Back To Previous PageFather’s Day Weekend in Fort Collins is already gearing up to be an amazing few days. Thanks to its near summer date, Father’s Day Weekend in Fort Collins will be centered around all sorts of live music, outdoor adventures and special events. This means there will be plenty to do for all of the fathers and their families that are making their way to Fort Collins for the festivities.
For the Outdoorsman
- Whether you’re looking for public or private campgrounds, family-friendly camping, or RV Parks, there are numerous areas to set up camp close to town or in the ruggedness of the mountains. Favorite camping spots include Horsetooth Reservoir and the multiple campgrounds along the Cache la Poudre River. If you’re looking to get a little further from the hustle and bustle, check out the roughly 650,000 acres of back country in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and CSU Mountain Campus. Let’s also not forget the numerous amount of streams and bodies of water that offer ample fishing opportunities. Camping and fishing go hand-in-hand when visiting Fort Collins and the surrounding areas.
- Fort Collins is known for its fantastic hikes and superb scenery. Everything from quick hikes, day-long hikes, and multi-day hikes are just a short drive from the heart of town. Here’s a list of some of the best hiking trails in Fort Collins.
- Whether you’re exploring the 285-plus miles of Fort Collins’ trails or biking in the mountains, taking in the jaw-dropping landscape, you’ll understand why Fort Collins garners the designation of being a platinum level bike-friendly city. Fort Collins also offers a Bike Share program called Pace, which serves as a type of public transportation that includes a network of bicycles for short-term use.
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding, or SUP, has increased in popularity over the last few years in Fort Collins. Because of our reservoirs, lakes, and rivers, Fort Collins plays host to some of the best SUP’n spots in the state. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time on a board or if you paddle every day, Fort Collins is full of plenty of outfitters happy to set you up with the proper equipment, offer guided and unguided trips, and give you insider tips to explore the outdoors like a local.
- There are plenty of spots to fish in Fort Collins such as the Cache la Poudre River, Horsetooth Reservoir, Riverbend Ponds and many more. Most people who give fishing a try tend to develop an affinity for the sport, especially if they catch a fish or two in the process. Fort Collins is full of a bounty of trout and other native fish species scattered throughout all the bodies of water in the area.
- Convenient access, clear water, challenging rapids and beautiful scenery make the Cache la Poudre a river-runner’s paradise from May through September for whitewater rafting. From Class I to Class V, Fort Collins has rapids for every age and ability. Here’s a First Timer’s Guide to Rafting in Fort Collins.
For the Music Lover
- Visitors and locals alike are buzzing about Washington’s, the newest music venue in town anchoring an ever-growing music scene. This Old Town Fort Collins landmark was purchased by the Bohemian Foundation and renovated with a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. Now the 900-capacity venue is bringing local and national bands to the region. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Martin Sexton, Keller Williams and more have performed since it opened in early February; this spring, Flobots, Justin Townes Earle, Pedro the Lion and many more will grace the already-lauded (and applauded) stage.
- Concerts at The Armory pair a local artist with a nationally-known musician in an intimate 200-capacity (seated) listening room. Big names like John Oates, Shawn Colvin, Shelby Lynne, Brett Dennen, Gregory Alan Isakov and many others have played this one-of-a-kind venue housed in a historic Fort Collins building.
Unique Venues Local to Fort Collins
- A handful of other longtime local venues, including the Downtown Artery, Hodi’s Half Note, Avogadro’s Number, and the historic Aggie Theatre, round out the live music venues, along with local bars and breweries. The new mixology bar Blue Door hosts live music, as does Ace Gillett’s Lounge where sultry jazz music tempts people to this underground speakeasy each week. Likewise, many of the more than 20 local breweries host live music on the regular, including New Belgium Brewing, Equinox Brewing, Odell Brewing Company and Maxline Brewing.
For the Drink Connoisseur
- The breweries in Fort Collins are perfectly nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with fresh snowmelt running off into the Cache la Poudre River making it an ideal place for brewing some of the nation’s best beer. Did you know Fort Collins is the largest producer of craft beer (70%, in fact) in Colorado (ironic for a town that was “dry” until 1969)? Currently, the city is home to more than 20 craft breweries, the most microbreweries in the state, each with its own distinctive style, including one of the world’s largest operations, as well as a leader in eco-friendly and sustainable business practices. To get a taste of award-winning lagers, pilsners and ales year-round, take part in some brewery tours and a wild variety of taster trays, even spend a few days to taste them all!
- It’s widely known that we love our craft beer in Fort Collins, but the craft beverage culture has alternative breeds that we love equally as much – local, premium spirits. Our Fort Collins’ distilleries offer a personalized setting to go along with craft spirits that taste absolutely amazing. Visit our local distilleries for fresh batches of Whiskey, Vodka and everything in between. Locals say the craft spirits scene in Fort Collins is similar to the city’s craft brewing industry of 15 years ago. Fort Collins is now home to seven distilleries: Feisty Spirits Distillery, CopperMuse Distillery, Old Elk Distillery, Old Town Distilling, Elevation 5003 Distillery, Mobb Mountain Distillers and NoCo Distillery.
For the Foodie
Trying to find a restaurant in Fort Collins is a blast because there are so many delicious dining choices! Fort Collins has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the state of Colorado and more than most cities in the entire country. There are plenty of options for every wallet, including family-friendly pricing and high-end dining. Influenced by local grown and seasonal foods, local restaurants and chefs are extremely innovative in planning savory menus that rotate throughout the year allowing diners to have a constantly new experience.
FORE the Golfer
Fort Collins has over 300 days of sunshine a year, making it an ideal destination for the dad who is a golfing fanatic. Not to mention, Fort Collins takes golf pretty seriously. Not only does the city offer two 18-hole courses, Collindale and Southridge, and one 9-hole course, City Park Nine, off of major thoroughfares, each course also offers a driving range and putting green. Didn’t bring your clubs? No worries. Each clubhouse rents a full range of equipment. The links are open year-round here and most days are sunny enough that only a bad shank into the water can spoil your game.
Gifts for Dad
- Fort Collins is a city full of artisans and local craftsmen who use the Rocky Mountain backdrop and supportive community for inspiration. When we see their products throughout Colorado we’re proud to say they are ‘Made in Fort Collins.’ Here are some of our favorite local products.
- Shopping in Downtown Fort Collins can be a magical experience. Quaint boutiques, historic architecture, and unique shops line the streets of Old Town Fort Collins creating a window-shopping experience with every amenity you could want.
- The Foothills Mall, a 77-acre shopping center remodeled in 2015, includes household names like Macy’s and Nordstrom Rack. The mall and the stores along the College Ave. corridor offer a wide variety of women’s and men’s clothing, fashionable and functional shoe wear, and accessories.
- Front Range Village has the city’s largest collection of large national retailers along with many smaller boutiques in a walkable state-of-the-art lifestyle shopping center. Destination stores like DSW Shoes, World Market, and Lowe’s anchor the 100-plus acre property, while favorite smaller stores fill in the rest of this shopping landscape.
