Another trip around the sun is almost over, and what a year it was. There are lots of things to celebrate and remember in 2025. Here is my top 10 list.
The Durango Business District Improvement District offers the public many ways to support local businesses in the heart of our town, including the Spring and Holiday Rewards program. After concluding the Spring Rewards Program in April, over $1.5 million in sales has been produced since these started in 2020. Now that’s something to celebrate. The 2025 Holiday Rewards program is happening right now, so navigate to DowntownDurango.org to learn more.
The 2025 San Juan Brewfest, which benefits Team Up and is managed by BID, once again broke our summer drought with rain, hail and too much lightning. Better news is that it generated over $50,000 for Team Up! The 2026 dates are Aug. 28 and 29.
The Downtown Balloon Glow was back in 2025 after getting canceled both nights in 2024 because of wind and rain. Hot air balloons in a confined area like downtown Durango do not mix well with that kind of weather, so we were super excited to see those balloons glowing this past October.
BID rolled out its local gift card, Heart of Durango Dollars, in early 2025. At the end of the year, over 1,200 cards have been distributed, and the combined value is $90,000. Currently, 110 businesses accept BID’s gift card. If you want to give Heart of Durango Dollars as a gift for Christmas gift, go to DowntownDurango.org and click on the Popular tab.
BID employee Tanya Clegg is celebrating a decade at BID in 2025! Tanya started at BID in 2016 in a part-time administrative role. Today, she is BID’s full-time director of marketing and communications. Thank you, Tanya, for 10 years of amazing work.
Durango will be home to the 2030 World Mountain Biking Championships. Forty years back in 1990, Durango hosted the first championships. BID extends its gratitude to Gaige Sippy for leading the charge to bring this prestigious, international event back where it started.
BID’s Singing With Santa event turned 40 in 2025, and it was a huge hit. About 1,500 people attended and enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies, carols, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and Santa.
Love it or hate it, the Downtown’s Next Step plan reached the 60% design level earlier this year. This plan to widen Downtown sidewalks to create a better pedestrian experience has been controversial to say the least. Before we get too far into 2026, we should all get to see the 90% drawings, which allow for a solid cost estimate. Hey, city of Durango, how about throwing in a parking garage for downtown while you’re at it?
The former Durango High School building received voter approval for funding to renovate the property into a new City Hall and Durango Police Department station. BID is excited for both important organizations to get new homes.
BID’s summertime ambassadors interacted with over 10,000 people by helping them find what they were looking for in Downtown. This year’s team was amazing, and we hope you all come back in 2026!
I hope you had a good 2025. Thank you for supporting Downtown and North Main District businesses.
Tim Walsworth is executive director of Durango Business Improvement District. Reach him at timw@downtowndurango.org or 375-5068.
