Aspen Gay Ski WeekColorado, USA
Ah, Aspen... Loved by celebs with private jets and people with so much money they could buy the whole mountain if they so desired. But for one week each winter, this mountain resort turns into the biggest LGBTQI party you might ever encounter, and at Aspen Gay Ski Week there’s as much action off the slope as there is on.
Après-ski hot-tub ragers, friendship dinners, art nights and dance parties take over when the hikes, downhill costume parties and bootcamp classes are done for the day. There’s also a (slightly) serious side: all money raised during the festivities goes to the Roaring Fork Gay and Lesbian Community Fund, which supports ventures promoting tolerance, understanding and diversity.
You can fly to the Aspen/Pitkin Airport, which is just 10 minutes away from the festivities, but flights to here tend to be expensive. There are two other small airports nearby. Otherwise it’s a four-hour drive from Denver.
Festival passes start at US$250 and include entry to a bunch of events as well as a day at the Aspen Club & Spa. If you’d like to ski as well, seven-day lift passes cost US$534.
Gay Ski Week
gayskiweek.com