Glenwood Springs and Carbondale Art, Music, and Avalanche Memorial Events

"Vote for your favorite pieces and winning artists will receive an award in honor of late guild member Dot Mulligan."

That’s the stakes at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library this week. It’s not just about hanging paintings on a wall. It’s about community memory. The "Anything Goes" exhibit, featuring over 30 works from local artists, is running through May 15. It’s free. It’s right there on Cooper Avenue.

But if you’re looking for a different kind of local energy, you head to Carbondale.

"Raised on the east coast, Vespertinesbaby (also known as Sadie) creates ethereal, genre-crossing sets that combine hyperpop, eurodance, techno and triphop."

That’s the pitch for Saturday night at El Dorado. Free entry. 8 to 10 p.m. It’s a specific sound, not just background noise. It’s a way to spend an evening on Main Street that doesn’t require a cover charge or a bottle minimum.

Then there’s the solemn side of the valley. The Fourth Annual Stroll for Joel.

Joel Shute lost his life in an avalanche in March 2023. This isn’t a new tragedy; it’s a recurring one. The event is Sunday at Sunlight Mountain Resort. It’s a costume contest, a memorial party, and a hangout. Todd’s Tavern opens at 11 a.m. The Jeff Rice Trio plays at 1 p.m.

The money matters here. All proceeds go to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, West Elks Search and Rescue, and the Sunlight Ski Patrol. These aren’t abstract charities. They are the people who pull folks out of the snow when the weather turns. The suggested donation is $20. It’s free to enter, but the suggestion is clear. You can reserve a spot on Eventbrite.

For those who prefer quiet reflection over dancing or skiing, there’s Steve’s Guitars in Carbondale.

Lena Marie Schiffer is releasing her new album, "House of Sky." She’s joining Ani Casabonne, a classically trained violinist. The description says Schiffer blends folk, indie, and Americana to create "heart-tugging pieces fueled by powerful storytelling." It’s intimate. It’s 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $20 to $25.

It’s a stark contrast to the library. One is about voting for art. The other is about buying into a narrative. Both happen in the same week.

The Powers Art Center is offering a guided tour on Wednesday at 4 p.m. It’s followed by an art-making activity in the Learning Lab. It’s free. It’s for anyone who wants to look at what’s already there and then make something new.

And if you just want to win some money, the Glenwood Springs Elks Lodge is hosting a family-friendly bingo night. It’s for seniors, adults, teens, and kids eight and up. It’s simple. It’s local. It’s on the calendar.

The question is how you choose to spend your time between April 10 and 19. You can support the library. You can dance at El Dorado. You can honor Joel Shute at Sunlight. You can listen to Schiffer in Carbondale. Or you can just play bingo.

The options are all right here. They’re all free or cheap. They’re all local.

The attendance figures confirm it. But you don’t need numbers to know what’s happening. You just need to show up.

Which events become traditions and which fade is up to the crowd. But for now, the lineup is set. The art is hung. The music is booked. The snow is still on the mountain.

It’s April. The valley is waking up. And the community is paying attention.