This website uses cookies

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

Hi, NOCO Crew!

Fall might not officially arrive until next week, but it sure is nice to have some cool weather for a change. This issue give you so many ways to go enjoy it: Hoedown Hill's two-night lineup in Windsor, a lederhosen-and-cheese pileup in Loveland, a forest bath session, and enough farmers markets and beer releases to fill a weekend twice over.

Grab a coffee, and let's dig in!

– Megan

Twenty-Four Years of Pouring for Pathways

Pathways has been putting on A Vintage Affair since 2002, and this year marks its 24th run. The idea hasn't changed much in two decades: pour good wine, whiskey, and beer, put out hors d'oeuvres and dessert, and ask the room to open its wallets for people navigating the hardest months of a life.

Wilbur's Total Beverage brings more than 200 varieties to sample, and the evening runs on a silent and live auction alongside the tastings. Money raised goes to two specific places, the Pathways Family Assistance Fund and the Dream Quilter's Project, both of which support patients and families directly rather than the organization's general operating budget.

  • When: Sunday, September 20 | 5:00 – 8:00 PM

  • Where: Pathways, 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins

👉 Get your tickets

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.

September 18 – 23, 2026

The Biggest Event

Hoedown Hill Music Festival

Windsor — Friday & Saturday, doors at 5pm both nights

The Band Perry headlines Saturday night, and that alone makes this the biggest ticket in Northern Colorado this week. It's a two-night build: Friday runs Van Zeppelin at 6:30 into Queen Nation at 8:30, and Saturday stacks Buckstein at 5:30, Dillon Carmichael at 7, and The Band Perry closing at 8:30. Upgraded lighting and sound this year, a full food vendor lineup, and a 21+ bar setup.

Tickets come in three tiers — Super VIP gets you parking, unlimited food and drinks, private bathrooms, and a private viewing area; Preferred puts you closest to the stage; General Admission is the standard lawn ticket, and you can bring a low chair or small blanket. Buy single-day or a two-day pass. One practical note: the festival doesn't take cash for ticket purchases, only for food and drinks on-site. Be prepared!

👉 Two nights, one hill

Three More Worth the Trip

Loveland Chocolate & Cheese Fest

The Ranch Events Complex, Loveland — Saturday, 11am–5pm (VIP entry at 10am)

A full floor of chocolatiers and cheesemakers descends on The Ranch for one day, with an early VIP hour for anyone who wants first crack at the tables before the doors open to everyone else. It lands the same Saturday as Hoedown Hill and Downtown Loveland Oktoberfest below — three real festivals across two towns if you're building a weekend around it. 👉 Sample everything

Bear Bash & Mural Unveiling

16th Street, Downtown Greeley — Friday 4–8pm, Saturday 11am–3pm

Friday's Bear Bash doubles as the ribbon-cutting celebration for the 16th Street Greeley Creative District block. Saturday follows it up with the mural unveiling for the same stretch of street. It's a two-day christening of one new block. 👉 Meet the block

Downtown Loveland Oktoberfest

Loveland Aleworks — Saturday, noon–8pm

Loveland's downtown brewery throws its own Oktoberfest, lineup running the whole day: Polka Folka at noon, Shmenge's Revenge at 2, Denver's Thirsty 5 closing it out from 5 to 7. You don't need to know a single polka step to have a blast! 👉 Grab a stein

🎭
STAGE & SCREEN

A Tudor queen and a Christmas-in-September comedy both run multi-night, and the Aggie plays a ski film.

Saturday through Monday

Friday through Sunday

  • Hamlet's Christmas Party @ The Lincoln Center — Magnolia Theatre (Fort Collins) — A holiday spin on the Bard, three performances this weekend. Fri 7:30pm · Sat 7:30pm · Sun 2pm

Friday 18th

  • The Fireweed Experience @ Rialto Theater Center (Loveland) — 7pm — Rental show, details on the venue's ticket page. 👉 See what's playing

Saturday 19th

  • Transatlantic Guitar Trio @ Rialto Theater Center (Loveland) — 7:30pm — Rental show, details on the venue's ticket page. 👉 See what's playing

Wednesday 23rd

  • "Actually, It Is Rocket Science": A Teton Gravity Research Film @ Aggie Theatre (Fort Collins) — 7pm — A ski and snowboard film from one of the genre's biggest names, in a real theater instead of a laptop screen. 👉 Watch the mountains

🍺
EATS & DRINKS

Markets, a wing special with real teeth, and 12 food trucks across three towns.

The markets

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

  • Loveland Farmers Market @ Downtown Loveland — Sun 9am — The city's Transportation team is running a pop-up alongside it this week if you want to weigh in on how you get around town. 👉 Fill a tote bag

  • Homestead Market @ The Murphy Center for Hope, 242 Conifer Street (Fort Collins) — Sun 9am–12pm — Half farmers market, half maker's mart, hosted at the Murphy Center's day-services campus for people experiencing homelessness. Shopping here puts money directly toward the center's work. 👉 Shop with purpose

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

Learn to make it

Beer, wine & spirits

  • Beer Release: Homegrown IPA @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — Fri 3–10pm — 👉 Be first in line

  • $1 Wing Wednesday + Trivia @ MeadKrieger Meadery (Loveland) — Wed 4–9pm — 👉 Wing it

  • Plant Bingo @ Alkynes of Vines (Greeley) — Sat 4–5pm — Bingo with houseplants as the prizes instead of cash. 👉 Daub your card

Eat and drink it

The truck lineup

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

Crooked Beech Brewing (Loveland) — Fri Merris Bros Pretzels, 4–8pm · Sat Witty Pork's Woodfired Pizza, 12–8pm · Sun Penny's Sandwiches, 12–7pm

Mighty River Brewing (Berthoud) — Fri Bite of the Bayou Cajun, 1–7pm · Sat Cousins Maine Lobster, 12–8pm

City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — Fri Nacho Mama's Tacos, 4–8pm · Sun Deun Deun Box, 12–8pm · Tue Nacho Mama's Tacos, 4–8pm · Wed Smokin Wheels BBQ, 4–8pm

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

🧵
MADE BY HAND

Bonsai, macramé, and a bar that turns into a paint studio after dark.

Friday 18th

  • CRAFT RAVE @ The Love Shack — Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 7–9pm — 👉 Get crafty, get loud

  • Little Paw-casso @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — 9–11pm — A late-night paint session, reservation required through the venue's booking page. 👉 Pick up a brush

  • Beginning Alcohol Ink Class @ Greeley Creative Arts Center (Greeley) — 6–8pm — Last session of this series. 👉 Ink it

Saturday through Sunday

  • Figure Painting, Clothed Models, Level II @ Greeley Creative Arts Center (Greeley) — 9am–4pm both days — $120 registration for the two-session class. 👉 Sketch it out

Saturday 19th

  • Sip + Sparkle Pop-Up (Permanent Jewelry Pop-Up) @ Stodgy Brewing (Fort Collins) — 12–3pm — Walk out with a welded-on bracelet, no clasp required. 👉 Get linked

  • Macramé Plant Hanger Class @ Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — 10am — 👉 Knot one out

  • Sipping with Succulents @ High Hops Brewery (Windsor) — 10:30am — 👉 Pot one, sip one

  • Harvest Sundown @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — 9–11pm — Reservation required through the venue's booking page. 👉 Paint past dark

Sunday 20th

  • Bonsai Bar Workshop @ Loveland Aleworks (Loveland) — 1pm — Shape a little tree, drink a beer while you do it. 👉 Shape a little tree

  • Origami Flower Bouquet Class @ Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — 12pm — 👉 Fold your own bouquet

  • Swing Into Fall @ Studio Vino (Loveland) — 5–7pm — Reservation required through the venue's booking page. 👉 Ease into autumn

Wednesday 23rd

  • Fused Glass Night Classes and Open Studio @ Loveland CreatorSpace's Classroom (Loveland) — 5–8pm — 👉 Fire it up

🥾
OUTSIDE

A run, a forest bath, and a month of plein air painters set up in Estes.

Friday through Wednesday

  • Estes Valley Plein Air Sale & Exhibition @ Art Center of Estes Park — 11am–5pm daily, through Sept 27 — Working painters set up around the valley all month, with the finished work for sale back at the center. 👉 Watch the paint dry (in a good way)

Friday 18th

  • Sunset Guided Walk w/ Optional iNaturalist Orientation @ Nature Cabin, Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park (Loveland) — 5:45pm — 👉 Walk into golden hour

Saturday 19th

  • Superhero Run @ Greeley Family FunPlex — 7:15–10:30am — 👉 Run like you've got a cape on

  • Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bath with Alyssa Golinvaux @ Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary (Fort Collins) — 9am — A slow, guided walk built around the Japanese practice of forest bathing — the point is to not hurry. 👉 Go slow on purpose

  • Fall Equinox Circle: Embracing Change with Molly Bush @ Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary (Fort Collins) — 6:30pm — 👉 Mark the turn of the season

  • Astronomy Night with NoCo Astronomical Society @ Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park (Loveland) — 7:30pm — 👉 Look up

Tuesday 22nd

🎲
CARDS, DICE & GAMES

A confirmed round of Chicken Sh!t Bingo and a monthly adventuring guild.

Friday 18th

  • Adventuring Guild — September Sessions @ The Love Shack — Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 6–10pm — A tabletop adventure group that meets monthly, mocktails included. 👉 Roll for initiative

Sunday 20th

  • 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; this week's confirmed as the 3rd. 👉 Watch the chicken decide

Tuesday 22nd

  • Knocking on Hearts @ The Love Shack — Craft Mocktails (Loveland) — 6–8pm — 👉 Come find out

Wednesday 23rd

🎉
OUT & ABOUT

Two museum exhibits that have been quietly running for months, and a lot of ground covered.

Friday 18th

  • Mobile Laundry Library Parking Lot @ Loveland Public Library — 8:30am — Free laundry access for anyone who needs it, in the library parking lot. 👉 Wash for free

  • Bike Mob: Tie-Dye Dolly Ride @ Sound Bar (Fort Collins) — 7:30–9:30pm — 👉 Ride along

  • Loveland Cruise Night @ Crooked Beech Brewing (Loveland) — 4–8pm — Classic cars in the parking lot, beer in your hand. 👉 Cruise on in

  • Student Night at Greeley Climbing Collective @ Greeley Climbing Collective — 5–9pm — 👉 Send it, student rates apply

Saturday 19th

  • 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Community Kitchen @ Loveland Community Kitchen — 11am–2pm — Thirty years of feeding Loveland, one meal at a time. 👉 Help them celebrate

  • YES!fest 2026 @ LINC Library Innovation Center (Greeley) — 10am–3pm — 👉 Say yes to this one

  • Found on Fourth @ Downtown Loveland — 10am — An ongoing installation along Fourth Street, ongoing through February 2027. 👉 Go find it

  • Fall Family Festival @ Greeley — 11am–2pm — 👉 Bring the whole crew

Ongoing

  • Marquetry: Evolution of Art in Wood @ Loveland Museum — Wood-inlay art, on display through Sept 26. 👉 See the grain work

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

🎸
LIVE MUSIC

Estes has live music every night this week. Windsor, Berthoud, Bellvue, Laporte, and Greeley all show up too. Go get your groove on!

Friday 18th

Saturday 19th

Sunday 20th

Monday 21st

Tuesday 22nd

Wednesday 23rd

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