The town was a buzz as thousands of out-of-towners, volunteers, and the usual locals clouded the streets, eager to get their hands on the goodies both inside and outside the now infamous white tents rising above Wagner park in downtown Aspen.

It seemed that the 25th Aspen Food & Wine Classic attracted the usual eccentrics to town, many dressed to impress bearing everything from high heels, power suits, to short skirts and all sorts of ‘bling’.

Regardless of the unwritten dress code that came along with the event, the one thing that inexorably distinguished Aspen’s Food & Wine crowd from the rest of town were the large passes that participants were required to wear around their necks throughout the weekend.

Many chose to keep them on even when they weren’t anywhere near the tents in Wagner Park.

While some locals seemed to resent the swarms of tourists that the 25th Classic brought along, others seemed grateful for the business the event brought to local vendors.

“I love all the people that come for Food & Wine, the atmosphere really changes around town,” said local Jeanine Kollman. “I think without this event it would be difficult for Aspen to really kick-off the summer season, plus it really helps local businesses in a big way.”

Kollman was hanging near Wagner park Friday afternoon, sporting her puppy, Vanilla. She said that although she didn’t have an official ticket for the event, she was hoping to borrow a pass from a friend just to get in the tents for a while and get a taste of all the excitement.

Not all locals were as enthusiastic about the so-called kick-off to the summer season.

“There are way to many old people in town this weekend, I don’t like the energy” said Aspenite Luke Stouffer. “They all seem to walk around like they own the town and cause longer lines.”

Stouffer watched the excitement with friends on a bench across from Paradise Bakery, shaking his head periodically as Food & Winers strutted by.

Stouffer’s opinion seemed to be shared by many including some out-of-towners who felt out of place with the Food & Wine Crowd.

“I tried to get into the event but was kicked out by security after a while,” said Brad Silver from Miami who was wearing a casual ‘T’ with a few red wine stains. “Aspen is a town of fluctuation, you never know what types of people you are going to meet.”

Mr. Silverman said that although he did not have a pass for Food & Wine, he was able to hitchhike a ride on a private jet from Miami to Aspen with some friends. He said he was unimpressed with the attitudes of many of the people he had met in town so far, both local and non-local.

Regardless of the varying opinions surrounding the event, one thing is certain. Thousands of people were attracted to our little town this weekend for what might be one of the last Food & Wine Classics in Aspen.

“As of right now, the contract held between Aspen and Food & Wine Magazine officially expires after 2009.” The Director of Sales & Marketing for the Aspen Chamber of Commerce: Resort Association, Lisa Johnson said. “ However, we are in an ongoing long term process to renew it.”

Food & Wine Magazine has absolutely no reason to leave Aspen, Johnson said.

Even though there are Food & Wine Festivals in other trademark cities like Chicago, Food & Wine Magazine started this event in Aspen in 1982 and considers Aspen’s Food & Wine Classic to be its baby, she said.

With so much commotion and so-called fluctuation in town, time will only tell what the future will hold for one of Aspens biggest annual trademarks.