Nello Balan has recently opened serving Italian cuisine in the dining room while the bar and terrace features food highlighting iconic mountain ranges around the world including Los Andes, the Alps, Mt. Fuji and the Colorado Rockies.

• Slopeside Bowling Alley – The Slopeside Lanes is a popular option for late night dining and entertainment in Snowmass for a family and friends night out. It features eight full-sized lanes, a lounge area and bar serving locally brewed beers, wood-fired oven pizzas and upscale bar food.

ARTS NEWS

• ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY – In 2016, Anderson Ranch Arts Center celebrates 50 years at the forefront of art making and ideas in art. Working with local and national partners, Anderson Ranch will present symposiums, exhibitions and lectures; also feature some of the Ranch's “art all-stars,” the many important faculty, students, Artists-in-Residence, Visiting Artists and more who have come through the Ranch. There will also be a festive celebration at the Anderson Ranch campus in Snowmass from 17th to 22nd July 2016.

• GONZO GALLERY – this pop-up gallery is in a new building next to the award-winning Aspen Art Museum. This displays artwork by Thomas W. Benton, prints by illustrator Ralph Steadman, shotgun artwork by journalist Hunter S. Thompson and paintings by author William S. Burroughs. The gallery is open daily from noon to 10 p.m.

• MORE FREE MUSIC THAN EVER! – Snowmass offers more free music than ever this summer with 17 concerts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Tuning up for the 25th Anniversary of the Snowmass Free Summer Concert Series, Snowmass Tourism is pleased to present a full line-up of talent this summer at Fanny Hill and Base Village. Locals and visitors alike will enjoy a wide variety of acts, such as such as Taj Mahal, Chali 2na and the Samples, in a stunning mountain setting.

ACCOMMODATION NEWS

• COMING IN 2017! W Aspen and The Sky Residences at W Aspen is slated to open for the 2017 winter ski season. The new hotel and residences will be designed by Nemaworkshop in partnership with local firm Rowland + Broughton Architecture and W's in-house design team, offering 88 guestrooms and 11 W-branded fractional residences. Conveniently located at the base of Aspen Mountain, the development will also feature a 12,000 sq. ft. rooftop bar and pool, with expansive views of Aspen Mountain.

For more information and a complete calendar of events and activities, please visit www.aspenchamber.org and www.gosnowmass.com. 

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