Offseason is something that most people don't know about because it's specific to living and working in a resort town. It's the "in-between" seasons. For event planners in Aspen, these months come with certain strengths and weaknesses that are worth exploring.
Winter in Aspen is obviously big for business, being located in the middle of the mountains with world-class skiing. Summer is also a wonderful and popular season here because you have great hikes, whitewater rafting, kayaking, outdoor dining, and more. Fall is my personal favorite season with its vibrant colors and perfect weather. But what about that time once the leaves have fallen but it's not quite winter yet? Or that time in the spring when there's no snow but it's muddy and still quite cold? That's offseason! During the offseason in Aspen, town sort of shuts down. Many popular restaurants close and locals take this time to travel the world, visit family, or tackle time-consuming home improvement projects. Even as an event planner in Aspen, I personally will spend weeks away from home during this time. Regarding planning your celebration, there are a few key pros and cons to consider:
Pros for having an event during offseason: Hotels are less expensive There is less demand for venues so you may be able to get your top choice at a better price than during the high season Town is slower so it has a more intimate, personal feeling The weather can still be as beautiful as during the other seasons (you might have a late fall or early summer) Cons for having an event during offseason: There are fewer direct flights into Aspen Stores have limited hours Some of your favorite restaurants might be closed The weather can be more "hit or miss" than usual Your favorite vendors may be traveling for the offseason If budget is a concern for you, then offseason is likely your best bet! I recommend getting started with planning your off-season celebration sooner rather than later, though, so you can make sure you catch all the top event planners and key vendors before they make their seasonal plans. Many people also really like how town feels slow. During high season, it can get a bit overwhelming and, candidly, you can feel overlooked as floods of celebrities and VIPs storm into our small town. In offseason, we're just grateful you're here!
We look forward to learning more about your upcoming celebration and being your party planner in Aspen! Be sure to send us a note if you'd like to learn more.