On Saturday night, we’ll get to raise one to – and, possibly, with – those who have ventured into the great beyond. And thanks to the Durango Education Foundation and Horsefly History, not only can we enjoy an evening of craft cocktails and a walking tour of Durango’s most haunted places, we’ll be doing it to help support education.
If you go
WHAT: Spirits with the Spectres, presented by Durango Education Foundation and Horsefly History.
WHEN: 4 and 5:45 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Evening begins at Strater Hotel, 699 Main Ave.
TICKETS: $150. Available at https://tinyurl.com/5e73v5t5.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit https://www.durangoeducationfoundation.org.
NOTE: For ages 21 and older.
Now in its third year, the Spirits with Spectres fundraiser will offer two rotations at 4 and 5:45 p.m. Saturday, both times beginning (and ending) at the Strater Hotel with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. There, participants can try the first of the craft cocktail contestants and check out the items available in the silent auction. And Laine Johnson, owner of Horsefly History Tours, will set the stage with a history from the founding days of Durango.
Then it’s time to hit the streets ... and tunnels ... and haunted spaces.
Expanding on the past two years, participants will see a few new elements, said Wendy Allsbrook Javier, the foundation’s executive director. This year’s Spirits includes palm readings by the Durango Psychic; the late rotation will feature new locations; a craft cocktail contest from some of Durango’s most revered mixologists; and an expanded silent auction.
The two times offer a unique experience, according to a news release. At 4 p.m., called the “Classic Legends Tour,” venues from past tours will be revisited. These include El Rancho, Hermosa Cafe/Black Heron Lounge and May Palace. The 5:45 p.m. tour, or “New Tales Tour,” takes participants to the Durango & Silverton narrow Gauge Railroad sleeper car, Lizard head Trading Co. underground and the shuttered Strater Theater.
And don’t think you’ll get hungry or thirsty along the way: Each stop will offer cocktails (there are nonalcoholic drinks, too) and hors d’oeuvres throughout. And, according to the news release, spooky history, courtesy of Horsefly History, and stories from local teachers whose work has been supported by the Foundation.
“Who knew that so many people would be interested in haunted basements?” Johnson said in 2024. “It’s obviously something I love to do. And it turns out, a lot of people have been wondering about these basements and little secret places. We couldn’t do it without these businesses that are brave enough to open their location. These business owners are just really awesome to be supporting this, and it’s easy to say yes to it, because it’s a great cause. Our schools are in desperate need of help, and this is a great way to go have a blast with your friends and eat jalapeño poppers in a haunted tunnel.”
As Spirits with Spectres has grown, so too has the amount of money Durango Education Foundation gets from it each year, Javier said.
“The first year it raised $20,000 and we pulled it together a little under three months,” she said. “And then year two, we doubled it.”
This year, she said, they hope to make over $50,000.
“It’s just the community really pitches in and Laine. Laine is critical to this event,” Javier said. “If we weren’t pairing with Horsefly History, there just wouldn’t be an event. There’d be no event at all. She comes around in attics and basements with me and says, ‘How can we drink in this person’s basement?’”
Durango Education Foundation is the 501(c)(3) that raises money for the Durango School District and has been around for 41 years, Javier said.
“Over 40 years ago, it started as a single scholarship and a group of people who wanted to figure out how to support the public school. Some of those people still live here today, and they’re still supporting our organization,” she said. “Through that program we do this year alone, we’re doing $160,000 in teacher and classroom school grants. And that’s a really simple application. We visit all 12 schools, listen to principals, have grant writing workshops with teachers. We even have students applying; anybody in the district can apply, and our community partners can apply. So that’s our big program. We do over $100,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors, and then we do our big community events like the back to school resource fair or staff appreciation party, and then our spring resource fair.”
Both tours will end up back at the Strater, where there will be chocolates donated by Rocky Mountain Chocolate and Champagne. The People’s Choice cocktail will be announced, as will the costume contest winners.
“How can you go wrong with that? You can’t,” Javier said. “Any night that ends with chocolate and Champagne? I’ve just got to say that’s a good one.”
And it’s all for a good cause, she said.
“We’re here to help teachers, to help students in every possible way that we can because whether your kids or your grandkids are in the Durango School District or not, our schools are a critical part of this community’s success.”
katie@durangoherald.com
