Family-Friendly Activities
Fun for the whole family in Downtown Fort Collins, CO
With almost 300 days of sunshine a year, Downtown is your destination for year-round family fun! Whether a weekday afternoon or a busy Saturday in the summer, there’s never a shortage of sights to see, places to visit, and opportunities to get your hands dirty (or wet!).
Check out the abundance of family-friendly activities and promotions happening in Downtown Fort Collins!
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
We’re a hands-on history and science museum, filled with interactive exhibits and fascinating artifacts that tell the stories of Northern Colorado. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery is where history meets hands-on science. The exhibition gallery invites you to discover the interconnectedness of everything from music and light, to flora and fauna, to bicycles and agriculture, and beyond.
Kids Play Area at Old Town Square
Let the kids jump and climb around on the bear and fish or try out their musical skills on the xylophone! The bear and the fish have been well-loved features in Old Town Square since 1998.
Poudre Libraries - Old Town Library
Just as the Poudre River flows through the region and sustains life across the high plains of Northern Colorado, Poudre Libraries is where the free flow of information cultivates growth and serves as a steady, limitless source of renewal for all of its communities.
Northside Aztlan Community Center
Northside Aztlan Community Center is a fitness and events facility that is also home to a wide variety of activities, classes, programs, sports, and special events, and a playground.
During the warmer months, check out the skate park behind Northside Aztlan!
The Exchange
The Exchange is the gem of northern Old Town, bringing together all the elements that make this town loved by so many. Here you will find a large, central plaza that provides a vibrant setting with patios, green spaces, indoor and outdoor dining, retail, and year round activities. For those traveling by bicycle, the Exchange offers ample bike parking, a DIY bike service station, and connectivity to the Poudre Trail – a true bike destination!
Library Park
Take the kids to play on the recently renovated playground outside of the library, which includes swings, an intricate climbing feature and the We-Go-Round, which is a fully wheelchair accessible merry-go-round! Or borrow a book from the library and sit in the shade to read. Adjacent to the Poudre River Public Library at 201 Peterson St.
Sugar Beet Park
Let the kids climb on a beet! One of the newest parks in Fort Collins, just outside of the core downtown area, includes a picnic pavilion, playground, open turf field, and pollinator garden, in addition to the playground featuring a the giant beet.
Washington Park
Enjoy some time just outside of the core of downtown at Washington Park on the playground or play in the open grassy area with plenty of shade!
Old Town Square Splash Pad
On those hot summer days, come down to Old Town Square and play in the Splash Pad! The pop jets are on from 8:00 am – midnight for everyone to enjoy and cool off! Come down in the evening to enjoy the splash pad light show
Splash Pad is on May – September, weather dependent.
Splash Pad at Oak Street Plaza
Enjoy one of the three public splash pads in Fort Collins at Oak Street Plaza! The fountains are on daily 9:00 am – 7:00 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Splash Pad is on Memorial Day – Labor Day
Fort Collins Trolley
Ride the historic trolley from downtown to City Park and back. The trolley has been fully restored to its original 1919 style.
Operates weekends, May – September
The 1879 Avery House
Walk down Mountain Avenue and get a tour of the historic Avery House, built in 1879. A historic costume collection is also on display in the Avery House.
Sculpture in the Square
Old Town Square’s sculpture on loan program rotates on an annual basis. This locally juried show brings a variety of contemporary sculptures into this beloved space. New sculptures are installed each April. Admire the sculptures and vote for your favorite when you stroll through Old Town Square!
Pianos About Town
Pianos About Town is a collaborative project between the City of Fort Collins Art In Public Places Program, Bohemian Foundation, and the Downtown Development Authority. The project combines art and music for the enjoyment of the community. Pianos are painted from May through October in Old Town Square, where the public can interact with the artists as they work. Find the completed pianos that rotate to various locations throughout Fort Collins, inviting people to admire the artwork and play a tune.
Annual Brickies Creation Festival™
Join us for a full day of everything LEGO® in Old Town Square. Watch as teams compete in our Creation Contest. Participants will have four hours to build a LEGO® creation that adheres to a specific theme. At the end of the day, all sculptures will be judged, and prizes will be awarded.
Art for the Heart
Art for the Heart is a weekly, free art program in Old Town Square hosted by NOLA Creative and the Downtown Development Authority in early summer. Pick up a free art project packet, take it home, and release your creative juices!
Story Stroll
Poudre River Public Library District has partnered with Downtown Fort Collins to create a fun, interactive story stroll experience for you to enjoy. The Story Stroll is a free, family-friendly activity that showcases children’s stories in new and unexpected ways. Enjoy reading while spending time outdoors and exploring your community!
This is a self-guided tour that families can enjoy at their leisure. Simply follow the path on the map in order to see the story unfold in front of you. Each stop on the path features another portion of the story. Start at number 1 and continue to the end.
Stay tuned for the next Story Stroll.
Tiny Tot Halloween
The trick-or-treat tradition continues when Tiny Tot Halloween returns on October 31 from 10 am - 1 pm. Get the kiddos' costumes ready, grab a snack sack or pail, and come Downtown for some tricks and treats at many of our wonderful downtown businesses. Parents are encouraged to join in the fright-free family fun by dressing in costume too!