There’s no better place to be in summertime than Northern Colorado. With an abundance of beautiful nature and outdoor activities, plus plenty of community events, there is always something to do and experience. Summer 2021 is no different. After taking a year off for the pandemic, most events are back in full force this year. Aside from a great variety of rentals in Fort Collins, there is plenty to experience this summer.
Fort Collins is known for its strong community, and it’s incredibly apparent in the summer when the community comes together for all sorts of events. No matter what types of activities you enjoy—anything from live music to great food and performing arts—there is something for everyone in Fort Collins. As you consider renting a home in Fort Collins, think of all the city has to offer.
Here are 13 summer events and activities in Fort Collins:
Every Tuesday evening through mid-September, a diverse array of food trucks lines up at City Park for the FoCo Food Truck Rally. The lineup is different each week and features a huge variety of cuisines from around the world, including vegetarian and vegan options.
Enjoy anything from street tacos to Colorado favorites and sweet treats—the food is cooked fresh to order. And the beauty of food trucks is that you can try something from multiple vendors to create a customized meal. It’s the perfect place to try delicious cuisine from local restaurants, enjoy live music, and sit in the park to soak up the warm summer weather.
Every Wednesday from June through August in Old Town Square is Art for the Heart, a series of at-home children’s art projects. Participants can pick up their free projects from the art tent every Wednesday. Each kit includes all the materials and instructions to complete the project.
Return the completed project the following Wednesday to have it displayed at the Art for the Heart kiosk. The projects are designed for kids, but everyone can stop by the kiosk in Old Town Square to see the work of the city’s youngest artists.
The annual weekend that celebrates the Fort Collins food scene and community will be held July 24-25, 2021 at Washington Park. Taste of Fort Collins brings together the city’s best restaurants and breweries to showcase their menus alongside a lineup of great live music.
The festival features food and vendors from dozens of the city’s best restaurants, as well as other family-friendly activities like face painting, games, and a wide variety of performers - this year featuring Nelly and Spin Doctors. Think of it as a city-wide BBQ and block party that is fun (and delicious) for the entire family.
Known to locals as “The Mish”, the Mishawaka is one of the most unique concert venues in Northern Colorado. Located up Poudre Canyon from Fort Collins, the Mish is part restaurant, part concert venue with two different stages.
In the summer, the concert lineup features an impressive variety of local and national bands. The amphitheater allows up to 1,000 guests for an intimate music experience with beautiful scenery.
The Fort Collins Farmers Market is a favorite event every summer because it brings local farmers and artisans right to their customers. It is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Fort Collins. Every Sunday and Wednesday from 10-2, the Farmers Market sets up at 1001 E. Harmony Road, and the Saturday market is held at 802 W. Drake Road.
All three markets feature dozens of vendors selling everything from fresh bread and honey to produce, flowers, and handmade goods. The Fort Collins Farmers Market is a great way to support local farmers, and enjoy being with other members of the community.
No matter if you come to wander the stalls and enjoy the samples or to buy all of your groceries, the farmers market has something for everyone.
One of the benefits of living in Fort Collins is the wide variety of activities for all ages. For the month of June, kids of all ages can read the book Vamos! Let’s Go Eat as they wander through downtown Fort Collins.
The interactive story stroll is a self-guided tour that allows participants to see the story unfold as they walk through various stores and streets of the downtown area. An online map makes it easy to see all 20 stops as the story unfolds right in front of you.
Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest is a Fort Collins live music tradition. It’s taking a slightly different format in 2021 with Thursday Night Live, free music every Thursday at New Belgium Brewing. Each week through early August, a new group will perform.
The bands range from bluegrass bands to club swing music in a fun outdoor venue. Bohemian Nights is dedicated to sharing live Colorado music with the Fort Collins community and will continue to do so in 2021.
Grab a partner or bring yourself to the Gardens On Spring Creek for a unique experience on select Fridays during the summer. Tickets include a gourmet buffet dinner and drinks, plus live music and access to the stunning outdoor gardens.
The Gardens on Spring Creek are beautiful all year round, but being able to experience them with limited crowds and enjoy a delicious meal makes for a memorable evening in Fort Collins. All proceeds from the event go to support the gardens.
Enjoy all things peach-related on August 21 at the Holiday Twin Drive-In. The Fort Collins Peach Festival includes several peach foods, such as peach cobbler, pie, and even peach beer and margaritas from some of the city’s favorite breweries and restaurants.
There’s also live music, a kids zone, and lots of peach-related fun. The 2021 schedule is still being finalized but could include a 5k race and peach pie eating contest.
For nearly 20 years, the Lagoon Concert Series has provided free outdoor music through the summer. Every Wednesday, families gather on the Colorado State University Lagoon for live music. The goal is to provide a venue for local bands to perform for the community in a relaxed and supportive environment.
The 2021 lineup includes music from local songwriters to disco-funk bands. Bring a chair and picnic dinner to enjoy a wonderful community evening with other residents of Fort Collins.
Summer is the perfect time to see a drive-in movie. Holiday Twin shows two double-features of some of the hottest new movies on its screens every night in the summer.
Choose from two sets of great movies, get comfortable in your car, and enjoy a movie on the big screen in the warm summer air. Make the most of the experience by buying snacks at the drive-in snack bar. Movies show every evening, but the weekends tend to be the busiest and have the longest lines.
Fort Collins children and families have the chance to experience the arts all summer long. The Children’s Summer Concert Series includes music, dance, magic, and theater performances with everything from jazz to Broadway musicals.
The concerts occur on the Lincoln Center lawn every Wednesday in June and July from 10-11 am. Bring a blanket and a snack to enjoy thef performing arts geared for a younger audience.
Fort Collins comes out strong to celebrate Independence Day. The day starts with an early morning hot air balloon launch with various launch points throughout the city. Even if you aren’t riding in a balloon, it’s an amazing chance to see the balloons up close before they launch into the sky.
Events in Fort Collins during the 4th of July also include a motorcade parade and end with a drive-through fireworks show. Fort Collins is partnering with the City of Loveland, Larimer County, and The Ranch Event Complex to host the free drive-through event.
These 13 great Fort Collins summer activities show that summer is the perfect time to be in Fort Collins. There are plenty of events in Fort Collins in 2021 to think about when moving to Fort Collins.
With a huge variety of events and activities, there’s something for everyone in Fort Collins and always something new to experience and enjoy.
Our team is here to help you find your next home. Feel free to call and schedule a showing or start your search right here.
