Snowdown Events you don’t want to miss!
There are so many fantastic events to choose from during the week of Snowdown. We put together a list of some of our favorites. Be a participant, or just go and watch, there is something for everyone! Don’t forget to pick up an official guide at Magpies Newsstand, 707 Main Avenue, or view it online at Snowdown.org.
Snowdown will kick off with an Opening Ceremony on Sunday, January 26 at Purgatory Resort. Get ready for Snowdown with this first annual pre-party Opening Ceremony. The fun starts with DJ Cody at 12:30 pm followed by a ski parade down the “hill” to pass the Snowdown torch from 2019 to start the 2020 Snowdown events. You can ski in costume in the parade. Meet at the 6 pack at 1 pm for a ride up and then ski down following the torch.
Snowdown Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, noon - 1:45 pm, La Plata County Fairgrounds 2500 Main Avenue in the North Main District. Snowdown’s premier event that includes fabulous fashion, food, and fun festivities. This is an extremely popular event, so get your tickets when they go on sale January 18. There should be standing room only tickets available the day of the event. Dining will start at noon and the fashion show begins at 12:30.
Spellebration, 5:30 pm, Henry Strater Theatre 699 Main Avenue. Teams of three will test their spelling abilities with cocktails and costumes in this fun, adult spelling bee. Entry fee for team of 3 is $200, and funds support Durango Adult Education Center. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.
Magical Musical Mystery Tour, 6 pm, The Irish Embassy Pub 900 Main Avenue. Snowdown’s longest running music trivia contest. Teams of 4 will test their knowledge of music trivia in a variety of musical genres, from Top 40 and heavy metal to classical to Broadway show tunes. Event cost is $40 for a team of 4. Must be 21+. Finals Thursday night.
Snowdown Jokedown, 8 pm, Derailed Pour House. This hilarious event will have you rockin’ and rolling all night! Watch your favorite Jokedown joke-teller live on stage. Must be 21+
Guinness Games: Hungry Hungry Hippos, 10 pm, The Irish Embassy Pub 900 Main Avenue. It’s a race, it’s a chase, hurry up and feed their faces. It’s the live version of the family favorite we have all played in our childhood. Must be 18+.
Family Feud, 1 pm, Seasons Rotisserie & Grill 764 Main Avenue. Based on the TV Classic but with a Snowdown flair! Teams of 4 will compete for the top prize. Must be 21+.
Big Wheel Derby, 2 pm, Balcony Bar & Grill Backstage 600 Main Avenue Suite 205 upstairs. Contestants will take a timed lap around the balcony on a Big Wheel. If you haven’t seen an adult ride a Big Wheel before, come down and watch this hilarious event.
Hot Wing Eating Contest, 4 pm, Animas City Theatre 128 E. College Drive (enter from alley). If you love hot wings this is the event for you. Drop by Cuckoo’s for the full set of contest rules. Limited to the first 20 entries. Sign up by Jan 22. Event cost $8. Free to watch!
This is Utter Nonsense, 6pm, The Roost 128 E. College Drive. It’s a hilarious game of Utter Nonsense that will have you ROFL! A fun game that incorporated players putting out their best accents and impressions to win the current round. Of course this will be have its own Snowdown style. Watch to see who has the talent to be the Rock Star of Utter Nonsense.
Snowdown Champagne Pong, 7 pm Animas River Lounge at the Doubletree Hotel 501 Camino del Rio. A classier version of the traditional “beer pong” but with a much better beverage. Contestants will be challenged to get their ball in the right glass. The last one standing will win. There will be a “not so famous” dance off round for our odd number elimination rounds. Awards for costumes too! Entry fee includes plenty of bubbles and a delicious brunch. Come dressed to impress for this fun classy event. Event cost is $10. 21 +.
Battle of the hAIR Bands, 7:30 pm Animas City Theatre 128 E. College Drive Can you rock the house? Bands will show off their skills and see if they can truly rock the house, air band style!
Drag Race & Fashion Show, 8 pm, El Rancho Tavern 975 Main Avenue. Drag queens and kings come strut your stuff at this fun event. Dance party following the contest. Must be 21 to enter. Event is free to watch.
Snowdown T-Shirt Day, ALL DAY Get your official Snowdown t-shirt at Magpie’s Newsstand, Half Price Tees, Durango T-Shirt Company, or Albertsons.
Service Industry Scramble, 2 pm Steamworks Brewing Company 801 E. 2nd Avenue (in the alley) Coed teams of your favorite local servers from area restaurants compete in a fun and frequently messy obstacle course. Teams will be tested on their finest waiting skills including balance, speed, style and more. Event is free.
Bed Races, 4 pm, Main Avenue Downtown between 7th & 8th Streets. Durango’s craziest and most fun event that is sure to be an action-packed spectacle. Teams compete head to head against other teams for the Bed Race Trophy.
Snowdown Light Parade, 6 pm Downtown Main Avenue. Durango’s only nighttime parade, where glamorous Rock and Roll floats will have dazzling displays. Expanded FREE transit this year – every City FREE all day including the Main Avenue Trolley. Also two FREE park and ride shuttles from 3 to 9 pm. One from Fairgrounds every 20 minutes, one from Three Springs every 40 minutes. Pick up/drop off in Three Springs at Digs Restaurant and main entrance to hospital. Last shuttles leave Downtown at about 8:30 pm. Check out our Snowdown parade guide for more information.
Snowdown Costume Ball, Balloon Drop and Awards, 7pm Main Mall 835 Main Avenue. Come strut your best at the costume ball, and see who wins the Parade awards. Kid friendly, and the Hillstompers will play. Live music, drinks and a balloon drop!
Snowdown Chili Cook Off and Bloody Mary Contest, noon, La Plata County Fairgrounds 2500 Main Avenue in the North Main District. Delicious red, green and vegetarian chili, and salsas. Plus amazing bloody mary’s. Free to enter, 50 cents per taste chilis and salsas, $1 per taste for bloodys, beer and soft drinks available for purchase. Prizes awarded at 2 pm, so vote for your favorite.
Human Foosball, 1 pm, Animas Brewing Company 1560 E. 2nd Avenue. Teams of 5 will compete in a classic foosball tournament with a twist. This should be a hilarious game for spectators to watch.
Outhouse Stuffing, 2 pm, Gazpacho’s 431 E. 2nd Avenue. Watch as teams compete to stuff as many people as they can in to a single outhouse in 2 minutes. This event is free to enter and is a blast to watch!
Costume Contest and Dance Party, 7pm, The Powerhouse 1333 Camino del Rio. Rock out as your favorite musician in this fun costume contest! Live music and costume contest with prizes. Prizes will be awarded to Most Rockin’, Least Rockin, Best Group Costume and Most Outrageous.
Guinness Games, 8pm, The Irish Embassy Pub 900 Main Avenue. Roll the dice and compete in the fun game of Yahtzee. Players can compete individually or on teams of 4.
La Plata Search and Rescue Pancake Breakfast, 7 am - noon La Plata County Fairgrounds 2500 Main Avenue in the North Main District. Come enjoy pancakes, ham, eggs, coffee and juice. It’s all you can eat. Supports Snowdown and La Plata County Search and Rescue. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for kids (6-12), 5 and under free.
Snowdown Balloon Rally and Mass Ascension, 8 am, HWY 550 North, Hermosa Meadows Rd.
Enjoy a beautiful display of colorful hot air balloons ascending in the early morning frost. Grab warm clothes, friends and warm drinks and enjoy all the balloons rise in the valley.
Snowdown Slowdown Superbowl 54 Party, 2 pm Derailed Pour House 725 Main Avenue. Kick off your dancing shoes and unwind! Offering 9 big screen TV’s and comfortable seating. There will be prizes and giveaways. 18+.
Looking for Events for kids? Check out our Snowdown Events for Kids blog .
See a full list of Events here.
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