Hot air balloons, trick or treating, and Santa are all coming to Downtown Durango in the next several weeks. The Durango Business Improvement District manages multiple events every year as a way to support the businesses it works for in the heart of Durango.

BID just wrapped up a successful San Juan Brewfest event in partnership with United Way of Southwest Colorado, generating at least $40,000 for this local charity. Three more events are coming up soon that you should place on your calendar.

First is the Downtown Balloon Glow. This event will feature up to seven tethered, hot air balloons glowing in the 500 block of Main Avenue on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21. Meet at 6 p.m. at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot. Weather and wind permitting, all balloons will inflate at 6:30 p.m. as it is getting dark to begin the glow. The glow will feature music and synchronized glows for an hour, until about 7:30 p.m. The Downtown Balloon Glow offers an opportunity to get up close with the balloon pilots, and they will let the kids ignite the burners. Grab the family and your camera and meet us downtown either night. Thank you to the Animas Valley Balloon Rally for this partnership, and be sure to check out AnimasValleyBalloonRally.com for other hot air balloon events all weekend. BID also thanks the city of Durango for sponsoring.

Next up is the Children’s Halloween and Carnival event downtown. This is always held on the day of Halloween, which this year is on Tuesday. Bring the kids who are 10 and younger, in costume, and accompanied by an adult for safe and fun trick or treating at up to 100 businesses along Main Avenue. Several first responder agencies will also be in attendance. You should also stop by the Carnival at the TBK Bank parking lot, organized by the Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County. There will be multiple trunk-or-treat vehicles on site, and games for the kids to play. BID thanks TBK Bank and the city of Durango for sponsoring this annual event.

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas and the holidays? We don’t think so! Singing with Santa is a decadeslong community tradition that BID began organizing in 2013. Singing with Santa is held on Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving. Visit North Main District and downtown businesses for Black Friday shopping, grab a bite to eat, then meet us at Buckley Park at 5:30 p.m. We will start with Christmas caroling and free hot chocolate and cookies. Bring your own hot chocolate mug if you can. Santa will arrive at 6 p.m., then we will all sing a few more Christmas carol favorites. At about 6:25 p.m., we will count down to the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree. Free photos with Santa are offered until 7:30 p.m., but bring your own camera.

Thank you to TBK Bank for sponsoring Singing with Santa once again, and also to the city of Durango.

Visit DowntownDurango.org/events for more information about these events, and hundreds of other events year-round.

Tim Walsworth is executive director of Durango Business Improvement District. Reach him at timw@downtowndurango.org 375-5068.