🎅 Old Town Is Officially in Holiday Mode

Happy Monday, FoCo fam,

Hi, Ben here. So I walked through Old Town this weekend and it finally felt like the holidays — lights going up, kids peeking into Santa’s Workshop windows, and the Skate Rink getting its final pre-season tune-ups. If you’ve been waiting for that first real hit of festive FoCo energy… this is it.

What’s Your Favorite Old Town Holiday Tradition?

🎅 Santa’s Workshop

⛸️ Old Town Skate Rink

🎄 Strolling the lights & shops

☕ Grabbing a warm drink downtown

Click an option to vote

🎅✨ Santa, Dasher & the Return of Old Town Holiday Magic

FoCo, it’s happening. The moment the lights flip on in Old Town and you suddenly feel morally obligated to drink something warm and sugary until January? Yeah… we’re here.

And this week, Old Town goes full festive mode with Santa’s grand entrance and the return of the beloved Skate Rink. Let’s get into it 👇

🎄 Santa Arrives by Firetruck (Because… Fort Collins)

Mark your calendar: Friday, Nov. 28 at 11:30 AM, Santa rolls into Walnut Street on a firetruck like the absolute icon he is. He’ll join his trusty reindeer Dasher (yes, a real one!) and settle into his Old Town Square Workshop through Dec. 24.

Kids can tell him what they want, grownups can pretend they’re “just here for the kids,” and — best part —

🎁 Visits are totally FREE.

Bring your phone for photos or grab printed pics on-site if you want the classic fridge material.

Questions? Call the DDA at 970-484-2020.

⛸️ The Old Town Skate Rink Returns

From Nov. 26 through Jan. 25, the Skate Rink is back and ready for your best spins, worst falls, and everything in between. With free skate rentals, it’s basically the most affordable winter date night in the city.

Since its 2016 debut, this synthetic-ice wonder has become a core FoCo holiday tradition — part skating, part people-watching, part “did that guy just try a triple axel?”

Pro tip: Hours change with the weather — check the DDA site or Facebook for updates.

What's Happenin' in Fort Collins: Event Listings

Monday, November 24

There Will Be Gore - The Lyric, Fort Collins | 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM | Recurring weekly on Monday | Ticketed

$1 Mini Golf Mondays - Old Town Putt, Fort Collins | 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Recurring weekly on Monday | Ticketed

Sip & Savor: Barrel-aged Beer Tasting Event - Horse & Dragon Brewing Company, Fort Collins | 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM | Ticketed

Tuesday, November 25

Museum Exhibition: "Dear Old Coat: Sentiment, Stewardship, Sustainability" - Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising, Fort Collins | Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday | Ticketed

Tour Vortic Watch Company - Vortic Watch Co., Fort Collins | 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday | Ticketed

A Pho-nomenal Night: Vietnamese & Thai Feast - Farm Fusion, Fort Collins | 3:00 PM | Ticketed

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

Local Happenings

Free Saturday Parking in Old Town for the Holidays

Fort Collins will offer free Saturday parking in all three downtown garages from Nov. 29 through Jan. 3, making holiday visits a little easier (and cheaper).

Parking is already free on Sundays — adding Saturdays could boost local shopping and help Old Town businesses during the busiest season.

Applies to Civic Center, Old Town & Firehouse Alley garages.
Also free on Nov. 28–29, Dec. 25 & Jan. 1.
First hour is always free year-round.
Drivers must start a session in ParkMobile or at the kiosk.

Expect busier garage traffic — but fewer complaints about parking fees.

🎁 FoCo, Let the Holiday Chaos Begin

Santa’s here, the rink is ready, and Old Town is about to be packed with twinkly lights, cocoa cups, and families making core memories. Bundle up and get downtown — the season starts now.