Aspen Gay Ski Week 2027: The 50th Anniversary Guide
The world's first gay ski week turns 50. Everything you need for Aspen Gay Ski Week 2027 — the Golden Jubilee schedule, parties, hotels, skiing, and the remarkable history behind it.
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Fifty years ago, a group of gay skiers got in trouble for dancing together in an Aspen bar. In January 2027, the party they started celebrates its Golden Jubilee. Aspen Gay Ski Week runs Sunday, January 17 through Sunday, January 24, 2027 — the 50th anniversary of the world's first gay ski week, and still the standard every other one is measured against.
This is the full guide: the 2027 schedule with every party, where to stay, how the week actually works, and the genuinely remarkable civil-rights history behind what looks, from the outside, like a very good costume party on skis.
The quick facts
- When: January 17–24, 2027 — the 50th Anniversary "Golden Jubilee" edition
- Where: Aspen, Colorado — parties downtown and on the mountain; skiing across all four Aspen Snowmass mountains
- Home base: the Limelight Aspen, with the official free après ski every day from 3–7 PM
- What it benefits: AspenOUT, the local 501(c)(3) supporting LGBTQ+ mental health and education
- Tickets: passes and single-event tickets at gayskiweek.com — events range from free to about $475
Pro Tip
The 50th anniversary will be the most in-demand Ski Week in years. Aspen hotel inventory is small and January is peak season — book lodging the moment your dates are firm, and grab tickets for the Little Nell brunch and pool party early. The free après ski needs no ticket at all.
What's on in Denver
Live from our events calendar — updated daily.
How a dance floor argument became a civil rights landmark
Aspen Gay Ski Week didn't start as a festival. In the mid-1970s, a group of Aspen locals — Jon Busch, David Hoch, Tom Duesterberg, Russell Anderson, and friends — had been hosting gay skiers visiting from ski clubs in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Chicago. By 1977 the January reunions became a tradition: each visiting club hosted a party in their condos on a different night, and the locals threw the welcome party.
The spark underneath it was political. In 1977, Busch got in trouble at a Y bar for dancing with another man — this just a few years after Stonewall, in a town that prided itself on liberal thought but still drew the line at two men on a dance floor. Busch and other locals pushed back, and in 1979 Aspen passed gay rights protections — the first in Colorado. Boulder and Denver followed.
Then came 1992, when Colorado voters passed Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment that repealed every existing gay rights law in the state — including Aspen's — and banned any new ones. The national response was the "Boycott Colorado" movement, which hammered the state's tourism economy and hurt Ski Week itself. But Aspen, Boulder, and Denver challenged the amendment in court, and the case — Romer v. Evans — went all the way up. In 1996 the U.S. Supreme Court struck Amendment 2 down, the court's first major gay rights ruling in a decade and a stepping stone toward Lawrence v. Texas in 2003 and, eventually, marriage equality.
That same year, the all-volunteer Ski Week incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — today's AspenOUT — and the week has been the organization's primary fundraiser ever since. The hot tub get-togethers became Saturday pool parties. The spur-of-the-moment drag shows became the Downhill Costume Contest. And a week that started as condo parties became, in the organizers' words, a movement rich in civil rights history.
The 2027 schedule: day by day
Here's the official calendar as announced — more events are still being added, so check gayskiweek.com as the week approaches. Every day also includes the two constants: the free après ski at the Limelight from 3–7 PM (no cover, all week) and the hot tub and pool soak alongside it.
Sunday, January 17 — Opening Day The week opens with the Drag Bingo Brunch with Mariam T at The Little Nell, 11 AM–1 PM — open bar, curated eats from Aspen's only five-star hotel, and the week's first sellout at $165. Then the first après ski of the week at the Limelight.
Monday, January 18 — Locals' Night Late Night Dancing at Stranahan's Whiskey Lodge, 9:30 PM–12:30 AM ($25). Organizers call it the lifers-and-locals party — the night the valley's own community comes out. Go, and meet the people who live here.
Tuesday, January 19 — The Golden Jubilee The anniversary centerpiece: Golden Jubilee: Legacy & Honors at the Paul JAS Center, 7–10 PM — an honors evening celebrating 50 years of Ski Week history and the founders who started it, with bites and bingo.
Wednesday, January 20 — Caribou Club Benefit The Wednesday Night Benefit throws open the doors of the Caribou Club — Aspen's famously exclusive private members' club — for a late-night dance party, 9:30 PM–1:30 AM. Proceeds fund AspenOUT's one-on-one LGBTQ+ mental health services.
Thursday, January 21 — Belly Up The Thursday Night Dance at Belly Up, 9 PM–1:30 AM, with hosted cocktails at the world-famous 450-capacity club where arena acts play a room the size of a living room.
Friday, January 22 — The Big Day Two icons in one day. At noon, the Downhill Costume Contest sends skiers in full drag and costume down Aspen Mountain before a judging panel hosted by AGSW legend Mariam T — free to watch from the base, and the most photographed three hours of the week. Then at 8 PM, the Top of the Mountain Dance Party takes over the Sundeck at 11,000 feet — a gondola ride to a dance floor above the clouds, golden-themed for the 50th.
Saturday, January 23 — The Flagship Finale The ARC Pool Party closes the week at the Aspen Recreation Center, 8:30 PM–1 AM — DJs, cocktails, and yes, indoor waterslides. Five decades of hot-tub get-togethers, fully grown up.
Pro Tip
The Sundeck party and the ARC finale are both a schlep from downtown — the Sundeck is literally a gondola ride up the mountain. Layer up, plan the ride down before you're tired, and don't be the person trying to hail a ride on Maroon Creek Road at 1 AM without a plan.
Where the parties happen
Aspen has no dedicated gay bar — and during Ski Week it doesn't need one, because the whole town shows up. The week takes over Aspen's best rooms: the Limelight lounge every afternoon, a whiskey lodge, a private members' club, a legendary music venue, and the top of the mountain itself.
Ski Week's Party Venues
Belly Up, Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
Caribou Club, Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
Stranahan's Whiskey Lodge, Aspen
Aspen, Colorado
Skiing the four mountains
Your lift ticket unlocks four very different mountains, all covered by the same Aspen Snowmass pass:
- Aspen Mountain (Ajax) — rises straight out of downtown; no beginner terrain, big cruisers and bumps, and the Sundeck at the top hosting Friday's party. Ride the Silver Queen Gondola from the base two blocks from the Limelight.
- Snowmass — the giant of the four, 20 minutes away, with the most varied terrain and the longest runs. Where most groups spend their big ski days.
- Aspen Highlands — locals' favorite: steeps, bowls, and the famous Highland Bowl hike. Expert energy, short lift lines.
- Buttermilk — the gentle one, home of learn-to-ski terrain. Zero shame: plenty of Ski Week attendees take a lesson here and join the après by 3.
Rentals, lessons, and lift tickets are all bookable through the official gayskiweek.com partner links, often with event discounts.
Pro Tip
Lift tickets bought day-of at the window are the most expensive way to ski in America. Buy in advance online — and if you're skiing four or more days, price out the multi-day products before buying singles.
Where to stay
Book early — this is Aspen in peak January, and the 50th will strain the town's small inventory. The strategic choice is walking distance to the Limelight, since the daily après ski is the week's center of gravity.
- Limelight Aspen — the week's home base: the free après ski and daily pool soak happen downstairs. If budget allows one splurge for location, this is it.
- The Little Nell — five stars, ski-in/ski-out at the gondola base, and host of the opening Drag Bingo Brunch.
- Hotel Jerome — the 1889 landmark with the J-Bar; history and a scene under one roof, a short flat walk from everything.
- W Aspen — party-forward, young-skewing, closest big hotel to Belly Up.
Snowmass Village (25 minutes by free shuttle) runs meaningfully cheaper and ski-in/ski-out — a real option if downtown prices sting, at the cost of late-night logistics.
Plan the whole trip
Flying through Denver before or after Ski Week? Find the bars, events, and gay-friendly spots for your Colorado stopover on Out x Out.
Getting to Aspen
- Fly direct to Aspen (ASE). Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is 10 minutes from downtown, with winter nonstops from Denver, Chicago, Dallas, LA, and more. Book early; January seats go fast and weather can shuffle schedules.
- Fly to Denver and drive. DEN is the reliable-weather backup — about 3.5–4 hours to Aspen via I-70 and Highway 82, longer in storms. Carry chains or book AWD; I-70 on a Saturday snowday is its own endurance sport. Make a stopover of it: Denver's gay scene is one of the best in the Mountain West.
- Eagle County (EGE) — 70 minutes out, a solid middle option with more winter capacity than ASE.
- In town, skip the car. Downtown Aspen is compact and walkable, the free RFTA shuttles cover Snowmass, and parking is scarce and expensive.
First time at Ski Week? What to know
- You don't have to ski. A meaningful share of attendees never click into a binding — the après, parties, spa afternoons, and people-watching are a complete vacation. Nobody checks.
- Altitude is real. Aspen sits at 8,000 feet and the Sundeck party at 11,000. Hydrate aggressively your first two days, and know that one drink up here works like two at sea level.
- The week is broader than the party flyers. The official calendar includes women's programming ("Womxn at Ski Week") and a dedicated sober and sober-adjacent events track — both listed on gayskiweek.com.
- It's a fundraiser. Ticket money isn't just buying you a party — the week is AspenOUT's primary fundraiser, supporting LGBTQ+ mental health services and education in the valley. The Wednesday benefit is the most direct way to give.
Pro Tip
January in the Rockies swings from bluebird sunshine to dumping snow in an afternoon. Pack a real parka for the mountain-top party, sunscreen for the slopes (high-altitude sun burns fast), and shoes with grip — downtown sidewalks ice over at night.
Frequently asked questions
When is Aspen Gay Ski Week 2027?
Sunday, January 17 through Sunday, January 24, 2027. It's the 50th anniversary — the "Golden Jubilee" — of the event that began in 1977.
How much does Aspen Gay Ski Week cost?
The daily après ski at the Limelight is completely free, and watching the Downhill Costume Contest costs nothing. Ticketed events run from about $25 (Stranahan's late night) to $165 (the Little Nell drag bingo brunch), with premium options up to about $475. Passes and single tickets are sold at gayskiweek.com. Lodging is the real cost — this is Aspen in peak season.
Do I need to be a good skier to enjoy Ski Week?
No. Plenty of attendees don't ski at all, and Buttermilk exists precisely for beginners. The social calendar — brunch, après, parties — is a full week on its own.
What is the Downhill Costume Contest?
Ski Week's signature event: skiers and snowboarders in full drag and costume descend Aspen Mountain before a judging panel, hosted in 2027 by Mariam T. It evolved from the spontaneous drag shows of the week's early condo-party years and runs Friday, January 22, from noon to 3 PM — free to watch from the base of the mountain.
Where should I stay for Aspen Gay Ski Week?
As close to the Limelight Aspen as budget allows — it hosts the free daily après ski and the pool soak, making it the week's de facto headquarters. The Little Nell, Hotel Jerome, and W Aspen are all within a few blocks of the week's venues. Snowmass Village is the cheaper alternative, connected by free shuttle.
Where does the money go?
Aspen Gay Ski Week is the primary fundraiser for AspenOUT, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ mental health services and education. The Wednesday Night Benefit at the Caribou Club funds its one-on-one mental health program directly.
How do I get to Aspen?
Fly nonstop into Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE, 10 minutes from town), fly into Eagle County (EGE, ~70 minutes), or fly to Denver (DEN) and drive about 3.5–4 hours. Once in town you won't need a car — downtown is walkable and free shuttles cover Snowmass.
Is Aspen Gay Ski Week the oldest gay ski week?
Yes — it began in 1977 as January condo parties among Aspen locals and visiting gay ski clubs, making it the world's first gay ski week, and it has run every year since. Other gay ski weeks (Whistler, Mammoth's Elevation, and events across Europe) followed the model Aspen created.
More winter and event guides
- The Best Gay Bars in Denver — for your Colorado stopover.
- Denver gay events this weekend — if you're routing through the city.
- The Most Gay-Friendly Cities in the US — plan the rest of the year.
- Gay Cruises 2026–2027: Every Sailing, Dated — trade the mountain for the ocean.
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Robbie S.
I'm Robbie, the founder of Out x Out. I'm from Minneapolis, though I'm spending 2026 building this community from the road — somewhere between South America and Asia. The idea for Out x Out came from a trip to Berlin, where the gay nightlife calendar was years ahead of ours: you could see not just where to go out, but which night to go — so naturally I wanted that kind of insider info for every city in the US (and beyond... eventually). I'm more of a behind-the-scenes type, but the whole point of this is connection: I'd take one real one over a hundred surface-level ones, and I'm trying to build that for the community, city by city.
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