Colorado’s best bets this week and beyond include music festivals, an alternative stock show, gay ski week and more

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our roundup of the best events across Colorado for the next couple of weeks. Check out last week’s roundup for a January performing arts preview, and read on for festivals, sporting contests and other happenings. For more, check out our events calendar.

Steamboat MusicFest continues through Saturday

The Lone Star State annexes Steamboat Springs for a week every winter for a music series billed as “the original Texas music festival.” MusicFest, with a packed lineup of Texas and Americana artists, started Monday and continues through Friday. The biggest shows are on the outdoor stage. Smaller concerts also take place in a giant climate-controlled tent, as well as at the Dung Beetle Saloon and the Timber & Torch.

Snowshoe and Fondue season opens Friday

Aspen Peak Cellar in Bailey hosts its 15th annual Snowshoe & Fondue series each weekend, starting Friday and running through March 15. The winery hosts a snowshoe trek, followed by fondue and wine, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
WIth such a mild winter so far, the first events may be a hike and fondue instead, but the winemakers look forward to snowshoeing opportunities later in the season. January and February tickets are available now, with March events tickets available starting next Thursday, Jan. 15.

Mary Jane 50th Birthday party Friday and Saturday

Big Gigantic and Lizzy Jane will play a concert on Saturday at the Rendezvous Event Center in downtown Winter Park to celebrate 50 years of skiing at Mary Jane. The resort also will host mogul competitions, swag giveaways, a birthday toast and more during the day.

Additional festivities on Friday include a 70s-themed après ski party, and a late night party at Devil’s Craft.

Stock Show opens Saturday

The National Western Stock Show kick-off parade starts at noon tomorrow in downtown Denver. Then the stock show officially opens Saturday, and runs through Jan. 25. In addition to the rodeos, Wild West shows and more, two new venues debut this year. The Legacy will be home to an old-fashioned saloon and the acclaimed western art exhibit. The new Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Livestock Center houses expanded barns, new arenas and a banquet hall.

No-Go Stock Show on Saturday

North of the stockyards in Henderson, the Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary hosts a different kind of animal celebration.

Broken Shovels was founded by former farmers to offer refuge and care for animals. They promise “rescued cows who lean in for kisses, pigs who sunbathe together, goats who nuzzle your hands, and chickens who follow you for affection, not feed.” The event also includes a plant-based chili cookoff.

Aspen Gay Ski Week starts Sunday

America’s longest running gay ski week brings seven days and nights of parties, concerts, comedy, films, symposiums and dinners to Aspen Snowmass from Sunday through next Saturday, Jan. 17.

Highlights include a drag bingo brunch on Sunday, friendship dinner and late-night dancing at Stranahan’s Aspen on Monday, Broadway singer Shoshana Bean on Tuesday, the “Laugh Out Proud” comedy showcase on Wednesday, and a downhill costume contest on Friday.

Ski, snowboard competition at Copper starting Monday

The U.S. Revolution Tour is a series of competitions with halfpipe, slopestyle and big air. The tour offers a stepping stone for athletes moving from the grassroots level to the elite level. Entry is based on multiple criteria that pre-qualify U.S. athletes aged 13 to 19 years old.

Copper Mountain will host halfpipe and slopestyle contests next Monday through Saturday. Spectators are welcome at both venues in designated areas.

Winterfest in Pagosa Springs Jan. 16 to 18

Pagosa Springs hosts WinterFest starting next Friday with a bonfire, soup contest and live music by Wonder Bread. On Saturday, there will be a bb gun biathlon, sledding, pet parade and penguin plunge. On Sunday, the Pagosa Nordic Club hosts a cross-country ski clinic. There also will be mass balloon launches and skijor runs Saturday and Sunday.

First Peoples Festival in Estes Jan. 17 and 18

An indigenous culture festival comes to Estes Park, including an art market featuring exclusively vendors from federally recognized tribes. The festival also includes cultural demonstrations, live music, a powwow, fashion show and film symposium.

Denver Jewish Film Festival Jan 22 to Feb 1l

The 30th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday, Jan. 22 at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center in southeast Denver. This year’s edition includes 40 films written or directed by Jewish people or with a connection to Jewish culture, identity and history. There also are filmmaker Q&As, special events and community conversations.

Individual tickets and festival passes are on sale now.

Snow Sculpture competition Jan. 24 to Feb. 3

Breckenridge hosts the 35th annual International Snow Sculpture Championships starting Jan. 24.

This year, 10 of the 12 teams are traveling from outside the United States to compete, including teams from Ukraine, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Lithuania, Argentina, Germany, India, Finland, Malta and Mongolia. They will all compete with the Breckenridge home team and a Vermont crew.

Each team carves a 12-foot-tall, 25-ton block of snow into a larger-than-life work of art entirely by hand. Sculpting runs from Jan. 24 to 28. Finished works remain on free, public display for one week, with attendees voting for the People’s Choice Award.

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.