Today, instead of a festival, I’m highlighting a series of events that take place three out of four Fridays each month in Old Town Fort Collins.
The Friday series started with First Friday Gallery Walk, a program that takes place in cities around the country. The Downtown Business Association then added Foodie Fridays, to embrace the city’s culinary culture, and then Shop Late Friday, as a way to promote downtown retailers.
Let’s take a look at each of these individual events.
First Friday featuring Gallery Walk
6 to 9 p.m.
From big cities such as Philadelphia, to artsy village like Taos, New Mexico, you’ll find First Friday Gallery Walks. This is an opportunity for citizens of a community, or visitors, to enjoy browsing art in a friendly environment, where conversation is encouraged.
This is also a chance for an artist to expand his or her audience. Many art openings occur on First Friday, and in Fort Collins, regional artists (and occasionally, national artists) are in the galleries with their work during this event.
Whether you are an art collector, or just an art appreciator, First Friday is a wonderful time to see what kind of artistic offerings are in Fort Collins.
Most Fort Collins galleries and museums extend their hours of operation on First Friday and some provide drinks and appetizers to entice passerby’s to stop in.
Shop Late Friday
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Shop Late Friday is the newest of the downtown Fort Collins’ Friday events. It occurs on the second Friday of each month. Twenty-seven retailers keep their doors open until 8 p.m. on Shop Late Friday. It’s a fun time for people to browse downtown’s locally owned shops, as various owners have trunk sales that evening, treats in their stores, Shop Late Friday Sales and more.
It’s a great night to grab your mom or girlfriend and shop until you drop into a nice comfy chair at Social for a cocktail, or at one of Fort Collins’ many other hot spots.
Foodie Walk Fort Collins
5 to 8 p.m.
Taking place on the third Friday of each month, Foodie Walk is a celebration of the gourmet offerings of a city where new restaurants seem to open daily. The fact is, Fort Collins folks love food, and second Friday is an opportunity for locals and outsiders alike to indulge in the gastronomic delights of this food centric city.
Each month there’s a theme associated with Foodie Walk; this May is barbecue. Each participating retailer will find a way to play to the theme, such as Blue Skies Winery providing tastings of their Tempranillo, a medium dry red with a peppery finish that’s the perfect companion to your barbecue dinner.
The spice shops and olive oil shops may whip up a tasty treat, utilizing the theme, as well as Fort Collins’ own cheese shop, the Welsh Rabbit. The Cupboard also gets into the act on Foodie Friday, often hosting a culinary demonstration or presentation.
There you have it. There’s never a dull moment in downtown Fort Collins. Whether you’re planning a night out with your sweetheart, the family or an evening with the girls, Fridays in Fort Collins have got you covered.
More details about downtown Fort Collins can be found at DowntownFortCollins.com.