Snowdown Bites at a glance
Your guide to doing Snowdown in style

Durangoans will again celebrate winter this week with the 33rd annual edition of Snowdown. The horrific theme of this year’s celebration is “Snowdown Bites,” and all the favorite events will be back on tap, joined by a handful of new ones. More than 60 contests, shows and gatherings run through Sun., Feb. 6.

Thursday3

Snowdown Doughdown, a donut-eating contest, meets at 10 a.m. at Doughworks, 2653 N. Main.

“Hot Stuff” Wings takes place at Cuckoo’s Chicken House and Waterin’ Hole, 128 E. College, at 4 p.m. 259-6322 for details.

The Highway 3 Roadhouse, 955 Hwy. 3, presents the Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Eating Contest at 4 p.m. 375-7421.

The Snowdown Junior Monster and Vamp will be selected at 4:30 p.m. at the Best Western Rio Grande Inn, 400 E. Second Ave. 247-2446 for details.

The Snowdown Benefactor Wine Tasting & Art Exhibition commences at 5:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel. 259-3415.

Kayak Pool Slalom takes off at the Durango Recreation Center at 6 p.m. 259-1361 for details.

Bent Urban Sports Bar, 42 CR 250, hosts a Nintendo Wii Bowling Comp at 6 p.m. 422-8077 for details.

The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., presents the Magical Mystery Tour Finals at 6 p.m. 259-3693 for details.

Colorado Pongas, 121 W. 8^th St., hosts a 6 p.m. Beer Pong Tournament. 769-7955 for details.

A Franken-Furter Eating Contest lands at the Derailed Saloon, 725 Main Ave., at 6:30 p.m. 769-0800 for details.

SUCAP hosts a Peacejam Dodgeball Tournament at 6:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center. 563-4517. ext. 208.

A Twilight Dance Contest goes on stage at Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 749-7231 for details.

The second round of Lady F’s Lunacy trivia tournament begins at 7 p.m. at Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave. 382-9664.

Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave., hosts the Beard Growing Contest at 7:30 p.m. The contest began on Nov. 1. 259-2545.

The Guinness Games, a series of board game events, begin at 8 p.m. at the Irish Embassy, 900 Main Ave.

The Monster Mash Costume Dance & Ball meets at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 10 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

Friday4

The Durango Visitors Center, 111 S. Camino del Rio, hosts a Foursquare Tournament at 1 p.m. 247-3500 for details.

The Snowdown Bed Race begins at 3 p.m. in the alley behind Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave. 749-3577 for details.

Cocina Linda, 309 W. College, presents a Pre-Parade Taste & Tune, with rum drinks from Montanya and appetizers from Linda, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. 259-6729 for details.

The Elk’s Lodge, 901 E. Second Ave., hosts a spaghetti dinner benefiting the Durango Winter Sports Foundation at 4:30 p.m. 749-1752 for details.

The single, luminous Snowdown Firework signals the start of the Snowdown Light Parade at 6 p.m.

The 32nd annual Ski Softball game between DMR Ski Patrol and the Ski/Snowboard School takes place at the FLC Softball Complex at 7 p.m. 247-5893.

The Junior Monster Mash Ball, a dance for kids ages 8-18, meets at the La Plata County Fairgrounds at 8 p.m. The event benefits the Southwest Colorado Red Cross. 247-2144.

Pongas, 121 W. 8^th St., hosts a Pole Dancing Contest at 10 p.m. 382-8554 for details.

Saturday5

The Snowdown Balloon Rally and Mass Ascension takes off at 8 a.m. at Red Rock Ranch, 8 miles north of Durango.

Cocina Linda, 309 W. College, stages a Hangover Obstacle Course at 8 a.m. 259-6729 for details.

Kraken Poker, an underwater Texas Hold’em Tournament, meets at the Durango Recreation Center at 9 a.m. 385-8518.

The Snowdown Snowgames take place from 10 a.m.-noon at Chapman Hill. The event includes tube races, tug-o-war, treasure hunt, egg throw, obstacle course, and more. 247-2446 for details.

The Snowdown Broomball Tournament begins at 10 a.m. at the Chapman Hill Rink. 375-7395 for details.

Creature Comforts, 305 Camino del Rio, hosts the Doggie Olympics, with 6 competitions for man’s best friend, at 10 a.m.

A Winter Triathlon, featuring ski/snowboarding, snowshoeing and tubing races, takes off at DMR at 10 a.m. 749-8233 for details.

El Rancho Tavern, 975 Main Ave., hosts an 8-Ball Pool Tournament, a double elimination event, at 11 a.m. The El Rancho Foosball Tournament begins at noon. 749-1816 for details.

The Snowdown Chili Cook-Off and Bloody Mary Contest begin at noon at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. 375-2513.

The Outlaw Josie Pete’s Golf Tournament takes off at noon from the Main Mall Commons. Contestants putt 12 holes in costume through various local drinking establishments. 382-7400.

Kroeger’s, 8 Town Plaza, hosts the Belt Sander Drag Races at 1 p.m. 759-5480 for details.

The Spam Carving Contest returns to the La Plata County Fairgrounds at 1 p.m. 403-1426 for details.

The Feline Fashion Show takes place at 1 p.m. in the McDonald’s parking lot. The Canine Fashion Show follows at 2 p.m. 247-2446 for details.

The Sky Ute presents the Snowdown Showdown Bowling Tournament at 1 p.m. 563-1752 for details.

A Hula Hoop Contest meets in the Gazpacho parking lot, 431 E. Second Ave., at 2 p.m. 749-3331 for details.

The Monster Meal Mash-Up, a parent/child obstacle course, lands at the La Plata County Fairgrounds at 3 p.m. 259-0600.

The Rock Lounge, 1111 Camino del Rio, hosts the Rock Lounge Ruckus climbing competition at 4 p.m. 247-8728.

The 2nd annual Jib Jam, a ski and snowboard competition, meets at Chapman Hill at 5 p.m.

The Snowdown Fireworks Show begins at 6 p.m. in the skies above Durango.

Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., hosts a Mummy Wrapping Competition at 6 p.m. 749-7231 for details.

Lady F’s Lunacy continues with the final round at 7 p.m. at Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave. 382-9664 for details.

The Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave., hosts its High Five Contest at 8 p.m. 259-2545 for details.

The Derailed Saloon, 725 Main Ave., presents The Graveyard Stomp, a concert and costume contest, at 8 p.m.

Pongas, 121 W. 8^th St., hosts a pull-up contest at 10 p.m. 769-0800 for details.

Sunday6

La Plata County Search & Rescue hosts the benefit Snowdown Pancake Breakfast & Backcountry Gear Silent Auction from 7 a.m.-noon at the La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension Hall.

Day two of the Snowdown Balloon Rally takes off at 8 a.m. at Red Rock Ranch, 8 miles north of Durango.

El Rancho hosts a 9-Ball Pool Tournament at 11 a.m.

Olde Tymer’s, 1000 Main Ave., present Bar Top Curling, a miniature version of the Olympic event, at 11 a.m. 259-2990.

Moe’s Starlight Lounge, 937 Main Ave., hosts a no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament at noon. 749-7231.

Snowdown 2011 draws to a close with a 10-Ball Tournament at Ponga’s, 121 W. 8^th St., at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.snowdown.org. •