Durango, CO (Tuesday, January 21, 2003) - Durango's Snowdown is celebrating its 25th year in 2003 with a theme Carnaval (as in Brazil, not the State Fair). Locals and tourists alike will be weighed down with beads and costumes, and town-wide lunacy will run from the opening ceremony on Wednesday, January 29 through Sunday, February 2.

Friday night features the Snowdown Parade down Main Avenue complete with fireworks, and nearly every bar and restaurant in a ten-block radius has a game or contest of some sort running through the weekend. Major events include the renowned Town Follies, ski joring, ice sculpture competition, broom ball, bed racing and more, including Mountain Bike Snow Slalom and Kayak Drag Racing down the tubing hill at Durango Mountain Resort on Saturday, February 1. Of the 70-plus events, don't miss the spam carving, chili cook-off or outhouse stuffing, all reportedly unrelated but equally entertaining contests.

If you're interested in staying the weekend and making a few turns on Purgatory Mountain as well doing your part in the Carnaval, call 800-525-0892 and ask for the Snowdown in the San Juans Special: Stay 3 nights at Durango Mountain Resort, with 3 days lift tickets and full breakfasts for $255 per person.