On The Town
A field journal of restaurants, live music, and seasonal happenings across the Roaring Fork Valley from Aspen to Carbondale.
A Summer in the Mountains: The 2026 Season Comes Alive
From the Snowmass Free Concert Series to the Food & Wine Classic, the valley's most luminous season is upon us. Here's our editor's picks on what to anticipate, from June through August.
Latest dispatches
Five New Tables Worth Reserving in Aspen This Summer
From a tucked-away omakase counter on East Hyman to a fire-driven Basque kitchen in the Hotel Jerome, the valley's dining landscape has rarely looked this exciting.
Belly Up Aspen Announces Its 2026 Summer Headliners
The intimate club below Galena Street has built its summer slate, with announcements from acts ranging from indie songwriters to legacy rock outfits and the room never seats more than 450.
Inside the 44th Annual Food & Wine Classic
Three days, twenty-three demonstrations, and one of the country's most coveted weekends in gastronomy. We preview the chefs, vintners, and grand tastings worth planning around.
Trail Notes: Five Hikes Beyond the Maroon Bells
When the bus line at the Bells stretches around the bend, here are five wildflower-strewn alternatives — from Cathedral Lake to the lesser-known Conundrum drainage.
Aspen Music Festival: A Season of Mahler and Premieres
Farmer's Markets: Where the Valley Gathers
From Aspen's downtown Saturday Market to the Carbondale Mountain Fair, summer in the valley is built around its open-air rituals.
Basalt Wednesday Night Concerts
Free summer evenings on the riverfront at Lions Park in downtown Basalt. The valley's mid-week tradition — pack a chair, walk over from town, and stay through sunset.
Bluegrass Sundays at the Sundeck
Sundays at the Sundeck on top of Aspen Mountain. Locals and visitors alike head up the gondola for some of Colorado's best bluegrass, all summer long.
The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo Returns for 2026
Twelve Thursdays at the Gus Darien Riding Arena, rain or shine, from June through August. A family-oriented evening of western heritage in the heart of the valley.
The Snowmass Free Concert Series, 2026
Eleven Thursday evenings on the Snowmass Village base mall, framed by the Roaring Fork Range. Music begins at six; bring a blanket, low chairs, and an appetite. The lineup, in full:
Worth your weekend
JAS Aspen Snowmass
The JAS Labor Day Experience revealed the lineup, and we have the early word on which acts to circle.
On the Water: A Field Guide to Summer Fly-Fishing
The Frying Pan, the Roaring Fork, and the Crystal — three rivers, three temperaments, and the local guides who know them best.
Letters from the Valley, in your inbox.
A monthly note from our team on what to eat, where to be, and what's worth showing up for. No noise, just the good stuff.
