September Highlights
Sept. 12 - Rist Canyon Mountain Fest
The 2026 Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (RCVFD) Mountain Festival will feature a full day’s lineup of live music and activities for the entire family. The festival generates funds critical in the department’s ability to provide services throughout the year. This year’s musical entertainment will be Liz Barnez, Wendy Woo, Also Known As (AKA), and the Gordon Creek Band. Come rain or shine, the festival will feature free live music presented on-stage in front of a large covered viewing tent, firefighter demonstrations, kid’s activity area, nonprofit booths, car show, tractor shuttle to and from the parking lot, and the ever popular-free ice cream. The festival also features used books, plants, baked goods, and t-shirt sales; a firefighter dunk tank; and food trucks.
September 12 - Poudre Landmarks Foundation's 42nd Annual Historic Homes Tour
The 42nd Annual Fort Collins Historic Homes Tour, hosted by Poudre Landmarks Foundation, takes place Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Experience Fort Collins like never before during the 2026 Historic Homes Tour! For one day each September, some of the city's most fascinating historic homes and landmarks open their doors for an unforgettable self-guided adventure through Fort Collins' rich architectural and cultural heritage. From elegant Victorian residences to unique historic sites like the 1879 Avery House and the 1883 Water Works, each stop offers a chance to explore beautifully preserved spaces, meet passionate volunteers, and discover the stories that shaped the community. Learn more here!
Sept. 18-20 - 4th annual Dude Dad Mini Golf Open
Expanded from previous years due to high attendance, the event features two full 18 holes total across two separate courses. Video Games theme, and the second course features a Board Games theme, showcasing custom, handmade playable obstacles designed by local makers and DIY builders. All proceeds and profits from the event are donated to Respite Care.
Sept. 26 - Energy Fest
Join the Colorado State University Energy Institute and other community partners to learn more about the world-class carbon and energy solutions research taking place right here in Fort Collins. Featuring interactive and educational exhibits and demonstrations appropriate for all ages: Powerhouse Tours, Energy Institute Mobile Classroom, Electric Race Cars, Face painting, Hands-on STEM activities, See the interaction of indoor vs outdoor air quality, Electric Vehicle Test Drives offered by Recharge America and so much more!
Sept. 26-27 - Taste of Fort Collins
Shifting the festival from early June to September 26 & 27, the Taste of Fort Collins is now in the heart of fall. Expect everything you love... delicious food, live music, and community energy. Paired with cooler weather and an even better festival experience. This year, the main acts are Modest Mouse on Saturday, Sept. 26th, and Lil Jon on Sept. 27th.
Sept. 25-27 - Northern Colorado Mountain Bike Festival
Join Overland Mountain Bike Association for a full weekend of fun celebrating mountain bikes! The Northern Colorado Mountain Bike Festival is three packed days of riding, music, community, and trail advocacy ! All events take place at its new location of Inlet Bay at Horsetooth Reservoir.
Live Music, Festivals, & Recurring Concert Series
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! The free Sunday Summer Series (2-5 pm) continues on Sept. 6th, 13th, and 20th. Umphrey's McGee end the month off strong with three days from Sept. 25-27th. Additionally, down the road at their Riverside Colorado's Campfire Sessions, which offer an intimate setting along the river, will have shows on Sept. 10th and 17th.
Washington’s is an intimate 900-person venue in Old Town Fort Collins. This month, some names you'll see pass through the doors are: Ingrid Andress, Bayside, Young Dubliners, Bowling For Soup, and The Menzingers. Make sure to visit their concert events calendar here for the most up-to-date information about shows and how to get tickets. Also ran by the Bohemian Foundation, The Armory has two shows this month - Livingston Taylor (Sept. 11) and Son Little (Sept. 18).
The historic Aggie Theatre, a live music institution in Fort Collins for over 100 years, plays host to over a dozen shows in September! Check out their website for the full lineup but don't miss Congress The Band (Sept. 5) and The Gringos (Sept. 12).
Pictured: Bohemian Nights's Thursday Night Live
Summer isn't quite over yet and neither are the various summer concert series around town! The Bohemian Nights's Thursday Night Live, occurring on the outdoor stage in Fort Collins' Old Town Square, has two more shows on Sept. 3 and Sept. 10. Another opportunity to see music at the square is House On Tap as we present Golden Hour on Sept. 5th. The Friday Summer concert series, Music at the Mothership, at New Belgium continues with three dates (Sept. 4th, 11th, and 25th). The Bath Garden Center & Nursery provides some acoustic shows in their beautiful garden including two this month on Sept. 4th, and Sept. 23rd. At Wolverine Farm Publick House, the Residency Concerts continues on Sept. 9th, Sept. 16th, and Sept. 23rd. On Sept. 11th, Sound It Out - Sound Affects Music's 6th Annual Fundraiser will be at Odell Brewing Co. from 7-9 pm.
On Sept. 4th, The Lyric hosts the 53:14 MUSIC VIDEO EXPERIMENT, which 10 local film teams with 10 local bands to make 10 new music videos in just 53 hours and 14 minutes. The next day at the Lyric has The Backyard Burn featuring multiple DJs and a Burningman Live Stream.
The 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 September lineup showcases its commitment to diverse indie, rock, metal, and alternative acts. 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: Film, Comedy, & Theatre
Film
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 boasts a playground, eclectic seating, and patio seating with a full kitchen steps away inside.
Experience the newest Teton Gravity Research film on the big screen at the Aggie Theatre on Sept. 23rd! Actually, It Is Rocket Science brings together the world’s best athletes, groundbreaking terrain, and unforgettable stories from the mountains.
Be among the first people to see Skweezy Jibbs Makes A Movie, and stay for an exclusive Q&A with Skweezy himself on Sept. 4th at AMC Fort Collins 10.
Theatre
Pictured: Bas Bleu Theatre
At The Lincoln Center this month, you'll find all types of entertainment! From Sept. 11-12, you can take in Firebringer, a stone-age musical from Indigo Theatre Company about the woman who stumbled onto the most important discovery in human history. An early holiday show, Hamlet's Christmas Party, is showing from Sept. 18-27th. Presented with the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, Mandy Gonzalez’s powerhouse Broadway vocals and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s extraordinary compositions combine in an unforgettable experience on Sept. 26th.
At Bas Bleu theatre, The Crime Reporter (Sept. 11-12th), a developing play reading written by Denver Gazette Senior Arts Journalist John Moore and directed by Christie Montour-Larson. How small awakenings can spark bigger acts of courage - and how independence starts with one woman simply seeing another woman more clearly. Later in the Month, Elizabeth I plays from Sept. 21-27th, which is a powerful, compelling, and intimate portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, drawn directly from her actual letters, speeches, and contemporary accounts, intertwined with passages from Shakespeare.
Live Comedy
Hosting regular open mic nights, nationally renowned comedians, and themed shows, The Comedy Fort is Fort Collins' only comedy club and home to events all month long that you can find here. The Forts Funniest, a stand up comedy tournament, starts in September and goes until October. It is a chance to vote for Northern Colorado's funniest! The Comedy Fort will also see names like Maddy Smith, Cliff Cash, WInston Hodges, Louis Johnson and Leah Rudick come through in September. The Gateway Show and Moms Unhinged! are two other special nights that you should not overlook! A new Fort Clean Comedy is new show suitable for more ages!
Art & Museums
First Friday Art Walk (Sept. 4) is a monthly self-guided walking tour that celebrates creativity, culture, and community in Downtown Fort Collins on the first Friday of every month!
For museum viewing, The Museum of Art has two current exhibitions (A Celebration of Colorado and On The Plains) until Sept. 13th. Two exhibitions (Short Stories, Long Legacies: Around the World in Miniatures and Losel Dolls: Tibet’s Remarkable Culture Keepers) open on Sept. 4th at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures. On Sept. 24th, one of the museum's signature events will be taking place at the Odell Wine Project. The Gimbap to K-Pop! event will be an unforgettable evening featuring a Korean menu from Suh Sushi Korean BBQ, live performances by the Hansori Korean Cultural Organization, a silent auction, and a lively game of Heads or Tails. Are you curious about fashion history then check out CSU's Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising. If you looking for interactive, family friendly, and nature then look no further than the Museum of Discovery who have their own September Blog of events as they currently have a First Peoples exhibit along with other animal features!
The Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show returns to the Opera Galleria from Sept. 3-6th. This is an exclusive indoor fine art experience celebrating the brilliance of Black and African American artistry. This highly curated exhibition brings together a diverse collective of artists of color, offering collectors and enthusiasts a rare opportunity to acquire original works in an elegant, immersive setting.
The arts world is fighting AI, and if you are down for the cause then join The Lyric's Artist Against AI event on Sept. 6th.
Dining & Shopping
Pictured: The Welsh Rabbit Cheese Shop
Fort Collins Foodie Walk™ is a monthly self-guided walking tour from 5-8 pm on the third Friday of each month (Sept. 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! 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!
12 small local businesses are bringing you the very first Scotch Pines Passport Crawl on Sept. 5th! Huge raffle, winners will receive gift cards from all the participating businesses!
The Farmer's market season continues in Northern Colorado, providing residents and visitors with fresh produce and groceries! 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! The Collective Market, which is more geared towards retail, occurs Sept. 12th and Sept. 26th at the Oak Street Plaza.
Noco Moon Market at City Park (Sept. 11) is a new evening market series centered around local food systems, herbalism, wellness, creativity, homesteading, and community connection. Harvest Fest at Native Hill Farm on Sept. 18th will have chili roasting, wreath making, flower crowns, music, and more!
Step into an evening where the rugged beauty of the Poudre Canyon meets the refined artistry of live-fire dining. Canyon & Coals is an intentional gathering designed to illuminate the mind, refresh the body, and nourish the soul. Join us at the river’s edge for a multi-course, chef-led journey that bridges the gap between wilderness adventure and world-class hospitality. Experience is September 4th, 2026 at 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Experience an exclusive Axe & Oak whiskey tasting led by distillery owner Casey Ross at William Oliver's Publick House on Sept. 28th.
Join Trees, Water & People and Green Drinks NoCo for a night of community, culture, and love for our environment on Sept. 11th. Their Parking Lot Party is for bonding over a mutual dedication to safeguarding the planet, while enjoying food from local vendors, drinks, and a special cultural presentation.
Outdoors, Sports & Wellness
School is back in session, which means so are the Rams! The Colorado State University athletics calendar is underway. The CSU women's soccer team has two home matches (Sept. 10 and Sept. 17). The CSU volleyball team has four home matches including a White Out and a Battle of the Golden Spikes game with Colorado on Sept. 18! On the gridiron, the football team has its home opener and rivalry game against Wyoming on Sept. 5! Two other home games follow on Sept. 12 vs. Southern Utah and Sept. 19 when BYU comes into town. Check out these curated gameday itineraries for football weekends!
How about some leisure sports like putt putt? The Morning Fresh Dairy Farm is hosting its 2nd annual Disc Golf Tournament on Sept. 26th.
If you're a trail runner, you might already have your sights and shoes set for the Black Squirrel Half Marathon, happening up at Lory State Park on Sept. 12. Later in the month, the Red Feather Trail Jamboree has a 50-mile run, 50K, and half marathon starting at the Ben Delatour Scout Ranch.
Water sports aren't out of the question although the weather is cooling down! Get out to Horsetooth Reservoir or the Mountain Whitewater Park in town to soak up the last bits of summer. The weather is perfect for fishing season, so you may want to check out one of St. Peter's Fly Shop's Signature Fly Fishing School classes, which includes classroom and instruction on the water!
A few fundraising walks occur this month, giving you extra incentive to get out and moving! The Walk for Apraxia, a free, family-friendly community event is taking place at Fossil Creek Park on Saturday, Sept. 12th. The ALS United Rocky Mountain Walk ALS event at City Park is on Sept. 19th. WALK for epilepsy COLORADO will be at Fossil Creek Park on Sept. 19th.
