This website uses cookies

Read our Privacy policy and Terms of use for more information.

Hi, NOCO Crew!

It's the first weekend of October, and the elk are bugling in Estes Park. Elk Fest takes over the town all weekend, and it's free. Friday night, downtown Fort Collins and downtown Greeley both open up for First Friday, and Loveland throws a free Oktoberfest all day Saturday. Add a symphony kickoff and a whole lot of first-of-the-month events (workshops, bingo, euchre, a swing dance), and your calendar fills itself pretty quickly.

Grab a coffee, and let's dig in!

– Megan & David

One correction before the list. In Tuesday's issue we sent you up to Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park for fall color. A reader wrote to tell us the lake is dry, and a photographer's post from last week shows a cracked lake bed where the water should be. We didn't check the water level, and even with the drought were surprised to see this! The trail's still there and the leaves are still turning, but the water isn't, so check with the park before you head up. Thanks for the heads up, reader!

Every contribution keeps us out in the field, digging into local history, and showing up for the towns we cover. We're grateful for every bit of support. Thanks for being part of this.

— Megan & David

👉 MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

From Berthoud to the Wyoming state line, Fort Morgan to Estes, each week we pull together a list of the top events happening all over Northern Colorado. If you'd like to add an event to upcoming issues, hit reply and let us know.

October 2 – 7, 2026

The Biggest Event

Elk Fest

Bond Park and the Estes Park Events Complex, Estes Park — Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 9am–4pm

If you've been reading our newsletter, you know the elk are in full rut. This is the weekend Estes Park throws them a party. And the thumb rule we told you about in a previous newsletter still applies: if your hold up your thumb at arms length and it doesn't cover the elk, you're too close!

It's free and family-friendly, with live bugling demonstrations, interactive wildlife exhibits, expert-led talks, Native American music and storytelling, and handcrafted goods from vendors.

The Town runs a free downtown trolley (Red Route) from the parking structure at 691 N. St. Vrain, which beats circling for a spot in rut season.

👉 Hear the bugling

Four More Worth the Trip

Loveland's Annual Oktoberfest

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Loveland — Saturday, noon to 8pm

Grimm Brothers is bringing Loveland's Annual Oktoberfest back to the spot where, by the brewery's account, the town's tradition first took root. It's free, open to everyone, and billed as the last Oktoberfest gathering of the season. Expect live music, German food, a full cocktail bar, and pours from regional breweries, cideries, and meaderies, plus the classic Oktoberfest games and a few friendly competitions. The brewery calls the day family-friendly. There's an RSVP link on the event page. 👉 Pull on your lederhosen

First Friday Art Walks

Downtown Fort Collins, 6–9pm, and Downtown Greeley, 5–8pm — Friday

Both downtowns open their galleries and shops for First Friday on the same night, and the two walks overlap by a couple of hours. Pick a town, or start early in Greeley and drive west. 👉 Walk Fort Collins · 👉 Walk Greeley

Pots & Paintings Opening Reception

Art Center of Estes Park — Friday, 5–7pm

Wynne Wilbur's ceramics and Anne Sneary's watercolors share the gallery, opening Friday evening and hanging through Nov 9. 👉 See it first

Classical Remix + Music: The Purest Art

Lincoln Center, Fort Collins — Saturday, 6pm and 7:30pm

The Fort Collins Symphony starts its season at the Lincoln Center with a free kickoff mixer at 6, then a concert at 7:30 in the same building. 👉 Mix it up · 👉 Stay for the music

🎭
STAGE & SCREEN

A ghost show and two R&B hitmakers in Greeley, stand-up in Fort Collins, and three evenings at CSU's University Center for the Arts.

Friday through Saturday

  • Josh Gondelman @ The Comedy Fort (Fort Collins) — 6pm and 8:30pm both nights — Stand-up, two shows a night. 21+. 👉 Take the mic

  • The All American Haunting: A Ghost Show @ Union Colony Civic Center, Hensel Phelps Theatre (Greeley) — 7pm both nights — A ghost show in the Civic Center's smaller theatre, just in time for spooky season. 👉 Summon a seat

Friday 2nd

  • Ginuwine & Montell Jordan @ Union Colony Civic Center (Greeley) — 7:30pm — Two late-90s R&B hitmakers on one bill: Ginuwine of "Pony" and "Differences," Montell Jordan of "This Is How We Do It." 👉 Do it the Montell way

Sunday through Wednesday

  • Dan Soder @ The Comedy Fort (Fort Collins) — Sun 6pm and 8:30pm, Mon and Tue 7:30pm, Wed 7:30pm and 9:45pm — Four nights of stand-up. 21+. 👉 Catch a set

At the UCA

University Center for the Arts (Fort Collins) — Fri Mackenzie Melemed, 7:30pm · Mon Frangel Lopez Cesena, 7:30pm · Wed Becoming America with Anne Slovin, 7:30pm

🍺
EATS & DRINKS

Two Saturday markets, chocolate with mead, a wing deal with trivia attached, a steak you cook yourself, and food trucks in four towns.

The markets

  • Larimer County Farmers' Market @ 200 W. Oak Street (Fort Collins) — Sat 9am–1pm — Weekly through Oct 31. 👉 Shop the stalls

  • Greeley Farmers' Market @ Downtown Greeley (Greeley) — Sat 8am–12pm — Weekly through Oct 31. 👉 Shop the stalls

Beer, wine & spirits

  • Chocolate and Mead Pairing @ MeadKrieger Meadery (Loveland) — Sun 2–3:30pm — Ninety minutes of chocolate matched to mead. 👉 Pair up

  • $1 Wing Wednesday + Trivia @ MeadKrieger Meadery (Loveland) — Wed 4–9pm — A weekly wing deal with trivia running alongside. 👉 Take wing

  • Wine Dancing @ Sweet Heart Winery & Event Center (Loveland) — Wed 6–8pm — Tickets run through the winery's ticket page. 👉 Swirl and sway

Eat and drink it

  • Cook Your Own Steak Night @ The Tavern at Red Feather Lakes (Red Feather Lakes) — Tue 5–7:30pm — Exactly what it says: you do the cooking. A good excuse for the drive up. 👉 Run the grill

The truck lineup

Who's parked where this week, across Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, and Berthoud.

Crooked Beech Brewing (Loveland) — Fri Merris Bros Pretzels and Sandwiches, 4–8pm · Sat Saucers Pizza, 12–8pm

Maxline Brewing (Fort Collins) — Fri Pig Pickin' BBQ, 3–8pm · Sat Double Wide Burgers, 12–8pm · Sun Huka Sushi, 12–6pm · Mon The Goodness, 4–7pm · Tue El Torito Loko, 4–7pm · Wed The Colorado Room Food Cart, 4–8pm

Mighty River Brewing (Windsor) — Fri Pong Thai Cuisine, 4–8pm · Sat Fry It Riot, 1–7pm

City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — Fri Deun Deun Box, 4–8pm · Wed Nacho Mama's Tacos, 4–8pm

🧵
MADE BY HAND

Terrariums, fire cider, pumpkins, and a clay plant creature with tentacles.

Friday through Saturday

  • Halloween Suncatcher Workshop @ Makers Mercantile & Studio (Greeley) — Fri 6pm or Sat 10:30am — Make a Halloween suncatcher, with two sessions to pick from. 👉 Fri 6pm · 👉 Sat 10:30am

Friday 2nd

  • Lucha Libre: Artist Talk @ Greeley Creative Arts Center, 702 13th St (Greeley) — Reception 5–8pm, talk at 6pm — Latina photographer Adriana Carbajal Wicker takes on the tradition of Lucha Libre. Free. 👉 Step into the ring

  • Pour Painting @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — 8–10pm — The technique where the paint does half the work. 👉 Let it pour

  • Rocky Mountain Gold @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — 9–11pm — A late-night session at the studio. 👉 Strike gold

Saturday 3rd

  • Fire Cider: Learn, Make, & Take @ Orion's Apothecary (Loveland) — 10:30am — Make a batch and take it home. 👉 Turn up the heat

  • Haunted Terrariums @ High Hops Brewery (Windsor) — 10:30am — A terrarium workshop with a Halloween twist. 👉 Plant something spooky

  • Aims Intermediate Woodworking @ Loveland CreatorSpace (Loveland) — 11am–2pm — An intermediate-level session at the makerspace, so some experience helps. 👉 Make some sawdust

  • Everything Elderberry Workshop @ Orion's Apothecary (Loveland) — 1pm — A workshop devoted to one berry. 👉 Get berried in it

  • Panther's Prowl @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — 9–11pm — Another late-night studio session. 👉 Prowl in

Sunday 4th

  • Pumpkin Painting @ Odell Brewing Co. (Fort Collins) — 12pm — Paint a pumpkin at the brewery. 👉 Paint the patch

  • Sunshine Craft Social @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 1–2pm — A one-hour craft hang at the brewery. 👉 Join the circle

  • Snoopy's Spooky Night @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — 5–7pm — An early-evening spooky-season session. 👉 Fetch your brush

Monday 5th

  • Tight Knit Fiber Art Meet up @ Wolverine Farm (Fort Collins) — 6–8pm — A recurring meetup for fiber artists. 👉 Cast on

  • Dead Pen Drawing Club @ Wolverine Farm (Fort Collins) — 6–9pm — A weekly drawing club, three hours long. 👉 Pick up a pencil

  • Autumn Energy @ Verboten Brewing (Fort Collins) — 8:30–10:30pm — A Studio Vino session, hosted at Verboten's Fort Collins taproom. 👉 Take it on the road

Tuesday 6th

  • STITCH SESH with Angelle: Open Sewing Club + Mending @ Odell Brewing Co. (Fort Collins) — 6pm — Open sewing and mending, with beer nearby. 👉 Mend and mingle

Wednesday 7th

  • Fused Glass Classes and Open Studio @ Loveland CreatorSpace's Classroom (Loveland) — 10am–12pm — A class plus open studio time. 👉 Melt something pretty

  • Craft Class: Clay Plant Tentacle Creatures @ The Atrium (Fort Collins) — 6pm — You sculpt a plant creature, and yes, it has tentacles. 👉 Make a tentacle friend

The drop-in lineup

Drop-In Crafting @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — Fri 7–9pm · Sat 1–9pm · Sun 2–5pm · Tue 7–8pm · Wed 7–8pm

🥾
OUTSIDE

A night under the stars and a Saturday morning of planting.

Friday 2nd

  • Astronomy Night with NoCo Astronomical Society @ Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park (Loveland) — 7:30pm — A night of looking up with the local astronomical society. 👉 Look up

Saturday 3rd

  • Restoration Planting Project @ Loveland Open Lands & Trails (Loveland) — 8am — A volunteer planting morning. Check the city calendar for where to meet. 👉 Dig in

📚
ON THE PAGE

Two writing workshops, a writing night, a poetry reading, and a book club.

Sunday 4th

  • Anti-MFA: A Writing Workshop for the Rest of Us @ Wolverine Farm (Fort Collins) — 1–4pm — A monthly first-Sunday workshop, pitched at writers working outside the MFA world. 👉 Write without the degree

Monday 5th

  • Traps & Trenchcoats Book Club @ Old Firehouse Books, Remington Street location (Fort Collins) — 6–7pm — A book club at the bookshop. 👉 Pull up your collar

Tuesday 6th

  • Gulo Gulo Writing Workshop (Free) @ Wolverine Farm (Fort Collins) — 6–8pm — Free, and held on the first Tuesday of the month. 👉 Write for free

  • Shut Up & Write! @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 6:30–8pm — A group writing night at the brewery. 👉 Hush and write

  • Poetry Reading with Jennifer Aengst @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 5–8pm — The venue's calendar lists the evening as 5 to 8pm. 👉 Lend an ear

🎲
CARDS, DICE & GAMES

A beginner's dungeon, mahjong twice, euchre, and a chicken.

Friday 2nd

  • Trivia Night @ The Tavern at Red Feather Lakes (Red Feather Lakes) — 6–8:30pm — Trivia up on Ramona Drive, with a restaurant on site. 👉 Think fast

  • Beginner's Luck D&D in the Dungeon @ The Love Shack, Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 6–10pm — A monthly first-Friday intro to tabletop adventuring, mocktails included. 👉 Roll your first polyhedral die.

Saturday 3rd

  • Mahjong at Stodgy @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 2–5pm — Three hours of tiles at the brewery. 👉 Mix the tiles

  • Spooky Movie Bingo Night @ The Love Shack, Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 8–10pm — Movie bingo with a spooky-season theme, at the mocktail bar. 👉 Daub in the dark

Sunday 4th

  • Board Game Day @ Scrumpy's Hard Cider (Fort Collins) — All day — A Sunday board game day at the cider bar. 👉 Roll the dice

  • Chicken Sh!t Bingo @ Pour Brothers Community Tavern (Fort Collins) — 1–5pm — Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like: a numbered grid, a chicken, and a bar full of people watching where it goes. Runs the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, and this is the 1st. 👉 Bet on the bird

Tuesday 6th

Wednesday 7th

  • Euchre Tournament @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 5:30–8:30pm — Held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, and this is the 1st. 👉 Find a partner

  • MAHJ & MOCKTAILS @ The Love Shack, Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 5:30–7:30pm — Weekly mahjong, no alcohol required. 👉 Shuffle up

🧘
QUIET HOURS

Meditation, prayers for peace, two yoga classes, and a class on the pelvic floor.

Friday 2nd

  • Friday After-Work Meditation Class @ Heruka Kadampa Meditation Center (Fort Collins) — 5:30–6:15pm — A 45-minute class built for the end of the work week, titled "Bring Harmony into Your Life." 👉 Exhale

Sunday 4th

  • Be You Yoga @ The Love Shack, Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 9–10am — Weekly Sunday-morning yoga at the mocktail bar. 👉 Roll out the mat

  • Prayers for World Peace @ Heruka Kadampa Meditation Center (Fort Collins) — 2–3pm — A recurring Sunday hour at the meditation center. 👉 Sit for peace

  • Harvest and Hold Yoga @ The Love Shack, Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 6–7pm — An evening class to close out the weekend. 👉 Hold the pose

Wednesday 7th

  • Pelvic Floor Health: Understanding, Connecting & Caring for Your Pelvic Floor @ Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary (Fort Collins) — 6:30pm — A class led by a guest teacher. 👉 Get grounded

🎉
OUT & ABOUT

Three museum exhibits quietly running for months, two First Friday parties, and a swing dance.

Ongoing

  • Connected by the Canyon: 50 Years Since the Big Thompson Flood @ Loveland Museum (Loveland) — Marking a half-century since the flood, on display through Nov 28. 👉 Look back fifty years

  • Creative Confluence: The Origins of Abstract Art in Colorado @ Loveland Museum (Loveland) — On view through January 2027. 👉 Trace the first abstractions

  • Found on Fourth @ Loveland Museum (Loveland) — An installation on view through February 2027. 👉 Go find it

Saturday through Sunday

  • Avery House Tours @ 1879 Avery House (Fort Collins) — Sat 11am–2pm, Sun 1–4pm — Recurring tours of the 1879 house. 👉 Step inside 1879

Saturday through Monday

  • Nature Cabin Open @ Nature Cabin, Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park (Loveland) — 10am each day — The park's education cabin, open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday mornings. 👉 Peek into the cabin

Friday 2nd

  • Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at UNC: 2026 Corn Mothers @ UNC's Lydia and Robert Ruyle Gallery, 1051 22nd Street (Greeley) — 5–7pm — UNC honors six trailblazing Northern Colorado women as this year's Corn Mothers. 👉 Honor the Corn Mothers

  • First Friday at the Publick House @ Wolverine Farm (Fort Collins) — 6–9pm — The monthly First Friday gathering, held first Fridays. 👉 Drop into the Publick House

  • First Friday's at Rosie's with DJs TIMBR & Ras Cus @ Rosie's Barbershop & Bar (Loveland) — 7–10pm — Two DJs in a barbershop that turns into a bar. 👉 Stay for the set

  • Student Night at Greeley Climbing Collective @ Greeley Climbing Collective (Greeley) — 5–9pm — Weekly student night at the climbing gym. 👉 Chalk up

  • First Friday Art Walk with Petrichor Collective @ Global Village Museum (Fort Collins) — 6–9pm — The museum's own First Friday stop, with Petrichor Collective. 👉 Join the collective

  • Trifecta!!! Exhibit, final day @ Art & Heritage Center, 116 5th St (Windsor) — 5–8pm — Last viewing hours for the community art show of local and regional work. Free. 👉 Catch it before it closes

Saturday 3rd

  • Oktoberfest at Bath Garden Center @ Bath Garden Center & Nursery (Fort Collins) — 11am–1pm — Free, and built for families: pumpkin bowling, bean bag toss, pretzel necklaces, kids' crafts, and live music from Robin Lewis. Build-your-own soda flights from Rocky Mountain Soda, plus brats and coffee for sale. 👉 Bowl a pumpkin

  • Spore Swap & Chat @ Orion's Apothecary (Loveland) — 2pm — A casual, kid-friendly monthly mycology meetup where you can gift or swap spores (liquid culture, prints, swabs, agar plates). Free, and bringing something to swap is optional. 👉 Spread the spores

  • CSU Rams Football vs. Oregon State @ Canvas Stadium (Fort Collins) — 4pm — The Rams host the Beavers in their first season in the Pac-12. 👉 Rally the herd

  • Cuties for Boobies @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 7–9pm — General admission and VIP tickets are both on offer. 👉 Pick your ticket

  • Wheels & Wags Charity Fundraiser @ Hooters, 4230 Byrd Drive (Loveland) — 11am — An outdoor car, bike, and dog wash benefiting Big Bones Canine Rescue, with adoptable dogs on site for part of the day. Family-friendly. 👉 Wash for a cause

  • Spooky Slime Lab @ Loveland Public Library, Storytime Room, 300 N. Adams Ave (Loveland) — 11:30am–12:30pm — A slime-making lab for spooky season. 👉 Get gooey

  • Pup-tober Fest @ Lazy Dog Bar & Grill, 4801 Thompson Parkway (Johnstown) — 12–6pm — Adoptions from 12 to 2, live music from 3 to 5, plus raffles, puppy photo ops, and food and drink specials, with a portion of proceeds going to All Aboard Animal Rescue. 👉 Meet your match

  • Harvest Fest @ Fossil Creek Nursery, 7029 S. College Ave (Fort Collins) — 12–3pm — The nursery's 6th annual harvest party, with face painting, hayrides, food trucks, live music, and games. Admission, hayrides, and games are free. 👉 Hop on the hayride

  • Pooches in the Park: Dogtoberfest @ Historic Halfway Homestead, 335 McNeil Drive (Windsor) — 5–7pm — The Town of Windsor's dog-friendly series stops at the Homestead for an autumn evening of festivities and socializing. Free. 👉 Bring the pup

Sunday 4th

  • Windsor Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K & 1 Mile Run @ The Island at Pelican Lakes (Windsor) — Marathon 7am, half 8am, 10K 8:30am, 5K 8:45am, 1 mile 10am — Every distance from a fun run to the full 26.2 around Pelican Lakes. Registration runs $20 for the 1 mile up to $154 for the marathon. Spectators can hang around for the vendor fair and live music from 9am to 2pm. 👉 Pick your distance

  • New Belgium Half Marathon & 5K @ New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins) — Half marathon starts 7:30am, 5K waves from 9am — An out-and-back course on the Poudre Trail, starting and ending at the brewery. Spectators get live music, food trucks, and vendors from around 10:15am, and parking is tight, so walk or bike in. 👉 Run for the pint

  • Coven Strands & Ink Grand Opening @ 807 17th St (Greeley) — 12–4pm — A new hair and beauty salon with a witchy streak opens its doors with local artist and beauty booths, free gift bags for the first guests, giveaways, and raffles. 👉 Meet the coven

  • Autumn Fest @ The Love Shack, Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 1–5pm — A fall afternoon at the mocktail bar. 👉 Fall in

  • Ukraine Fundraiser @ Avogadro's Number (Fort Collins) — 2–5pm — A Sunday-afternoon fundraiser for Ukraine. 👉 Give an afternoon

Tuesday 6th

  • Country Kick Up Swing Dancing @ The Boot Grill (Loveland) — 7pm — $15 cover, held the first Tuesday of the month. 👉 Kick up some dust

  • Stories from the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia with Bob Waltermire @ Global Village Museum (Fort Collins) — 6pm — A travel talk from the Bale Mountains. 👉 Hear it firsthand

Wednesday 7th

  • Wildlife Window with Kevin Cook @ Loveland Public Library (Loveland) — 10:15am — A wildlife program at the library. 👉 Look out the window

  • Introduction to Canine Parkour @ Loveland Open Lands & Trails (Loveland) — 5:30pm — An intro class in dog parkour, rescheduled from Sept 30. 👉 Leash up and leap

  • First Wednesday FOCO French Club @ The Neighbor (Fort Collins) — 6pm — A monthly French club, held first Wednesdays. 👉 Parlez-vous?

  • Bowl n Boots: October @ Chipper's Lanes (Greeley) — 7pm — A bowling alley night with a Western nod in the name. 👉 Boots on, lanes open

  • Salsa & Bachata Dancing @ The Neighbor (Fort Collins) — 8pm — A weekly dance night. 👉 Find the beat

🎸
LIVE MUSIC

Friday 2nd

Saturday 3rd

Sunday 4th

Monday 5th

Tuesday 6th

Wednesday 7th

SUBMIT AN EVENT

Got something happening in Northern Colorado? Hit reply and let us know — we're always looking to add to the list.

That’s it for this one! Stay Curious, NOCO!

See you next week!

✌️

Keep Reading

View more
caret-right
© 2026 The NOCO Word.
beehiivPowered by beehiiv