On June 1st a wildfire, now known as the 416 Fire started roughly 10 miles North of Durango, Colorado and has since grown to over 52,778 Acres in the San Juan National Forest. In addition to the destructive environmental damage from the 416 Fire many local, independent businesses are experiencing devastating economic loss from the decrease in tourism. After a few weeks of the fire, many residents were tempted to flee town to less smoky locations, but one resident realized that was the exact opposite thing she should do to support the town that she loves. She brought her idea to Local First and it led to the creation of the Let the Love Rain Campaign: A weekend of celebration, support, and tribute to Durango’s economy with the theme of rain. With the sponsorship of First Southwest National Bank, gift cards were given out to people wearing rain gear, there were rain dances, water balloon fights, fire sales, bike rides and more in the name of rain. The campaign was put together in less than a day and had over 26,000 people engage with the promotion on Facebook, and residents from neighboring communities came to give their support to Durango. Best of all, Hurricane Bud brought 1.5 inches of rain (more than Durango typically gets in the total month of June) and helped to bring the fire under control. However, the fire is still not out. Local First and First National Bank have continued The Let the Love Rain Campaign by selling Let the Love Rain wristbands (like Livestrong wristbands) with all proceeds going to the local, independent businesses selling them, pouring $10,000 back into the local economy. The campaign will wrap up on July 19th with the Let the Love Rain “Singles in Paradise” date auction to fundraise and get locals out on dates at local businesses. You can help Durango by donating to the Community Emergency Relief Fund here.

Singles in Paradise Event!

Show Your Support: Wear the Wristband

Communications and Media Support

11th Street Station

Animas Chocolate Company

Animas City Farmers Market

Animas Trading Company

Artesanos

A Shared Blanket

Basin Printing

WRISTBAND LOCATIONS

Chimayo

Conundrum Escape Room

Durango Antique Market

Durango Outdoor Exchange

Homeslice: North and South

Karyn Gabaldon

Local First: Singles in Paradise Event

Ore House

Reruns

Seasons

The Mac Ranch

Thru the Lens

Supernova Furniture

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Friday, June 15th, 2018
Let’s bring on the rain! 
Local First will be walking around town and giving away gift cards to your favorite businesses for being caught in your rain gear or with your umbrella!

6am 81301 Coffee
Free Coffee for Community

Don’t have your coffee at home! 81301 has free coffee for anyone in the community. Hop next door to Yellow Carrot for one of their amazing breakfast burritos and eat your breakfast the local way.

All Weekend. Silk Sparrow
Storewide Discounts

10% off storewide and extra 20% off our sale rack Friday Saturday and Sunday!

All Weekend. Create Art and Tea
Storewide Discounts

Free tea, hot or cold. All weekend!

All Weekend. 2nd Ave Sports.
Ride the Ban Sale
15% off clothing, 20% off labor, 20% off select bikes.

All Weekend. Mutu’s Kitchen
Discounts for Evacuees and Firefighters
20% off for evacuees and 40% off for firefighters all weekend long!

All Weekend. Artesano’s Design Collection. 
Discounts and cold drinks!
Artesanos Design Collection will be offering 20% discounts storewide and cold, carbonated beverages (non-alcoholic) to shoppers. Standard discount rules apply… cannot be combined with other offers or applied to items that have already been discounted.

All Weekend. Cream Bean Berry
Free Ice Cream Scoops for Firefighters.
Also, a new flavor will be released this weekend called “Green Earth” in honor of the planet that sustains us and for whose good health we are all praying!

3-5pm. White Rabbit Garden.
Screen Free Play Time for Kids
Calling kiddos of all ages~you are invited to come and play in the White Rabbit Garden this afternoon from 3-5p.m. Try your hand at painting rocks, or exploring any number of games and toys on hand. Maybe we’ll even be lucky enough to play in the rain!

Every night. 5:30-9:30pm Bar D ChuckWagon
Live Dinner Performances
Celebrating 50 summers of dinners and performances! A local’s favorite.

7pm. 11th Street Station
AFTER DANCE in the RAIN party

Come to 11th street for the after party, we will dance to bring on the rain! Live Music: HoneyHawk

Saturday, June 16th, 2018
Let’s bring on the rain! Local First is giving away gift cards to your favorite businesses for being caught in your rain gear or with your umbrella! Sponsored by First Southwest Bank.

8am – 12pm Durango Farmers Market
Durango Local Food Tour

Wear your rain gear & lets walk/bike together around downtown, enjoying local food, beverages and desserts!!!

8am – Noon: Durango Farmers Market, 259 W 8th St, across from the Post Office -Shopping during the Farmers Market

Noon: Meet at the INFO booth next to the Elk Statue to leave from the Farmers Market for the rest of our tour.

Noon – 4pm: Local Food Tour
Visiting a wide variety of local food restaurants, breweries & dessert vendors

If you join us along the way, please call or text organizer: Sandhya Tillotson 970-317-1732 to meet up with the group!

FYI later in the day, meet back at 7pm if you can! 11th St Station for music by Bacon and the AFTERDANCE in the rain party

Support our local farmers! From the Animas Valley to the New Mexico border, food is still growing and farmers are still out in the fields. Their products are fresh, healthy and at their peak each weekend market! James Ranch Farm and Grill has been closed during the fires, but the ranch is still producing and will bring their products to the Farmers Market this weekend – including (lots of) eggs they usually sell out of at the ranch! Early season to warm season crops available, from asparagus to tomatoes! We would love for people to come down and pick out your healthy food for the week, each week!

11am-12pm Smiley Building Dance Studio Center
Karla Sluis Zumba Fitness
Free Zumba Classes to fire evacuees (pre- or mandatory). Three rain-danced themed songs to start the class and get the good intentional energy!

12pm- Evening: Restaurant Tour
Hosted by the The Garden Project of SW CO. Let’s support our local farmers and restaurants who need our support during the 416 Fire!

All Weekend. Dietz Market
Storewide Sale
25% off anything and everything this Saturday and Sunday!

All Weekend. 4Corners Riversports
Discounts on Rentals
Do your rain dance out on the water! 15% off all rentals this weekend.

All Weekend. Conundrum Escape Room
The new escape room opens this weekend! Early Bird pricing is extended throughout the whole weekend for the Let it Love Campaign. Also, board game rentals are discounts to just $5, so come find a game to play with friends and family, games available for all ages.  

12:00pm.  Buckley Park
Summer Putt-Putt Tourney!
(Organizers: Jenn, Greg, Forrest)

1pm. Animas Trading Company
Brewery Brewery Bike Tour
No playing in the forest?! Let’s ride in town! Meet at Animas Trading. The most enthusiastic participant gets a gift card to Bookcase and Barber. Bonus points for best rain gear!

3-5pm White Rabbit Garden
Summer Picker’s Circle
Bring an instrument, a tasty beverage, and a pal or two, and do a little pickin’ by the river. All instruments and skill levels welcome.

James Ranch Harvest Grill is Open!
Umbrella Discount
With highway 550 open we are excited to open our doors again. Come by and get 10% off or a free drink when you bring your umbrella.

7pm 11th Street Station
AFTER DANCE in the RAIN party
Live music by Bacon. Come to 11th street for the after party, we will dance to bring on the rain!

Sunday, June 17th, 2018
Let’s bring on the rain! Local First will be walking around town and giving away gift cards to your favorite businesses for being caught in your rain gear or with your umbrella! Sponsored by First Southwest Bank.

All Day. Roll Ebike
ROLL is offering $10 off on any ebike rental for Father’s Day, June 17!

12pm Gazpachos
Taco-bout It!
For such a tiny town, Durango is home to lots of yummy tacos! Meet at Gazpachos to start the tasting tour. Bring your bike! We’ll end with a sneak peak of Cantera’s gorgeous new back patio and a tequila tasting!

3:00-5:00 White Rabbit Books & Curiosities
Adult Coloring & Afternoon Tea
A great way to unwind after a busy week, coloring inside the lines is optional. We’ll supply materials and tea, you tell your friends! Event is free.

8:00p Yoga Durango
Community Meditation

Come together for a community yoga class to de-stress. Free yoga classes to local Durango fire department through June.