Leaving no fairy tale character under-represented, the Once Upon a Snowdown Light Parade was a marvelous gathering of elves, fairies, big bad wolves, princesses and Prince Charmings joined together by a community of participants lining the streets.
The crowds gathered Friday evening on Main Avenue were several rows deep, making it hard for latecomers and short children to see.
“The turnout for this year's light parade is astounding.” parade coordinator Tim Cooney said. “It's so great to have such a high level of participation from the community.”
The 55 entries approached the limit of 60 that organizers set in place three years ago, Cooney said.
At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, city officials and Snowdown organizers began blocking Main Avenue from traffic to make way for the parade.
Crowds began lining the street at 5:30 and the parade began at 6:10 p.m. The single Snowdown Firework “pyrotechnic wonder” followed 10 minutes later, erupting above Main Avenue.
Several attendees dressed in appropriate fairy tale attire. Some garnished with crowns or wings, others were covered in fur, but all in the spirit of this year's theme.
Crowds were particularly energetic while enjoying floats such as the Colorado Department of Transportation's “One Day My Turn Will Come – Maybe!” float.
CDOT's float provided a staff of elves labeled “permissive,” providing comic relief to the 70 flashing yellow lights through town, said CDOT director Kerrie Neet.
“The Billie Goats Gruff and the Bridge to Nowhere” float by Mercy Regional Medical Center's surgery department incorporated the characters of The Wizard of Oz, live farm animals and a special rendition of “Somewhere Over the Bridge to Nowhere,” said Keli Connell, float organizer.
For some, the “Dancing Divas” were a parade highlight.
“The dancing divas were my favorite,” said Durango resident Kiera Chandler, who was dressed as Little Miss Muffet. “Definitely a show-stopper.”
“The energy of this crowd is insane. I could hear howling, laughing and screaming for blocks,” said Durangoan Danielle Canterbury.
The parade extended along Main from College Drive up to 12th Street, lasting a little more than one hour.
The parade was sponsored by the Sky Ute Casino, who also sponsored last year's Snowdown Bites Light Parade, Cooney said.
The budget for the event was approximately $3,000, Cooney said.
Many floats were constructed with volunteer manpower, some starting construction back in October.
It took 700 hours of volunteer labor to create Home Depot's “The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf” float, said Bruce Barkus, Home Depot's float organizer.
Santa Fe resident Kendra Clausen, 52 has attended Snowdown in Durango for the last nine years.
“This is will be a hard theme to top. The fairy tale theme is hands-down my favorite so far,” Clausen said. “I wouldn't miss this festival. Every year it gets better.”
Durango's largest annual parade definitely lived up to its reputation, said Anne Klein with the Durango Area Tourism Office.
“It's hard not to get behind,” Klein said. “It's the liveliest, zaniest and most unique parade that we have in Durango.”
