Durango Local News

Living in southwest Colorado means the risk of fire and flood is never far from home. First responders and firefighters are currently fighting the Rio Blanco Fire, located 12 miles south of Pagosa Springs. The lightning-caused fire started on Tuesday, July 28, and as of Thursday evening, it has grown to 781 acres with 0% containment.  Nearly a year ago, communities just west of town experienced a...

The Powerhouse Science Center hosts rock band ORA on Wednesday as part of its weekly Community Concert Series. The Durango Brewers Trail Series wraps up on Thursday with the High Trestle Brewing Series Finale at Overend Mountain Park. And the 7th Annual Buckley Park Arts and Crafts Festival closes out the week on Saturday with local artisans and makers. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news...

Fort Lewis College has been selected as one of five rural Colorado colleges to participate in CO-WIL , the Colorado Work-Integrated Learning Consortium. The three-year pilot program connects students with real employer projects inside the classroom, allowing them to earn a minimum $250 stipend while getting academic credit. The state intentionally selected rural colleges first, with the goal of sc...

This week, Durango has a free outdoor concert, a boozy peach brunch and tickets on sale for an intimate songwriter festival. The Jon Stickley Trio performs Thursday, July 23, at Buckley Park as part of the Community Concert Hall at the Park free concert series. On Sunday, July 26, Graze Colorado hosts Peaches and Prosecco, a three course boozy brunch celebrating Palisade peach season. And the San...

Analyss Benally grew up in Shiprock on the Navajo Nation and went on to play Division I basketball at San Jose State before launching her professional basketball career in Europe. Today, her nonprofit, AB Five Basketball, brings free camps and clinics to Native youth across the Southwest. This summer, AB Five returned to Shiprock with volunteer coaches, including former Los Angeles Lakers guard An...

The City of Durango Parks and Recreation Department hosts a free community celebration Friday, July 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center featuring food and drinks, live music, games and more to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month. On Saturday July 18, Durango Nordic hosts a running biathlon at the Durango Nordic Center combining trail running with laser rifle shooting. And the 91...

Lickety-Split Comedy is a comedy and improv group based in Pagosa Springs, founded by veteran performers Karisa Bruin and Scott Morehead. After years of working as improvisers, actors and writers in Chicago and Los Angeles, the two moved to Pagosa Springs and launched Lickety-Split. The group offers classes and workshops in unscripted theater as well as monthly shows on the third Monday of each mo...

Under the sandstone bluffs of Farmington, a professional musical theater company draws record crowds with its production of "Grease." Artistic Director Randy West sits down to talk about how Four Corners Musical Theater grew from a request by city leaders seven years ago into New Mexico's only professional musical theater company, and why he says nights at Sandstone, rainbows and al...

The Elmore's Corner Midweek Market is a new, weekly makers market running every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grange on Highway 172 between Durango and Bayfield. Vendors sell fresh produce, local honey, sourdough bread, frozen meats from local ranchers and handcrafted goods.  By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news . This story is sponsored by Durango Pizza and Serious Texas Bar-B...

This week, the Total Archery Challenge comes to Purgatory Resort July 10 through 12. The 72nd annual Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show runs July 10 through 12 as well, bringing 67 dealers from around the world to the La Plata County Fairgrounds. And on Monday July 13, the La Plata County Farm Bureau will host a free drought response presentation at the fairgrounds featuring the Colorado Department...

Mancos United started in response to tragedies the Mancos community experienced in 2021. From there, the organization worked to identify gaps in support for families and kids. Their flagship program, Summer Hub, provides full-day summer care for working families on a pay-what-you-can model, funded by community donations and business sponsorships. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news This st...

The Mancos BurroFest returned for its seventh year and drew in over 2,500 attendees for a day of art, food, music, and burros. What began in 2019 as a small gathering of local artist-ranchers has grown into the Mancos Creative District 's number one fundraiser and the biggest sales day of the year for many local galleries and restaurants.  This year's theme, the Burro Birthday Bash, cele...

This week's roundup covers a packed Fourth of July weekend in Durango, including the annual Main Avenue parade and a free street dance featuring the Grammy Award-winning Dirty Dozen Brass Band . Old Barrel Tea Co. hosts a matcha ceremony and tasting event Friday evening, and Pagosa Springs will host Beyond the Embers , a community film screening and panel discussion on wildfire and flood prep...

The Ute Mountain Roundup returned to Cortez for its 96th year bringing thousands of visitors and top PRCA cowboys and cowgirls to the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. From the board members who organize the event year round to the stock contractor who drives twelve hours from Wyoming to bring the animals, this is a look at what it takes to put on one of the biggest events in Montezuma County. By Sadi...

Durango has a packed week ahead with the True Western Roundup Rodeo at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, the Durango Youth Theater's production of Peter Pan and Treasure Island at the Durango Arts Center , and the Durango Botanic Gardens ' 13th Annual Gardens on Tour . By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and Kroegers Ace Hardware ....

The City of Durango accepts photo submissions through August 1 for the cover of the 2026 budget book. This week Durango also has a firefly viewing party at Sunnyside Farms on Friday, June 19. And Purgatory Resort 's Summer Opening Day Celebration on Saturday, June 20, just in time for Father's Day weekend. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by FASTSIGNS D...

Dr. Larry Grogin , 71, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019. Rather than let the diagnosis define him, he set out to run 100 marathons in 100 consecutive days from New Jersey to Los Angeles to raise awareness for the Davis Phinney Foundation and prove that movement is medicine. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Happy Pap...

Durango's event calendar this week includes the Women's Resource Center 's Inaugural Golf Open, KSUT 's 50th Anniversary Party at Ska Brewing , and Manna 's Beyond the Plate fundraising evening at Destination Ranch. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by Sky Ute Casino Resort and Kroegers Ace Hardware . Support the show

Durango has a packed weekend ahead with the Mesa Verde Foundation 's 120th Anniversary Celebration of Mesa Verde National Park at the EsoTerra Arboretum on Friday, June 5, the 4-Corners Rough Stock Challenge at the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 6, and the Durango Cowboy Gathering 's 12th Annual Barn Dance, Picnic, and Silent Auction at River Bend Ranch on Sunday, June 7....

One of the earliest San Juan River peaks on record has whitewater guides and river engineers watching closely. Here is what it means for rafting and recreation this summer in Pagosa Springs. By Christi Bode Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and Happy Pappy's Pizza & Wings . Support the show

There are several events happening in Durango this week including the Durango Bluegrass Train , the 43rd Annual Animas River Days at Santa Rita Park, and the Durango Barbershoppers annual show at the Durango High School Auditorium. Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and the FLC Center for Innovation . Support the show

Durango has a busy Memorial weekend ahead with the 23rd Annual Downtown Clean Day on Friday, May 22, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic running Saturday and Sunday, and the Narrow Gauge 10 Mile Run on Sunday, May 24.  By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Durango Gelato, Coffee & Tea . Support the show

Skyring Water is a Cold War thriller bestselling author Louis L'Amour wrote around 1960 but never published. After L'Amour's death in 1988, the manuscript sat unfinished for decades until his son Beau L'Amour completed it, describing the book as a partnership across time. Skyring Water releases June 2, 2026. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at LNN.news This story is sponsored by...

Music in the Mountains is celebrating its 40th anniversary season this summer, running July 9th through August 2nd across the Four Corners region. What started in 1987 with just 11 musicians has grown into a world-class orchestra featuring performers from around the globe. This year's festival features free community concerts from Durango to Bayfield, Ignacio, Pagosa, and Mancos, along with f...

The Garden Guys are back with practical advice for Southwest Colorado gardeners. Tom Bartels and Darrin Parmenter break down planting timing, drought prep, compost versus fertilizer, and what to look for when buying transplants this spring. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at durangolocal.news . This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and the Payroll Department ....