Aspen's ACES Returns Annual Harvest Party to Rock Bottom Ranch

Aspen —"It creates a learning environment for folks to see where and how their food is grown."

That is the pitch. ACES CEO Chris Lane laid it out plainly. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies is bringing its annual Harvest Party back to Rock Bottom Ranch on Oct. 4. This is the big one for the nonprofit. It supports regenerative agriculture education for kids, families, and young farmers.

Make no mistake: this is a car-free zone. You will walk.

The event runs in two blocks. Morning crew gets in at 11 a.m. Afternoon crowd arrives at 2 p.m. Both sessions end at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $17. Kids 3 and under ride free.

What do you get for that price? A lot.

Every family takes home a pumpkin for carving. You also get access to a vegetable harvest. Live screen printing happens on-site. Ranch games fill the downtime. A photo booth stands ready. Crafts tables wait. Apple cider pressing takes center stage. Live music plays throughout.

This tradition started in 2001. Attendance hit about 1,400 people in 2025.

Events Director Molly O’Leary told The Aspen Times why it matters now.

"It’s hugely impactful because of the changing seasons … since ACES is so rooted in what’s happening in our local environment," she said.

She pointed to the farmers. They have worked all summer. They grew everything at the ranch. They provided food to CSAs, farmer’s markets, and spots down the valley. Then there are the kids. They have come to the ranch all summer for camps. They took part in every activity at the farm.

The Harvest Party celebrates all of them.

One highlight stands out. Regionally sourced apples go into fresh cider. An old press handles the work. Children learn to use it.

"It’s super fun to see the toddlers or really little kids come up because you have to put a little muscle into it, so it becomes a group effort to press the apples into cider," O’Leary noted.

She called it magical. Seeing where cider comes from feels like finding a delicious nectar.

Music sets the pace. Hell Roaring String Band plays the morning session. Stagecoach Rush takes over in the afternoon.

Food trucks line up. El Bajon Churro serves treats. El Sabor De Mexico brings flavor. Gerb’s Grub offers grub. The Whole Empanada sells empanadas. Sushi Torakku serves sushi. You pay for food. Beer and wine are available.

ACES bought the 113-acre property from Charlie and Sally Cole in 1999. Before that, the Glassier family farmed the land for decades. In 2015, it became the first Certified Wildlife Friendly site in Colorado, according to the Basalt Chamber of Commerce.

"It’s a very important riparian habitat," O’Leary said.

They farm on 60 to 70 acres. The rest is a wildlife preserve. It acts as a huge corridor. Animals move through constantly. Bears, elk, mules, deer, birds, coyotes, and mountain lions pass by. O’Leary added that every critter in the valley makes an appearance.

ACES runs a midvalley education program from this spot.