Cultural Events Calendar

We are honored to welcome bestselling author Jonathan Franzen as the keynote speaker for Book Ball 2026.

We hope you will join a vibrant and passionate community to celebrate writers and readers, and to connect through the power of stories on July 9, 2026, at Aspen Meadows.

This special evening raises vital funds to support Aspen Words programs, including the Aspen Literary Festival, Writers in the Schools, scholarships for emerging writers, and community talks with Pulitzer Prize–winning authors.

Jonathan Franzen is the author of six novels, most recently “Crossroads” and “Purity,” and five works of nonfiction, including “The Discomfort Zone,” “Farther Away,” and “The End of the End of the Earth.”

On July 11, we welcome the return of singer-songwriter Andrew Duhon to the best listening room in the Valley! Born, raised, shaped, and inspired by his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, Andrew Duhon tours performing songs that are as much about recognizing our shared stories as they are about telling his own.

Blending the gritty, bluesy, folksy, country sounds of his home with the experience of traversing the country and immersing himself in the broad array of cultures across the American landscape.

The Pitkin County Library is hosting an evening of painting. Attendees will watch a Bob Ross, The Joy of Painting video, and follow along. They will also use acrylics and a smaller canvas so attendees can take their art pieces home at the end of the event. All brushes, paints, canvas and required supplies are to be provided. Snacks and tea will also be provided. That’s from 4 to 6 p.m. at the library.

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.

The Aspen Dance Connection presents EMERGENCE at TACAW on Friday, July 17 at 7:30 pm, a Colorado Dance Showcase featuring Independent Choreographers Alexandra Jerkunica, Carbondale; Amy Anderson (Engage Movement Arts) and Maureen Breeze Dance Theater, Denver; Liz Vrettos and Rebecca Fleishman Beyond Boundaries, Grand Junction. Dancers in these companies also perform in New York City, and with ZIKR Dance Ensemble, Colorado Ballet and Wonderbound Dance Company.

First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing is a literary podcast produced and hosted by Mitzi Rapkin. Each week, the podcast features an in-depth interview with a fiction, non-fiction, essay, or poetry writer. The show is equal parts investigation into the craft of writing and conversation about the topics of an author’s work.

Children of the Wild is a gorgeous, haunting love story set in the Virginia mountains and on the battlefields of World War I, France.

Join Carbondale and the Roaring Fork Valley community in celebrating the best event of the summer, Mountain Fair, going 55 years strong! The heart+soul of the fair is all the love, history and humanity that have built community through art in Carbondale.

Enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, and loads of unique artisans; non-stop entertainment all weekend long.

Join Sabrina Rudin at Explore Books to celebrate the release of her new cookbook, Healthy with a Side of Happy.

Join us at Explore Books for a night of bites and conversation to celebrate the release of Healthy with a Side of Happy with creator and entrepreneur Sabrina Rudin, the founder and owner of Spring Café Aspen and creator behind @springbysabrina. In the book, Sabrina shares 100 plant-based recipes designed to nourish the whole family—from juices and smoothies to pastas, salads, and simple sweets. Rooted in her belief that food is medicine, the book pairs approachable recipes with pantry guides, meal prep strategies, and thoughtful kitchen practices.

Camille Henrot brings her interdisciplinary practice to the stage for the first time with the world premiere of Commedia dell'arte. Co-commissioned by Performa, Aspen Art Museum / Wheeler Opera House, and LYRA Art Foundation, Henrot's performance incorporates the stock characters and comic ploys of the Italian Renaissance theatrical tradition within a modern day New York City apartment building. The delivery of a package triggers a cascade of uncanny events among tenants, as the tragi-comedic play attempts to make sense out of the senseless, ultimately collapsing into it.

Please visit airaspen for more information

Advance reservations for this event will open on June 29 at 12 PM.

The 10_10 Name Unseen Silent Auction is an exhibition showcasing local artists who have generously donated a 10_10 artwork. All panels are available for bidding starting at $100. All proceeds from the auction and pARTy go to support the Art Base’s efforts to make art and creativity available to all.

On view: July 31 to August 15, 2026
Opening Reception & Artist Talk: Friday, July 31 from 5 PM- 7 PM