With Snowdown less than two weeks away, it’s time to dig deep into your wardrobe, way deep, and pull out your most righteous ’80s attire, because this year, Durango is going “Back to the Eighties.”
It should be a chance to reacquaint with some of the old icons: Marty McFly, Mr. T, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters, not to mention a cadre of musical personas – Madonna, Michael Jackson, Cindi Lauper, David Bowie, Mötley Crüe.
Durango’s annual winter celebration kicks off Jan. 27 with more than two dozen events, including Snowdown Fashion Do’s & Don’ts, Spellebration and Polar Beer Plunge. Shenanigans continue through Jan. 31 with a total of 146 events, 27 of which are new this year.
But residents need to act fast if they want tickets to the hottest shows.
Tickets go on sale at 6 a.m. Saturday at Magpies for the ever-popular Fashion Do’s and Don’ts. And residents looking to score tickets to the Snowdown Follies must tune into local radio stations, also at 6 a.m. Saturday, to hear a series of clues that will lead them to secret locations around town where they will be given a purchase number. Participants must then head directly to the Durango Elks Lodge to purchase tickets, where 580 tickets will be available, with a limit of four per person.
Residents who don’t score tickets during the scavenger hunt can try bidding for them. A total of 48 tickets will be sold to the highest bidder starting Tuesday at Bank of the San Juans, 144 E. Eighth St. Twelve tickets will be sold in lots of four over four days. Bids must be received in person. Proceeds benefit Snowdown.
“There’s never an unsold ticket for the Follies,” said Julie Oskard, Snowdown board propagandist. “Unfortunately, we can’t give a ticket to everybody.”
Twenty-two events have earned a “healthy event seal of approval” from the San Juan Basin Health Department. The seal, which appears next to family-friendly events in the 2016 schedule, is awarded to events that are affordable, appropriate for children and alcohol-free. Such events include Dodgeball, the Canine Fashion Show and the Fastest Texter in Durango competition.
“We’ll have the usual crazy madness drunken events as well,” Oskard said.
“Since its inception 38 years ago, it was kind of the intention to have it be fun for everyone, not just alcoholics.”
shane@durangoherald.com
This story has been updated to correct information on Fashion Do’s and Don’ts ticket sales. They go on sale early Saturday.
Schedule of events
Visit www.snowdown.org/schedule.html to view a schedule of events for 2016 Snowdown.
