Durango’s annual Christmas shopping spree event, “Noel Night,” won’t be making an official return this year as a result of concerns with high shopper density amid rising cases of COVID-19, said Emily Bell, managing director of Local First.

Instead, Local First, a nonprofit focused on promoting local businesses, is pushing “Shop Local for the Holidays,” an extended holiday event replacing Noel Night that was scheduled for Dec. 3.

“We really just listened to a number of our members who expressed strong concerns around the size and scale of the event and looking at the rising case numbers in Colorado,” she said.

Bell said shopping in person is possible, but concerns about many people shopping at downtown businesses at one time raised concerns about COVID-19, and so the extended Shop Local for the Holidays event is meant to disperse shopping opportunities across the holiday season, starting with Black Friday on Nov. 26.

Singing with Santa, which usually coincides with Noel Night, will take place this year, according to the Business Improvement District. Families are encouraged to arrive at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving, at the TBK 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.

Some individual businesses have expressed interest in hosting a Noel Night of their own, Bell said, although she did not have business names immediately available Tuesday.

Karen Campbell, art adviser at Sorrel Sky Gallery on Main Avenue, said in an email to the Herald that the gallery will have a featured artist show on Dec. 3 featuring Robert Rivera. The gallery will be open until 7 p.m. that day.

Campbell said the gallery is keeping the event “pretty low key” and that no refreshments or drinks will be available.

On the “Shop Local for the Holidays” page on Local First’s website, Local First says that any “2021 Noel Night” activity is independent of the Local First organization.

One way Local First is promoting “Shop Local for the Holidays” is through customized and distributed shopping guides that highlight local events, products and services. The guides will be curated by Local First based on local business input and distributed via social media.

Holidays that Local First is accepting input on include:

Local First is also cross-promoting the holiday rewards program with the Durango Business Improvement District and the Durango Chamber of Commerce.

The business association is also working with the Herald to create a “Local Gift Guide” that allows businesses to purchase ads and submit photos of holiday products that will be featured in this year’s insert.

Tim Walsworth, executive director of the Durango Business Improvement District, said it intends to hold its own shopping promotions in tandem with Local First, although those promotions hadn’t been finalized as of Tuesday.

“Shopping local is always important in our little town,” Walsworth said. “During COVID, which we’re still sort of in, that need has been heightened and it still continues today.”

He said the BID, Local First and Durango Chamber of Commerce always sing the “shop local song.”

Despite a busier-than-usual summer, Walsworth said, the profit margins for some downtown businesses – particularly the smaller, independent ones – are small. He said businesses have made more sales this summer, but their cost of doing business is higher, too.

“Wages are higher, their cost of goods are higher, it costs more to get stuff shipped here for their shelves,” he said.

cburney@durangoherald.com

An earlier version of this story erred in saying the Singing with Santa event would not take place this year. Incorrect information was given to the Herald.