Will Noel Night be held Dec. 3? Officially, no. Unofficially, yes.
Tim Walsworth, executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District, told The Durango Herald that “Noel Nite” will be a merchant-led effort this year.
More than 80 businesses in downtown Durango have decided to take “Noel Night” – a one-day consumer-driven event – into their own hands after Local First called off this year’s event because of concerns with rising COVID-19 transmission rates.
As of Monday, only 4% of ICU beds were available in Southwest Colorado, with 24 of 25 beds in use, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Noel Night typically brings thousands of shoppers and holiday celebrants to the downtown business district on one day in December for afternoon and evening shopping, Walsworth said.
He said downtown Durango could be pretty packed the evening of Dec. 3 for “Noel Nite.”
Earlier this week, Walsworth said the business district isn’t involved with Local First’s traditional Noel Night, but it supports all of Local First’s promotional endeavors.
On Thursday, he said the BID will pay to help advertise Noel Nite. Walsworth said the business district is asking all participating businesses “to contribute what they can to cover advertising costs.”
The business district is also helping to promote the event over social media and on its website.
Local business owner Chayse Romero said the Noel Nite promotion was spearheaded by Beads & Beyond.
Beads & Beyond co-owner Nancy Juliana declined to comment Thursday about Noel Nite.
Romero said she recently opened her jewelry business, Frontera Silver – Mindfully Made Metal Jewelry, and that she was approached by the owners of Beads & Beyond about participating in this year’s Noel Nite.
“But I’m just a one-woman business, very small, and they’re just a few doors down from me and so they’re like, ‘Are you going to be participating?’” Romero said. “And I’m like, ‘Well, sure, I’ll stay open for a few extra hours.’ But they should be able to tell you more about specifics.”
Local First’s Managing Director Emily Bell said Tuesday that in place of Noel Night, the business association would host an extended promotion called “Shop Local for the Holidays” in order to disperse shopping activity across the holiday season (Black Friday through New Year’s Day).
Bell cited the rise in COVID-19 cases and concerns expressed among some Local First members as reasons for calling off this year’s Noel Night.
Bell did not return a phone call Thursday seeking comment about Noel Nite.
Noel Nite is scheduled to be an all-day event on Dec. 3. Most participating businesses plan to keep their doors open until 9 p.m. and will offer a variety of deals and discounts, according to a BID news release issued Wednesday.
The release says a full list of participating businesses will become available at DowntownDurango.org/noel-nite a few days before the event.
Singing with Santa will also take place this year, according to BID.
Families are encouraged to arrive at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving, at the TBK Bank parking lot. Santa Claus will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage about 6 p.m., and participants will follow him to Buckley Park for the lighting of the community Christmas tree. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided while supplies last.
cburney@durangoherald.com
