Events on this Day

 Saturday, May 20th
Durango Farmers Market
8:00am / TBK Bank Parking Lot
The Durango Farmers Market is a venue for local agriculturalists, ranchers and artisans to meet and share their harvest and talents with the Durango community. At our market you have the opportunity to meet face to face with the producers and learn more about their growing methods. Vendors post their farming practices at their booth and most follow organic growing methods.   Our market also offers hot ready to eat food from local vendors, value added foods such as jams, jellies and sauces and local artisans who make high-quality handcrafted items. All vendors must produce their goods within our five-county radius ensuring fresh produce and locally made goods. We also have live music performances each weekend as well as community information booths for non-profits and groups that promote our market values of local, sustainable and healthy living.
Japanese Bokkendo & Jodo
9:00am / DSBK Dojo
Bokkendo (wooden sword) and jodo (short staff) date back to medieval Japan's samurai society. Training in these ancient arts offers people in the modern world a taste of bushido, or the warrior's path to a robust spirit and unbeatable mindset. Develop greater strength, balance, coordination, and poise. Beginners are as welcome as experienced practitioners. For 20 years, DSBK has provided fun-filled training experiences open to everyone.
Boggy Draw Forest Restoration Bike Ride
9:00am / Boggy Draw Trailhead
Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day by joining SJMA and DWRF (the Dolores Watershed Resilient Forest Collaborative) at Boggy Draw on May 20th to bike and learn all morning! Meet at the Boggy Draw Trailhead at 9AM for three hours and 5 miles of riding with several stops along the way. Guest speakers from DWRF, the forest service, and other organizations will share about forest restoration, forest management plans in the area, ponderosa pine ecology, and more. Bring your questions, your bike, water, and lunch. We'll gather together again at noon for a 1 hour lunch before getting back on the trails or heading home.
Garden Club of Durango Plant Sale
9:00am / La Plata County Fairgrounds
"Perennials from the Garden"   The Garden Club of Durango will host their annual plant sale, rain or shine! Come early for the best selection. Cash, check or credit card.   Plants are from local and member gardens. A large selection of irises, labeled by color, will be available. Proceeds are used to maintain the gardens at Santa Rita Park.
Rise and Vibes Music Festival
9:00am / Tico Time River RV Resort
Huge Lineup, and Fun for All Ages. Ziplines, Waterslides, Disc Golf, Car/Tent Camping, Weekend and Single Day Tickets.   Get your tickets at www.riseandvibes.com !
Exhibition: Anticipation - Two-Person Show with Bryce Pettit & Elsa Sroka
9:30am / Sorrel Sky Gallery
Sorrel Sky will be featuring the sculptures of Bryce Pettit and paintings of Elsa Sroka. While both artists feature domestic and wild animals in their work, the setting and context reflect a distinct individualism. Bryce keeps his pieces reductive in style. "I try to pare each piece down to the minimum necessary to tell the story." Elsa enjoys the playful nature of her images. "If it makes me smile…I know it's right." The exhibition will continue through May 31.
La Plata County MS Community Forum
9:30am / DoubleTree Durango Hotel
We're excited to bring our team of MS specialists to this La Plata County Community Forum, where they'll discuss the latest in MS research and advances in the field, as well as how to maximize the lifelong brain health of those living with MS.   Our neurologist, licensed clinical social worker, health & well-being coach, and physical therapist will provide formal presentations and create space for an open dialogue to ask questions. Alongside these sessions, you'll also have social time to connect with others living with MS in your community. All guests will receive a catered breakfast and lunch, alongside a complimentary assistive devices gift bag!   Beyond the opportunities provided by the forum, attending our event will also link you to our free direct support services, giving you access to our online counseling sessions, virtual exercise classes, and health and well-being coaching.
Quick & Dirty Downtown Walking Tour
10:00am / Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot
For those seeking the highlight reel of Durango’s early history, beginning in 1881, through the lens of the Historic Downtown Durango District (Main Avenue). This is a must-do for locals to learn where actual notorious Wild West events happened (as opposed to the lore) to share with your guests. Both tourists and locals alike will walk away with a very different view of Durango and a deeper appreciation.   Buffalo soldiers, Native Americans, outlaws, Chinese restaurateurs, railroad works and miners, freed slaves, and "soiled doves" were amongst the melting pot that was Durango. Sometimes things went awry and all hell broke loose. As a result, you will visit the hanging sites and location of the epic gunfight between the Sheriff and the Marshall amongst others.    This tour meets at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot (479 Main Avenue; gather at the horse sculptures out front). Please note this is a one-way walk up Main Avenue. We will end at Maria's Bookstore (960 Main Avenue). On this approximately 1 hour and 15 minute tour we will not enter establishments. This makes it an option for those with disabilities (be prepared for uneven Durango sidewalks however) and well behaved dogs (please give advance notice). After the tour you will be right on time for lunch at any of our wonderful downtown restaurants; now with a newfound appreciation of Durango.    Please do not attend a tour if you are experiencing Covid symptoms. 
Second Story Books Turns 10!
10:00am / Second Story Books
Help us celebrate our ten years in business from May 19-21st. Tell us you saw the event in What's Happening Durango? and receive 10%! Spend $25 and be entered into our raffle, and take part in our Post-It Art contest!
CO Public Lands Day: Wildflower Hike in Canyons of the Ancients NM
10:00am / Sand Canyon Trailhead
Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day by joining SJMA on a wildflower hike at Sand Canyon. We will be going for a hike (no more than 5 miles) on moderate terrain. Along the way we will observe and learn about the flowers in bloom.
The General Palmer Hotel's 125th Anniversary Party
11:00am / General Palmer Hotel
Join us in the 500 block of Main Ave. in historic Downtown Durango to celebrate the General Palmer Hotel turning 125! The celebration is on Saturday May 20 from 11 am to 3 pm, and will include lots of kids and family activities (a kiddie train from the Bayfield Lions Club, face painting and a kid's tea party), photo booths, tours of the hotel, live music and performances and more.
Pruning Particulars or Particular Pruning
1:00pm / Durango Botanic Gardens/Durango Public Library
How do you know how much to remove when you're pruning, where to cut, and when to prune different types of trees and shrubs? Do you understand how trees and shrubs grow, and how they respond to pruning?    This course answers these questions and more. It is designed to help beginning landscapers and home gardeners learn to prune shrubs, small flowering trees, and young shade trees to create a strong, well-spaced framework for future growth. You'll learn about how proper pruning techniques will improve the appearance and health of trees and shrubs.   After completing the course, you will be familiar with the hows and whys of pruning.   This class is limited to 14 attendees.
History of Regional Orchards, Talk & Taste, to Celebrate the Palmer's Birthday Blockparty!
3:00pm / EsoTerra Ciderworks
Let's Celebrate the Palmer Hotel by celebrating the some of the 'lesser known' history of La Plata County! Come and learn about the regional orcharding heritage while sipping on 4 unique ciders, crafted from those storied orchards. The event will be led by Elizabeth, the cidery's co-founder, and will include never before poured ciders!    Cost to participate in the tasting - $12  Cost to listen in? Free and Priceless    No reservations, seating is first come, first served. Presentation and tasting, will be held on the patio - so wear your sunscreen!
San Juan Symphony - Family Concert Movie Music!
4:00pm / Community Concert Hall at FLC
Join Music Director Thomas Heuser and the full San Juan Symphony to explore great movie scores! All ages will love the interactive concert format, with incredible music from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Spider Man, Frozen, Encanto, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Polar Express, and more!   No Pre-Concert lecture will be provided.   Reserved Seating $5 for all individuals (including children).
Hermosa Cafe Art Mart Soiree
4:30pm / Hermosa Cafe Art Lot
An evening of art and self expression - art market with party atmosphere. Artisan vendors, interactive art demonstrations, live music and performance art, free kids projects, active mural wall and costume contest. Artists and performers can sign up on instagram @ Hermosacafeartlot. Every third Saturday of month.
Live music with local musicians
5:30pm / The Office Spiritorium & Diamond Belle Saloon
Come enjoy some old west entertainment with live music daily!
Mut Live!
6:00pm / EsoTerra Ciderworks
Husband and wife duo, Izzy and Joel, play Indie rock with a jazz twist. Not to miss - one of the best female jazz vocalists in Durango, backed by extraordinary guitar picking! These two locals rarely perform in public. So this event is not to be missed!
Merely Players presents 'Bright Star'
7:00pm / Merely Underground
Merely Players presents Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's Stunning Bluegrass Musical Bright Star   Tickets $25 - 35
Mr Bs Vaudeville - Secret Circus Society
7:00pm / Durango Arts Center
What's Vaudeville you may ask?   Think of it as an old timey talent show with musicians, comedians, circus, dance and more.    Audience participation is a guarantee as you choose which act goes on next and which act gets marshmallowed off stage.    18+ to attend. Content may or may not be family friendly. Tickets go up by $5 at the door.
Hauntings & History Ghost Tour
7:30pm / Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot
Downtown Durango is saturated with paranormal activity. You don’t need to walk far to get your fill of ghost stories. Main Avenue was once home to a plethora of saloons, dance halls, brothels, and gambling halls. It was the stomping ground for outlaws, gamblers, prostitutes, miners, and railroad workers. Late night escapades, fueled by whiskey, led to many tragic events resulting in the ghosts that wander the streets today.   Our 90-minute Hauntings & History Ghost Tour will not disappoint. We will meet in front of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Train Depot (479 Main Ave) at dusk. Midway through the tour we will enter one of the best haunted locations that Downtown Durango has to offer! We are the only ghost tour that takes people INSIDE of a location! Wherever we tread on Main Avenue you will hear tales of apparitions who refuse to leave the places they inhabited in life. Because of the tight sidewalks downtown our tours do not exceed 15 people.    Be prepared for loud streets and crowds. Downtown Durango can be pretty raucous at night.
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