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Fall is full of great events on the Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit! Celebrate Halloween, autumn leaves and snow-covered peaks, and winter freshies to come. Find exceptional entertainment in historic opera houses in five scenic mountain towns, along with spook-tacular seasonal events.
Check out these events for a fun-filled fall trip.
Add on these tours and Halloween events on AspenChamber.org:
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Combine with these Halloween events on VisitCentralCity.com:
Plus these events on LeadvilleTwinLakes.com:
Mix and match with these Halloween events on VisitOuray.com:
Also take these fall tours on Telluride.com:
Learn more about the opera houses, and plan your trip today!
This blog was made possible through a grant from Visit Colorado.
If you love live entertainment and mountain towns, plan a summer tour of the Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit!
The Circuit has announced a wide range of shows for summer 2023, with opera and much more. Enjoy world-class music of all kinds, theater, comedy, films, cowboy poetry, and community events.
Be sure to catch the festivals! This summer, Circuit opera houses will host multi-day festivals celebrating everything from opera to blues and brews to mushrooms to plein air painting. Take a peek at our summer lineup!
Central City Opera 2023 Festival, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” At this special month-long opera festival, enjoy three musical adaptations of timeless Shakespearean stories (June 24-Aug. 6).
Mountainfilm (May 25-29), 30th Annual Wild West Fest (June 4-10) Telluride Bluegrass Festival (June 15-18), 20th Annual Telluride Plein Air (June 28-July 4), Telluride Americana Music Festival (July 13-16), Andy Frasco and the UN Live in Concert (Aug. 5), and Telluride Mushroom Festival (Aug. 16-20).
Hazel Miller & The Collective (June 17), Broadway’s Christiane Noll & Richard Carsey (July 8), The Army 101st Band (June 23), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee musical comedy (July 20-22), comedian Vinnie Montez (Aug. 26), and Vail Valley Band and cowboy poet Jake Riley (Sept. 2).
Jazz Aspen Snowmass (June 23-24) and Opera Encounters and Vocal Arts Showcase (July 1-Aug. 19).
Ouray International Film Festival (June 23-26) and The Great Ice Cream Scheme (July 21-24).
You’ll treasure the chance to see modern-day arts on these historic stages—a uniquely Colorado experience. Speaking of history, be sure to take a historic tour. Even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll be captivated by the stories that have unfolded within these walls over more than a century.
The Circuit offers amazing scenery on stage and on your entire trip. The route takes you to picturesque mining towns like Aspen, Central City, Leadville, Ouray, and Telluride. There, you can enjoy shopping, dining, museums, and cultural sites in historic downtowns. You can also admire some of the state’s most stunning peaks and venture onto trails, ziplines, gondolas, and more to experience the great outdoors.
Learn more about the opera houses, and plan your trip today!
This blog was made possible through a grant from Visit Colorado.
Visiting Colorado’s Central and Southwestern mountains? You’re in for a treat. The region hosts three historic opera houses, plus fun activities and scenic views galore. Here’s a sampling of the many great things to do in the area.
Start in Aspen, where the slogan rings true: Defy Ordinary. The Wheeler Opera House certainly qualifies. The 1889 building has hosted a long line of stars. For example, two-time Grammy-winner Corrine Bailey Rae will perform on July 22 at 7:30 p.m.!
Take 6, Poncho Sanchez, Natalie Cressman, and Ian Faquini will join many talented artists for JAS June Experience, June 24-25. Find rising stars at Opera Encounters summer Saturdays in July and August or the VocalARTS Showcase most Thursday nights.
Miss the shows? Come Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. and tour this magnificent and richly storied opera house. This free guided tour is offered by Aspen Historical Society. An insider’s look at the iconic building as the center of Aspen’s arts and cultural scene since it was built in 1889. No reservations necessary; space limited, first-come, first-served.
When you’re not visiting Aspen’s community performance venue, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do. Enjoy renowned arts and culture, countless outdoor pursuits, and more. Check out our recommendations for 24 hours in Aspen for inspiration.
Modern day founders of Aspen, Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke, believed Aspen was a place you could nurture mind, body, and spirit, coined the Aspen Idea. This notion is alive and well today. Aspen from A to Z gives you the general idea of how that is possible.
From farm to table and internationally recognized restaurants, there’s no shortage of exceptional cuisine to choose from. Then settle into world-class accommodations.
The drive to your next stop, Ouray, takes about 3 ½ hours. And what a spectacular drive it will be! You’ll wind among soaring peaks and through small towns on Colorado's Western Slope, home to apple orchards, wineries, and farm-fresh foods.
In the afternoon, head for Ouray’s hot springs. Soak in sulfur-free waters while you admire the view of “The Switzerland of America.”
Plan a night at the Wright Opera House. This summer, you can find everything from Western melodrama to Americana music and movie nights to art shows. The highly regarded Ouray International Film Festival takes place June 23-26, 2022.
Or come to the elegant Tavern at the Wright, with beverages and light fare. There you’ll find a lineup of creative events, such as ikebana (flower arranging), history talks, music bingo, and more.
Be sure to check out the Wright’s historic Mesker iron façade and balcony, for a cool sight to see.
Sit down to dinner at a local restaurant, saloon, or brewery, or at a rooftop bar. For a great night’s sleep, choose from a variety of inns, bed and breakfasts, hot springs lodging, and more.
The Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, just an hour away, is the final stop on your trip. Time your trip for these great events:
You can also tour this building called “The Crown Jewel of Telluride.” Check it out as a venue for your next gathering!
Summer in Telluride is incredible. Take in the 360-degree views as you venture into the alpine or ride along winding old mining roads and meandering meadows. Take a moment to relax among the many lakes in the area, or catch the free gondola to stylish Mountain Village.
After a day of activity, enjoy apres in this mining town. A designated National Historic Landmark, Telluride today showcases a thriving arts scene, mixed with modern comforts, culinary delights, and a wide variety of hotel rooms and vacation rentals.
