News and information for business owners about BID Fall programs

Upcoming BID Events

BID produces multiple events every year that are attended by approximately 7,000 people. Upcoming event dates:

Downtown Balloon Glow, October 18-19
Children’s Halloween, October 31
Singing with Santa, November 29

Information is included below about how businesses can benefit from and participate in Downtown Balloon Glow, Downtown Children's Halloween and Singing with Santa.

Downtown Balloon Glow

The Downtown Balloon Glow takes place in mid-October on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19 in the 500 block of Main Avenue. The "glow" has become so popular that the event expanded to two days a couple years ago. This event is attended by 1,500 people over both days. The Downtown Balloon Glow is part of the Animas Valley Balloon Rally that brings balloon pilots from all over the region. Be prepared for a busy weekend! Click here for more information.

Downtown Children's Halloween & Carnival

Downtown Children's Halloween takes place on Halloween each year. This year the event will be on Thursday, October 31 from 4-6pm. The event will include the traditional trick-or-treat in Downtown along Main Avenue, and the Carnival and Trunk or Treat at TBK Bank. The Carnival will be run by the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County. The Trunk or Treat allows businesses who are not in Downtown on Main Avenue a way to participate in this fun community event.

Businesses can now sign up to participate in this years Children’s Halloween, or the Carnival Trunk or Treat. This is a great opportunity to give back to our local families by providing a safe opportunity for children up to 10 years old to trick-or-treat in Downtown Durango.

Businesses can choose how to participate based on their location:

Businesses with a downtown address can participate from their Main Avenue location and hand out candy or non- candy to children. We expect 2,000+ for the event this year.

BID businesses outside of Main Avenue (North Main, Camino Del Rio and E. 2^nd Avenue) can participate in our Trunk or Treat at TBK Bank. Merchants will decorate their own set up (vehicle or tent/table) for this portion of the event. Set up time is from 3-3:30pm. *Space is very limited. All businesses must sign up in advance to participate!

Participation means that the business will display a flyer about the event provided by BID, will be open during the event and provide candy or non-candy items to hand out to children.

We also encourage businesses to decorate their business and dress up in costume for the event. This is also a good opportunity to market your business by providing a coupon or information about your business, along with candy or a non-candy item.

Business who sign up by the deadline will be included on the participating business list on the BID website, and on the large poster showing every participating business in the Durango Welcome Center window display.

Due to advertising/print deadlines, BID needs your commitment Friday, October 18.

Click HERE to sign up to participate

If you have any questions, please contact Tanya

Singing with Santa

Singing with Santa is the kick-off to the Holiday Season in Downtown Durango. The event takes place each year on the day after Thanksgiving. This year's event will be on Friday, November 29.

The Singing with Santa festivities will include an all-day shopping incentive program, a reindeer scavenger hunt, and the event in Buckley Park that evening.

The event in Buckley Park features singing Christmas carols and free hot chocolate and cookies. Santa will arrive 6 pm and will help us count down the lighting of the community Christmas Tree. Santa will also be available for photos. Bring your camera!

BID offers several opportunities for businesses to become involved with this event through sponsorship, songbook advertising, cookie donations, and Reindeer Scavenger Hunt locations. See below.

Learn more about Signing with Santa HERE.

Opportunities for Businesses to Participate in

Singing With Santa

Event Sponsorship

Be a part of an event that has been a family tradition in Durango for over 40 years! Singing with Santa kicks off the Holiday Season in Durango and draws approximately 1,000 to 1,500 community members to enjoy the holiday festivities in Buckley Park.

You can align your business with this well-known holiday event by becoming a sponsor.

Event sponsorship will include your business in multiple media publications, including print and digital ads, flyers, social media, and recognition as a sponsor on our website.

For more information about Singing With Santa sponsorship opportunities, please contact Tanya

Song Book Advertising

BID offers limited advertising in the free songbook that is provided at the event. BID prints 300 songbooks and always distributes every one.

Advertising options include a half-page ad or full-page ad. Businesses can provide the creative or for an additional fee our designer can make the creative for you.

If you are interested in learning more about advertising in the Singing with Santa Song book, please contact Tanya

Cookie Donations

Each year multiple businesses support this event with a donation of dozens of cookies that are provided free to participants at the event.

BID is seeking a total of 1,000 cookies for the event. Interested businesses can donate 10 to 15 dozen to help us reach our total.

Cookie sponsors are recognized in multiple ways including at the event, on social media, and in our song book.

If you are interested in being a cookie sponsor, please contact Tanya at 970-375-5067 or by email.

Reindeer Scavenger Hunt Locations

The Reindeer Scavenger Hunt is a new activity that has been added to Singing with Santa. This fun activity will encourage children 12 and under to search for Santa's Reindeer in local shops on Friday, November 29. Participants will find the reindeer by following clues to each location. See our website for more details.

BID is currently seeking interested businesses to be a part of the Reindeer Scavenger Hunt. This is a great opportunity to bring customers into your store location on Black Friday!

Interested businesses should email Tanya.

Important Dates

Downtown Street Closures

Over the course of the fall there are three street closures that businesses should be aware of. As we get closer to these event dates more information will be provided.

Colorado Grand Classic Car Show - Wednesday September 11, 10 am to 2 pm, 500 block of Main.

Autumn Arts Festival - Saturday September 21 and Sunday September 22, E. 2nd Ave.

Durango Cowboy Gathering Parade and Horseback Social - Saturday October 5

BID will share information about these street closures at BID Coffee and Conversation meetings and will post details our website.

BID Coffee and Conversation Meetings

Join us on the second Friday of the month for BID's Coffee and Conversation meeting. These meetings are held at TBK Bank Community Room from 8:30am- 9:30am. Each meeting provides different topics and information for business owners.

Click HERE for meeting dates and agenda packets.

Meeting Dates in 2024

September 13

October 11

November 8

*No meetings in July or December

Upcoming Promotions

NoMAD (North Main Autumn Days) is a new promotion for the North Main District that is coming in October.

NOMAD encourages shoppers to support North Main District businesses during the month of October. Shoppers will be entered into a drawing to win a gift card. This promotion will award a total of $775 in gift cards.

The NOMAD promotion starts on October 1 and runs through October 31.

More information and details will be coming soon.

BID's successful Holiday Rewards program will occur in December. This program incentivizes people to locally for holiday gifts. Shoppers are rewarded with a gift card when they spend money locally at an eligible business and reach one of the spending levels.

BID is excited to announce that we will roll out the Heart of Durango Dollars Gift Card as the reward for shoppers to participate in the Holiday Rewards Program.

The Heart of Durango Dollars Gift Card will allow shoppers to use their gift card at multiple BID businesses. More information about the Heart of Durango Dollars Gift Card is coming soon.

Reminders

Post your Events

Do you have an event coming up this year? Make sure to post your event to BID's event calendar. BID continues to partner with WhatsHappeningDurango.com to bring a fantastic event calendar to BID's website.

When you post to BID's calendar it comes with great benefits and free PR for your event.

Learn more on how you can post your event HERE.

Update your Business Listing

As the season begins to change, don't forget to update your business listing on BID's website with your fall hours and new offerings. This is a great time to review your listing, add new photos, and update your description and keywords.

Keywords can be used to search for your business in our directory.

Contact Tanya or Tim to receive your unique link to update your listing.