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This approximately 100-second video highlights the Mall Fest 50 Art Parade, held June 27, 2026, in downtown Aspen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Aspen Pedestrian Mall.
Set to lively brass-band music, the video features a colorful procession of local artists, performers, and community members. Musicians march through the pedestrian mall as participants dance, display creative costumes, and carry imaginative artwork. Families and spectators gather along the route, celebrating public art and community creativity.
The video concludes with Mall Fest 50 branding, recognition of the City of Aspen and Aspen Public Art, and a music credit to Brothers of Brass. The closing message reads, “Here's to many more years of true community spaces.”
There is no spoken dialogue in the video.
Aspen Public Art presented Mall Fest 50 Art Parade, an artist-led, people-powered procession of costumes, contraptions and performances that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Aspen Pedestrian Mall.
On June 27, 2026, the pedestrian parade traversed the Mall and Aspen Saturday Market, ending in a block party at Sister Cities Plaza.
The 2026 theme was “What do you LOVE about this place?”
By collaborating exclusively with local artists and encouraging upcycling of materials, Aspen Public Art emphasized the importance of collective creation, place-based cultural production and creative reuse. Imagination was wildly encouraged, with free community workshops leading up to the parade and a costume contest, photo booth, and prizes on parade day.
What is Mall Fest 50?
Mall Fest 50 is a public art celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Aspen Pedestrian Mall that took place in the summer of 2026.
As innovative as the Mall itself—constructed in 1976, the first car-to-pedestrian transformation in the state and one of the few remaining in the nation—Mall Fest 50 featured a series of public art experiences across the car-free city park, including:
Shifting Light installation by textile artist Rachel B. Hayes | May – October
In Bloom pavement mural by artist Chris Erickson | June - October
Mall Fest 50 Art Parade | June 27
“Through crafting, wearing, dancing and parading in costumes, we build community, discover hidden talents, and bring joy to the streets.”
Performers
Amidst the wildly imaginative costumes and floats, the Art Parade featured a magical mix of Colorado talent:
Brothers of Brass — in partnership with Jazz Aspen Snowmass
DJ Castanea — spinning at the Block Party
The Mall Bowlers — presented by Buckhorn Public Arts
Activations
Photo Booth by Nikki Hausherr
Grab your costume and your pals for a Mall Fest 50 portrait.
Visit the vintage box truck to swap your story for an original artwork.
Co-presented by the City of Aspen
- Aspen Police Department
- Asset
- City Attorney
- City Clerk
- City Manager's Office
- Commercial Core + Lodging Commission
- Community Development
- DEIB Committee
- Downtown Business Services
- Electric
- Engineering
- Environmental Health + Sustainability
- Finance
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Parking
- Parks
- Procurement
- Streets
- Special Events
- Wheeler Opera House
Community Partners
- Anderson Ranch Arts Center
- Aspen Art Museum
- Aspen Chamber Resort Association
- Aspen Community Programs
- Aspen Fire Department
- Aspen Historical Society
- Aspen Meadows Resort
- Aspen Police Department
- Aspen Polynesia
- Aspen Saturday Market
- Aspen School District
- Aspen Thrift Shop
- AspenOUT
- bARTer collective
- Best Buddies
- Buckhorn Public Arts
- Challenge Aspen
- DanceAspen
- Dance Initiative Folklórico
- History Colorado
- Jazz Aspen Snowmass
- Leah Potts Art
- Nik House Media
- Pitkin County Senior Center
- Pitkin County Sheriff
- The Project Shop
- Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies
- Stranahan's Whiskey Lodge
- Vail Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team