Tourists are returning, we are getting rain late in the day and cool nights. The Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is running to Silverton, the San Juan National Forest is open with no restrictions, Purgatory is open and their mountain coaster is nearly complete, plus downtown and the North Main District are ready for your business.
Here are some fun things coming up in the next few weeks:
Fab Fridays in July are a new promotion by the Durango Business Improvement District to support downtown businesses. The last Fab Friday is this Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m., and will feature interactive activities at more than 20 stores located between the railroad depot and Eighth Street. Think of it as a block party but without closing the street. Each participating business will be marked with green balloons.
Some of the activities include a free dance class from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Wild Horse Saloon. The Living Tree is offering a 30-percent-off discount for locals. Old Barrel Tea Company, one our new businesses downtown, provides tea and honey samples, and your name goes in a drawing for prizes if you spend $40 or more. Check DowntownDurango.org and click on Fab Fridays in the announcement section for more information.
There are many regular events. The Diamond Belle Saloon gunfights occur every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m., right in front of the saloon. True West Rodeo continues on Wednesday nights at the fairgrounds. The Community Concert Series at the Rochester Hotel Secret Garden is every Wednesday night.
The free concerts at Buckley Park from the Community Concert Hall and Alpine Bank are every Thursday night. Check out the Animas City Farmers Market every Wednesday afternoon, located at 30th Street and north Main Avenue. And of course, there is the Durango Farmers Market, held every Saturday morning at First National Bank.
Music in the Mountains is underway, with daily performances at Purgatory under the festival tent and across the area through the end of the month.
In August, the La Plata County Fair runs from the 8th to the 12th.
The Durango Blues Train runs Aug. 18 and 19.
The 20th annual San Juan Brewfest will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25, and tickets are on sale now at SanJuanBrewfest.com. Don’t wait to get your tickets; the Brewfest has sold out the morning of the event for the past four years in a row!
As usual, there is lots to do in the heart of Durango. I want to personally thank everyone who continues to make the extra effort to support local businesses this summer. Your patronage is noted and appreciated! Let’s keep it going. Join me at these fun events and more for the remainder of summer.
Bookmark DowntownDurango.org/events so you can keep up with everything that is going on at all times.
Or get this type of information once a week in your inbox by signing up for BID E-news. Visit DowntownDurango.org and click on “I Want To” at the top right and select Sign Up For Newsletter.
Tim Walsworth is the executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District. Contact him at timw@downtowndurango.org.
