Another Snowdown has come and gone, leaving in its path lighter bank accounts, hazy memories and an ironic nostalgia for the Reagan-Bush Sr. years. But for some staunch Snowdown carousers, last call hadn’t quite hit by Sunday afternoon.
“It was one of the best themes we’ve ever had,” said board president Chris Lile, referring to the 1980s reawakening at this year’s Snowdown.
“I think what I really noticed was how many people were downtown this year. There were a lot more people from out of town, and people who moved away from Durango and returned to Snowdown because they liked it so much.”
Lile said the focus on 1980s culture provided less potentially life-threatening fun – as opposed to past year’s themes, such as Knights of the Roundtable and Safari, which unintentionally encouraged the use of weapons.
“I could not be more happy with the outcome,” Lile said.
Though the day was light with official Snowdown events, those not ready to fold up their leotards and leggings hit Main Avenue’s bars Sunday afternoon, determined to prolong the winter festival, in its 38th year, as long as possible.
As of Sunday morning, Sgt. Rita Warfield said the Durango Police Department responded to 481 incidents the past three days during the winter festival, and most calls were alcohol-related.
Jeff Fuger, from Iowa, and his brother Geraldo, who lives in Texas, said they visited Durango not knowing it was a Snowdown weekend. Rushing to catch a plane before snowstorms hit late Sunday, the two men said they’re already planning a return visit next year.
“That was the best parade I’ve ever seen in my life,” Jeff Fuger said. “I’ve already got my costume for next year ready. All silver.”
Next year’s theme, an Intergalactic Snowdown, is sure to extract the strange out of Durangoans, especially with the new installments of Star Wars, Star Trek and X-Files. Board secretary Dawn James-Staten said the event will also provide an opportunity to promote science education.
“I think it’ll be a theme a lot of kids and families can really sink their teeth into and have a lot of fun,” James-Staten said.
But outside Moe’s Starlight Lounge, there was no such thing as science or even the thought of next year’s Snowdown. As far as former Durango resident Leah Knights was concerned, this year’s Snowdown was nowhere near over.
“What do you mean, ‘What is there left to do?’ It’s Sunday,” Knights said. “If you’re not partying until 12 a.m., you’re not doing Snowdown right. If you’re not going home on Monday, you’re not doing Snowdown right.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
