Christmas season is upon us. The Durango Business Improvement District loves Christmas, and we have a lot going on to get ready for the season.
BID’s signature Christmas event is Singing With Santa, a long-standing Durango tradition to kick off the holidays. Join us downtown the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 29, between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. at TBK Bank. Santa will arrive at 6 p.m. in a stagecoach, then we follow Santa in a caroling procession down Main Avenue to Buckley Park. New this year to help with the caroling is a partnership with Radio 101, KIQX 101.3 FM. Radio 101 will play our caroling song list, and we will have multiple PA systems along Main Avenue. to help us all sing along. Tune in starting at 6 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving.
Upon arrival at Buckley Park, we will count down to the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree. Then, free hot chocolate and cookies will be served. Kids can also sit with Santa and have their photo taken, but bring your own camera please.
Also new this year is a request to bring donations to Singing with Santa for Manna soup kitchen. Attendees are asked to bring one of the following items to TBK Bank: canned food, hand warmers, new socks, new gloves, hats or beanies, used coats or blankets. Check out DowntownDurango.org/singingwithsanta for more information.
Singing with Santa would not be possible without the support of these sponsors: TBK Bank, city of Durango, Eagle Crane, Prairie Fire Percherons, Carver Brewing Co., Durango Party Rental, DoubleTree, Highway 3 Roadhouse, Jean Pierre Bakery, McDonald’s, Manna soup kitchen, City Market South, KIQX 101.3 FM and LPEA.
If your child would like to ride in the stagecoach with Santa, then enter BID’s coloring contest. Coloring sheets can be picked up at TBK Bank or the Durango Welcome Center, or you can download it from our website. Entries are due this Monday by noon! Visit DowntownDurango.org/coloringcontest for details.
BID is also sponsoring its annual Holiday Decorating Contest for downtown and North Main District businesses. BID expects to have over 40 business participating, and you will be able to vote to decide the winner. All businesses will have a professional photo taken of their decorations, then BID will post each one on our Facebook page. The photo with the most likes wins! Watch BID’s Facebook page for details at Facebook.com/DurangoBID.
BID is also partnering with the Strater Hotel to offer free holiday gift-wrapping. Free gift-wrapping is available on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 14, 15, 21 and 22 in the Strater Hotel lobby, from noon to 3 p.m. each day.
Gifts will be wrapped old-fashioned style in brown paper with string, and then stamped with the Christmas Town USA stamp.
What is Christmas Town USA? BID is involved in another partnership to brand Durango as Christmas Town USA and to use this brand to invite people to shop downtown, ride the Polar Express, ski at Purg and stay at the Strater Hotel early in the holiday season. Go to ChristmasTown.org to learn more.
Please remember to do your Christmas shopping locally this season! Merry Christmas!
Tim Walsworth is the executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District. Contact him at timw@downtowndurango.org.
