Cultural Events Calendar

The Roaring Fork Media & Democracy Symposium is a full-day convening designed to explore the evolving role of local journalism in supporting an informed and engaged community. At a time of increasing political polarization, declining trust in institutions, and rapid changes in how people access information, this summit brings together regional media leaders, educators, and students to examine how local news can better serve the public good.

Program highlights include panels, short-form presentations, and community dialogue.

Keynote Speaker, Patricia Calhoun, will share her perspectives on media literacy, civic responsibility, freedom of the press and the future of local news.

Wheeler Opera House is pleased to partner with the Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley, Aspen Public Radio and ACES on an event designed to increase awareness and preparedness as wildfire season approaches.

Colorado is experiencing its warmest year in 131 years of record, and one of its driest. The Roaring Fork Valley sits at the epicenter, among the hardest-hit areas in the state for severe drought. With snowpack now peaked at historic lows, climate scientists are drawing comparisons to years that defined what catastrophic wildfire looks like in Colorado. This spring, wildfire risk across our valley is as serious as it has ever been.

On Tuesday May 19, the Wheeler is partnering with the Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley, Aspen Public Radio, and ACES to bring our community together for a direct conversation about what these conditions mean for our valley, what local fire departments and researchers are doing about it, and what each of us can do to protect our homes and our neighbors.

We’ll start the presentation at 6pm sharp, with opportunities for attendees to connect to presenters and panelists in the lobby both before and after the event.

If you’ve been wondering where things actually stand, this is the event to attend.

On Saturday, June 6 and Sunday June 7, join Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center, Healing Advocacy Fund, and the Aspen Public Radio, for the 2026 Aspen Psychedelic Symposium at the historic Wheeler Opera House in the heart of Aspen, Colorado. This two-day gathering will showcase expert panels, groundbreaking research, and firsthand insights into the transformative world of psychedelic medicines. Explore tradition, science, and advocacy; connect with scientists, doctors, spiritual leaders, and luminaries; and delve into the future of psychedelics.

On Saturday, June 6 and Sunday June 7, join Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center, Healing Advocacy Fund, and the Aspen Public Radio, for the 2026 Aspen Psychedelic Symposium at the historic Wheeler Opera House in the heart of Aspen, Colorado. This two-day gathering will showcase expert panels, groundbreaking research, and firsthand insights into the transformative world of psychedelic medicines. Explore tradition, science, and advocacy; connect with scientists, doctors, spiritual leaders, and luminaries; and delve into the future of psychedelics.

In this thought-provoking talk, physician-scientist Dr. Mark Gladwin, Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, explores the rapidly emerging field of climate medicine and how a warming planet is already reshaping human health.

The William A. Nitze Community Lecture

Forty Years Of Wildlife Filmmaking with Sir David Attenborough

Presented by Alastair Fothergill | Producer and Co-Founder of Silverback Films

About Alastair Fothergill:

Alastair is the co-founder of Silverback Films and has been at the forefront of natural history programming for over 30 years. After studying zoology at the University of Durham, he joined the BBC Natural History Unit in 1983, where he worked on diverse programs including ‘The Really Wild Show’ and ‘The Trials of Life’ with Sir David Attenborough. He produced ‘Life in the Freezer’ before serving as Head of the BBC Natural History Unit for six years.

After a tremendous premier in 2025, Frontiers of Knowledge is back in 2026 with a new focus, “Consciousness in the Living World”. In 2025 we followed an arc in time, which moved from the creation of the universe to current understandings of human consciousness. In 2026, our leading edge speaker series will move from the development of human consciousness in concert with the natural world — to possibilities of the newest intelligence, AI, which is now ours to evolve. How might we think about life in this expanded universe? What does it mean to be human in the cosmos at this time? More information on speakers and the program schedule at frontiersofknowledge.org