New Year, New Pint: Paint, Sip & Meet in FoCo 🎨🍺

1/9/2026 What's Happenin' Team Fort Collins
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New Year, New Connections (With a Pint in Hand)

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Happy Friday, FoCo !

January is all about fresh starts — and Fort Collins is leaning into it the fun way. If your New Year goal includes doing more stuff and meeting more people, this one checks both boxes. Paint a Pint is equal parts low-pressure hangout, creative outlet, and excuse to grab a beer with humans you haven’t met yet.

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Cravings: Little Bird Bakeshop ☕🍞

From-scratch and full of heart, Little Bird Bakeshop is one of those places that feels like a daily ritual for Fort Collins locals. Just south of Old Town and steps from CSU, this cozy, brick-walled café turns out fresh pastries, scratch-made breads, and comforting breakfast and lunch plates that keep people lingering. Come for a croissant or quiche, stay for the Spiced Caramel Latte, housemade soups, and the easy hum of conversation between friends.

📍 College Ave (between Old Town & CSU) | 💸 $10–20 | ⏰ Daily 7am–3pm | 🥐 Scratch-made pastries • Breakfast & lunch • Espresso, wine & beer

🎨🍺 Paint a Pint: A Fresh Way to Kick Off 2026 in FoCo

🎨🍺 Paint a Pint: A Fresh Way to Kick Off 2026 in FoCo

January in Fort Collins has a certain blank-page energy. The holidays are over, routines are rebooting, and everyone’s quietly looking for reasons to get out of the house, meet new people, and do something that isn’t another “dry January walk.” Enter Paint a Pint — a low-key, creative hang that feels perfectly timed for the New Year reset.

Hosted at Breckenridge Brewery, this afternoon event blends three things Fort Collins does exceptionally well: craft beer, creativity, and casual community. There’s no class structure, no awkward icebreakers, and no pressure to be “good” at art. You grab a beer, pick up a brush, and let the conversation flow naturally while you decorate a pint glass you’ll actually use again.

For just $10, you get:

  • 🍺 One Breckenridge beer to sip while you paint

  • 🎨 A pint glass to design and take home

  • 🏆 A shot at prizes for the most creative designs

  • ✨ All supplies included — zero experience required

The best part? The open-house format. You can stop by anytime between 12:00–5:00 PM, stay as long (or short) as you want, and treat it like a casual New Year hang rather than a scheduled commitment. Come solo and make a few new friends. Bring your partner or roommates. Or rally that group chat that’s been suspiciously quiet since December.

If one of your 2026 intentions is doing more things that make Fort Collins feel like home, this is exactly that kind of event — creative, social, and just structured enough to spark conversation without forcing it.

Sometimes the best way to start the year isn’t a resolution… it’s a freshly painted pint and a good beer in good company. 🍻

What's Happenin' in Fort Collins: Event Listings

Friday, January 9

Farm Fusion Holiday Gatherings: Private Culinary Experiences - Farm Fusion, Fort Collins | 11AM - 6PM | 11AM | 6PM | Ticketed
“The Mousetrap” Presented by OpenStage Theatre & CompanyBy Agatha ChristieDirected by Heather Ostberg Johnson - The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins | 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM | Recurring daily | Ticketed
Mountain Glow Candle Bar Experience - Rocky Mountain Olive Oil, Fort Collins | 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday | Ticketed

Saturday, January 10

2026 Vision Board Workshop - Venue TBD, Fort Collins | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Ticketed
The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Venue TBD, Fort Collins | 6:00pm to 9:00pm | 6:00pm to 9:00pm | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Ticketed
Petals and Pints Floral Class at Verboten Brewing - Verboten Brewing, Fort Collins | 11:00am - 1:00pm | 11:00am | 1:00pm | Ticketed

Sunday, January 11

Farmed and Foraged-Cuisine of the PNW Cooking Class - Ginger and Baker, Fort Collins | 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM | Ticketed
Improv Level 1 at The Comedy Fort - The Comedy Fort, Fort Collins | 1-4PM | 4PM | Ticketed
Free Mat Pilates - The Movement Apothecary, Fort Collins | 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM | Recurring weekly on Sunday | Ticketed

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

Real Talk ☕

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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👋 Wrap-Up: Start the Year by Saying Yes

New year, new habits — like saying yes to events that make it easier to connect, create, and have a little fun. If this sounds like your vibe, grab a brush, sip a beer, and kick 2026 off the social way.

👉 Answer: D) All of the above 🍺

Fort Collins punches way above its weight when it comes to beer — from CSU’s fermentation science program to legendary breweries and a deeply ingrained craft beer culture that’s influenced brewers nationwide

💬 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, FoCo friends!

— Ben

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