‘A thank you from the city’: Aspen’s community picnic offers food, music to community

Aspen’s annual community picnic is coming up this Sunday, Aug. 17, as a thank you to the communities that make up the Roaring Fork Valley.

“It’s a thank you from the city to the people that live and work here,” Wesy Armour-Cook, special events assistant manager at the city of Aspen, said. “Just want it to be easy, welcoming, and fun.”

The event will have games, music, and food, courtesy of the city. Mayor Rachel Richards will be in attendance, along with departments that make Aspen and Pitkin County function to give attendees the chance to get familiar with their local government. The Aspen Transportation Department and Aspen Environmental Health and Sustainability Department will be there, as well as Pitkin County’s Health Department.

“It’s kind of a mix of … (a) picnic and a community open house,” said Armour-Cook. “We will have a few departments from the city and nonprofit organizations that have booths set up, so that people can learn about what’s going on.”

The event will begin at 1 p.m., Sunday. The first 750 people will get meal tickets for food provided by Slow Groovin’ BBQ, The Rolling Fork Food Trucks, and The Dreamery Co. 

In the past, the 750 meal tickets have run out, so attendees should be sure to get there well before the 3 p.m. event’s closing time to grab food.

All community members are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool, or take RFTA to the picnic, according to a city press release. Leashed dogs are welcome.