Events on this Day

For a truly unforgettable step back in time, enjoy a leisurely trip to yesteryear riding 3 1/2 hours each way on this diesel train while spending a nearly 2-hour layover in the historic mining town of Silverton to enjoy the sights, shopping, food, and libations that Silverton offers. Departing from the Durango Depot, this trip takes you up into the Rocky Mountains with views of the San Juan National Forest as you travel alongside the beautiful Animas River on your way to the historic mining town of Silverton. There will be one Silverton Diesel Train departing daily at 8:15 AM from May 20th - August 13th.

For a truly unforgettable step back in time, enjoy a leisurely trip to yesteryear riding 3 1/2 hours each way on this train while spending a nearly 2-hour layover in the historic mining town of Silverton to enjoy the sights, shopping, food, and libations that Silverton offers. Departing from the Durango Depot, this trip takes you up into the Rocky Mountains with views of the San Juan National Forest as you travel alongside the beautiful Animas River on your way to the historic mining town of Silverton. There will be up to three steam departures depending on the date. The Silverton Steam Train departs daily at 9:00AM 5/6/23-10/28/23, 8:15AM 8/14/23-10/14/23, and 9:45AM 9/1/23-10/14/23

Experience the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad's iconic canyon views along the Highline on our shortest excursion offered. This steam train excursion is perfect for families with young children, late risers, or anyone looking to experience the historic D&SNGRR with only five hours to spare.    The Cascade Canyon Express departs from Durango and travels deep into the San Juan National Forest about halfway to Silverton, before returning to Durango for a 5-hour highlight reel of spectacular Rocky Mountain and Animas River Canyon scenery.   The Cascade Canyon Express has a concession car with a variety of snacks and drinks available for purchase. Pre-order boxed lunches are also available.   The train will depart from the Durango Depot at 9:45 AM every day and return to Durango at 3 PM from May 26th - May 29th and June 7th - August 13th.

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. 

Work with DAC's own Mr. B, "The Master Costume and Mask Masker" and create outrageous Masks of your choice using a variety of three dimensional forms, mediums, materials and paints. Each day explore masks of different cultures.   Email Mr B at ben@durangoarts.org with any questions or concerns. Scholarships Available!

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Since 1947, the Kiwanis Club of Durango has been supporting programs and activities aimed at improving the minds, lives and futures of the youth of La Plata County.   We'd love for you to come join us at one of our meetings or a service project.

Enjoy live music on the Purgatory Plaza!    A mainstay of Old Time music in Colorado for over a decade, the members of Six Dollar String Band play a passionate, eclectic, and refreshingly honest array of String Band music native to their home in the Centennial State. They'll be joining us so come on down for the first installment of our San Juan Session series!

Join the Botanic Gardens Board of Directors and its members in a celebration of the Literary Garden! Speakers will include a welcome by Board President, Bill LeMaire, Melissa Youssef, Mayor of Durango and Luke Alvey-Henderson, Library Director. Theresa Anderson, Chair of the Literary Garden committee, will present a history and the unique aspects of the LG - what makes a garden literary? Attendees will see artwork by local students who have helped to plant portions of the Youth Garden as well as talk to Docents about the individual genres and the associated literature.

Join Durango Green Drinks the last Thursday of the month from 5-7PM at 11th Street Station with two local sustainability organizations hosting each month. It's free and casual. Short announcements and presentations usually start around 5:30.

Join us in the beer garden for fresh craft beer from the source, food specials and free live music on the outdoor stage by Vintage Brew!

Join us for a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception prior to Lisa See's keynote presentation. This event is free and open to all. Many thanks to our local partners Star Liquors and DuranGourmet who will be catering the event!

The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College and Alpine Bank present the free summer concert series, "Concert Hall @ The Park" in downtown Durango's Buckley Park featuring Ali McGuirk!   Boston-based singer, songwriter, captivating audiences with her powerful, buttery voice and heartfelt songwriting. She has performed across 4 continents, from Santorini to Hong Kong and recognized by the Boston Globe as an "artist to hear" and named on multiple lists, including Boston rock critic Steve Morse's Top Ten Albums and took home the Boston Music Awards Blues Artist of the Year award.   Picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs are encouraged with Fired Up Pizzeria offering a selection of food and beverages throughout the evening.

Come enjoy live Jazz on the Patio!

Join us for live music at James Ranch Grill with Andrew Schuhmann   Often described as ‘Eddie Vedder meets Tyler Childers,’ Andrew's powerful, gravelly baritone fills any and every audience with awe. Boasting over six hours of songlist material, spanning nearly every decade and genre, Andrew rocks unique interpretations and medleys of classic favorites, and always has a song on tap to bring a smile to any and every musical taste.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art with a do-no-harm approach to self-defense. Ai means harmony or blending. Ki is energy. Do is the way. Learn how to blend with energy in a conflict in order to resolve it. Aikido is ideal for women, shorter individuals, and those who never imagined doing martial arts. Develop greater strength, coordination, balance, and serenity. For 20 years, DSBK has provided fun-filled classes open to everyone.   (Photo credit Penny Maycock CCBY2.0)

Adult Improv with Cindy Laudadio-Hill - Blue Level   DAC is sponsoring a 4-week class with veteran improv actor and teacher, Cindy Laudadio-Hill, to help you fall further in love with the art of improvisation! This class will take beginner improvers to the next level with exercises focused on scene building, long-from improv, and building characters.   Email dar@durangoarts.org for the student, teacher, and service industry discount code.   Due to the nature of this class, this class is open to those 18 - 118 years old.

Soak up spectacular live music at Durango Hot Springs Resort and Spa. This summer guests can enjoy live music from the comfort of the mineral-rich waters!   In the last year, Durango Hot Springs has added 15 mineral soaking pools and one cold plunge, doubling the number of pools to 32.     Looking for solitude? Couples and individuals are invited to enjoy the new cedar Ofuro tubs situated in a private Zen garden.

Join us outside on the Carver Family Plaza for Powerhouse trivia night every Thursday through the summer. Our trivia consists of four rounds of questions and always includes one scientific round and a music round. $5 suggested team donations. Bar open for drink purchases and food available from Laura's Artisans and Straight Outta Balboa Island.

The keynote event of our 2023 Literary Festival. Lisa See is the bestselling author of The Island of the Sea Women, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Shanghai Girls and many more. Her newest novel, Lady Tan's Circle of Women, is receiving rave reviews and is being described as "engrossing…rich…and packed with historical detail." The event also includes a book sale and author signing sponsored by Maria's Bookshop.   This is a ticketed event. Tickets are free and will become available at the library on June 1st.

A soon to be married couple, living in a conservative state, embark on a road trip for an abortion as they struggle to keep their relationship together. Play by Alex Riad. Starring Layan Elwanzani and Zach Desmond.

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.