When you’re lucky enough to enjoy Halloween in Durango, Colorado, you’ll find the city is packed with options for fun and adventure of all kinds. The following are a few ways you can spend the holiday here this year!
Participate in the Downtown Children’s Halloween Events
If you’re heading to Durango, Colorado over Halloween with little ones in tow and you’re looking for safe and exciting family fun to enjoy, the Downtown Children’s Halloween is it! This event is hosted each and every year and invites guests to come dressed in their Halloween best while local downtown merchants pass out candy in easy-to-manage trick-or-treat style. Up to 100 merchants will be participating in the downtown Durango Halloween fun each year giving guests plenty of opportunities to fill up their buckets. The event also includes a trunk-or-treat setup and carnival games that are often hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County. Games are free for children under the age of 14 but donations will support the Boys and Girls Club. It’s a great event that runs from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on the 31st and is one you won’t want to miss out on while you’re in town.
Get Out into Nature and Explore
If your idea of Halloween fun is less traditional and more based on spending time in nature exploring and enjoying what it offers up instead, then you’re in luck. Year-round, Durango is a top destination for those with a passion for fly-fishing and Halloween is no exception. Feel free to bundle up while you’re here at the end of October and enjoy world-class fishing in the San Juan and Animas Rivers. Trophy-size trout can be reeled in all year long from these vantage points which gives every Halloween angler something to look forward to. While heading out independently to enjoy fishing fun is always an option, those looking for a refresher on skills or who want to be certain they do their best work in prime areas will want to consider booking a guided fly fishing experience this Halloween instead.
Check Out the Local Farmers Market
Much to the delight of locals and visitors alike, the Durango Farmers Market is open through October 29th which means Halloween is the perfect time to browse locally crafted goods! Head over to the La Plata County Fairgrounds on Sunday mornings to browse the fresh produce, crafts, and meals that are available to enjoy. There’s also live music performed during the Farmers Market making it that much more exciting!
Take a Seasonal Train Ride
A unique way to admire the beautiful terrain that makes up the greater Durango area is by booking a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This historic line changes up its theme to match the season which means your Halloween ticket can get you lots of spooky and savory fun onboard. As you pass by the San Juan Mountains and the Animas River, you might just learn a thing or two about the area’s past. Vibrant changing colors are yours to enjoy when you make time to ride a train this Halloween that’s been operating for over a century in this area.
Check Out a Potentially Haunted Destination
Historic downtown Durango, Colorado is home to one of the area’s most iconic landmarks known as the Strater Hotel. This four-story Victorian-era hotel is constructed from striking red bricks and was built on a rail line that made it a popular stop for those passing through town at the time of its construction. The hotel is within walking distance from the train station and is a popular stop for tourists to photograph in modern-day Durango. The ornamental brickwork is always inspiring and when you step inside the hotel, it’s like stepping back in time! The guest rooms and the lobby alike are a testament to Victorian-era décor complete with antiques and carefully crafted and ornate patterns and designs. There are two bars on-site as well including The Diamon Belle Saloon which showcases costumed bartenders, dance hall girls and even ragtime music.
While the hotel is an important landmark in Durango, it’s also a stop that’s extra fun to visit over Durango Halloween as it comes with a reputation for potentially being haunted. Many who have stayed here have reported seeing apparitions of what they believe to be the ghosts of former railroad workers. There are also those who say a ghostly figure of a man wearing white on the railroad tracks appears and disappears regularly. Want to know if that railway engineer that’s seen in the lobby once in a while is real? You’ll have to drop by and discover the truth for yourself!
Book Your Stay over Halloween in Durango
A trip to Durango is always exciting and when you know you want amazing accommodations to match, Durango Colorado Vacations has you covered. Reach out today to learn more and to start planning your next adventure!