The Durango Business Improvement District has been very busy at the beginning of this year finalizing plans to support BID businesses in the heart of our community. Here are a few things to note on your 2020 calendar:
BID’s springtime downtown shopping promotion, the Red Balloon Event, will take place April 23 to 25. This promotion is expanded to cover three days this year and will feature fun activities, sales, specials and events at many downtown businesses. Pick up a passport, visit a participating store to see what they are offering then get a stamp. Red Balloons will indicate the participating stores, and on the last day of the promotion, BID will hold prize drawings for those who obtained the minimum number of stamps.
The Red Balloon promotion ends with a balloon drop, where hundreds of red balloons will drop from the ceiling inside the Main Mall, and many will have prizes in them.
Three of our favorite early-season events occur in April and May. First up is the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, held April 17 to 19 with shows at the Henry Strater Theatre, Durango Arts Center, Wild Horse Saloon and the Elks Lodge. The Free Friday Meltdown Kickoff will be at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Grange Building starting at 5 p.m. Get tickets and see the band lineup at DurangoMeltdown.com.
May brings us food and wine! The Durango Wine Experience starts April 30 and runs through May 2. Tickets are available now for educational classes and seminars, wine dinners, the Walk About Durango tasting event in downtown, and the Grand Tasting on Saturday. Learn more at DurangoWine.com.
Taste of Durango is how downtown kicks off the summer event season. Thirty to 40 restaurants and breweries participate by offering tastes of their best dishes and beverages. This year’s Taste is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, on Main Avenue. Taste of Durango is a great way to try food from restaurants you have not visited and see what’s new from your favorites.
In late May and early June, BID will host a multi-day promotion of North Main District businesses. Hubs will be created along the corridor where groups of businesses will offer fun, family-friendly activities. BID is working on a North Main District restaurant day, with specials offered at many of the food establishments. BID wants you to get to know your North Main District businesses and will offer prize drawings and fun activities to help make that happen.
On Aug. 29, the 22nd annual San Juan Brewfest will be held downtown at Buckley Park. More than 100 beers will be available for tasting, and there will be two live bands. Food will be available for purchase, and other vendors will also offer their products. The San Juan Brewfest is brought to you by Bank of the San Juans, and it benefits United Way of Southwest Colorado. Tickets go on sale June 1 at SanJuanBrewfest.com. Don’t wait too long to get your tickets, as the Brewfest sells out every year!
There is so much to see and do in downtown and in the North Main District. Follow DurangoBID on Facebook or sign up for our newsletter on our website to keep up to date with all the activities and happenings!
Tim Walsworth is the executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District. Contact him at timw@downtowndurango.org.
