Durango Local News

Maria's Literary Foundation is hosting its second annual Read-a-Thon from April 10th through April 20th, raising funds for the Reading Room — a free bookshop and reading nook for Durango youth. This year's goal is $25,000 with all donations up to $10,000 matched by Maria's Bookshop .  By Sadie Smith  Watch this story at durangolocal.news . This story is sponsored by the Payroll Depa...

Three events worth putting on your calendar this week — an Arbor Day Celebration at the Durango Recreation Center on April 17th, Durango's Earth Day celebration with a parade and live music on April 18th, and Durango Montessori School 's annual Electronics Recycling fundraiser on April 22nd. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at durangolocal.news This story is sponsored by Kroegers Ace Hard...

Ragtime music — a blend of European styles and African American rhythms considered the forerunner of jazz — has found an unlikely home in Durango, Colo. For nearly 70 years, the Diamond Bell Saloon at the historic Strater Hotel has featured live ragtime piano, making it one of the only venues in the country where audiences can hear the music performed regularly. A pianist who holds a master's...

Here are three events worth putting on your calendar this week — Stillwater Music 's Battle of the Bands at Miller Middle School on April 10th, the 30th annual Durango Bluegrass Meltdown running April 10th through 12th, and the Colorado Black Equity Study Community Listening Session at Fort Lewis College on April 11th from noon to 2 p.m. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at durangolocal.news ....

The city's annual Spring Cleanup is now underway, running through April 30th, with city crews moving through residential neighborhoods picking up furniture, appliances, yard waste, and more. Coming up April 2nd through 4th, the Duranglers Fly Fishing Festival returns with three days of films, clinics, demos, and deals, kicking off Thursday night at Animas City Theatre with the Fly Fishing Fil...

Colorado's new Wildfire Resiliency Building Code requires fire-resistant materials and vegetation management for new construction and major home renovations in wildfire-prone areas. The town of Pagosa Springs plans to adopt the code April 1, with full implementation by July 1. Organizations like Wildfire Adapted Partnership offer free property assessments to help homeowners reduce their risk,...

This week in Durango, the Durango-La Plata County Airport is collecting non-perishables, hygiene products, and infant supplies for TSA workers who have been without pay during the federal government shutdown — drop off donations at the airline ticketing lobby inside the main entry doors. On Wednesday, March 25th, Durango Comedy brings March Sadness to the Durango Arts Center — doors open at 6:30 w...

Durango artist Matt Clark of Little Bud Designs and mural artist Parker Ledford created Ebb and Flow — a public mural along the Animas River trail pulling from Clark's collage and illustration work. Clark says he wanted the piece to have something for everyone in the Durango community. By Sadie Smith Watch this story at durangolocal.news . This story is sponsored by the Payroll Department and...

Cortez Livestock has served Montezuma County since 1959, providing a place for local ranchers and Native American producers to buy, sell, and trade livestock. As family farms and ranches continue to decline, this longtime auction barn remains a critical part of preserving Western heritage and supporting local agriculture.  By Sadie Smith  Watch this story at durangolocal.news This story is sponsor...

On Friday, March 20th, local artist Shanda Akin invites the community to a free evening of art and conversation at Four Leaves Winery starting at 6 p.m. — drinks, light bites, and an artist talk are all included. Also opening March 20th, the Durango Arts Center presents Trey Parker's Cannibal: The Musical, a darkly comedic retelling of the true story of Alferd Packer, running through March 29...

Durango wasn't always the tree-lined community it is today — in the late 19th century, the landscape was largely barren — but now, climate change and rapid development are threatening the 12,000-plus trees that define it. The DurangoScape 2026 Climate Conference, hosted by the Durango Botanic Gardens brought together local and regional experts to help residents understand how to protect their...

What happens when one woman's curiosity about disappearing birds grows into a global movement? For Kelly Miller, founder of Follow the Birds , a simple question about winter silence along the Animas River trails became a three-day gathering connecting scientists, artists and storytellers from across the world. The Bird Migration Gathering — held each March and October — drew participants from...

This week on Local NEWS Network, we're rounding up three events happening in Durango between March 11th and 17th. Rocky Mountain PBS brings its Mini-Film Fest to Fort Lewis College on Wednesday night — a free screening of short films exploring identity, belonging, and community, followed by a facilitated discussion. On Friday and Saturday, the Friends of the Durango Public Library hosts its a...

West Coast Swing is more than a dance style — it's a lifestyle for members of West Slope Westies , Durango's nonprofit swing dance community. Known for its fluid, elastic movement and ability to complement almost any genre of music, West Coast Swing has drawn a growing and passionate local following. When the group began outgrowing their rented rooms at the Smiley Building, leadership ma...

Durango has a full lineup of events this March. Our Own Lives presents its Second Annual Disability Art Show at the Durango Arts Center , featuring more than 30 artists. The McDonald’s Cardboard Derby returns to Purgatory Resort with creative downhill fun. And the Durango Bach Festival, presented by the San Juan Symphony , brings a week of “Mostly Mozart” performances to St. Mark’s Episcopal Churc...

The Durango Independent Film Festival is celebrating its 21st year with the tagline "We're Legal," bringing independent films from over 50 countries to southwest Colorado from March 4–8, 2026. Known as a "Filmmaker's Festival," DIFF showcases adventure, documentary, native cinema, shorts, features, and more — creating a rare space where audiences are elbow to elbow wi...

A longtime Durango tradition is evolving. Southwest Colorado Rocks celebrates community leaders, organizations, and businesses making a difference across the region. Formerly known as Durango Rocks, the event expanded this year to include Ignacio and Bayfield, highlighting the impact of leaders throughout La Plata County. Organizers say the celebration is about recognizing the people who are stren...

The Durango Women's Leadership Conference returns February 26 at Whalen Gymnasium with panels, breakout sessions, and talks supporting women’s athletics at Fort Lewis College . Comedian Olivia Carter performs in Durango February 27 after appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the Durango Independent Film Festival returns March 4–8 with screenings across Durango. By Sadie S...

Every February, volunteers walk the banks of the Animas River counting American dippers — small, bold birds that dive headfirst into rushing rapids and spend their entire lives along river corridors. Because dippers feed on the aquatic insects that can only survive in clean water, they serve as a living indicator of river health. The American Dipper Project launched in 2016 following the Gold King...

 Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet made a stop in Durango this week to discuss his campaign for governor, touching on some of the most pressing issues facing the state. Bennet, who has represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate since 2009, shared his vision for Colorado's future and what he says sets him apart as a candidate. Watch the full interview to hear where he stands. By Paige Sparks. Wat...

For over two decades, the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies has been monitoring Colorado's snowpack from weather stations on Red Mountain Pass. Their team digs snow pits every few weeks documenting dust layers, measuring snow crystals, and tracking how the snowpack reflects sunlight. This year they're recording unusually low snow conditions across the state while studying how dust pa...

This week in Durango highlights community leadership, small business support, and winter competition on the mountain. Southwest Colorado Rocks will host its Annual Awards Ceremony on February 19th at 5 p.m. at the Community Concert Hall , honoring outstanding businesses and leaders from across La Plata County. On February 20th, the Seeds of Success DFM Summit takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at t...

Durango's warming shelter is providing a lifesaving refuge for unhoused community members during the coldest winter nights. After years of discussion, the City Council unanimously approved the shelter following overwhelming neighborhood support with 88% of residents surveyed backing the initiative. The shelter opens when temperatures are forecasted to drop to 15 degrees or below, operating wi...

KDUR, Fort Lewis College's radio station now in its 52nd year, hosts an annual cover night that has become a cornerstone event for Durango's music community. The tradition began when musicians from different genres came together to celebrate local talent by covering Neil Diamond songs, adopting the motto "local musicians unite." The event has grown so popular that tickets sell...

Several events are happening around Durango this week, including a weekend of on-mountain activities at Purgatory Resort with live music, après-ski parties, Telemark Telefestivus, and a V enture Snowboards demo day. The Powerhouse hosts its Power of Movement event celebrating the 2026 Winter Olympics on February 16th and 17th. Looking ahead, REMS Southwest returns to Durango April 14th and 15th wi...