Durango’s 38th annual Snowdown got a considerable mention in the Huffington Post on Monday, with the New York City-based publication calling the event “A Drunken Mid-winter Festival.”

“Founded in 1979 in Durango, Snowdown was created as a town-sized drinking party to brighten the long Southwest Colorado winter,” wrote James Orndorf, a landscape and culture photographer based in Durango.

“There are a few events for families, but most are for adults only and are centered around your average Coloradan’s love of beer … For five days, the bars downtown are packed tight with people in costume as joint rolling competitions, drinking games, trivia and eating contests move from location to location.”

And it’s hard to argue. Durango Police reported on Sunday that officers responded to 481 calls from Wednesday to Sunday morning, and most were alcohol related. As of 11 a.m. Sunday, 25 people were taken to jail.

Orndorf went on to log a series of memorable Snowdown moments, including the hot air balloon rally, a woman smoking a cigarette inside the fairgrounds, an uncomfortably flamboyant Caucasian prince, the hot wing-eating contest and the parade down Main Avenue.

All in all, a good Snowdown.

Herald Staff