This July in Fort Collins is booming with exciting concerts, shows, and events that you don’t want to miss. From the Fourth of July celebrations to various outdoor summer concert series to the FoCo Fondo, you’ll certainly find an entertaining and memorable event to attend this month. Keep reading to discover your ideal July plans!
Unique July Events
4th of July Celebration
Celebrate Independence Day in Fort Collins with a full day of scheduled events and activities for the entire family to enjoy from the parade, a running 5K, food trucks, fireworks, and more! To see everything happening on this special national holiday, visit the City of Fort Collins' website.
FoCo Fondo
Join us for one of Fort Collins' most iconic annual events, the FoCo Fondo, presented by Fat Tire, all weekend from July 18-20th. This special ride is a gravel race, rooted in the insanity of a Fondo with the levity of the Fort Collins community. However, there is also music, vendor expo, and more to do at New Belgium Brewery! Whether you’re into racing bikes or all day bike parties in the open range of Colorado, you definitely should not miss this event! Pre-registration is required. Learn more at focofondo.com.
PBR's Last Cowboy Standing
For the first time in Fort Collins, PBR, Professional Bull Riding, will be making a stop at Colorado State University's Canvas Stadium for a two-day event on July 21-22 that features the Last Cowboy Standing Competition and music performances by Cross Canadian Ragweed and Jon Pardi.
7th Annual Brickies Creation Festival
The Brickies Creation Festival™ in Old Town Square on Saturday, July 19, 2025 will feature 21 teams as they compete against the clock to use all of their pieces and build a creation that adheres to this year’s theme (still a secret!). Don’t worry if you’re not registered to compete in our build because there will be plenty to do with other games, contests, building, and photos! This event is free to the public and more information can be found here.
LIVE MUSIC, FESTIVITIES, & RECURRING CONCERT SERIES
Rock Out at The Aggie
The historic Aggie Theatre, a live music institution in Fort Collins for over 100 years, plays host to national acts and smaller local bands, giving you the full concert experience. This month some notable acts taking stage are Deep Sea Diver as a part of their Billboard Heart Tour, Ben Kweller in his Cover the Mirrors Tour, Jonah Kagen & Crowe Boys, and Daft Disco. Later in month, there is a pre-party and post-party concerts for the PBR Last Cowboy Standing events in town! The Charlie Stevens Band closes out the month on July 31st in style and harmony. Make sure to visit their concert events calendar here for the most up-to-date information about shows and how to get tickets.
Music by the River
Opened in 1916, the iconic Mishawaka Amphitheatre is a year-round music venue, restaurant and bar found in scenic Poudre Canyon. Starting off the month for a two-day stop is The California Honeydrops on July 2nd and 3rd. Another househould name, Houdmouth, is slated from July 12th. New this summer, The Mish along with Riverside Colorado, launched a Campfire Sessions event which will have Graham Good on July 24th. Additionally, The Mish does a Sunday Summer Series, which is a free show from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. all month long.
Amazing Music at Washington's
Washington’s is an intimate 900-person venue in Old Town Fort Collins and regularly hosts big names. This month, Macy Gray rolls into town on July 23rd. Gray, a five-time GRAMMY® Nominee, received the GRAMMY® Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance in 2000 for her hit song “I Try”. Other acts taking stage include Robert Earl Keen (July 8th), Joni Mitchell Tribute (July 18th), Stephen Kellogg (July 19) and Built to Spill (July 22nd).
Outdoor Summer Concert Series
During the summer, there are recurring events with music almost every day. The FoCo Food Truck Rally on Tuesdays includes over 20 food trucks and vendors at the spacious City Park. On Wednesdays, The Lagoon Concert Series is a free series hosted at Colorado State University's Lory Student Center's west lawn under the trees of the lagoon. The July shows include The Reminders (July 9th), Top Shelf 5280 (July 16th), and Salsa Forte Latin Collective (July 23rd). A day later, Bohemian Nights presents Thursday Night Live on the outdoor stage in Fort Collins' Old Town Square. Friday's head to the Foothills Mall for Music on the Lawn with the convenience of a beer garden and shops nearby.
Shows at The Lincoln Center
At The Lincoln Center this month, you can find live concerts, theatre, and comedians. Country singer Montgomery Gentry performs on July 13 and acclaimed singer, songwriter, and musician Marc Broussard comes at the end of the month on July 26th — both a part of The Gardens on Spring Creek concert series.
The Concert Truck, will make its debut across six city parks in four days. The Concert Truck is a traveling music venue that strengthens communities by redefining the concert experience and making live music accessible to everyone. Impassioned by their love for music, pianists Nick Luby and Susan Zhang converted a 16-foot box truck into a fully functioning mobile concert hall, complete with lights, sound system and piano. Check out the lineup here to see which park you want to see this unique experience!
If you are looking for a play, see Pride and Prejudice until July 12th. And if you are looking to laugh, check out "We're All Doing Great" And Other Lies - A Comedy Show about Life's Chaos on July 25th.
Other Ways to Hear Music
Magic Rat, located in Old Firehouse Alley adjacent to The Elizabeth Hotel in Old Town, offers swinging sounds on tap weekly, from big-name artists to local late-night jam sessions. All of these fun concert events are free to enjoy. Check the calendar for all shows taking place throughout the month and current updates. Be sure to check out events page as breweries and restaurants add music on the regular!
Fort Collins Film, Arts & Culture Events
Outdoor Movies & Film Events
The Holiday Twin Drive-In, one of only four drive-in movie lots left in Colorado, offers a view of the foothills, mini putt-putt, and a concessions stand. The Lyric, another local iconic cinema, hosts summer outdoor movies in an area that also boosts a playground, eclectic seating, and patio seating with a full kitchen steps away inside. For the last two Mondays of the month, Downtown Fort Collins and Ben & Jerry's are collaborating for a CineCream Night, which is a free event at the Downtown Old Town Square, but bring your own chairs! On July 22nd, Shrek is playing and on July 29th it is Encanto!
Launched in this summer, The Elizabeth Hotel has a Magic Rat Film Showcase occurring every third Wednesday of the month, which includes networking, screening, and a Q&A session. For the July 16th slot, the film featured is "Women in Film" to celebrate the powerful voices of women filmmakers in an inspiring evening featuring the work of Cassie LeFevre, Hannah Tran, and Madison Santamaria.
Another film-related event is Silent Film Jams at Avogadro's Number on July 10th. Imagine a movie night where the soundtrack is being made on the spot—by you and other adventurous musicians. That’s a Silent Film Jam.
Live Comedy
Hosting regular open mic nights, nationally renowned comedians, and even burlesque shows, The Comedy Fort is Fort Collins' only comedy club and home to events all month long that you can find here. On July 3rd, the Fort Showcase! features several local acts plus a surprise national name. The ninth-annual Jokechella, which is an all-day event occurs on July 5th. Pay this iconic venue in downtown Fort Collins a visit this month and get your giggle on!
Every last Saturday of the month, so July 26th in this case, The Lyric Comedy Show starts at 8 p.m. Another option for laughs is Slyce Pizza's The Speak Cheesy Lounge as they host an open mic comedy night on Wednesdays.
Art & Museums
First Friday Art Walk is a monthly self-guided walking tour that celebrates creativity, culture, and community in Downtown Fort Collins on the first Friday of every month! Don't miss this special event, happening on July 4th this month. Recurring on the third Thursday of each month, The Speak Cheesy Lounge, below Slyce Pizza, hosts the Big Cheesy Art Show.
For museum viewing, the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art has two current exhibitions: Maya Guatemala and Us: Divergent Convergences and MFA Thesis Exhibition 2025: Claudia Bokulich. The Museum of Art showcases Beyond Resilience, with a theme of rather than glorifying resilience as a virtue, this exhibition asks why resilience is so often required—and who is expected to bear it. On the last day of the month, the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures has an event, The Untold Asian American Story of Fort Collins, to detail the early contributions of Asian immigrants to the region, but they also have a ongoing exhibition until September called Echoes of the Red Era: The Aesthetics of Chinese Propaganda. Are you wondering why fashion trends from yesteryear are resurfacing then check out CSU's Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising's Tiger's Leap exhibition. If you looking for interactive, family friendly, and nature then look no further than the Museum of Discovery as they currently have a Nature All Around Us exhibit along with other animal features!
Kids would also enjoy Art for the Heart, which are free art projects to do at the Old Town Square every Wednesday from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Food & Drink
Fort Collins Foodie Walk™ is a monthly self-guided walking tour from 5-8 pm on the third Friday of each month (July 18th) 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! Fort Collins Foodie Walk™ offers a way for people to explore and enjoy the flavorful world of food and drink!
Shopping
The Downtown Summer Sales event is a four-day shopping extravaganza from July 10-13th showcases incredible deals and offers an energetic and exciting shopping experience in stores and on the sidewalk, a tradition that dates back to the 1970s! This year, 75+ unique locally-owned stores, boutiques, and specialty shops will offer their best summer sales. Deal-seekers can discover everything from trendy apparel and handcrafted home goods and furnishings to vintage treasures, and more! Visit the website for more information here!
The Oak Street Plaza Market is a vintage market event put on by Dandelions & Rust on July 19th.
Outdoors, Sports & Wellness
What is Via Ferrata? Italian for "iron way," this style of mountain climbing started in the Alps and offers fixed cables, ladders, and bridges to aid adventurers on their way to the summit. DU's Kennedy Mountain Campus has two routes: the beginner-friendly Crest and the adrenaline-pumping Cirque, both ending in breathtaking views.
If you're an extreme runner, you might already have your sights and shoes set for the Never Summer 100K & 60K on July 25-27th, happening up that Poudre Canyon in Gould, Colo.
Looking for something slower paced? How about taking in a Fort Collins Foxes game at City Park? There are 10 home dates to finish out their regular season. Or Yoga in City Park, every Saturday from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. at City Park!
When it comes to fun events in Fort Collins, there are endless opportunities to enjoy this July. So get out there and take full advantage of this exciting summer season!
