Snowdown lifts spirits with annual Light Parade
Friday - February 7, 2025 by Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Fidel and Rhiannon Velasquez stand with their family ahead of the light parade on Friday night. Velasquez’s float, representing Drop Tine Trucking and Excavation out of Ignacio, Colo., pulled a ‘67 Pontiac GTO on a flatbed trailer, adorned with colorful balloons and lights.
Hungry, Hungry Hippos bring a smile to their team's float, made from paper mâché, these larger-than-life hippos had articulating mouths ready to swallow volleyball sized marbles.
Inflatable frogs could be seen cruising the parade route on Friday evening. This year’s Snowdown theme – The Board Game Edition: It's Your Move brought out some unexpected costume ideas.
Real life Mario Karts racers – such as Donkey Kong – gathered near the gaslight theater ahead of the Snowdown light parade.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife were playing chess and advocating to help “Keep Bears Wild” in La Plata County, with some help from their mascot.
Life size Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots were featured by this year’s MakerLab team float, same folks that took home the prize in last year’s Snowdown parade.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
Photo Credit: Jeremy Wade Shockley | The Southern Ute Drum
La Plata County comes together each winter for the time-honored tradition of Snowdown, filling the streets, taverns, and restaurants of Durango with a weeklong slate of activities, culminating with the Friday night light parade along Main Street. This year’s Snowdown theme – The Board Game Edition: It’s Your Move brought out the best of the community, with a variety of board game themed costumes and floats.