How to Celebrate Father’s Day in Northern Colorado 2021

Aaahh, June! What a glorious month — especially in Northern Colorado. Here, we’re starting to have consistently warm (snow-free!) days and the kids are finally out of school. And it also holds one of our favorite holidays: Father’s Day! 

There are so many reasons to celebrate our dads and fatherly figures in our life — for all that they do for us, but more importantly, for who they are. 

Here are a few ways to celebrate Father’s Day in Northern Colorado this year, whether you’re celebrating with your dad or a fatherly figure, like a stepdad, uncle, grandpa or godfather, or helping your kids celebrate your husband. We’ve included a mix of outdoor adventures, like kayaking and camping, and relaxing activities, like sipping beer on a patio. 

And if you yourself are a dad — in any shape or form — we appreciate you! 

Spend Time Outside 

Father’s Day weekend is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors — especially when you live in Northern Colorado. No matter what your dad enjoys doing, whether it’s a laid-back fishing adventure or an action-packed mountain bike ride, make plans to get outside this weekend! You could go for a bike ride on one of these beginner-friendly biking trails, go kayaking, go golfing at one of these NoCo courses, go swimming or boating at a nearby lake, or simply go for a hike — here are some of the best hiking trails near Loveland to try! 

Go Camping 

If you do a bit more planning, you could celebrate Father’s Day all weekend long with a family camping trip! Thankfully, there are several campgrounds in Colorado that don’t require a reservation and operate on a first come, first served basis. So, as long as you’re willing to get there early, you’re in luck! Consult our procrastinator’s guide to camping in Colorado for some ideas on where to go. And for some special Father’s Day fun, sign up for Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Father’s Day Weekend in Estes Park, which will include a father-child horseshoe tournament, a special craft for dad, a root beer drinking contest, a firetruck ride, karaoke and more! 

Participate in the Father’s Day 5K 

Photo Courtesy of Green Events

This community tradition is back — and it’s in person once again! Register to participate in the Father’s Day 5K at Foothills Mall (or participate virtually, if you’d like). This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate all dads in your life, run with your dad, run for your dad, run as a dad, or run in memory of your dad. You may even win an award! Proceeds from the Father’s Day 5K support reduced and no-fee youth programming and the Adaptive Recreation Opportunities (ARO) program within the City of Fort Collins Recreation Department. 

See a Movie at Holiday Twin 

Over the last year or so, drive-ins were the perfect pandemic-proof activity — so we were thankful to have our very own right here in Fort Collins. Holiday Twin Drive-In has been serving Fort Collins and the surrounding communities for more than 30 years, and is one of only six drive-ins currently operating in Colorado. It hosts two giant screens, which play a double feature of current movies every night during the spring and summer — and this summer is no different! Take a look at Holiday Twin’s calendar to see what movies are playing on Father’s Day weekend — or another weekend this season. 

Go to a Brewery 

Sometimes, a brewery visit is the best way to spend a summer afternoon — and to raise a glass to dad! And here in Northern Colorado, we have no shortage of microbreweries to choose from. After all, we’re kind of known for our love for craft beer and our ability to crank out some impeccable brews. If you need some guidance (and don’t yet have your neighborhood go-to), we have a guide for the best breweries in Fort Collins — and others in the area, from Loveland to Greeley. 

…Or a Distillery 

Photo Courtesy of John Barnhardt via Mobb Mountain Distillers

Branch out of your regular routine by visiting a local distillery, which we also have plenty of here in town. No matter your dad’s spirit of choice, there’s a distillery for him — from Big Fat Pastor Spirits in Loveland to 477 Distilling in Greeley, and several in Fort Collins, including Elevation 5003 Distillery, Mobb Mountain Distillers and CopperMuse Distillery. 

Spend the Day at Rocky Mountain National Park 

If you run out of ideas, there’s no better destination than Rocky Mountain National Park — but it can be overwhelming to navigate the park’s 265,461 acres and all that it has in store. Thankfully, we put together a one-day itinerary, which includes a mixture of adventurous activities like hiking to slower activities, like relaxing by a lake. And if you need more ideas (and you’re spending more than one day at the park), here is our complete guide to things to do at Rocky Mountain National Park! 

Eat at Loveland Chophouse 

It may be a stereotype, but let’s face it: dads love steak. And Loveland Chophouse is one of our go-to sources for steak in the area. This 1930s-style restaurant offers a sophisticated atmosphere and intimate dining experience, while still remaining casual and family-friendly. They serve a wide variety of meat-centric entrees, including filet, top sirloin, New York strip, cowboy cut ribeye and more — plus, an excellent drink menu to complement your dish of choice. Make your reservation for a special lunch or dinner to celebrate dad this weekend! 

Relax on an Outdoor Patio 

No matter what kind of food he’s craving, make it a point to dine al fresco this weekend, either in your backyard or out on an outdoor patio in town. To help you navigate the many outdoor dining options, we collected some of the best outdoor patios in Old Town Fort Collins, which includes a mixture of restaurants, cafes, breweries and distilleries. There’s something to curb just about any craving — whether it be tacos, Italian food, a fresh salad, vegan fare, and even craft beer and cocktails. 

Happy Father’s Day! 

How are you celebrating this weekend? Let us know in the comments below!