Entertainment (general) - The Durango Herald

Entertainment leaders amp up discussions about AI, creators and innovative tech at CES 2026

LAS VEGAS – The world’s largest tech showcase does not come without theatrics. Innovations and gadgets like a lollipop that sings to you as you consume it, a laundry-folding robot and a “sma...

DATE: Jan 7, 2026 | CATEGORY: Business

Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge

LOS ANGELES – At the movies this fall, Josh O’Connor plays a hot priest with a complicated past, Keanu Reeves is an angel who lost his wings, and Elizabeth Olsen has a romantic dilemma in th...

DATE: Dec 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Religion

Fort Lewis College alumna and father score investment on ‘Shark Tank’

Pain-relieving Z-Coil Footwear given funding to expand market, colors and styles

DATE: Sep 25, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Laughing through recovery: YAY! Foundation brings comedy show to Durango to tackle stigma

Held in March, event will feature stand-up acts from community members

DATE: Feb 20, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Colorado comedian using short film to connect people to a contemporary Native story

His side gig is at Casa Bonita, but Colorado comedian using short film to connect people to a contemporary Native storys passion is helping people see Native stories in new ways

DATE: Dec 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Bar-D Wranglers’ Gary Cook performs following triple bypass surgery in June

Despite missing three weeks, musician didn’t wait long before returning to stage with Durango band Bar D Chuckwagon guitarist and vocalist Gary Cook and his family were preparing to go to di...

DATE: Jul 6, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Photos: Puppets pop up

DATE: Jul 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

The Jeff Solon Swing’n Big Band to perform at Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village

Jeff Solon carries on Rollie Rustad classic jazz tradition, which was conceived in Durango

DATE: Jun 29, 2024 | CATEGORY: Tri-Cities

It’s movie time

Durango Independent Film Festival celebrates 19th year

DATE: Mar 2, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Video: Snowdown chili cook-off

Snowdown chili cook-off and bloody mary contest

DATE: Feb 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Video: Snowdown Catch and chug

Competitors demonstrated good hands and beer chugging skills during Snowdown Quaffing Tournament on Saturday

DATE: Feb 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photos: Snowdown around town

Snowdown Chili Cook-off and Quaffing held on Saturday

DATE: Feb 3, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

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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 wore 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’s 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 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 year’s 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 its 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 year’s fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unfazed 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

Entertainment leaders amp up discussions about AI, creators and innovative tech at CES 2026

Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge

Fort Lewis College alumna and father score investment on ‘Shark Tank’

Laughing through recovery: YAY! Foundation brings comedy show to Durango to tackle stigma

Colorado comedian using short film to connect people to a contemporary Native story

Bar-D Wranglers’ Gary Cook performs following triple bypass surgery in June

Photos: Puppets pop up

The Jeff Solon Swing’n Big Band to perform at Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village

It’s movie time

Video: Snowdown chili cook-off

Video: Snowdown Catch and chug

Photos: Snowdown around town

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