2018 Fourth of July in Durango

Durango knows how to do holidays. Most of the time there’s costumes, and there’s almost always a parade — sometimes on Main Avenue, sometimes on the Animas River, sometimes both. But the Fourth of July in Durango involves the best of the best of all holidays: pancakes, parades, costumes, concerts, fireworks and a big, ol’ street dance (except no Santa and no trick-or-treating). So here’s your guide to having the best July 4 in Durango:

Breakfast and Fun Run

Eating and jogging? Don’t worry; there’s plenty of time to digest those pancakes (carb-loading, anyone?) before you set out on the 5k Fun Run/Walk. The All-American Gourmet Breakfast will be served from 7:30-10:30 a.m., and the free all-ages fun run starts at 9 a.m., both at Rotary Park. Arrive by 8:45 a.m. to register for the run. There will also be live music and a reading of historical documents at the park.

July 4 River Parade

Cool off on the Animas River during Mild to Wild Rafting’s 4th of July River Parade! This annual tradition is a parade of rafts filled with crazy-costumed rafters that flows through downtown Durango. The best part is there are five times to either get on the river or watch from the banks: 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Kids get a Fourth of July souvenir, and there’s even a prize for best costume, so be sure to wear your most patriotic getup!

Family Fun Picnic

Next up on the list of things to do for Fourth of FUN? The Family Fun Picnic! Activities kick off at noon at Buckley Park. There, you can listen to readings from our nation’s founding documents, enjoy live entertainment by Cannondolls and Pete Giuliani, and get your fill of killer food and drinks (all proceeds benefit Build Homes for Heroes). There will also be two free concerts at Rotary Park: Southwest Civic Winds’ Concert Band will play at 10:15 a.m. followed by a performance by the Southwest Civic Winds Jaxx Band at 11:30 a.m.

Stars and Stripes Parade

For July 4 in Durango, there’s one event that’s second only to the actual fireworks display to mark the occasion: the annual Stars and Stripes Parade along Main Avenue. The parade starts at 6 p.m. at College Drive and will end at 12th Street.

Street Dance

Immediately after the parade, head over to Main Avenue and 11th for the annual Durango Street Dance. Get you groove on or scoot your boot or whatever kind of dancing (within reason) you want to do during the street dance, which ends just after 9 p.m. Then it’s time for…

Fireworks!

It’s not the Fourth of July in Durango (or anywhere for that matter) without something exploding — preferably fireworks. The show starts at about 9:15 p.m., and you’ll find great views on any downtown cross street facing west.

IndependenTS Week

Not that you’re lacking for things to do in Durango for the Fourth of July, but there’s another type of celebration going on this week: a celebration of our independent businesses. Durango has an amazing community of locally owned businesses that make and sell it all: Breweries tapping their craft beer, artists selling paintings, sculptures and jewelry, chocolatiers selling artisanal chocolates, local wineries pouring their special blends — we could go on and on.

Durango Independents Week will run July 1-7 to celebrate Durango’s spirit of entrepreneurship and community. Local First, a nonprofit that serves local, independent businesses in La Plata County, is the organization behind the local Independents Week as part of the larger, nationwide movement to “recognize the importance of economic democracy and community self-determination.”

So how to you participate? Pick up a Local First Passport on Saturday, June 30, at Local First’s booth at the Durango Farmer’s Market, located in the parking lot of the First National Bank of Durango, or anytime between July 1-7 at Local First, Maria’s Bookshop, Smiley Cafe, ACE Kroegers Hardware, Sante, Wagon Wheel Liquor, Animas Trading Co., Urban Market, The Durango Welcome Center, Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, Salt 360 Float Studio, The Soup Palette, the Spaaah Shop or the La Plata County Humane Society.

For every purchase you make, you get a stamp, and for every five stamps you collect, you’ll be entered to win one of the awesome prizes! Passports must be submitted by Monday, July 9, and winners will be chosen on Wednesday, July 11.

The week of July 4 is the perfect time to visit Durango. Clearly, we have a lot of fun stuff happening, plus all the usual great summer activities: tubing on the Animas, mountain biking, hiking, you name it.

Speaking of supporting local businesses, the Durango Econo Lodge Inn and Suites is under new, local ownership! If you’re looking at Durango hotels for your trip, stay with us! We’re consistently rated one of the best hotels in Durango, so book your room at the Econo Lodge Durango today!

Father’s Day in Durango

Mother’s Day gets a lot of the attention, but believe you me, fathers want to be celebrated on Father’s Day, too. But instead of brunch and flowers, check out these car shows and craft breweries and other things to do in Durango for Father’s Day.

Durango Brewery Tour

Line up a DIY tour of Durango’s craft breweries — and then see if you can make it to all of them! In alphabetical order, be sure to check out Animas Brewing Co., Brew Pub and Kitchen, Carver Brewing Co., Durango Brewing Co., Ska Brewing Co. and Steamworks Brewing Co. Stick to flights and add some food, and you just may be able to make it through all six Durango breweries still standing!

Cars and Cruise-Ins

Durango Harley-Davidson is hosting a Father’s Day “Ride-in, Drive-in” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the dealership, 750 S. Camino Del Rio in Durango. The event is open to anyone. As they say: “Have a cool car? Bring it. Into cool cars? Come over.” And admission is free!

Pit-A-Billy, a non-profit that hosts events to raise money for local animal shelters that support “bully breeds,” is having a car show and cruise-in at Ska Brewing on Sunday, June 17. Three Fearless Peasants will provide live music from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and guests can enter a raffle. Come for the free music and to check out some cool cars, but be careful: You may go home with a puppers or doggo from the adoption showcase!

Durango Train

This is where we would normally say a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad would be a perfect outing for Father’s Day. Unfortunately, the Durango train recently suspended its coal-fired steam train passenger service through at least Saturday, June 30, as a result of the nearby forest fire in San Juan National Forest. Durango train officials are still working with local authorities, agencies and other community leaders to evaluate the possibility of launching limited diesel locomotive passenger service later this summer when it is safe to do so. When that decision is made, the Durango railroad will announce all the relevant details, including fares, schedules and itineraries, associated with the new passenger service. In the meantime, the Durango & Silverton train encourages visitors and to stop by the D&SNGRR depot for scheduled railyard tours and free museum admission.

Get into Nature

The Durango Nature Center is open to the public on Saturdays, and is free for members and children under 12 and $5 for nonmembers. There, dads and their kiddos can explore miles of hiking trails, play in the river, have a picnic, earn a junior naturalist badge and explore the interpretive trail. On the upper 35 acres, visitors can also check out the Welcome Building and gift shop, prairie dog colonies, a sage-rabbitbrush habitat, a kids’ habitat play area, xeriscaping gardens and more. A footpath leads down to 105 acres along the Florida River where trails wind through a variety of habitats, including riparian, meadows, oak woodlands, piñon-juniper forests and desert arroyos. Trails are marked with signs at ending points and junctions, as well as with interpretive markers and maps along the way.

If you’re on a family vacation or just looking for some family time, come stay with us at the Durango Econo Lodge Inn and Suites. We rank as one of the best Durango hotels and are located on Durango’s main drag, cleverly named “Main Avenue,” just a short jaunt north of downtown Durango. So book your room at the Econo Lodge Durango today!

Celebrate Mother’s Day in Durango

Mother’s Day can be a tough one to celebrate with new ideas every year, so everyone defaults to brunch. Brunch, brunch, brunch. And don’t get us wrong — we love a good brunch, especially with mimosas, a Bloody Mary and/or bacon. But there are so many other ways to celebrate your mom in Durango this Mother’s Day. And what do moms want most of all? To get to spend time with the people they love, to be appreciated, and, of course, to have you put away your dang shoes.

Here are some non-brunch ideas for things to do in Durango this Mother’s Day that Mom will love.

Mother’s Day Train

This Mother’s Day, book a seat for Mom on the Durango train! The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad’s Mother’s Day Train Adventure departs Durango at 8:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 13, takes passengers on a scenic journey through the Animas River Valley and the San Juan Mountains to Silverton. There, passengers can disembark for a two-hour stint in the picturesque Victorian-era mining town before boarding to return to Durango. On the trip back, mothers will receive a fresh flower and a chocolate treat and can sip on some special Mother’s Day rosé while listening to strolling musicians play in the passenger cars.

Art Experiences

The Art Experience in downtown Durango has several art classes and painting parties planned Mother’s Day weekend (although none on actual Mother’s Day). Take Mom out for an early celebration with the “Owl Painting Party” Friday night. During the two-hour event, an instructor will walk painters through the process of an acrylic painting from start to finish. Other options include a watercolor painting class Saturday evening and an acrylic pouring workshop Saturday night. Acrylic pouring is extra cool, and participants will create up to three different pieces of acrylic poured art!

Another artsy option is the Annual Spring Gallery Walk on Friday, May 11, in downtown Durango. The evening will kick off with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. at Sorrel Sky Gallery with Colorado artist Edward Aldrich. Several downtown art galleries will be open 5-9 p.m. for visitors to explore and enjoy.

 

Shopping

Maybe you’re like me and your early tween mother-daughter bonding experiences involved retail therapy. Which, sometimes meant you needed actual therapy afterward, but hey. Some of my fondest memories are shopping with Mom, so you may want to take Mom shopping this weekend — and you have plenty of options. In addition to the great everyday shopping in historic downtown Durango, you have some special shopping options this weekend.

The Durango Farmers Market opens this Saturday for the summer! The Farmers Market is every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of First National Bank of Durango at 259 W. Ninth St. Peruse local produce and products including fruits, veggies and herbs, local meats, cheeses and eggs, and handmade arts, crafts and jewelry.

Also, on Mother’s Day, the Durango Flea Market is an open-air market every Sunday in the La Plata County Fairgrounds parking lot. Shoppers will find everything they’re looking for (and plenty they’re not but need anyway): antiques, housewares, clothing, jewelry, toys, sporting goods, food and who knows what other treasures!

All of these options are close to — you guessed it — us, the Durango Econo Lodge Inn & Suites! We’re located at 20th Street and Main Avenue in Durango, so we’re within blocks of downtown and nearby restaurants, shops and galleries. If you want to treat Mom to a weekend away, or bring her for a visit, we’re one of the best hotels in Durango. Book your room at the Econo Lodge Durango today!

Celebrate Easter in Durango!

Ah, Easter. Eating the ears off your chocolate bunny. Licking the center out of a Cadbury egg. Dying Easter eggs, hunting Easter eggs, cracking open plastic Easter eggs to find jellybeans and chocolate goodies inside. If you’re looking for things to do in Durango to celebrate this Easter, look no further because we rounded up the best Durango Easter happenings for your egg-hunting pleasure!

Ski-Easter at Purgatory Resort

Let’s just say the “SkiEaster” Bunny comes early at Purgatory Resort. Start your Durango Easter celebration early with Ski-Easter at Purgatory Resort, the resort’s own special way to celebrate the day. Ski-Easter kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24, with a little kids’ Easter egg hunt on the tubing hill. Children will be divided into appropriate age groups to go find Easter eggs, which the SkiEaster bunny hid all over the hill. (Each group will hunt for different colored eggs to keep it even-Steven.) The event it open to kids of all ages!

New this year is an Easter egg hunt ON THE MOUNTAIN. Crazy, eh? This is a full-on, ski-in egg hunt. Take Lift 1 and head over to Animas City. There you’ll find an Easter egg hunt right in the terrain park. Once you arrive, step out of your skis or snowboard to race each other on foot through the park to find the eggs. Get on Lift 1 no later than 10:55 a.m., then follow Sa’s Psyche or West Fork over to arrive at Animas City in time for the hunt, which starts at 11:15 a.m. sharp.

Other Ski-Easter activities include a ski-through chocolate station from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. thanks for Rocky Mountain Chocolate Co. Just ski over to the picnic table at the bottom of El Diablo. Durango Joe’s will also be serving up free coffee and cocoa at a special Easter tent on the ski beach, so grab a hot beverage on your way to the lift!

PEANUTS™ The Easter Beagle Express Durango Train

Peanuts The Easter Beagle Express aboard the Durango Train is an annual Durango Easter tradition, and there’s no better way for you to celebrate Easter with your little kiddos. Hop aboard the Peanuts Easter train Saturday, March 31, for the special themed trip to Cascade Canyon. During the ride, attendants will be on board to help children as they enjoy games, crafts, music and prizes. An on-board musician will meander between two Easter-themed passenger cars playing songs and reading the “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown” story to the kids.

At Cascade Canyon Wye, everyone can get off the train to take pictures with beloved Peanuts characters. After the train ride, kids can participate in an Easter egg hunt at the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge museum! All Peanuts Easter train passengers will also received a souvenir mug. This Durango train excursion is wildly popular, so make sure you book your tickets today!

Durango Easter Egg Scramble

The annual Durango Easter Egg Scramble is a hugely popular (and free!) event, and this year won’t disappoint. The Easter Egg Scramble will be held at 9:45 a.m., Saturday, March 31, at Smith Sports Complex at 1480 E. Eighth Ave. in Durango. The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance to start off the egg hunt for each age group, which will range from toddler to 8-year-olds. Kids can also take pictures with the Easter Bunny! Be sure to bring your basket to carry all your eggs and goodies, but leave your pets at home (pets are not allowed).

If you’ll be visiting Durango over Easter weekend or will be hosting family for the holiday, be sure to book a room (or two or three) with us at the Durango Econo Lodge Inn and Suites! Guests rate us among the best hotels in Durango, and we’ll be sure the Easter Bunny knows where to find your room. Book your stay today!

St. Patrick’s Day in Durango!

Kiss me, I’m Irish! No, really. I am. But we can skip the smooching and go straight to drinking green beer, it that works for you? Works for me!

Although our mountains aren’t emerald green like the rolling hills of Ireland and our Animas River isn’t neon green like the Chicago River (and our beer isn’t really green because…gross), locals and visitors alike still have plenty of things to do this St. Patrick’s Day in Durango.

Durango Train Shamrock Express

Get your green on and get aboard the Durango train for the Shamrock Express! The St. Paddy’s Day-themed Durango train trip will chugga-chugga choo-choo passengers to Cascade Canyon while they chugga-chugga Irish beer and drink specials.

The train departs at 9:45 a.m., Saturday, March 17. Before boarding and during the ride, passengers can enjoy live music by local Celtic group the Kitchen Jam Band, which will start off playing on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad depot platform then move from car to car playing traditional Irish tunes during the trip.

Passengers can also buy a special, mint-chocolate St. Patrick’s beer: Mint-Night Express Stout by New Terrain Brewing Co. out of Golden, Colorado. Passengers can also order a special corned beef sandwich boxed lunch provided by The Yellow Carrot.

The Durango train will be decked out with Irish decorations, and passengers are encouraged to deck themselves out by wearing green or dressing in St. Paddy’s costumes — but (just like drinking) it is not required.

Pub Crawl

Why do they call it a “pub crawl?” Is it because you crawl from pub to pub, or is it because you’re crawling by the end of it? Both? Either way, downtown Durango is the perfect place to do a bit of bar-hopping to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Durango’s hip downtown is home to plenty of awesome bars and brewpubs all within easy walking (or crawling) distance. 

Naturally, your St. Paddy’s Day pub crawl must include a stop at the Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave. Fish and chips are on the menu, Guinness is on draft, and the specialty drink menu is heavy on Irish whiskey cocktails with names like Dublin Mule, Dublin Manhattan, Rory McIlroy, Embassy Wolfhound and Irish Red Setter. Swing by on Sunday, March 18th, to catch (or join) the pub’s weekly traditional Irish music jam session from 12:30-4 p.m.

Head a block north to Carver Brewing Co., the original Durango brewery, to try out their Irish stout. A couple blocks away is Steamworks Brewing Co., one of the renowned Durango craft breweries, where you can sip their Backside Stout or sample McDammit’s Scottish Ale (Scotland is close enough to Ireland, right?).

While you’re in Durango celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, we want you to be safe. Stay with us at the Durango Econo Lodge Inn and Suites! We’re located at 2002 Main Ave., which is pretty close to downtown — either during a brisk walk or a quick lift. We’re one of the best hotels in Durango! Book your room today so you can fully enjoy St. Paddy’s Day in Durango. (Kissing not included. Sorry.)