July Highlights
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 running a 5K, food trucks, fireworks, and more! To see everything happening on this special national holiday, visit the City of Fort Collins' website. Meanwhile at the Exchange, there is a water balloon toss competition. Additionally, Red Feather Lakes has a a celebration along with a 3.6 mile run.
PBR's Bulls and Beats (July 10-12)
For the second time in as many years, Professional Bull Riding will be making a stop at Colorado State University's Canvas Stadium! This year's event was extended to three days of action from July 10-12th, featuring the the Collegiate All-Star Rodeo, PBR Teams, and music performances by Brad Paisley, Bailey Zimmerman, and Miranda Lambert. For more information and tickets, see the event page.
FoCo Fondo (July 16-19)
Join us for one of Fort Collins' most iconic annual events, the FoCo Fondo, presented by Fat Tire, all weekend from July 16-19th. 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.
8th Annual Brickies Creation Festival (July 18)
The Brickies Creation Festival™ in Old Town Square on Saturday, July 18, 2026 will feature a building competition, exhibits, games, photo booths, art stations, a soapbox derby, and more! This event is free to the public and more information can be found here.
Live Music
(Mishawaka Amphitheatre)
If you love music, Fort Collins is your perfect destination. The Fort Collins music scene is thriving all year long, but summer is one of the best times to enjoy a variety of festivals, concerts and other musical events. With unique ways to enjoy tunes such as iconic live music venues and pianos scattered throughout town, you'll find countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the city's vibrant music scene.
- The iconic Mishawaka Amphitheatre—affectionately known as "The Mish"—is a bucket-list venue nestled in the adventurous Poudre Canyon. For a full lineup, see their schedule page here, but here are some highlights!
- Three nights of STS9 starts the month strong (July 3-5), followed by a powerful Monday with Grace Potter on July 6 and The Wood Brothers shortly after that on Thursday, July 9th.
- The Riverside Colorado's Campfire Sessions, which offer an intimate setting along the river, will have four shows this month.
- The Bohemian Foundation supports Washington’s, a historic 900-person venue in Old Town, and The Armory, a more intimate 200-person capacity venue with state-of-the-art acoustics. Check out the full line up for both venues at the Bohemian Live Music website. However, they also put on Thursday Night Live, which is a free weekly concert series in Downtown Fort Collins.
- The historic Aggie Theatre, a live music institution in Fort Collins for over 100 years, plays host to nine shows in July! Check out their website for upcoming shows.
- Summertime in Fort Collins is about good times spent groovin' with friends and family to live tunes outdoors while taking in all the beauty that is Fort Collins, Colorado. With summer music being back in full swing, we're sharing the outdoor concert series and community live music events that you don't want to miss!
- Other Ways to Tune In
- Sound Bar, winner of the 2025 FoCoMA Peer Awards' Best Venue, has emerged as a community hub for live music and nightlife in the heart of Fort Collins. The venue's July lineup showcases its commitment to diverse indie, rock, metal, and alternative acts. On July 10-11th, they are hosting its third-annual Redhorse Rodeo, a two-day, 14-band event packed with talent from Denver and Fort Collins. Check out the full schedule here.
- Magic Rat, located in Old Firehouse Alley adjacent to The Elizabeth Hotel in Old Town, offers swinging sounds on tap weekly for free. 830 North combines bowling and music for an enhanced visit to the lanes. Avogadro's Number is another popular spot that routinely books local talent.
- With a combination of free and paid shows, you're sure to find something you like! Remember to check out our 20+ breweries as they also host smaller live shows!
Performing Arts: Comedy, Film, Art, & Theatre
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. In partnership with Ben & Jerry’s Fort Collins, the Downtown Business Collective is proud to present Movie Nights in the Square every Monday in June, July, and August. Or how about watching The Sandlot at Collindale Golf Course on July 15th!?
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 NoCo ROAST Battle has the making for some intense back-and-forth action. 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 25th 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 3rd this month.
The Museum of Art showcases a new exhibit until September called A Celebration of Colorado: A Juried Exhibition of Northern Colorado Artists. The Gregory Allicar Museum of Art hosts a weekly plein-air art-making sessions at the CSU Trial Gardens on Thursday mornings. The Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures has a variety of activations including a screening of The Plastic Detox by FoCo Trash Mob on July 25th.
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.
Theatre
The Lincoln Center has it all with music, dance, and theatre! The Openstage Theatre & Company puts on "The Merry Wives of Windsor" (until July 11th), which is a Shakespeare satire. New York City based ballet company Amanda Treiber + Company (AT+Co) makes their Colorado debut in a special collaboration with NOCO Dance Intensive on July 25th. Local theatre, Bas Bleu, is having their annual Save the Dave for An Evening in Paris fundraiser on July 31st at The Agave Room at The Rio. The Lyric hosts Fort Collins' 3rd Improv Fest on July 31st from 7-10 pm.
Dining & Shopping
Fort Collins Foodie Walk™ is a monthly self-guided walking tour from 5-8 pm on the third Friday of each month (July 17th) 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!
The Downtown Summer Sales event is a four-day shopping extravaganza from July 16-19th 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, 50+ 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!
It's officially farmer's market season in Northern Colorado! The Larimer County Farmers' Market occurs every Saturday morning downtown, has plenty of vendors, food trucks, and music! The Fort Collins Farmers Market takes place Wednesdays and Sundays at the intersection of Harmony Rd. and Lemay Ave. New this year is the Summer Indoor Farmers Market inside Foothills Mall on every second Saturday of the month!
Noco Moon Market (July 10) is a new evening market series centered around local food systems, herbalism, wellness, creativity, homesteading, and community connection.
Join the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures for an unforgettable evening of food, culture, and community at Global Dining: Marcuz Filipino & International Restaurant on July 21st.
Outdoors, Sports & Wellness
Every Wednesday, the Horsetooth Tri Training Swim & SUP Series brings Northern Colorado’s endurance community together for weekly open-water swims and paddle sessions at Horsetooth Reservoir. From first-timers learning to navigate open water to seasoned triathletes dialing in race-day preparation, this series is built for every level.
Kids in the Park at Twin Silo Community Park returns on July 31st. The day includes interactive activities, live music and opportunities to try something new in a community-favorite park.
Looking for something slower paced? How about taking in a Fort Collins Foxes game at City Park? There are several home dates to finish out their regular season.
If you're an extreme runner, you might already have your sights and shoes set for the Never Summer 100K & 60K on July 24-26th, happening up that Poudre Canyon in Gould, Colo.
