In an entrepreneurial, artistic, agricultural, adventurous, musical and creative community like Fort Collins, we weren’t surprised to discover classes in everything from figure drawing to beekeeping. But along the way, we also found university programs and an impressive lineup of lessons available from institutions like Colorado State University and The Music District.
So, if you want to learn a new skill, you’ve come to the right place. This guide covers everything from casual, one-night cooking classes to intensive semester-long courses. What will you learn?
Art Lab Fort Collins
Photo courtesy of Art Lab Fort Collins
Art Lab is unlike any other art endeavor in Northern Colorado, and they’ve made their home in a previously vacant space in Old Town. In addition to hosting rotating exhibitions and shows, the team hosts occasional workshops in art topics like figure drawing and painting. They’ve even hosted yoga and meditative breathing classes! To see what’s coming up next, follow the team on Facebook here and check their event calendar here.
City of Fort Collins Recreation Department
The City of Fort Collins hosts several, art-focused classes throughout the year for adults and kids of all ages. Designed to be affordable and hosted in locations throughout town, these classes are meant to be approachable and accessible for many and cover topics like beginner watercolor, pottery and wheel throwing, acrylic painting and more. To see all of the options, click here.
Colorado State University
Our hometown institution offers several options for non-degree students interested in taking a course through the university. One of these options in the Non-Degree GUEST Program which stands for Granting University Enrollment for a Specific Term. This program is available to community members who want to take one or two classes on campus during a fall or spring semester without applying for admission as a degree-seeking student, and applicants are admitted to classes on a space available basis. This opens up the entire CSU course library to our community! For complete information, including price, deadlines and eligibility, click here.
The Cooking Studio
Owner Trish O’Neill took more than 300 hours of cooking classes before opening The Cooking Studio so she could share her experiences with Fort Collins. Now, she and her team teach teams, private parties, kid-friendly camps, professionals and public classes in a huge range of culinary topics. The adult class calendar includes topics like tacos, vegan food, cooking with cast iron, tapas and sangrias, Thai cooking, knife skills and so much more.
Elkhorn Fly Shop
About twenty minutes outside of Fort Collins in Loveland, Elkhorn Fly Shop is one of the best places in the region to learn the basics of fly fishing. The full-service fly shop is also a manufacturer of their own fly rods and reels, so their classes explore both making materials and using them. Courses include Introduction to Fly Tying, Fly Fishing Fundamentals, Rod Building and much more. To learn more, click here.
Farm Fusion
The goal at Farm Fusion is to teach the public how to create beautiful pairings and meals at home that utilize local ingredients and farm-to-table ideals. Their class calendar offers several options and times throughout the week on diverse topics. These include making pasta and sauces from scratch, cheese making, German specialties, Asian food and more.
The Fox & the Crow
Photo courtesy of The Fox & the Crow
The Fox & the Crow is a cheese shop and bistro in Midtown Fort Collins. In their shop, their team offers farmstead and artisan cheeses and meats from 5 to 5,000 miles away. And they use these cheese and experiences to create seasonal classes and pairings. Each class includes several tastings and discounts on featured products! To see what’s coming up next, click here.
Ginger and Baker
Ginger and Baker opened in the historic Northern Colorado Feeders Supply building in 2017 and immediately became a culinary destination in the River District. In their picturesque setting, they offer a market and bakery, a cafe, a restaurant, a rooftop bar and a teaching kitchen. In The Teaching Kitchen, they offer public classes in mixology, pie-ology, pizza-ology and so much more.
JAX Mercantile Co.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Mitchell via JAX Mercantile Co.
JAX is the outdoor authority here in Northern Colorado, so they’re a go-to whether you’re looking for education, rental equipment or new products. On their event calendar, you’ll find courses and clinics like Snowshoeing 101, Hunter Safety, Beekeeping 101, Raising Chicks 101, Bicycle Maintenance, Cooking with Cast Iron Skillets and more. To see events coming up at all locations, click here.
Lambspun
A staple in the Fort Collins community for more than 25 years, Lambspun is the local destination for yarn, knitwear and fiber products of all kinds. In addition to selling products and tools, they host casual tea times and classes every week in dyeing, knitting basics, wet felting, tapestry weaving and so much more. Check out the calendar here.
The Music District
The Music District is a music-centric gathering place serving to cultivate talents, support professional development and encourage connections between musicians, businesses, nonprofits, fans and anyone who appreciates music. Through their website, they can connect you with local instructors in music specialties which range from specific instruments like the mandolin to songwriting. To see all the options and learn more, click here.
My Sister Knits
My Sister Knits is a destination yarn store in Fort Collins. In the cozy shop, they offer yarns, tools and other fiber products along with knitting classes for all levels and knowledgeable staff who can help every step of the way. To see upcoming classes, click here.
In addition to these classes, My Sister Knits is part of the public Facebook group, Fort Collins Pints and Purls. Here, they facilitate a community of knitters, crocheters and crafters who meet nearly every Wednesday at a local brewery or pub!
Rebel Unicorn Crafts
Northern Colorado local, Lacey, is the crafter and teacher behind Rebel Unicorn Crafts, and she thinks art and creativity are crucial parts of our world. Through her business, she strives to create reasonably priced classes that don’t require participants to buy supplies and she limits class size to 15 people so everyone can get personal instruction. Many of these classes take place in Timnath’s Colorado Feed & Grain, and you can see upcoming class offerings here.
St. Peter’s Fly Shop
St. Peter’s Fly Shop is a landmark of Fort Collins fishing culture and offers two convenient locations: one in South Fort Collins and the other inside an Old Town Victorian home from the 1800s. In addition to tools, expertise and the best fly selection in town, they offer frequent classes, events and free demos. Taking place both on the water and off, class topics cover fly tying, entomology, fly casting and more.
VanCo School of Art
The VanCo School of Art opened in Fort Collins in 2011 and has since taught hundreds of adults and children the intricacies of fine art. Their team offers classical training in topics like oil painting, figure drawing and more. And their class prices—available in single class or multiple class packages—include instruction and the necessary supplies.
Your Daily Fiber
Your Daily Fiber is a family-owned yarn shop in Fort Collins with an adorable origin story starring a six-year-old grandson; to read it, click here. In addition to offering an impressive inventory of yarns, tools and fiber products, this family team offers an even more impressive class lineup that ranges from a one-hour blocking class to an eight-hour rag rug weaving course with several diverse options in between. To see all the classes, click here.
Already learned something?
If you have a favorite class in Fort Collins, tell us about it in the comments below!
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