Cultural Events Calendar

Our Milky Way Galaxy is surrounded by dozens of smaller galaxies. By proximity, the Milky Way’s satellite galaxy population includes the faintest and lowest mass systems in the known Universe. These “ultra-faint” galaxies are several million times fainter than the Milky Way itself, providing a rare window into how the first galaxies formed, and they may help us test ideas about dark matter—the invisible material thought to make up most of the matter in the universe. In this talk, I’ll trace the discovery of ultra‑faint galaxies around the Milky Way over the past decade, and preview new surveys that may reveal even fainter companions in the next few years. Finally, I’ll show how these surprising objects are reshaping a basic question: what, exactly, counts as a galaxy?

The Regeneration Ball is an invitation to ground ourselves in the stories that sustain us and to reconnect with the very land that feeds us.

This intentional gathering of 200 guests serves as a celebration of our collective roots. Throughout the evening, we will share powerful stories of ecological restoration, engage in a high-energy auction to support our mission, and find connection over a dinner prepared by renowned chefs. Each course is a tribute to the local harvest—a tangible link between the earth’s resilience and our community’s future. Join us as we toast to a world that gives back more than it takes.

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

VERDI: Overture to La forza del destino
BERNSTEIN: Chichester Psalms
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BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 "Choral"

To enhance the audience experience, this event features performance imagery screens on both sides of the stage. To learn more, click here.

This concert will be carried live on Aspen Public Radio! Tune in 91.5FM and 88.9FM or at aspenpublicradio.org.

The season’s final concert celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with a Leonard Bernstein masterpiece and culminates with a work that has been universally embraced as a beacon of hope and unity.

How does cartilage do so much for so long, and why does it eventually give way? In this lecture, I will show that the answer lies in a beautiful piece of physics: cartilage is a network of microscopic fibers living right on the edge of a phase transition between soft and stiff. Small changes — a little less collagen, a little less swelling pressure — can produce enormous changes in how the tissue responds to load. The same principle that protects your joints for eighty years can, once crossed, lead to sudden failure. And the same principle, we are beginning to learn, can guide us in designing a new generation of resilient, lifelike materials.

Together, Sam, Hunter, and Sara have a more than twenty five year connection to the Roaring Fork Valley and Western Colorado. Being connected to the land has been paramount to our development as artists and human beings. Hunter Hogan’s works on canvas, Sara Ransford’s paper clay wall pieces and Sam’s clay constructions all connect on various levels, their individual voices interpreting the landscape, their view of the natural world and experiences connecting them as artists.

On view: August 28 to September 25, 2026
Opening Reception & Artist Talk: Friday, August 28, from 5 PM- 7 PM

Trivia Night at the Paul JAS Center – Free Admission!
Every Tuesday, we’re turning the spotlight on locals and community members!

Form your team of up to 6 people and put your knowledge to the test with fun trivia rounds and prizes. Free admission with food & drinks available for purchase. Come see if your team has what it takes to be a trivia champion!

Doors: 5:00pm

Kick Off: 6pm

This gathering will feature special guest Al Letson, Peabody Award-winning host of Reveal, the nationally acclaimed investigative radio show and podcast from The Center for Investigative Reporting, in conversation with Aspen Journalism Editor and Executive Director Curtis Wackerle.

Join us! Friday, Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m.

The Hotel Jerome Grand Ballroom
(330 Main Street, Aspen, CO 81611)

RSVP Kindly Required
Cost: Free

Co-sponsored by Aspen Public Radio, PRX and the Hotel Jerome, this discussion will explore the growing importance of listener- and reader-supported journalism, the evolving landscape of multimedia storytelling, and the role independent news organizations play in informing and strengthening communities and democracy.

Join Mezcla Socials Dance at the Paul JAS Center for a fun night of salsa for all levels! Whether you’re a first-timer or looking to sharpen your moves, our instructors will guide you every step of the way. No partner or experience needed, just come ready to dance. Food and drinks specials available for purchase.

FREE ENTRY BUT RSVP ENCOURAGED

Join ACES naturalist, Penelope Thornton, for an immersive four-part series in ethnobotany, exploring the edible and medicinal plants of the Aspen area. From June to September, we will follow the phenology of our local flora through monthly guided walks. Each session is timed to follow the plant’s life cycle, moving from the emergence of buds and shoots in the spring to the vibrant flowering plants of mid-summer, concluding with the harvest of seed and roots in the autumn. Participants will learn to read landscapes to engage with our local wild food plants and medicines throughout the flowering season. Whether you are a lover of the Roaring Fork Valley, a budding herbalist, or a culinary explorer, this series offers a new way to feel at home in the wild.