🧶 Ready to Sweat in That Ugly Sweater, FoCo?
Fort Collins, Let’s Get Sweaty (and Sweater-y)
Happy Friday, FoCo !
Ben here. If you’ve been waiting for your chance to publicly wear the ugliest sweater you own while jogging through December air, your moment has arrived. The annual Sweaty Sweater 5K hits Fort Collins this Saturday — and yes, it’s as wonderfully chaotic as it sounds.
🐐 Help Us Name Our New Mascot!
Meet our newest team member — the adventurous little goat who’ll be guiding you through all the best things happenin’ around town. But uh… we forgot one thing.
He needs a name.
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Is his name… Billy?
Classic. Friendly. A goat named Billy just feels right.
Or is he… Rocky?
A nod to the Rockies, the mountains, and that Colorado spirit he’s clearly packing in that tiny backpack.
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🥡 Cravings: The Moot House
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📍 Drake & College (Midtown FoCo) | 💰 $15–$30 | ⏰ Open Daily
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🎽 The Sweaty Sweater 5K
This race is pure holiday energy: friends walking together, serious runners chasing medals, and a brave few prancing toward the finish line powered solely by the promise of beer and hot chocolate. Whether you’re in it to win it or you just want to witness the parade of knitted disasters, there’s a place for you in this festive madness.
🎽 The Sweaty Sweater 5K
📍 4616 S. Shields Street
⏰ Saturday, Dec 7 at 9:00 AM
💸 $5–$50
Fort Collins’ most fashionably questionable 5K returns! Bring your wildest holiday sweater — the lumpier, louder, and more “my grandma definitely made this” the better. Walk, jog, run, strut, or fully commit to a jingle-bell-powered prance. Everyone’s welcome.
Why locals love it:
• The post-race beer + hot chocolate hits different in cold weather
• Zero judgment — only applause for atrocious sweaters
• It’s a perfect way to kick off December vibes
👀 Prefer Spectating? We Got You
If running in a wool monstrosity isn’t on your holiday bucket list:
🎅 Best spectator move:
Grab a peppermint latte, park yourself near the start/finish area, and enjoy peak people-watching as herds of FoCo residents hustle by in sweaters that look like they were knitted during a fever dream.
📸 Bonus:
The sweaters only get wetter, wobblier, and more unhinged as the race goes on — the photos practically take themselves.
What's Happenin' in Fort Collins: Event Listings
Friday, December 5
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Fort Collins Wants New Voices on City Boards
The city is recruiting volunteers to serve on 23 different boards and commissions, and applications close Jan. 9 at noon.
These groups directly shape Fort Collins’ future — from housing and transportation to climate policy, development, arts, and historic preservation.
What to know:
Boards → study issues + make recommendations to City Council
Commissions → have decision-making power in specialized areas
Terms → 2–4 years
Eligibility → must live within the Fort Collins Growth Management Area
Serving on a board is one of the most meaningful ways to influence the direction of the city — especially on affordability, transportation, and environmental policy.
If you’ve ever thought “I wish the city would ___,” this is your chance. Apply by Jan. 9 and help steer Fort Collins’ next chapter.
Until Next Time ❤️
Ugly sweater… race? Done.
Ugly sweater… bar crawl? Hmm.
Ugly sweater… pet parade? FoCo, should we make this happen?!
See you on the sidelines — or at the finish line with hot chocolate in hand.
If you run into someone wearing a sweater with actual battery-powered lights, please send us a pic.
💬 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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