MAY 2009
2, First Train. Join Silvertonians in welcoming the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge First Train of the Season. 
23, 36th Annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. Race the train from Durango to Silverton ...

JUNE 2009
5-7, Step Back in Time. Old fashioned celebration with costumes, events, activities, celebrating Silverton's colorful history... 12-14, Silverton Jamboree Music Festival. Full Saturday of music and events for the whole family with a talented and eclectic lineup of performers. www.SilvertonJamboree.com... TBD A Taste of of Silverton. Silverton’s restaurants serve up a sampling of excellent and varied cuisine, 6-8 p.m. Info., www.chamber@silvertoncolorado.com

JULY 2009
4, Celebrate the Fourth with a Home-Town Parade, International Rhubarb Festival, Blue Ribbon Fun Walk, Waterfight, Ducky Derby, concert in the park with the Silverton Brass Band, A Theatre Group matinee and at dusk, the fabulous San Juan Mountain Fireworks Display... 11-2, Hardrock 100 Endurance Run. Witness the hardest 100-mile race in the world, from Silverton to Lake City, Ouray, Telluride and back to Silverton. (Related story)... 18, Kendall Mountain Run. Kick up your heels for the 30th Annual run ascending 13,066-foot Kendall Mountain from the town of Silverton...  TBD, Barbershoppers Concert. Hear the harmony at this annual musical event... TBD, "Wildflowers & Waterfalls" Alpine photography workshop and heritage tour by San Juan Tours. Details, reservations, www.SJTours.net.

AUGUST 2009  
1-2, Mountain Man Softball. A long-time tradition when area teams fiercely compete... 7-9, Hardrockers Holidays. Help preserve our mining heritage with mining events for men, women and children including machine drilling, horseshoes, handmucking, tug-o-war, arm wrestling and more. 14-16, Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band Festival. Grab a seat under the blue-striped big top for a weekend of free concerts featuring musicians from all over the country at the Kendall Mountain Recreation Area. (Related story)... 13-16, Railfest. Ride the rails with the 8th Annual Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge. www.durangotrain.com... TBD, "Wildflowers & Waterfalls" Alpine photography workshop and heritage tour by San Juan Tours. Details, reservations, www.SJTours.net.

SEPTEMBER 2009
12-13, Colorfest Quilt Show and Sale. Paired with spectacular fall color in the San Juan Mountains, at the Silverton School. Fall color in Silverton usually  peaks mid to late Sept.  TBD, "Fall Colors Tour" Photography workshop and heritage tour of Ouray and Silverton by San Juan Tours. Details, reservations, www.SJTours.net.

OCTOBER 2009
3, Bordello Ball. Boogie with the Shady Ladies with ragtime piano, casino gaming and plenty of prizes all to benefit the Silverton schools, 9th Annual includes Bordello Dinner Crawl...
31, Last Train to Silverton. (Service resumes next May.)

DECEMBER 2009
TBD, Celebrate the holidays with Silverton—Town Tree Trimming, Holiday Bazaar, Yule Log Celebration and Sugar Plum Festival... Also in December, Winter Wonderland, Christmas Fantasy, Holiday Brass Band Concert, and Santa Comes to Town on Christmas Eve.

ONGOING

Old Hundred Mine. Put on a yellow rain slicker and hardhat before boarding a railcar that will take you 1,500 feet underground. The old equipment is still in place. Pan for gold for free with tour purchase. Tours  depart every hour on the hour, May through October. Five miles east of Silverton on Highway 110 (turn  right at Howardsville). $6-$12. 970-387-5444… Mayflower Mill. Because of its almost continuous use, the old mill has always been kept in good repair. All of the machinery remains as it was in August 1991, when the final whistle blew and the mill closed forever. Tours daily, Memorial Day into September. Two miles northeast of Silverton on County Road 110 B. $4.50-$8.50… The San Juan County Museum, in the old San Juan County Jail next to the courthouse. The jail was built in 1902 and was the first structure on the Courthouse Square. With three floors of exhibits, the jail still contains its original four-cell block and a wealth of relics from Silverton’s mining boomtown days. Behind the jail, visit the brand-new world-class Mining Museum, built around the authentic remains of the Caledonia Mill boardinghouse, meticulously transferred from its original location up Minnie Gulch northeast of Silverton… The Silverton Gunfighters Club revives the Wild West,  complete with bad guys, Miss Kitty and the town sheriff, in street performances at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. At the corner of 12th and Blair (where the train stops). Free… Swanee’s Sluice was built for fun with a capital “F!” Everyone is guaranteed to find gems within their bag of “mining rough,” while sluicing in a charming backyard atmosphere. 1257 Blair Street (at the Villa Dallavalle). 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $4-$6... Open June through September. A Theatre Group celebrates its 20th season of plays and activities at various venues around town. Be sure to take in a show while you’re in town. Call for shows and locations. Evening performances at 7:30 p.m. $10-$15. 970-387-5337… The inimitable Silverton Brass Band plays Sunday evenings June through September, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. A  must-see,  and it’s free! 

Event calendar, Silverton Chamber:  http://www.silvertoncolorado.com

Top: Silverton Brass Band parades on Greene Street, July 4th © Kathryn  Retzler
Middle: Ironhorse Bike Race. © Roger Youjng
Bottom: Santa greets a little girl,. © Roger Young