🌱 Free Seeds, Fresh Starts in Fort Collins

3/6/2026 • What's Happenin' Team • Fort Collins
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🌿 Fort Collins’ Favorite Free Seed Swap Is Back

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Happy Friday, FoCo !

Spring might still be warming up in Northern Colorado, but something exciting is already starting to grow in Fort Collins. This weekend, locals will gather to celebrate one of the simplest and most powerful traditions in gardening. If you’ve ever wanted to grow your own food, meet fellow plant lovers, or just see what sprouts next in our community… keep reading.

Which Fort Collins farmers market is one of the longest-running markets in Colorado, dating back to the 1970s?

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Fort Collins’ Best Pastries 🄐

We’re spotlighting the FoCo bakeries and cafĆ©s doing croissants, cookies, and sweet treats right.

šŸ‘‰ Vote for your favorite pastry spot and help crown FoCo’s best.

🧠 Need a brain break?

Play trivia, crosswords, and word searches built just for locals. These games aren’t just fun...they’ll test how well you actually know your city. Great for killing time, learning something new, or proving you’re the true local legend.

šŸØ Craving: Old Town Churn Ice Cream

You can’t miss it—a 26-foot-tall ice cream churn that doubles as an actual ice cream shop. Old Town Churn Ice Cream, part of the Little Man Ice Cream family, serves up nostalgic flavors with a twist, like Banana Pudding and the crowd-favorite Purple Cow. It’s quirky, delicious, and pure Fort Collins.

šŸ“ 234 N College Ave Unit D

🌱 19th Annual Seed Swap & Giveaway

🌱 19th Annual Seed Swap & Giveaway

šŸ“… Saturday, March 7, 2026

ā° 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

šŸ“ Old Town Library — 201 Peterson St.

šŸŽŸļø FREE

One of Fort Collins’ most wholesome community events is returning: the 19th Annual Seed Swap & Giveaway, presented by Home Grown Food and hosted by the Poudre River Public Library District.

This event is all about sharing, growing, and connecting. Whether you’re a seasoned backyard gardener or someone who just bought their first plant pot, everyone is welcome.

Here’s how it works:

🌱 Trade or Take Seeds

Bring seeds to swap with others, or simply pick up free seeds if you’re just getting started. Expect varieties like tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, squash, and more.

🌱 Early Swappers Welcome

If you’re bringing seeds to share, you can arrive starting at 9:30 AM.

🌱 Free Supplies

There will also be free seed-starting soil and pots available. Pro tip: bring a bag if you want to take soil home.

🌱 Garden Advice on Site

Colorado Master Gardeners will be there to answer questions and help you figure out what grows best in Fort Collins’ Zone 5 climate.

🌱 Give Pots a Second Life

Have extra small plastic pots lying around? Bring them to donate so other gardeners can use them.

Why events like this matter:

Gardening is one of the easiest ways to connect with nature, support local food systems, and build community. A single packet of seeds can turn into dozens of meals, backyard pollinator habitats, or a new hobby that lasts all summer.

Plus, Fort Collins has long been a city that values local food, sustainability, and neighborly collaboration—and this event captures that spirit perfectly.

What's Happenin' in Fort Collins

Friday, March 6

DeadPhish Orchestra - Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Bellvue | 7PM | 8PM | Ticketed
Artist Skylar Rackow at Bath Garden Center - Bath Garden Center & Nursery, Fort Collins | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Ticketed
Innovation - An American Celebration - The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins | 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM | Ticketed

Saturday, March 7

Weekend Toons - The Lyric, Fort Collins | 10am | Ticketed
Old Town Breweries and Distilleries Tour - Fort Collins Tours, LLC, Fort Collins | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Recurring weekly on Saturday | Ticketed
TOBYMAC with Crowder & Jeremy Camp: Hits Deep Tour - Venue TBD, Loveland | 7:00 PM | Ticketed

Sunday, March 8

Spring Concert - Colorado State University School of the Arts, Fort Collins | 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM | Ticketed
Decoupage Air Dry Pottery Class - Bath Garden Center & Nursery, Fort Collins | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | 12:00pm | 1:00pm | Ticketed
The Evolution of Energy Healing - Golden Poppy Herbal Apothecary & Clinic, Fort Collins | 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM | Ticketed

Want more? See the full calendar → Fort Collins Event Calendar

Local Businesses, This One’s for You

Want to be seen by 6,000+ Fort Collins households?

What’s Happenin’ Fort Collins connects businesses with locals who value community, craft, and experiences.

Real Talk ā˜•

What’s Happenin’ is 100% free and independently run (yep, it’s just us). If this newsletter helps you discover cool things around town, your support helps keep it going and growing. We truly appreciate any and all love. Thank you for being part of the community.

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šŸ’¼ Local Jobs Worth Checking Out

We believe great communities connect people to great opportunities.

Full-time

Forester & Forestry Technician – Open Pool at Colorado State Forest Service | Fort Collins
IT Project Manager at Larimer County | Fort Collins

Want more? See the more jobs → Fort Collins Job Board

šŸ’˜ Date Spot in Fort Collins

Fort Collins dates hit that sweet spot between charming and adventurous. Wander Old Town Fort Collins for coffee, shops, and easy people-watching, or keep it classic with a picnic at City Park. Craft beer lovers can settle in at New Belgium Brewing, while outdoorsy pairs can chase sunset views at Horsetooth Reservoir.

šŸ‘‰ Vote and we’ll share the top picks—chosen by locals—in an upcoming issue. šŸ’Œ

🌼 Let Something Grow This Weekend

Whether you walk away with tomato seeds, gardening advice, or just inspiration for spring, the Seed Swap & Giveaway is one of those classic Fort Collins events that reminds us how strong a community can be when people share what they have.

Bring a friend, grab some seeds, and start planning your future garden harvest.

And if you end up growing something amazing this season… we’d love to see it. 🌱

āœ… Answer:

C) Fort Collins Farmers Market.

It began in 1976 and is one of Colorado’s oldest farmers markets, helping connect local growers with the community for nearly 50 years.
šŸ’¬ Got ideas for making What’s Happenin’ Fort Collins even better?

I’d love to hear from you. Just hit reply — I read every message and always respond when I can.

See you, Monday!

— Ben

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