Durango’s 38th Snowdown officially takes off Jan. 27. And as those who have participated in all such events can attest, it has been memorable time after time. So don’t worry, be happy. For all the bawdy and brash behavior Snowdown embraces, at heart it is (mostly, or at least often) good, clean fun. There will be silliness in the air tonight.
Some of the first events include the Snowdown Doughdown Doughnut Eating Contest at Doughworks at 9 a.m. and Paint Up Snowdown at 9:30 at the Durango Arts Center. At noon there is the Snowdown Fashion Dos and Don’ts at the fairgrounds, the Snowdown Totally Awesome Scavenger Hunt at the Billy Goat Saloon in Gem Village, and Corko Arto (cork art and sculpture) at The Wine Merchant on Main.
They will be followed by Keg Cap Frisbee Golf at El Moro Spirits and Tavern on Main at 1 p.m., Family Feud Snowdown Style at the Strater’s Diamond Bell at 2 p.m., the Snowdown Costume Contest at The Palace Restaurant at 2:30, the 38th annual Bartender’s Contest at Moe’s Lounge at 4 p.m., ’80s Scene it? Snowdown Showdown at the Animas City Theater on College Drive at 4:30, and at 5 p.m., the 11th annual Snowdown Kids Follies.
All-week events include the Snowdown Theme Contest at Magpies Newsstand Cafe, the Search for “The Silver Bullet,” hosted by Coors Light and Four Corners Broadcasting, and Durango Harley Davidson’s Book it on Down for Snowdown, Fastest Texter in Durango at the AT&T store on S. Camino del Rio, and Durango’s Hottest Dog/Coolest Cat Photo Contest at Durango Dawg House.
And all that is just the first couple pages of the program. Don’t stop believing there is a lot more. So for more precise addresses, contact information and details about specific events, beat it over to www.SNOWDOWN.org. Do not call 867-5309.
Of course, everybody wants to rule the world, but Snowdown’s premier events really do rule. The Snowdown Light Parade kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday from College Drive with a single firework. From there, the footloose event heads north on Main to 12th Street. It will go on with or without you, but miss it and you will regret it with every breath you take.
And, yes, as much as anything, we built this city on the Follies. Edgy, raunchy, racy, they skewer all comers and spare none. Who can it be now?
The performances are at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Follies can also be seen on a videocast at the Animas City Theater. Check online for details. Just remember, if your kids are like a virgin, leave them with the babysitter.
So whether your idea of beauty is Bette Davis eyes or the eye of the tiger, or even if you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, enjoy Snowdown. Just remember to take care if you like piña coladas or red, red, wine – and that girls just want to have fun.
Call it the power of love or just the way it is, but at least for this weekend, we are the world.
