Wintersköl returns to Aspen

Wintersköl, Aspen’s annual toast to winter, is back.

The event’s 64th edition, slated to begin Thursday and end Sunday, will include both on- and off-mountain activities.

The activities start at 5:30 tonight at the Wheeler Opera House, where the Aspen Historical Society will stage a brief historical rendition of how Aspen got to be the town that it is today. The Mad Hatter’s Ball is next, at 7:30 p.m. Prizes go to attendees wearing the wildest and most creative hats.

Friday’s highlights include an exhibition in the Mill Street pedestrian mall, where artist Thomas Barlow will be sculpting now. He will work through Saturday. Also, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, a kids snow sculpture competition will take place in the outdoor mall. The popular Soupsköl competition, in which local restaurants feed free soup samples to the masses at Cooper Avenue and Hunter Street, is from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday. The public will cast votes to help determine the best soup.

Saturday festivities include the Fat Cycle Challenge at Rio Grande Park. The course will consist of a three-quarter mile loop with single track and snowy bridge crossings. The race starts at 10 a.m. with a food tent, sponsor village, and beer garden until 2 p.m. The Canine Fashion Show will be held from noon to 3 p.m.. Saturday at Wagner Park. On-site registration is required to compete for the “Best in Snow” award.

Saturday will end with the Torchlight Descent down Aspen Mountain at 8 p.m., directly followed by the fireworks show over Aspen Mountain.

At 7:30 a.m. Sunday, the Wintersköl Hike for Hope Uphill will take place at Buttermilk Mountain. A pancake breakfast follows at the Cliffhouse Restaurant for $6.

Other festivities are on tap as well. The event is put on by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association. Visit http://www.aspenchamber.org for more details.