Community events | KDUR Community Radio

The Durango Arts Center presents the darkly hilarious play The Minutes, by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts. Cast with local actors, this Durango Arts Repertory Theater production looks at origin stories and beliefs, and is suggested for mature audiences. Shows run Friday - Monday, August 14-17 and Thursday - Sunday August 20-23. Times and tickets are online at durango arts dot org or in the gallery Tuesday - Saturday noon - 6pm. Phone orders can be placed by calling 970-259-26060x 2 during business hours.

Following your Passion: A Woman’s Fly-fishing Journey" Wednesday, August 26 6:30-8:00 p.m. Center of Southwest Studies - Lyceum (room 120) Free + Open to All! Contact: Cristie Scott, cmscott@fortlewis.edu, 970-247-7333 swcenter.fortlewis.edu *Hosted by the Center of Southwest Studies* Librarian by trade and angler at heart, Shelley Walchak gravitated towards fly-fishing later in life and was inspired in 2012 to leave her post at the Colorado State Library to take up the challenge of fishing a river a week for an entire year. Seven Rocky Mountain states and 52 rivers later, Shelley released her book "52 Rivers" in 2014 documenting her adventures and the life-lessons along the way. Now, over a decade later, Shelley is still traveling and angling and is ready to share an epilogue to 52 Rivers, which at its core is about chasing dreams, embracing the unknown, and finding inner joy along the way. Shelley Walchak retired from 40 years of librarian service, including past director of the Pine River Library District (Bayfield, CO) and senior consultant with the Colorado State Library (Denver, CO). She currently serves as board secretary to the Maria’s Literary Foundation, as well as board President of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable History Live! event series and still travels and fishes every chance she gets.

Deadly Fun Learning: Mysteries that Champion Our National Parks" Wednesday, September 2, 2026 6:30-7:30 p.m. Center of Southwest Studies - Lyceum (Room 120) Free + Open to All Contact: Cristie Scott, cmscott@fortlewis.edu, 970-247-7333 https://tinyurl.com/CSWS-Upcoming-Events Scott Graham, National Outdoor Book Award-winning author of the National Park Mystery Series, will share the writing and development over the last decade of his successful National Park Mystery Series, published by nonprofit environmental and social justice publisher Torrey House Press. Newly released book ten in the series is GREAT SAND DUNES MASSACRE, set in southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley. Book nine in the series, DEATH VALLEY DUEL, was a finalist for the 2025 Colorado Book Award. It features a villainous ultra-trail race across the Mojave Desert based in part on the annual Hardrock 100 ultra-trail race in Silverton. Scott is based in Durango, CO and, in addition to a thriving writing career, is an avid outdoorsman and advocate for public lands. In addition to his mysteries, Scott is the author of five nonfiction books, including Extreme Kids, and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award. Scott has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, radio disk jockey, and coal-shoveling fireman on the steam-powered Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This is a featured event of the 2026 Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable History Live!

Meet Carline Romney, Durango's First Newspaper Editor! Sit in as a “budding journalist” interviews the founder and editor of Durango’s first newspaper. Caroline Romney will recount her adventures in the newspaper business, life on the frontier, her real estate enterprises, mining ventures and useful inventions. Prepare to be surprised by the accomplishments of this remarkable woman who not only reported history – she made history. There is no charge for this live event at the Animas Museum, 3065 W. 2nd Ave Durango on Saturday, September 12 at 1pm. Part of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable History Live! month. Check our website animasmuseum.org for more information.

Durango Public Library 1900 E 3rd Avenue Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-375-3380 https://www.durangogov.org/library FREE The Falls Creek Rock Shelters: Reanalysis, Repatriation, and Reconciliation Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6-7:30pm Dawn Mulhearn and Mona Charles will be discussing their newly released book that reexamines the significant Basketmaker II site north of Durango.

The Early History of Electric Power in SW Colorado Starting with the Ames Power Plant serving the Gold King Mine near Telluride, SW Colorado was an early adopter of AC electricity. Charles DiFerdinando, a long-time resident, will present his narrative of the history of local power generation. There is no charge for this event which will be held at the Powerhouse Science Center on Saturday, September 19th at 6pm. Part of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable History Live! month.

Durango Public Library 1900 E 3rd Avenue Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-375-3380 https://www.durangogov.org/library FREE Creating Historical Fiction from History Monday, Sept. 21, 6-7:30pm Ever wonder how an author gets the spark to build an entire story around? Join Jenn James Wheeling, award-winning author of the Zephyr Western series, to learn about how she finds historical inspiration for her western series.