The Durango Business Improvement District has several holiday events and promotions to help you get into the holiday spirit.
First up is Singing With Santa. This event kicks off the holidays in downtown Durango and is always held on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which this year is Nov. 25. A change this year is that all parts of Singing With Santa will be held in Buckley Park.
Meet at Buckley Park at 5:30 p.m. for free hot chocolate and cookies and Christmas caroling with the Lisa Blue Trio. Santa will arrive at 6 p.m. We will sing a few more Christmas songs and then we will light the Community Christmas Tree, which this year has 1,100 lights! The Lisa Blue Trio will play more Christmas songs, and families can take photos with Santa until 7:30 p.m. Bring your own camera and limit two photos per family.
Singing With Santa is presented by TBK Bank, and also supported by these local businesses and organizations: City of Durango, Eagle Crane, The Wells Group, LPEA, McDonald’s of Durango, D&K Wagon Rides, Carver Brewing Co., DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Sage Farm Fresh Eats, Jean-Pierre Bakery, Highway 3 Roadhouse and La Plata County Mounted Patrol. For more information, visit DowntownDurango.org/singing-with-santa.
BID’s Holiday Rewards Program starts Nov. 25. This holiday shopping promotion is presented by Alpine Bank, and sponsored by Eolus Bar & Dining and Durango Chamber of Commerce. Shop at just about any BID or Chamber member business, save your receipts then submit them for a gift card as your reward for shopping local.
Each receipt from an eligible business must be at least $25. When you spend $100, you earn a $25 gift card as your reward. When you spend $300, you earn a $50 gift card. When you spent $500, you earn a $100 gift card. Chose your gift card from a list of a dozen local businesses. Rewards are limited, and the program ends when all 300 rewards have been claimed.
To see a list of eligible businesses, read the rules, and to submit your receipts, visit DowntownDurango.org/holiday-rewards.
BID is also bringing back its Holiday Decorating Contest for businesses in downtown and in the North Main District. Businesses should register to participate at DowntownDurango.org by Nov. 25. Professional photos will be taken and posted on BID’s Facebook page for the public to vote for their favorite starting Dec. 2 through Dec. 18.
Local First’s Noel Night event is on Dec. 2. This is the biggest shopping day and night of the year for many local businesses. BID is a sponsor of this annual event, and we encourage you to start your holiday shopping by taking advantage of the discounts and deals offered on this one day only.
The city of Durango recently replaced many of the lights on the tree trunks downtown. These lights stay on year-round, and are especially nice at Christmastime. BID thanks the city for doing this!
The holidays are here! Shop local this season!
Tim Walsworth is executive director of Durango Business Improvement District. Reach him at timw@downtowndurango.org or 375-5068.
