EVENTS, GALORE!
Larimer County Fair & PRCA Rodeo
The Larimer County Fair at the Ranch Events Complex is where the community of Northern Colorado comes to enjoy 4-H events, carnival midway rides, entertainment, free concerts, PRCA Rodeo events and much more.
Admission to the fair is free. Carnival rides and concessions are available at additional cost. Enjoy the event from August 2-6.
Art in the Park
Art in the Park, Loveland is celebrating its 57th annual festival August 10 & 11 in North Lake Park. The event is recognized as a leading show in the industry and a large part of the cultural fabric of the vibrant Loveland art scene.
The event occurs the second weekend of August in Loveland’s “Weekend of Art”, along with the internationally acclaimed Sculpture in the Park. We invite you to apply to be one of the 250 exhibitors at the 2024 event, a world-class celebration of the visual arts know or it accolades and excellence.
Highlights of this year’s show is The Gallery of Fine Artisans and The Market of Fine Arts and Crafts, providing all attending with a little something. Admission to the event is free.
Loveland Corn Roast Festival
The annual Old Fashioned Loveland Corn Roast Festival returns August 23 & 24 to Old Fairgrounds Park. There will be live music and entertainment for all ages in addition to various food and vendors, a kid’s zone as well as tons of roasted corn.
The festival also will include a parade the morning of August 24, corn shucking contest, cornhole tournament and duck race and token booths are on site and will be for beer and roast corn only. The event is free with food and beverage items available for purchase.
Loveland Corn Roast Festival
The annual Old Fashioned Loveland Corn Roast Festival returns August 23 & 24 to Old Fairgrounds Park. There will be live music and entertainment for all ages in addition to various food and vendors, a kid’s zone as well as tons of roasted corn.
The festival also will include a parade the morning of August 24, corn shucking contest, cornhole tournament and duck race and token booths are on site and will be for beer and roast corn only. The event is free with food and beverage items available for purchase.
Pastels on 5th
Pastels on 5th Street is a free, family-friendly, community-wide sidewalk chalk art festival where artists, businesses, and downtown Loveland come together to transform 5th Street into a spectacular sidewalk gallery. This event is designed to highlight the thriving Loveland arts community and serve as a benefit for Alternatives to Violence.
The focal point of the festival is the artwork created right on the sidewalk by local and regional artists using brightly colored pastels. Each year, we have judges selecting their favorite works of art in our juried awards that include cash prizes for the winning artists. Additionally, community members get to participate by voting for their favorite works of art in our People’s Choice awards. Every year, we have professional, amateur, and student artists join us for this creative and fun day.
Pastels on 5th happens September 14 on 5th Street in downtown Loveland and includes live music, food, a Marketplace with food and artisan booths, and a children’s art area where kids can create their own sidewalk masterpieces. To enter as an artist, a $10 entry fee applies.
MUSIC
Sounds of Summer
The annual One Sweet Summer event series, headquartered at The Foundry Plaza, brings residents and area visitors together to enjoy Downtown Loveland, with live music, outdoor patio dining, kids’ days, fitness options and more. All events are free and open to the public. Check the schedule for options each week.
2024 One Sweet Summer lineup:
- Second Friday of the Month from May – Sept.: Night on the Town
- Wednesdays from June 12 – Aug. 7: Kids on the Plaza
- Saturdays from June 15 – Aug. 31: Fitness on the Plaza
- Wednesdays from July 10 – Aug. 28: Wednesday Night Concerts
- August 9: Symphony on the Plaza
ACTIVE OPTIONS
Picture-Perfect Parks
- Fairgrounds Park – Fairgrounds Park provides easy access to the Big Thompson River, perfect for wading and splashing on warm days. The younger set favors the Tot-Land and Spray Park (seasonal), while visitors of all ages are drawn to fishing the river, walking the rec trails, ogling the sculptures, sampling the skate park, hitting homers at the batting cages, and shooting hoops on the basketball courts.
- North Lake Park – Located in the center of town, Lake Loveland features a pretty public park on its north shore – called North Lake Park – with fishing access, a park, playgrounds, sport courts and fields, an amphitheater and picnic areas. The park is also home to the Buckhorn Northern Railroad, a tot-sized authentic replica of a real steam train that runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day (closed Mondays) for just $1 per passenger per ride. Not free but certainly frugal and well worth the spend. Check out the latest upgrades to the tunnel, featuring “rock” walls, a mock mine shaft, 3D printed crystals and a painted mountain mural. The ride includes 1,588 feet of track, a depot, water tower, a gasoline-powered engine, two open passenger cars, a cattle car, and a caboose. Operating since Memorial Day 1977, the train supports 32 trips per day, 6 days per week, until it closes each Labor Day.
- Loveland Sports Park – A favorite for good reason, Loveland Sports Park features two inline hockey rinks, a skate park, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, loads of athletic fields, a playground and picnic areas.
- Mehaffey Park – This 64-acre oasis is beloved by kids – young and old – for its Adventure Playground, skate park and pond. Parents love the artwork and sculpture. You’ll also find a variety of sport courts and fields, a 9-hole disc golf course, an Arboretum, a rec trail, and picnic areas.
- Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park – Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park is a park and natural area nestled along the Big Thompson River and U.S. Hwy 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon. Originally opened in 1926, the park has been restored twice due to the Big Thompson floods in 1976 and 2013. The park features picnic areas, shelters, a fishing platform, a kid zone, sculptures, an overlook and more. Duck into the nature cabin to learn about the area history and resident wildlife.
Splash Parks
These FREE and fun finds will cool you down quickly. Loveland’s water zones are strategically located across the city, welcoming swimsuits and splashing around for all-ages fun in the summer sun.
- Main Plaza splash pad at the Promenade Shops at Centerra
- Foundry Plaza spray zone in Downtown Loveland
- Loveland Sports Park spray park
- Fairgrounds Park spray park (plus river access)
- Mehaffey Park waterfall
The Pools
There’s nothing that says summer quite like a trip to the local swimming pool. Loveland has two great options, depending on personal preference and the Colorado weather. The Winona Pool is Loveland’s outdoor heated swimming pool and it’s a popular place to cool off from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The location also features an AquaClimb climbing wall and a concession stand. There is a fee for entry.
For a break from the sunshine (or the rain) head to Chilson Recreation Center, home to two indoor pools, a water slide, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a steam room, and a variety of aquatics programs. There is a fee for entry.
Lounge Along the River’s Edge
The 163-acre River’s Edge Natural Area is situated alongside the Big Thompson River and includes five ponds that are ideal for fishing, plus 3.8 miles of natural surface trails for walking, bicycling and wildlife viewing. You’ll also find three picnic shelters, an amphitheater and environmental education stations tucked underneath a broad canopy of mature trees perfect for peeping. Natural Areas are pockets of land that provide convenient access to the outdoors, help minimize urban sprawl and provide habitat for wildlife and native plants.
Conquer the Devil’s Backbone
For impressive views, hike along a stunning two-mile strip of Dakota sandstone at Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail. Even visitors with shorter legs and attention spans can hike to find the “keyhole,” a unique arch within the backbone. The destination makes for a great reward, and the hike allows for expending loads of energy. There is a $10 fee to access Devil’s Backbone Open Space. Need a little more time outdoors? Continue along the full 12 miles of trail in the 2,198-acre Devil’s Backbone Open Space, which also connects to Rimrock Open Space and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. The area is perfect for hiking, biking, horseback riding, running, wildlife viewing and observing nature.
Explore Big Thompson Canyon
One of the state’s most iconic routes, Hwy 34 through Big Thompson Canyon, connects Loveland to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. The spectacular drive features stunning scenery and Big Thompson River access along 25 miles (one way). The rural route highlights the splendor of nature – no matter the season – with a side of nostalgia. Pull over to snap pics of at these beloved stops along the way: the Dam Store for an aerial view of the falls from the lookout tower onsite; the Colorado Cherry Company for fresh-baked pies; Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park for a picnic and the play structures; and a detour at Drake onto C.R. 43 through Glen Haven and on to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Local Art
Love Lock Sculptures
With a name like LOVEland, a visit would be incomplete without locking your love on one of the two love lock sculptures. The LOVE sign, located at the Visitors Center, is the largest of its kind in the U.S. Buy a lock (or bring your own) and engrave it for free inside the Visitors Center. The second sculpture, shaped like a heart, lives at Lake Loveland with the majestic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Be sure to grab your lock at the Visitors Center before heading out to the lake. When you post your photos on social media, tag us for a chance to be featured! #Visitloveland #lovelandlovelocks
Hunt for HeARTs
Did you know there are heaps of fiberglass hearts – each 5-feet tall and 4.5-feet wide (perfectly pint-sized) – “hidden” in Loveland? The City with HeART™ program is a great way to engage every member of the family in exploring the city as nearly 50 hearts are scattered throughout. Download or pick up a HeART map at the Loveland Visitor’s Center and hunt to your heart’s content. The program is supervised by the Loveland Chamber of Commerce and each heart is individually sponsored, named and designed by an artist.
The art scene that surrounds Loveland is truly special. Every day, I am learning just how special this city is and am continuing to learn more about the treasures this place holds. I highly recommend booking a foundry tour and seeing for yourself. Tours are held on Thursday mornings at 9:30 a.m., and a reservation is required. The tour is $5 per person, and there is a 10-person maximum for each tour group. If you are interested in making a reservation, please call the office number: (970) 667-1114 or email shelby@artcastings.com.
Play Among the Art
Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra showcases 82 monumental stone sculptures from Zimbabwe across 26 acres of natural and landscaped gardens. We know, we know…getting littles to tour sculptures is like trying to get them to eat green beans. Chapungu is different! Walking trails meander along the Greeley and Loveland Irrigation Canal, over bridges and through varied vegetation, there’s loads of open space to explore and a kid-approved hill to climb in The Children section of the park. Who knows? The kids might just enjoy this cultural intro without realizing it – like hiding spinach in a smoothie. Chapungu is free and open daily. Paths are wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
Home to 187 permanent sculptures, Benson Sculpture Garden wows with natural and human-crafted beauty. Sculptures are nestled among 10 acres of grassy lawn dotted with mature trees, native plants and tranquil ponds. Take a free tour of the park or meander through the sculptures on your own; the park is the perfect place for kids to run, jump, play and explore. The park’s children’s garden is the perfect destination to see some of the more kid-centric pieces, including “Alligator,” a high-fiving dog (“High Four”), a banana on skates (“On a Roll”), and several sculptures featuring children. Benson Sculpture Garden is a free public park founded in 1985 and new pieces are added annually. Paths are wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
