Telluride has come a long way since the days of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It can still be wild and woolly, sure, but it also can offer the best in music and artistic offerings. Take its annual film festival...

Called the "Tiffany" of the International Film Festivals, the 35th Telluride Film Festival (603 433-9202; http://www.telluridefilmfestival.com) will be held Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. The best way to attend the Telluride Film Festival is to buy one of four passes: Cinephile, Acme, Festival or Patron. Depending on the level of the pass, you'll gain admittance to shows and events of the Festival throughout the entire weekend - nearly 40 film programs shown in the eight Festival venues. One pass equals one extended weekend stuffed with film-related activities, beginning with the Opening Night Feed on Friday evening and continuing all the way through Monday, well past the noon-time Labor Day Picnic.
Only passholders are admitted to the social gatherings, and in the theatres they are seated before any individual ticket purchasers. Consequently, they enjoy the best seats. Individual tickets - priced at $20 each - will be available for sale just prior to show time and only after all passholders have been admitted, provided there are still seats remaining.