Holiday HUB
Downtown Fort Collins is the place to be for the holidays! Dine, shop, and explore under the twinkling of the holiday lights. Enjoy a delicious meal at one of our many amazing restaurants with something everyone will love and check off that holiday shopping list at our local shops that are ready to help you find that perfect gift. Bonus, shop at Old Town Spree participating businesses for a chance to win a $100 Downtown Fort Collins Gift Card. Need some family activities? Visit with Santa, play at the skate rink in Old Town Square, or search for all the Santas in Santas Quest. Looking for a date night? Anything you do will be 100 times more magical under the twinkling holiday lights!
Old Town Spree
Shop. Dine. Win! November 1 - December 31
This November and December, locally owned and operated businesses in Downtown Fort Collins invite shoppers and diners to enter to win one of four $100 Downtown Fort Collins Gift Card prizes drawn weekly! Plus, you could be one of five grand prize winners!
Downtown Fort Collins First Friday Art Walk™
First Friday Art Walk December 6, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Downtown Fort Collins First Friday Art Walk™ is a monthly self-guided walking tour that celebrates creativity, culture, and community in Downtown Fort Collins every month! From fine to funky, Art Walk showcases a spectrum of artistic styles to entertain and engage amateurs and art aficionados of all ages, interests, and backgrounds.
Fort Collins Foodie Walk™
Foodie Walk December 20, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
Fort Collins Foodie Walk™ is a monthly self-guided walking tour from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on the third Friday of each month and celebrates the culinary culture and thriving foodie scene in Downtown Fort Collins. Join Downtown’s finest culinary shops each month for interactive showcases, seasonal flavors, and exciting taste experiences!
Santa's Workshop
Santa’s Workshop will be open to children of all ages to come visit and tell him their hopes and holiday wishes. Visits with Santa are always free! Families can take their own photos, but prints are also available on site for purchase. Click Here For Santa's Portrait Packages
For information please call the Downtown Development Authority at 970-484-2020 or oldtownsquare@fcdda.com
Skate Rink
Skate Rink opens Wednesday, November 27
Enjoy free skating and skate rentals fun a fun winter activity in downtown!
Please note that hours of operation are subject to change due to weather.
Updates will be posted on the DDA website and on DDA’s Facebook page.
Extended Holiday Shopping Hours
Holiday shopping can be convenient, easy, and fun when you shop locally in Downtown Fort Collins! Many of our businesses stay open past 6:00 pm during the holidays so you can enjoy a meal and get your shopping done!
Individual business hours may vary. Please check individual business websites to confirm.
Downtown Holiday Lights
Every night from the first week in November through Valentine's Day, the lights will be turned on in Old Town Fort Collins. 22 block-faces of downtown will be illuminated with thousands of strands of lights in alleyways, along sidewalks, and within tree-tops. The impressive display of low-energy and sustainable LED lights can be enjoyed anywhere along College Avenue, the northern boundary of Laporte Avenue, and continuing south to Magnolia Street. Trees will be lit along Walnut Street, Linden Street, Pine Street, Old Town Square, Oak Street Plaza, and Mountain Avenue as well.
The Downtown Holiday Lights is a partnership between the City of Fort Collins and Downtown Development Authority.
Free Parking
In an effort to help support downtown businesses during the holiday season, the City of Fort Collins, Parking Services, will again offer free parking in the public parking structures on Saturdays and City holidays.
City holidays during free parking period; Thursday, November 28 & Friday, November 29; Wednesday, December 25, and Wednesday, January 1.
Free Saturdays begin November 30 and run through December 31, and Sundays are always free.
As a reminder- parking in the parking structures is always free on Sundays and City holidays. On all other days, parking is free for the first hour and $1 each hour after; in all three parking structures.
Holiday Events
Check out other festive holiday events happening in downtown on the event calendar.
Santas Quest
Search for all the hidden Santas from November 15 - December 15
The Holiday season has stirred up a sense of nostalgia with fond family memories and special traditions. Santas Quest has been a beloved promotion since 2012 and is back for another year, just in time to spread Holiday cheer! Families are encouraged to explore downtown and seek out the hidden Santa figurines located inside businesses or their storefront windows. Find the hidden Santas and submit your Quest Card to be entered to win a $100 Downtown Fort Collins Gift Card!