When it comes to Americana, there is nothing quite like Norman Rockwell and his iconic paintings that showed glimpses of everyday life in the mid-20th Century. Do you, like me, ever wish you could jump into one of these wholesome scenes? This holiday season, you can, thanks to this picturesque Christmas town in Colorado that looks like it is straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting:
Home to nearly 20,000 residents, Durango glows in festive lights come Christmas, with the downtown area boasting unique shopping and an annual Noel Night, the famous Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair at La Plata County Fairgrounds, and even a December Holiday Market.
To kick off the holiday season, Durango hosts a very merry Singing with Santa, which takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving and offers a Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus meet and greet, caroling, hot chocolate and cookies, and the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree.
As if you needed another reason to visit and love this magical town, Durango is also home to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and its annual Polar Express, which takes place November 18, 2022, through January 1, 2023, and transports guests from the Centennial State to the North Pole and back.