Popular Durango fest to return soon
The 12th Street Punks won the 37th annual Snowdown Bartender’s Contest in January 2015 at the Starlight Lounge. Jesse Kleinschmidt, center, and Jen Rylko, right, concoct the “Bee Punked” during the contest. At left is emcee Rick Carney.
The 12th Street Punks won the 37th annual Snowdown Bartender’s Contest in January 2015 at the Starlight Lounge. Jesse Kleinschmidt, center, and Jen Rylko, right, concoct the “Bee Punked” during the contest. At left is emcee Rick Carney. Durango Herald file photo
Mike Hurst, co-owner of Carver Brewing Co., said there were 25 competitors in the 2015 Snowdown Beard Competition. Hurst said beards were judged for length, absorbtion ability, color, and over all appearance. Ben Brittain competes at Carver Brewing Co. Durango Herald file photo
As Mike Grissom hangs onto the mattress, his team mates from the left, Sherry Seay, Tennia Ollier and Ron Stelmaszek push during the Snowdown Bed Rally Race in the alley behind Steamworks in January 2015. SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
“The hill doesn’t get any less steep,” said Steve Ilg, who has done the Chapman Challenge Uphill/Downhill Race numerous times in the past. Ilg cools off after running the challenge in snowshoes in January 2015 at Chapman Hill. Durango Herald file photo
Punked out for the Snowdown Fashion Do’s & Don’ts, Chris Wright walks the runway at the exhibition hall of the La Plata County Fairgrounds with his group called Steampunk Hunk during the January 2015 show. SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Contestants in the 2015 Snowdown Shuckin, Suckin Oyster Slurping Contest devour as many oysters on the half shell as they can in 60 seconds at the Highway 3 Roadhouse. From the foreground is C.J. Wise, Valeria Skarber, Diane Heleno, Judy Trantino and Diana Wright, Erika Waggaman. SHAUN STANLEY/Durango Herald file photo
Dawn Kast, left, and Dan Brown, emcees for the B cast, at the 2015 Snowdown Follies in January 2015 at the Durango Arts Center. Durango Herald file photo
From left: Dawn James-Staten, John Staten, Dan Imming, Paul Gibson, and Tim Zink on drums in “High Voltage” at the 2015 Snowdown Follies at the Durango Arts Center. Durango Herald file photo
Heidi King, with Team BP, The Mustacheo’s, get spells out a word during the 2015 Snowdown Spellebration at the Henry Strater Theater at the Strater Hotel. JERRY McBRIDE/Durango Herald file photo
Jeff Ellingson, Mike Danielson, and Kyle Danielson and others from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum came up with this float for the 2015 Snowdown Light Parade on Main Avenue. Durango Herald file photo
Snowdown 2016 begins next week and the excitement around the annual winter celebration is building around Durango.
See some of The Durango Herald’s photos from some of the popular events during Snowdown 2015, and stay with us next week for full coverage this year’s events – on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, at durangoherald.com and in the daily paper.
