Snowdown Festival: Durango's Wildest Winter Party
If you've never heard of Snowdown, picture this: an entire mountain town loses its collective mind for five straight days in late January. Costumes everywhere. Cardboard box sled races. A light parade down Main Avenue. It's Durango's unofficial holiday, and it's been running for over 40 years.
What Is Snowdown?
Snowdown is Durango's homegrown winter festival, typically held the last week of January. Each year has a different theme — past themes have ranged from pirates to outer space — and the whole town leans in hard. Businesses decorate their storefronts. Locals compete in events from scavenger hunts to frozen turkey bowling.
The Highlights
The Light Parade is the marquee event. Main Avenue goes dark, and floats covered in thousands of lights roll through downtown while the crowd lines the sidewalks.
The Cardboard Classic is pure comedy. Teams build sleds out of nothing but cardboard, tape, and glue, then race them down a snowy hill. Some are engineering marvels. Most are spectacular failures.
Throughout the week, bars and restaurants host themed parties, live music, and costume contests. Ska Brewing and Steamworks Brewing usually have something going on every night.
Planning Around Snowdown
If you're visiting Purgatory during Snowdown week, you get the best of both worlds — skiing during the day, festival chaos at night. The resort is only 25 minutes from downtown.
Our townhome Timberline is right across from Purgatory — three bedrooms, a hot tub, a fireplace, and a free shuttle to the lift.
Worth the Trip?
Absolutely. Snowdown is Durango at its most Durango. Weird, fun, and unlike anything else.
Planning a trip to Purgatory? Check availability at purgatory.pretzinger.com
Planning a trip to Purgatory? Check availability and book direct — save 10-15% vs Airbnb/VRBO.
