Up in the Sky Festival contributes $193.2 million to regional economy

The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners received an economic impact report regarding the Up in the Sky Festival held at Buttermilk by Belly Up Concerts LLC. An analysis conducted by Angelou Economics indicates that the event contributed $193.2 million to the regional economy, which is equivalent to approximately 947 full-time jobs.

The report highlights that over $67.2 million in labor income was paid to regional employees. The primary sectors driving this economic output included air travel ($45.2 million), hotels ($40.9 million), and food and beverage ($36.5 million).

For the local Aspen economy specifically, the festival generated an estimated $42.4 million in activity, with Aspen employees receiving more than $5.5 million in labor income from festival operations. The festival, which debuted in 2025, has been issued a three-year Special Event Permit spanning 2026 through 2028.