Spring in Fort Collins means we’re starting to see some of that famous Colorado sunshine and summer weather while the occasional snow storms are slowing down. As they do, our communities will be planting flowers, gearing up for farmers markets, kicking off summer concert series, and opting outside more and more.
To help you make the most of the season—and keep the kids entertained when they get out of school—we created a guide to spring in Fort Collins. Complete with city parks, local events, day trips and more, this spring may just be the best one yet.
1. Attend a seasonal event.
Throughout the spring season, our community celebrates with both indoor and outdoor events, including Poudre Pour which celebrates the Cache la Poudre River, Earth Day, Kids in the Park at Twin Silo Community Park, Old Town Summer Splash and so much more. For more upcoming events, check out The 24 Essential Spring 2019 Events in Northern Colorado.
And don’t miss the beginning of some of our favorite summer series, including Noontime Notes Concert Series and Downtown Sessions Concert Series in Fort Collins and Friday Fest in Greeley.
To stay up to date on events happening in all our Northern Colorado communities, check out NoCo Happenings.
2. Grow your garden.
The greatest way to welcome spring is to dust off your green thumb and start planting! If you’re looking for tools, plants and expertise, head to one of the local businesses highlighted in Your Guide to 14 Northern Colorado Garden Centers, Nurseries + Greenhouses.
If you don’t have your own garden and need a place to grow, check out our guide, Community Gardens and CSA Programs in Fort Collins, which has information on community gardens available through the Gardens on Spring Creek, Mulberry Community Gardens and Grow Forth!
3. Shop your local farmers market.
The last Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market takes place in early April and opens the door for summer markets which kick off throughout the region in late April, May and June.
To find your nearest market in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Berthoud and other local communities, check out The Ultimate Guide to Northern Colorado Farmers Markets which includes information on the always popular Fort Collins Farmers’ Market; you can shop this market twice a week from mid-spring and through the summer!
4. Go to the dog park.
Your dogs will be equally excited about spring when they find out they can play at the local dog park free of snow and cold. The City of Fort Collins maintains four dog parks in town located at Soft Gold Park, Spring Canyon Park, Fossil Creek Park and Twin Silo Park. You can get more information on those here.
And for information on even more regional parks—like Windsor Lake Dog Park where your dog can play in the water—check out The Dog Owner’s Guide to Fort Collins.
5. Sign up for a CSA program.
In addition to local farmers markets, Community Supported Agriculture—or CSA programs—are an excellent way to get local meat, veggies, fruit and/or eggs directly from a local farmer! These programs invite people of the community to invest in the farm for the season and then members get to enjoy the annual harvest however abundant it may be. There’s no shortage of family farms in Fort Collins, so we have an abundance of CSA opportunities as well.
To get the lowdown on several options in town, check out Community Gardens and CSA Programs in Fort Collins. Then, go the website of your favorite featured farm to find out if they have current shares available!
6. Get outside.
One of the best ways to celebrate warmer weather is to opt outside—whether you’re jumping in the water at Horsetooth Reservoir or climbing above it on the boulders of Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. If the water is more your speed, check out The Ultimate Guide to Kayaking in Northern Colorado. And climbers, check out The Best Outdoor and Indoor Places to Go Rock Climbing in Northern Colorado.
For more ideas and information on outdoor recreation around the region, check out A Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking in Northern Colorado, The 13 Best Northern Colorado Biking Trails for Beginners and The Procrastinator’s Guide to Camping in Colorado which explores the entire state.
7. Run a race.
Photo courtesy of Green Events
Though our community will run in every season, spring brings some of our largest annual race events. The long list includes the Colorado Marathon, the Colorado Run and the Horsetooth Half Marathon which starts in Hughes Stadium and ends with an after-party at New Belgium Brewing Company. For more upcoming races, check out The 24 Essential Spring 2019 Events in Northern Colorado.
8. Explore our city parks.
While we’re surrounded by regional open spaces and located just a short drive from Rocky Mountain National Park, you can explore plenty of park land without leaving Fort Collins. The City of Fort Collins maintains more than 925 acres of developed park space, including seven community parks and 43 neighborhood parks. Both in these parks and between them, you’ll find over 35 miles of paved trails. Some of our favorites include Twin Silo Community Park which was just opened in 2017 and Lee Martinez Park which is nearly 90 acres and is home to The Farm at Lee Martinez Park where you can come face-to-face with farm animals.
9. Head to Rocky Mountain National Park.
As the snow melts in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, more areas and hikes will be accessible once again and valleys will fill with blooming flowers. The park itself offers 415 square miles of adventure and extremely diverse environments—from lush meadows to alpine tundra. To get your adventure started, check out The 10 Best Hiking Trails Near Estes Park, Colorado.
And don’t miss adventures in the charming mountain village of Estes Park! For ideas covering everything from Jeep tours to candy shops, read Everything You Need to Do When You Visit Estes Park.
10. Grab a spot on the patio.
As Colorado fights off winter weather and warmer days settle in for the season, patios all over town start opening for sunny, outdoor seating. Taprooms like Turtle Mountain Fermentery open their garage doors and flowers bloom in the gardens of Rainbow Restaurant and The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm. To find more local patios, check out The 22 Best Outdoor Patios in Fort Collins.
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