Beyond the Roundabout: Snowmass Free Concert Series

On this week’s trip into what I like to call “Beyond the Roundabout,” I headed over to the free Thursday night concert in Snowmass to check out Neal Francis. He’s a really good piano player.

For anyone who’s not from around here, Aspen has a few key spots that everyone knows. Places like City Market, the Gondola, and the Roundabout are good examples. We use these to give directions without needing street names or addresses. If you say, “I’m at the City Market parking lot,” or “I’ll meet you at the Gondola,” or “I’m just passing the Roundabout,” people immediately know where you are or how close you are to getting there. It’s our own local language.

One of the many jokes we have here in Aspen is that “it’s eight miles from Snowmass to Aspen, but it’s 80 miles from Aspen to Snowmass.” This joke perfectly shows the difference between the two towns. The idea is that if you live in Snowmass, coming to Aspen is easy, no big deal. But if you live in Aspen, going to Snowmass feels like a long, difficult journey, even though it’s the exact same eight miles in both directions. For me, as I’ve settled into life in Aspen, it’s actually pretty rare that I go past the roundabout. So, this Aspen joke really hits home for me, and I think a lot of Aspen locals feel the same way.

But Aspen isn’t the only great thing about living here. This week’s “Beyond the Roundabout” aims to show you an example of other places that make our valley such a great place to call home.

Snowmass Village: Growing up over 10 years

Big shout-out to Snowmass Village. In the 10 years I’ve lived in Aspen, I’ve watched Snowmass Village really grow. It’s one of the few spots around here that had room to develop, unlike Aspen, which often feels like it’s already full. I know a lot of locals aren’t big fans of any new construction, but I have to give credit where it’s due. The town of Snowmass has, in my opinion, done an amazing job developing the area. From the new Limelight Hotel with its big parking garage, to the upgraded Base Village that now has an ice-skating rink, new restaurants, and the Snowmass Collective (a shared space for things like birthday parties or stand-up comedy) — they even put in new ski lifts last year. Snowmass Village has really come a long way in just 10 years.

Fun events: bringing everyone together

Also, and this is more to the point of this story, Snowmass Village has done a great job creating all sorts of events to bring people in. Snowmass has gone out of its way to set up different events that bring people from both up and down the valley to what used to be a pretty quiet town. You’ve got the Wednesday night Rodeo, Thursday night Free Concerts, movie nights and this past weekend there was even stand-up comedy. What used to be mostly a calm family village without much going on has really changed. Today’s Snowmass is a place people want to visit.

So, it wasn’t a surprise that this past week I found myself hopping on a free RFTA bus to head out there.

What to expect: Your guide to the Snowmass Concert Series

Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect if you decide to go:

The Snowmass Free Concert Series happens every Thursday all summer long. You can check local listings to find out which artist is playing and if their music is your kind of thing. Find more info here: https://www.gosnowmass.com/activity/summer-music-series/.

Getting to Snowmass, even though it might feel like an eighty-mile journey from Aspen, is in reality more like a twenty-minute bus ride. The shows generally have an opening act that plays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the main band taking the stage from 7:30 PM to 9 p.m.

This is an outdoor event, held on the grassy hillside of Fanny Hill at the end of Snowmass Mall. It’s free for everyone, and a lot of people show up. I got there just before Neal Francis came on around 7:30 p.m., and the lawn was packed. It’s kid-friendly and family-friendly.  Sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s having more fun, the actual children or the adults! Just remember, no pets allowed.

A local party: food, friends, and good times

Since I’d done this before, I brought my own chair (most people did). You’ll see all kinds of chairs, blankets, and even full-on picnics spread out on the lawn. You can bring in your own food, everything from cheese and crackers to personal pizzas (probably bought in the Snowmass Mall just before coming in) can be found. Drinks are sold, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

With the drinks sold there and the food people bring, plus the free music, Thursday night in Snowmass is a real local party. Everyone’s friendly, and you’ll see a lot of familiar faces. Usually, at a concert, I’d get annoyed by people talking as I’m there to hear the music, but here, it’s totally fine. Friendly conversations, handshakes, hugs, and hanging out are the norm, and sometimes it even feels more important than the music itself. It’s a great social vibe.

Snowmass is a very family-friendly place. It’s a perfect spot to let kids run around or dance and burn off some energy before bed, while you get to catch up with friends or neighbors, or even meet new ones. Plus, they’re not just bringing in any old bands. These are top-flight acts that sometimes get the crowd really going. Neal Francis, for example, put on an amazing hour-and-a-half show of soul, funk, and rock and roll. It was truly a treat and definitely worth the twenty-minute bus ride to get out there.

Pro tips for your visit and heading home

One tip I’d definitely give is to bring a jacket, sweater, or hoodie. Even though the sun doesn’t set until almost 9 p.m., it starts getting chilly around 8 p.m. A beautiful summer evening at this altitude can quickly turn into a cold summer night. Having something warm to put on is something you won’t regret. Even if you don’t use it, you’ll feel better just knowing you have it. I was in shorts and sandals, and my feet got pretty cold by the end of the night, even though I did have a jacket.

Just before the show started, the event director came out and announced that there would be live stand-up comedy during the weekend at places like the Ranger Station and the Snowmass Collective. My ears definitely perked up, as I love comedy, and I think a few of my friends might even be performing.

Knowing that the buses home get pretty crowded, I decided to leave a little early. Even though I left before the concert ended, that early bus was still packed. If you have kids with you, you might want to leave extra early or stay really late unless you don’t mind crowded buses. Also note that I believe the parking garage at the Limelight is free at this time (double check that before getting mad it’s not) if you prefer to drive.

All in all, this week’s free concert was a great reminder that life in Aspen is more than just life in Aspen. If you’re looking for something fun that’s good for both families and adults, definitely check out one of the Thursday night free concerts in Snowmass before they finish up for the season on August 21. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Luckily for us here in Aspen, we have Snowmass Village to help with that, and awesome events like the Snowmass Free Concert Series provide a fun, safe place for our whole community to enjoy.

Thanks for reading my stories and paying with your attention. I hope they make you smile and think.

Landon Hartstein is the founder of Aspen Drone Company, a media production company specializing in aerial cinematography. Combining his love to tell stories with his love for cameras. For video services contact him at Landon@AspenDroneCompany.com. To suggest a story ideas or just to say hi contact him at LandonLikeAPlaneWrites@Gmail.com.