Started in 1935, it’s one of region’s longest-running events
Copper Perry competes in the barrel racing contest Friday at Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Caleb Lake riding a Hoverboard ropes the back legs of a plastic steer on wheels and Holland Taylor ropes the head as Wyatt Templeton watches Friday in the parking lot of the La Plata County Fairgrounds during Fiesta Days.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A horse and rider compete in barrel racing Friday during Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Lisa McWhorter falls with her horse while rounding a barrel in the barrel racing competition during Fiesta Days on Friday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Caleb Lake riding a Hoverboard ropes the back legs of a plastic steer on wheels and Holland Taylor ropes the head as Wyatt Templeton watches Friday in the parking lot of the La Plata County Fairgrounds during Fiesta Days. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Copper Perry pushes her horse during the barrel racing competition at Fiesta Days on Friday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Bransen Morgan, 17 months, has his hat on for Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Bransen is the son of Jordan and Lukas Morgan of Aztec. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A horse and rider take off in the barrel racing competition during Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Glenn Orms, owner of The Cow Lot, uses steam to shape a straw hat during Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Tona Baker of Ignacio sits on her horse, Whiz, while watching the barrel racing competition during Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Fiesta Days on Friday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Copper Perry and Lisa McWhorter hang out Friday during Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Christen Martinez rounds a barrel in the barrel racing competition at Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Deb Davis pushes her horse, Lewis, in the barrel racing competition during Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Lots of beautiful horses are on hand for Fiesta Days at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
The 83rd annual Durango Fiesta Days will celebrate local history and culture through the weekend with a parade and rodeos.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, there will be a parade on Main Avenue from College Drive to 12th Street. There will also be a queen coronation at 6:15 p.m. before the rodeo, which will start at 7 p.m.
Rodeos will also be held at 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.
Attendance at the annual event has declined since the loss of horse racing at the old fairgrounds, but Fiesta Days continues to have good visitor attendance, said Cindi Brevik, president of the Durango Fiesta Days committee.
She said the committee does not have an official count on the number of attendees but estimated there are between 3,000 and 7,000. Visitors not only spend time at Fiesta Days but also spend money locally on food, rafting and other activities.
Fiesta Days started in Durango in 1935 as a celebration of the tri-ethinic heritages of the area, bringing Native American, Spanish and Anglo communities together. People would camp between Animas City and Durango along the river banks for two to three weeks and share their cultures through food and dancing.
Lisa McWhorter falls with her horse while rounding a barrel during the barrel racing competition at Fiesta Days on Friday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
It was originally known as the Spanish Trails Fiesta – but was renamed twice, changing its name in the 1980s to Fiesta Days. Brevik said Durango Fiesta Days is the longest continuous celebration in the Four Corners.
There will also be a food vendor village at the event – a callback to when early participants would share their different culture’s dishes.
Brevik advised participants to arrive hungry.
bmandile@durangoherald.com
If you go
Saturday
10 a.m.
, parade, Main Avenue, downtown Durango.
1 p.m.
, rodeo, La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave.
6:15 p.m.
, queen coronation followed by rodeo, La Plata County Fairgrounds.
7 p.m.
, rodeo, La Plata County Fairgrounds
Sunday
1 p.m.
, Rodeo, La Plata County Fairgrounds
Rodeo tickets are $12 for adults; $6 for children ages 6-14; $6 for seniors 65 and older; and free for children 5 and younger and military personnel in uniform. Family packages for two adults and two children are $30.
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