Charity - The Durango Herald

Cyclists raise funds for medical travel for Southwest Colo. kids

Courage Classic race has raised more than $32M in first 24 years

DATE: Jun 27, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Pound pets featured on wine labels for charity

Bottles will make debut at Pet Expo

DATE: Jun 19, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Nights at Jersey Jim lookout set record in online auction

It’s no five-star resort, but no doubt plenty of people in Southwest Colorado would much rather spend the night in a 55-foot-high fire lookout than alongside a golf course or a beach. ...

DATE: Jun 16, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Philanthropy Days in full swing

Area nonprofits tell their stories to big funders

DATE: Jun 11, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Local churches putting belief into action

Faithful provide helping hands to those in need

DATE: Jun 7, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

CrimeStoppers Golf Tournament

DATE: May 31, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Golfing for schools

Two tournaments to benefit education efforts

DATE: May 30, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Golfers, get ready to tee off for tips

Tourney raises money for Crimestoppers

DATE: May 29, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

River Run for Orphans changes event dates

With summer nipping at our heels, the season of charitable runs and walks is upon us. But we may be reaching critical mass. River Run for Orphans, which has raised more than $440,...

DATE: May 29, 2014 | CATEGORY: Local News

Local cycling professional racing for charity

Payson McElveen partners with More Than Sport

DATE: May 20, 2014 | CATEGORY: Outdoors

Durango Food Bank is hungry for more space

Demand is increasing, particularly during holidays

DATE: Dec 24, 2013 | CATEGORY: Local News

’Tis the season of giving

La Plata County residents donate in a variety of ways

DATE: Dec 18, 2013 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members donned costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the secret circus society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving the Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this years costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don'ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since it’s inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this years fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unphased by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns

Cyclists raise funds for medical travel for Southwest Colo. kids

Pound pets featured on wine labels for charity

Nights at Jersey Jim lookout set record in online auction

Philanthropy Days in full swing

Local churches putting belief into action

CrimeStoppers Golf Tournament

Golfing for schools

Golfers, get ready to tee off for tips

River Run for Orphans changes event dates

Local cycling professional racing for charity

Durango Food Bank is hungry for more space

’Tis the season of giving

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