The holidays are right around the corner and downtown and North Main Avenue have plenty of activities with something for everyone.
Downtown kicks things off with Singing with Santa on Friday Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at First National Bank of Durango by 5:45 pm, then follow them up Main Avenue to Buckley Park singing Christmas Carols along the way. At Buckley Park, we will light the Community Christmas Tree. Free hot chocolate and cookies will be available while they last, and you can also get your photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus for free, but bring your own camera.
More details are at DowntownDurango.org/SingingWithSanta. BID owes a huge thank you to our friends at Eagle Crane for helping us replace the lights in the 120 foot tree, and to the City of Durango for its help in planning this fun event.
Noel Night is typically the biggest shopping night of the year downtown. This year Noel Night is on Friday Dec. 2. You will find amazing deals, discounts and specials for the locals and nearly 100 stores. Watch The Durango Herald’s Sunday Nov. 27th edition for an insert with all the information you need to plan your holiday shopping.
The Polar Express is a great way to celebrate the season with your family, as are the second annual Christmas Tree Trains. Visit DurangoTrain.com for departure times and tickets. BID is working with the train this year to light up Narrow Gauge Avenue, the alley just west of Main that the 26,000 people who ride the Polar Express see when they leave and return to downtown.
Over a dozen businesses have committed to lighting up the sides of their buildings. Take a drive through Narrow Gauge over the holidays when you are in downtown to see it for yourself.
North Main also has the holiday spirit. The Thanksgiving Farmers Market is Saturday Nov. 19 starting at 9 a.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. The Holiday Arts and Crafts Festival is also at the Fairgrounds, and this year will be held Dec. 2, 3 and 4. The Old Fashioned Christmas Bazaar is on Dec. 3 at the Animas History Museum.
There is a lot more to do throughout the holidays, including SantaCon at Carver Brewing Company, “The Nutcracker” at the Concert Hall, a Celtic Christmas Concert at the Henry Strater Theatre, Elf the Musical at the Durango Arts Center, and the Holiday Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds. Bookmark the event calendar page at DowntownDurango.org/downtown-durango-events so you don’t miss these events.
timw@downtowndurango.org. Tim Walsworth is the executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District.
