There's a particular hush that settles over the valley this time of year. The lifts aren't spinning yet, the gold has mostly dropped off the aspens, and plenty of locals are either on a well-earned offseason trip or enjoying the quiet back roads. This week bridges two celebrations, though: Halloween on Saturday, followed by a run of Day of the Dead gatherings that carry the spirit of remembrance right through to Friday.

Saturday, October 31, is the busiest day on the calendar. In Aspen, Murder at the Rattlesnake Saloon at MOLLIE Aspen has a title well suited to the date, and the Wheeler Opera House hosts Aspen Advance Look: The Lost Stop. Down in Carbondale, Townline Trucks throws a Halloween Bash & Costume Contest Fundraiser, so dust off that costume. Over in Basalt, Chaparelle takes the stage at TACAW. For a slower start to the day, there's community yoga at True Nature in Carbondale and a Spanish-language yoga class at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library.

Day of the Dead threads through the whole week. The New Castle Branch Library hosts Creating Nichos for Day of the Dead on Saturday, Cocoa Club by Pollinator Chocolate in Carbondale offers Halloween and Day of the Dead cookie decorating on Sunday, and the Carbondale Branch Library closes out the week with Day of the Dead programming on Friday, November 6. On Sunday, the Aspen Art Museum also offers a museum tour in Spanish.

Midweek has its own draws. On Tuesday, Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass welcomes James Casebere for a visiting artist lecture. On Thursday, the Basalt Regional Library hosts Valle Musico in Concert as part of its Music at the Library series, and families can head to the Old Thompson Barn in Carbondale for FocusedKids' Fall Fling. Friday belongs to Carbondale again, with Blossom, by Theo Hirschfield at the Carbondale Clay Center and Benny Bleu at True Nature Healing Arts.

As you can tell, Carbondale is carrying a lot of this week, with Aspen and Basalt close behind and the libraries from Glenwood to New Castle staying busy as always. Scroll down for the full list of events, with venues and details. And if you've got something happening that we missed, from a library workshop to a backyard benefit, send it our way. The Valley Insider calendar is only as good as the community that fills it.

This Week's Events

Saturday, October 31

Sunday, November 1

Tuesday, November 3

Wednesday, November 4

Thursday, November 5

Friday, November 6

Have an event coming up? Submit it to The Valley Insider.