Every October, Loveland throws open its studio doors and invites the public to watch artists at work. This year, the Loveland Art Studio Tour comes with an unexpected twist: a runway show built entirely from garbage. The second annual Re: Fashion Trash Fashion Show struts onto the stage Saturday, Oct. 17 and entries are still open for anyone who wants to turn trash into a wearable work of art. Here’s what to know about the show, the workshop behind it and the two-weekend celebration of Loveland’s creative community that surrounds it all.
A city built around its artists
Loveland has earned its reputation as the bronze sculpture capital of the world but the city’s creative identity runs far deeper than public art. Downtown studios, working galleries and a dedicated arts district give Loveland one of the most active small-town art scenes in Colorado, one visitors can explore any time of year through the Loveland Art Scene page. Every October, that creative energy concentrates into the Loveland Art Studio Tour, presented by Loveland Creates, when working artists across the city fling open the doors of their home studios and let visitors see, and often try, exactly how the work gets made.
What is the Loveland Art Studio Tour?
The Loveland Art Studio Tour spans two weekends and gives visitors a rare look inside the private studios of dozens of working artists. It kicks off Friday, Oct. 9, with an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Foote Gallery inside the Loveland Museum on 503 N. Lincoln Ave., where guests can meet this year’s participating artists and get a sneak peek at the tour’s signature events. From there, artists open their home studios to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11 and again Oct. 17-18. Pull up the Studio Tour artists and map to plot a route, or check the full tour schedule for the evening happenings layered throughout the two weeks, including a CreatorSpace open house, a behind-the-scenes filmmaking event and The Invitational, a juried showcase of floral designers, tattoo artists, chefs and other Loveland creatives.
Re: Fashion Trash Fashion Show: There’s still time to enter
During the second weekend of the tour, Loveland’s most unconventional runway show returns. The second annual Re: Fashion Trash Fashion Show hits the stage Saturday, Oct. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the recently renovated Pulliam Community Building’s Rehme Ballroom, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Designers of all ages, from 6 to 100 and up, are invited to build a wearable garment using at least 50 percent reused or repurposed materials, then send it down the runway on their own model. Judges score entries on creativity, craftsmanship, wearability and how well the piece sticks to upcycling and recycling principles.
This year’s show adds some reality-TV star power. Kelly Dempsey, the runner-up on Project Runway Season 14, joins as guest judge, sizing up entries built entirely from Loveland’s cast-offs. Kelly’s unique design philosophy and recycled designs earned her that runner-up spot on the show, making her the ideal guest judge for the second year of this event.
Registration is still open through the online entry form, though organizers list an application deadline of Oct. 5, so aspiring designers shouldn’t wait too long to apply. Tickets to watch the show run $25 per person, and organizers note that availability at the door isn’t guaranteed, so buying ahead is the safer bet.
New to upcycled design? Start with the workshop
Anyone intimidated by the idea of building a runway-ready look from scratch can ease in the night before. The Trash Fashion Workshop, a hands-on, no-sew session at the Aims Loveland Campus, runs Friday, Oct. 16, and is also led by guest instructor Kelly Dempsey. After becoming runner-up in Project Runway, Kelly launched her own online courses to help people learn how to upcycle, skills she’ll be bringing to this exciting workshop.
Participants design their own wearable piece from recycled and found materials for $20. Supplies for one piece included, and guests can bring extra reused odds and ends to personalize the look further. Workshop-goers who also want to catch the runway show can bundle the two with a $40 combo ticket, a $5 savings over buying separately.
Make a weekend of it
Two weekends of open studios, an art-filled opening reception and a runway show built from recycled goods add up to a solid reason to book a night, or two, in Loveland. Traveling with kids? Pair the tour with our free family fun guide for budget-friendly stops between studio visits. Whichever weekend works for your schedule, start your trip planning at Where to Stay to lock in lodging before some of Loveland’s most underrated weekends book up.
Quick reference: Loveland Art Studio Tour 2026
- Studio tour dates: Oct. 9-11 and Oct. 16-18; artist studios open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 10-11 and Oct. 17-18
- Opening reception: Friday, Oct. 9, 5-8 p.m., Foote Gallery at the Loveland Museum
- Trash Fashion Workshop: Friday, Oct. 16, Aims Loveland Campus, $20, led by Kelly Dempsey
- Re: Fashion Trash Fashion Show: Saturday, Oct. 17, doors 6:30 p.m., show 7-9 p.m., Pulliam Community Building, $25
- Entry deadline for designers: Oct. 5 (apply through the online entry form)
- Info and tickets: lovelandcreates.org