Ski season kickoff parties, indie films and more coming to the state this weekend

By Steve Graham

Get Out of Town is our weekly roundup of recommended events across Colorado, mostly focusing outside of Denver, to help everyone enjoy the entire state. For more happenings, check out our robust and recently expanded events calendar.

This week, we are saying goodbye to the Red Rocks season and hello to ski season as Vail and Purgatory are set to join a handful of other open ski areas.

Big Snow Bash

Old Town Pub in Steamboat Springs hosts the Big Snow Bash on Saturday. The event includes live music from Liver Down the River, an online auction and more.

Proceeds benefit Friends of the Yampa, a nonprofit focused on protecting and enhancing the Yampa River and its tributaries.

Festival of Trees

Also in Steamboat, the Tread of Pioneers Museum opens its annual Festival of Trees on Friday, with a sparkly forest of 26 decorated trees. The event is the main fundraiser for the museum.

Snowsation in Copper

Copper Mountain hosts its Snowsation Party on Saturday and Sunday, with live music, smores roasting, a sweepstakes drawing and more.

Snow Stoke Party in Frisco

Outer Range Brewing in Frisco kicks off ski season with its annual Snow Stoke party starting at noon Saturday, with ski tuning and waxing (and a free beer with every purchase), pop-up gift shops, live DJ, bingo and interactive games at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.

Ridgway Independent Film Festival

The 10th annual Ridgway Independent Film Festival runs from Thursday through Sunday at four venues in the historic town. The event opens Friday with a free art party on Clinton Street. There also is an art party on Saturday at Rootwings Gallery.

Most of the screenings are themed short film blocks, and some include discussions with directors, screenwriters and actors.

Final Red Rocks shows

To maintain its standing as the nation’s most popular outdoor concert venue, Red Rocks Amphitheatre has to host shows well past summer.

The final shows of 2024 are legendary DJ Tiësto on Friday, and Denver producer and visual artist Of the Trees on Saturday and Sunday.

By the end of the month, the park will be home to a giant new “Christmas in Color” drive-through light show that replaces the display at the former Bandimere Speedway.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar.