The holiday spirit is alive and well in Aspen
Holiday spirits are high in Aspen as crowds of shoppers fill the streets, eager to soak in the town’s festive atmosphere.
Locals recognize this as one of the busiest times of the year, as second-home owners return for the season, and visitors — some for the first time, others for the tenth — flock to Aspen to celebrate in its intimate, small-town charm.
The surge in holiday traffic is not just a boon for Aspen Skiing Company but also for local businesses, many of which report a noticeable increase compared to last year.
At Carl’s Pharmacy, the influx has been unmistakable.
“Everyone has been great,” Orion Castellon, the store’s manager, said on Dec. 24. “We are busy of course, but this whole week has been picking up steadily.”
Castellon described a quiet spell leading up to the recent rush.
“Until about three or four days ago, everything was at a standstill, but as soon as shoppers hit the go button, everyone started to show up at the same time,” he said. “We are just thankful for the business.”
Despite the crowds, he said the festive mood is palpable.
“I have had more people wish me a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays this year compared to last,” he noted. “Everyone is in a good mood, and it’s been a pretty easy crowd so far.”
The sentiment is shared at the Miners Building, where employees are also seeing the holiday spirit in full swing.
“Holiday shopping has been great so far this year. We’ve been seeing more traffic than last year,” said one employee, who asked not to be identified. “Everyone has been shopping until their hearts are content.”
While exact numbers are hard to pin down, the employee confirmed that the flow of shoppers has been consistent.
“Traffic was down a little bit last year, but now we are seeing a steady flow of people coming in,” they said. “Everybody is in a good mood, and we are just doing our thing.”
From bustling shops to cheerful crowds, the season’s joy is evident across town. With Hanukkah and Christmas aligning on the same day this year, Aspen is poised for a holiday to remember.
The National Weather Service forecasts up to a foot of snow over the week, promising to heighten the winter wonderland experience for both visitors and locals.
As the season unfolds, businesses like Miners are embracing the excitement of another Aspen winter, ready to welcome the next wave of holiday shoppers.
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