12 Things to Do in Aspen This Month

6/6
Bauhaus 100: Aspen Ball
To honor the centennial of the Bauhaus, the venerable German art school, Aspen is throwing a spirited soiree. Channel your inner Bauhaus and don your best red, yellow and blue attire for an evening of live music, dancing, films, Bauhaus-inspired art, performances and a juried costume contest. 5:30-10pm, free, Wheeler Opera House

6/8
T-Lazy-7 Ranch 80th Anniversary Party
A storied jewel of Aspen, T-Lazy-7 Ranch has served as a mountain paradise for guests since 1938 when Lou and Had Deane purchased the land in the Maroon Creek Valley. It’s been in the Deane family for 80 years, bridging three generations and counting. Gather your friends and family to celebrate eight decades and honor the historic site with some good old-fashioned ranch party fun. 2pm, free, T-Lazy Ranch Wedding Meadow, RSVP to [email protected]

Raise a glass to the Food & Wine Classic!

6/14-16
Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
Every June, Aspen transforms into a culinary paradise for three days as world-class chefs, wine aficionados and foodies flock to town for the premier epicurean festival that pushes the boundaries of F&B to the next (and tastiest) level. In its 37th year, the annual Food & Wine Classic showcases one-of-a-kind cooking demonstrations, wine and food tastings, panel discussions and afterparties galore. Plus ambitious attendees can burn off a few anticipated calories in Friday’s Celebrity Chef 5k Charity Run. Passes from $1,600, locations vary

6/15
Heritage Fire
This decadent food and wine event, inspired by global whole-animal grilling traditions, features more than 3,500 pounds of cooked meat, including beef, lamb, goat, pork, duck and seafood, plus plenty of heirloom vegetables roasted en plein air. The fete is a nod to traditional outdoor cooking techniques featuring more than 40 chefs. To complement the feast, nibble on endless helpings of artisan cheeses and breads, and sip boutique wines, microbrews and craft cocktails. 4pm, tickets from $150, Snowmass Base Village

6/16-21
Aspen Summer Words
A six-day spree of words, stories and ideas, this literary festival is noted as one of the nation’s top gatherings for writers and readers alike. From preselected juried workshops to a nonjuried five-day fiction writing workshop ($1,525), writers have the opportunity to delve into the development of their manuscripts or simply spearhead their practice of the craft. Author readings, panel discussions and a Reader’s Retreat ($425) are additional highlights; this year’s Reader’s Retreat theme is Great Travel Writing, led by National Geographic photographer and author Pete McBride. Individual public panels from $25, The Gant

The Aspen Ideas Festival brings big ideas.

6/20-29
Aspen Ideas Festival
As a small town cradled in the Rocky Mountains, Aspen welcomes big ideas. Since 2005, it’s attracted leaders and intellectuals from around the map and across many disciplines for 10 days of deep discussion on the ideas and issues that shape our lives and challenge our time. Some 450 presenters, 400 sessions and 3,000 attendees comprise the annual think fest, hosted mostly at the Aspen Institute’s campus. Times and tickets vary, locations vary

6/27- 8/18
Aspen Music Festival and School Summer Season
As the Aspen Music Festival and School celebrates its 70th anniversary, the 2019 season explores the theme Being American, with works by well-known composers such as Gershwin, Ives, Barber, Bernstein and Copland (including his Appalachian Spring); more recent composers such as Wynton Marsalis, John Adams, Stephen Sondheim and Philip Glass; and composers who immigrated to America, all in addition to settings to the poetry of Whitman, Melville, Dickinson and Poe. American classical music reflects the sweeping diversity of American culture and landscape, and this year’s eight-week season of over 400 events—including orchestral concerts, chamber music concerts, fully staged operas, recitals, master classes, lectures and family events—offers a kaleidoscope of musical voices to explore. Times and locations vary, tickets prices vary by show

6/29
Day of Rosé: Shining Stars
Inspired by the dazzling beach clubs in Europe, this year’s fundraiser will feature dishes and desserts from top local restaurants and caterers, a fine selection of rosé, liquor tastings from high-end labels, plus silent and live auctions showcasing irresistible items. Lounge in a private outdoor venue by the Roaring Fork River while listening to the beats of St. Tropez. All proceeds benefit the Shining Stars Foundation, which provides year-round recreational and social programs for children and their families challenged with pediatric cancer. 4-9pm, tickets from $395, Roaring Fork Club Cabin 26

7/1 - 8/6
Anderson Ranch Arts Center’s Critical Dialogs
Critical Dialog—interactive discussions and exploration of art through the ages—is guided by distinguished scholars, critics, writers and artists who examine relevant topics and trends in the contemporary visual arts realm. This year’s lineup includes exploration into the role of art in the age of hip-hop; an Artist and Patron program designed for practicing artists who want to advance their work to a new level; and Rubens Ghenov in conversation with Liz Ferrill about keeping imagery and inspiration fresh in the studio. Times vary, registration required, Anderson Ranch Arts Center

7/5
Bash for the Buddies
Experience a Night on the Nile at the 20th annual Buddy Program benefit, hosted by Lenny “Boogie” and Gail Weinglass at their stunning Merry Go-Ranch. The Egyptian-themed evening of fantasy and wonder will begin with the signature Taste of Aspen, featuring the town’s top chefs and cocktail mixologists, plus a silent auction. Enjoy a seated dinner followed by live music with Here Come the Mummies, an eight-piece funk-rock band of 5,000-year-old Egyptian mummies. Annually attended by over 500 patrons and philanthropists, the Bash celebrates the youth, families and volunteer Big Buddies involved with the program. 6pm, tickets from $150, Merry Go-Ranch

7/12
AspenBrainLab
With a mission to nurture the minds of Aspen’s growing community, AspenBrainLab hosts an annual conference that fuses insightful neurology lectures with laughter meditation sessions. Creative Brain, Healthy Brain, Impaired Brain and Future Brain is a provocative program of 12 brilliant short talks that reframe what we know and think. Highlights include Max Lugavere on the 10 “genius foods” for a healthier, happier brain; Jamie Metzl on the revolution of genetic engineering in health care; and a special panel on the gut-brain connection. 9am-1pm, tickets from $590, Hotel Jerome

7/12-8/8
Aspen Art Museum Summer Artist Talks
This summer program opens up the opportunity to engage in critical conversations with visiting artists, curators and guest lecturers, such as German architect Heike Hanada. Artists include Oscar Murillo, Jacqueline Humphries and Lisa Yuskavage. New this year is a series of lectures from fashion icons; recognized global fashion designer Cynthia Rowley is the inaugural speaker. 5:30pm, free, Aspen Art Museum