The new year brings new events, happenings, and live entertainment to Fort Collins! Check out the options below to make this January one you'll never forget.
Extend the Happiness of the Holidays
If you’re not yet ready to let go of the holiday high, head to Downtown Fort Collins for twinkling lights and some extended holiday spirit. Every night through Valentine's Day, the lights will be turned on in Old Town Fort Collins. Twenty-two blocks of downtown are illuminated with thousands of strands of lights in alleyways, along sidewalks, and among 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 are lit along Walnut Street, Linden Street, Pine Street, Old Town Square, Oak Street Plaza, and Mountain Avenue as well.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2026
Join your community for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event, honoring Dr. King’s legacy. This event brings together campus and community partners for a day of reflection, inspiration, and engagement featuring performances and opportunities to engage. Together, we celebrate the ongoing work of “Building Community, Uniting Fort Collins.”
Theater, Film, Comedy and Live Shows
The Lincoln Center
At The Lincoln Center this month, you'll find a full line-up of wonderful performances and live events! The murder mystery play, The Mouse Trap, starts Jan. 10th and runs through the beginning of February. The Tony award winning musical "Kinky Boots" has four shows over the second weekend of January. The rest of the month is sprinkled with two concerts, a National Geography Live photography talk, and a ballet. ! Check out their full schedule for more information and to purchase tickets.
The Lyric
Head to The Lyric on January 8th for the first Friends of FoCo Fondo Fundraising Film Fest (say that 5 times fast)! Doors open at 5:30pm to socialize and grab a drink. Bike-related short films will take place in the Space Theater at 6 pm with an introduction before films and a brief intermission to refill and refuel. If you are looking for laughs then follow the yellow brick road as The Wasted Wizard of Oz is back on January 23rd and 30th. Another option for belly chuckles would be Comedy Brewers on January 16th.
The Comedy Fort
Hosting regular open mic nights, nationally renowned comedians, and burlesque shows, The Comedy Fort is Fort Collins's only comedy club and home to events all month long that you can find here. Be sure to catch JC Currais, Adam Mamawala, Shane Torres, Sean Patton from the hit show English Teacher, and more! On January 14th, they are hosting a Sabotage night where comedians do standup sets while the hosts and crowd try to Sabotage them in various minigames!
Live Music
Tunes at Washington's and The Armory
Washington’s is a historic 900-person venue in Old Town Fort Collins and regularly hosts big names. If jam is your groove then you are in luck this month. Catch Leftover Salmon, Lotus, STS9, and the Kyle Hollingsworth Band known from from The String Cheese Incident. Additionally Grammy winning Tank and The Bangas plays this month along with local band A Brother's Fountain! The Armory is a more intimate 200-person capacity venue with state-of-the-art acoustics. This month you can see Alex Cuba, a latin pop musician. Jeff Finlin plays on January 11th and was named one of the top ten greatest Americana artists of all time by Americana UK. Lastly, rock 'n' roller Robyn Hitchcock preforms on Jan. 30th. Check out the full line up at the Bohemian Live Music website.
The Mishawaka Amphitheatre
The winter months don't stop the music-minded folks up the canyon at The Mish. They have been spreading their music into different series around town. The Winter Concert Series occurs at The OBC Wine Project twice a month with January featuring Robin Lewis (Jan. 14th) and Carlos Barata (Jan. 28th). A partnership with Avogadro's Number has led to three collaborated shows in January starting with Frogboat, Riding Carpets, Yellow/Knife playing on January 10t, Hell's Belle's with the Blackouts on January 18th, and a Bob Marley Birthday Celebration on the last day of the month. Lastly, the FoCo Unexpected series continues at the Visit Fort Collins Welcome Center with a show on January 15th, featuring White Cat Pink & Chunderfins.
Rock out at The Aggie
The historic Aggie Theatre, a live music institution in Fort Collins for over 100 years, plays host to several great shows this month. Check out their website for more information. Highlights include Switchman Sleepin' with Amoeba Swing, Friendly Reminders, Gimme Gimmie Disco, and more. Or on Jan. 22nd, try Comedy at the Aggie with UpDating, a critically-acclaimed New York City-based live dating & comedy show bringing two singles on blindfolded first dates in front of live audiences. Dubbed “the most raw dating show in existence,” what follows is a hilarious show with audience participation, raw moments, and relatable feedback on modern romance in real-time with real people. Reality TV…unfolding & unedited on stage!
Other Ways to Tap Your Toes
Formerly known as The Coast, Sound Bar has emerged as a community hub for live music and nightlife in the heart of Fort Collins, hosting shows primarily on weekends but expanding throughout the week. The venue's January lineup showcases its commitment to diverse indie, rock, and alternative acts, making it a go-to spot for discovering emerging artists and underground sounds in Northern Colorado's vibrant music scene.
Magic Rat, located in Old Firehouse Alley adjacent to The Elizabeth Hotel in Old Town, offers swinging sounds on tap weekly. All of these fun concert events are free to enjoy. 830 North combines bowling and music with a packed lineup for the month to start the year. If you want to hear some classical music, the Fort Collins Symphony is hosting an Adventures in Sound & Imagination family concert at the Lincoln Center on Sunday, January 18th. 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!
Art
Put your walking shoes on and head out on the Downtown Fort Collins First Friday Art WalkTM on January 2nd! The First Friday Art Walk is a free monthly, self-guided tour that celebrates creativity, culture, and community in Downtown Fort Collins. With 30 participating businesses all over the downtown area, art walk showcases a spectrum of artistic styles to entertain and engage amateurs and art aficionados of all ages, interests and backgrounds.
On January 17th, head to the Cornerstone Gallery at The Masonic for a special Closing Reception & Artists' Talk, which celebrates the work by Dark Noodle Art & CC Stanhill featured in their current duo exhibition, "Paths Adjacent."
Dining
(Pictured: Mishawaka Patio)
The Fort Collins Foodie WalkTM happens the 3rd Friday of every month, which will be Jan. 16th. The Foodie Walk gets you into businesses that provide food or food related products, like spices, cooking supplies, cheese, and olive oil! It's a great way to discover new recipes, products you can't live without, and new places to patronize. This free event runs from 5pm to 8pm and features interactive opportunities and seasonal flavors all in an exciting tasting experience!
Looking to bite off a little bit more to chew? Check out the Old Town Food Tour, which stops at 4-6 restaurants, an adult beverage add-on, a chance to meet chefs, and more!
Want to warm up with some beach vibes? Check out Ginger & Baker's Hawaiian Luau on Jan. 17th from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Enjoy traditionally roasted pork (they’ll be roasting a whole Berkshire/Mangalica pig, “the “Wagyu of pork,” from our friends at Little Cranberry Ranch) and fabulous Hawaiian sides and desserts created by our chefs. Their master mixologists will also have spirited and N/A umbrella drinks, beer, wine and other cocktails available for purchase.
If you are looking to add attributes to your own cooking chops, then be sure to check out the cooking classes offered by Ginger & Baker, and Farm Fusion.
Sports, Outdoor & Wellness
Colorado State University
Both the men's and women's basketball teams have a full slate of conference home games in January at Moby Arena. The men's team plays New Mexico (Jan. 6th), UNLV (Jan. 9th), Air Force (Jan. 20th), and Utah State (Jan. 23rd). The women play Fresno State (Jan. 3rd), New Mexico (Jan. 7th), San Jose State (Jan. 17th), Grand Canyon (Jan. 21st), and San Diego State (Jan. 28th). For more info on CSU Rams, visit their website here.
Polar Plunge
It's your chance to feel and live like a polar bear with the Polar Bear Run and Plunge on January 26th! The 5K and plunge into Horsetooth Reservoir is polarizing! Another option to reset your body is Riverside Renewal New Year's Day Cold Plunge, which includes a dip into the Cache La Poudre River, yoga, and a Sauna at Riverside Colorado.
Other
The Picklr Fort Collins is hosting a Sproutin' Up Pickleball learn & Plan Fundraiser on January 24th. Spend the evening at one of Fort Collins’ newest 10-court indoor pickleball facility while supporting Sproutin’ Up Fort Collins, the nonprofit farm empowering youth through skill development and first job opportunities.
