Snowmass Village, Colo., (February 5, 2026) – Forty-four years of Mardi Gras tradition returns to Snowmass Village on Fat Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Festivities include a Bead Toss by the 2026 Mardi Gras Royality, Jeremy & Jennifer Swanson; a Hi-Fi Concert featuring Pimps of Joytime; kids activities; the Mother of All Ascensions Uphill race and party; and a walking and skiing dragon to celebrate Chinese New Year. 

“Mardi Gras is one of Snowmass’ most beloved winter traditions, bringing together locals and visitors for a full day of celebration,” says Julia Theisen, Tourism Director, Snowmass Tourism. “From the uphill race in the morning to live music, family activities and the bead toss in the afternoon, it’s a uniquely Snowmass way to celebrate community.” 

Mardi Gras Royalty  
Jennifer and Jeremy Swanson, longtime Snowmass Village locals, take their place as 2026 Mardi Gras royalty. The Swansons moved to Snowmass in 1999 to work at Anderson Ranch Arts Center the day after they got married. They moved to the Village with their wedding gifts (candlesticks and punch bowls) but not a single towel or sheet, which were shipped later, making a perfect start to their new life.  

After several years at Anderson Ranch, the Swansons decided to strike out on their own; Jeremy in photography and Jennifer in digital communications. It might not have worked anywhere else, but Snowmass made it possible. Jeremy began photographing for the Town of Snowmass Village and many local residents and businesses, while Jen was hired by the Snowmass Chapel. They welcomed their daughter, Tilly, in 2003. Tilly started her education at the Little Red School House, and today she works in a lab at MIT after graduating there last May. 

“We fell in love with Snowmass right away, a tight-knit community surrounded by incredibly beautiful mountains,” says Jennifer Swanson, Mardi Gras queen. “We rarely missed a concert, rodeo, or festival. We feel incredibly fortunate to make our living sharing our love for our adopted hometown.” 

The Swansons have attended nearly every Mardi Gras celebration since moving to Snowmass, with Jeremy often photographing the festivities for Snowmass Tourism or Aspen Snowmass. “When Tilly was young, we’d sometimes pull her out of school so she wouldn’t miss the bead toss and old parade on the Mall—and we happily put her and her friends to work as enthusiastic, bead-covered photo subjects.”  

Jennifer adds, “The Mardi Gras King and Queen of years past are always people deeply connected to the community—part of its fabric and character. To be included among them is a true honor, and one we’re very grateful for.” 

The 34th Annual Mother of All Ascensions 
Kick off Mardi Gras morning with the 34th Annual Mother of All Ascensions. Strap on a pair of snowshoes, AT boots, telemark gear, or stabilizers to complete the route from Snowmass Base Village to the High Alpine starting at 7:00am on Fat Tuesday. Awards ceremony and prize raffle immediately following the race at The Collective Snowmass. $30 from every registration is donated to the Aspen Hope Center. Goodie bags and prize giveaways are included in the registration fee. For more details and to register, visit www.snowfusion.com.   

Royalty Walk, Kids Activities & Chinese Dragon 
Mardi Gras continues in the afternoon, with festivities kicking off at 2:00pm. Starting on the Snowmass Mall, stop by to say hello to the king, queen, and their royal court as they make their way to Base Village. The Mardi Gras King & Queen will hand out beads, all while accompanied by a live brass band. Also starting at 2:00pm, kid friendly activations from Kidtoons and Art of Air take place in Base Village and on the Snowmass Mall until 4:00pm, including face painting and stilt walkers. For the first time since 2002, Mardi Gras and Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year) falls on the same day. To celebrate this unique year, the King and Queen will be accompanied by a Chinese Dragon, a symbol of good luck and prosperity, as they make their walk down the Snowmass Mall at 2:00pm. For even more Spring Festival celebrations, stick around after the concert in Base Village for the best view of the Dragon Dance. Watch as a light-up dragon skis down Fanny Hill at 6:00pm, performed by the Aspen Divas for the first time. 

Hi-Fi Concert & Bead Toss  
Join the Mardi Gras Royalty at the Hi-Fi Concert in Base Village featuring Pimps of Joytime. The annual Mardi Gras Bead Toss starts at 2:45pm from the concert stage, with music to follow starting at 3:00pm. 

For more information on the Mardi Gras lineup, please visit www.gosnowmass.com/mardigras.  

About Snowmass Village, Colorado – A renowned winter playground and vibrant summer community just 9 miles from Aspen, Snowmass consistently ranks as one of the best winter ski areas and summer mountain biking destinations in the world. Snowmass, along with the rest of the Roaring Fork Valley, is the first IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association) Gold-Level Ride Center™ in Colorado, only the 5^th in United States, and one of only 7 in the world. Snowmass offers guests incredible views of mountain vistas, in addition to 2.8 million adjacent acres of wilderness, open for activities and exploration. Snowmass is home to 30+ restaurants, 95 percent slopeside lodging, shopping, unique special events and music – all year round. For more information and a complete calendar of events and activities, please visit www.gosnowmass.com.  

Snowmass Tourism Media Contact: Sara Stookey Sanchez, Public Relations Manager, Snowmass Tourism, 970-922-2285 or sstookey@gosnowmass.com.  

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