Aspen’s daytime heat ramps up in July, as do the number of scheduled summer events and activities. It’s a great time to visit Aspen! Here are some of our favorite things to do and annual events.

Things to Do in Aspen in July

  • Stop by Ajax Tavern’s mountainside patio Mondays at 8:30pm for Dinner (order off the Ajax menu) and a Movie. During July, the Tavern will be screening Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Dirty Dancing, Finding Nemo, and Men In Black.
  • Enjoy performances by the top musical students from around the world during the Aspen Music Festival concert series at Aspen’s Benedict Music Tent. Musical selections range from opera to chamber orchestras to string quartets.
  • The Aspen Saturday Market never fails to inspire locals and visitors alike on Saturday mornings downtown. Open from 8:30am until 2pm every Saturday, you’ll find organic produce, local meats, fresh baked goods, and locally handmade wares, all while listening to live music. You’ll find the market from the corner of Galena & Hopkins Ave to Hunter Street and back in a “U” formation.
  • The Aspen History Museum offers a number of daily local history tours, including the History Coach Tour (Be guided through historic downtown Aspen in a unique electric vehicle), the Victorian West End Walking Tour (learn little-known facts about the history and architecture of homes in Aspen’s Victorian West End), History Hikes (explore the secrets of Aspen Mountain), the Historic Downtown Walking Tour (tour historic buildings and sites, while hearing local lore), the Independence Ghost Town Tour (visit the town where prospectors struck gold on July 4, 1879) and the Hotel Jerome History Tour (a guided tour of Aspen’s iconic 1889 hotel).
  • Stop by Aspen’s Red Brick Center of the Arts for new outdoor sculptures and hanging artworks by Matthew Eames, Kristen Friebele, Ami Purser, Linda Lowry, and William Weidman.
  • Aspen’s Little Nell offers weekly Friday Garden Tours at 4pm. Head gardener Arabella (Busy Beavers Gardening) will explain high altitude gardening while showing off her herb garden, cutting garden, and Aspen’s only living wall.
  • The Belly Up, a cozy local indoor concert venue, hosts a number of popular musical guests throughout July. For July of 2021, the Belly Up has invited deadmau5, Big Gigantic, Blues Traveler, GORDO, Yacht Rock Revue, Goldfish, Pat Green, Kaskade, and LeAnn Rimes to perform.
  • Every Saturday and Sunday during July, you’ll find live outdoor Bluegrass Music on Ajax Tavern’s mountainside patio.

Aspen July Events

Fourth of July in Aspen

Taking place July 4th and 5th in downtown Aspen, the annual Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration includes family-friendly outdoor activities, including the annual parade and live music. The 2021 celebration is themed “Stars, Stripes, & Aspen, Forever!” America’s Birthday Carnival takes place in Paepcke Park from 10:00am to 2:00pm and includes games, food and bike decorating for the kids bicycle rodeo competition. Participate in a 5k race, see an outdoor movie, and more thanks to the Aspen Chamber (ACRA). Due to local fire bans, fireworks no longer take place over Aspen Mountain once the sun sets.

Backyard Bash for the Buddies

Stop by the home of Gail and Lenny “Boogie” Weinglass at the Merry-Go Ranch on McClain Flats for the annual Backyard Bash event on Friday, July 9. The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Buddy Program (which currently supports 437 kids, 136 volunteers, and 11 schools) includes a seated dinner, live concert, and the famous Buddy Program auction.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Attend a Shakespeare in the Park performance of Shakespeare’s well-loved and comedic A Midsummer Night’s Dream July 7th through the 10th, hosted by Theatre Aspen. This romantic comedy showcases traditional roles and Shakespearean language mixed with improv, movement and more.

Ride and Dine

On July 13th, meet in Gondola Plaza at 4:00pm to bike from The Little Nell to Old Snowmass for a rustic al fresco dinner at Mad Dog Ranch. A support vehicle is available to transport a change of clothes, and both bike and e-bike rentals are available from Four Mountain sports and other downtown Aspen bike shops. The ride is a 15-mile downhill cruise along the Rio Grande Trail, which follows the Roaring Fork River.

Author Talk with André Aciman

On July 20th, stop by the Red Brick Center for the Arts to hear American memoirist, essayist, novelist and scholar André Aciman speak about his past writings and his work on his new book, “Monsieur Henri” about the troubled life of his father.

History on Tap: A Briefly Complete History of Aspen 2.0

Join the Aspen Historical Society in Willoughby Park on July 23rd for a 45-minute live performance by three professionally-trained actors. Learn about Aspen history through hilarious songs, dances, and character presentations.

Water in the Age of Silver Tour

On July 28th, the Roaring Fork Conservancy and City of Aspen Parks & Open Space offer a tour of Holden Lixiviation Works, the largest industrial site in the county’s history. A once-state-of-the-art silver processing plant, it was built on the banks of Castle Creek in 1891. Tour the museum and view the remnants of the “Works” up close.

Audi Power of Four 50k Trail Run

Endurance athletes will love the July 31 50k Trail Run, which is part of the annual Audi Power of Four race series. The run begins at Aspen Mountain and crosses all four mountains in the Aspen Snowmass resort, ending in Snowmass Base Village.

Aspen Luxury Vacation Rentals

Ready to visit Aspen in July? Contact Aspen Luxury Rentals and explore our properties.