Downtown Durango is the place to be this holiday season, with a wide variety of events coming the next couple of weeks.
If you have not yet picked out your Christmas tree, consider taking a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s Christmas Tree Train. This new train runs this weekend and next. The Forest Service has identified an area next to the tracks near the Cascade Wye that needs fuel reduction, so these trees can be removed. Check out DurangoTrain.com for ticket information.
If you want to give local art for Christmas this year, a great opportunity is this weekend at Studio &, located at 1027 Main Ave. The Bizarre Bazaar has become an annual tradition at Studio &. This year, you can buy directly from 25 local artists.
Santa is coming this Saturday morning at McDonald’s. Santa is letting his reindeer rest for the big night, so he will arrive in a helicopter. This is great fun for the kids, but don’t be late, as Santa arrives early, about 8 a.m.
The Holiday Farmers Market is also Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Get fresh food for your holiday meals as well as artisan goods.
The annual Best Brass of Christmas concert is at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on East Third Avenue. Eleven brass players from Farmington, Durango, Denver, Albuquerque and Santa Fe will play brass instruments, from a tuba to piccolo trumpets.
St. Mark’s hosts another concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18. The Majesty of Christmas show has no Santa or Rudolph, just beautiful Christmas music by your favorite Durango musicians. Visit 3rdAveArts.org for ticket information for both shows.
Sunday is Durango’s first SantaCon, hosted by Carver Brewing Co. A SantaCon is a gathering of people dressed as Santa. Unusual interpretations of Santa are encouraged. Attendees must be in costume, and donations to the Durango Food Bank are requested. Check out Carver’s Facebook page for more.
The Polar Express is in full swing and runs this weekend, then starts daily runs on the 15th through New Year’s weekend. Advance tickets are strongly suggested, and you can get them at the Train’s website, DurangoTrain.com.
Tuesday, Dec. 15, the Durango Barbershoppers play a free Christmas Concert at the Main Mall. For a little non-Christmas fun, both the Irish Embassy and Brew Pub and Kitchen host trivia nights on Wednesday evenings. The Irish Embassy also hosts a Celtic Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 20, featuring Patrick Crossing. The day after Christmas, get down to the Henry Strater Theatre for Comedy Night.
To keep up with information on events throughout the year, sign up for our weekly E-News. The E-news is a short, accurate and timely information piece published every Wednesday morning. To sign up, text DURANGOBID to 22828 or go to DowntownDurango.org/newsletter.
timw@downtowndurango.org. Tim Walsworth is the executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District.
