Culture in Larimer County

In 2004, Forbes Magazine ranked the Fort Collins area 21st out of 168 small metro areas in Culture & Leisure.

Larimer County has a great deal to offer in the arts and culturally, from extensive libraries and museums to outdoor displays such as this sculpture found in Loveland.

Estes Park

Estes Park, with its beautiful mountain backdrop, holds many cultural events outdoors, such as the Scottish-Irish Festival, Scandinavian Festival or JazzFest and Art Walk. The Stanley Park Fairgrounds holds these festivals for tourists as well as the locals. See Estes' Special Events website for more information.

Fort Collins

Home to a major university, Fort Collins offers high quality productions and educational lectures from visiting scholars and specialists on campus. Venues such as the Lincoln Center, Bas Bleu Theater and Old Town's outdoor stage offer live performances that cater to just about any taste. In addition, local musicians cover a variety of genres from reggae to folk. The Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra presents productions such as the Nutcracker Ballet on an annual basis.

Loveland

Deemed the Sculpture Capital of Colorado, Loveland is famous for its outdoor bronze sculptures, along with its libraries, art galleries and theaters. Loveland was also ranked as one of the 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America. In 1985, Loveland became the first city in Colorado to pass an "Art in Public Places" ordinance, which assigned one percent of the city's construction projects of $50,000 and above for the buying of art (City of Loveland).

The Arts

Estes Park Special Events
Fort Collins International Center
Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra
Fortnet Arts and Entertainment Listings - Comprehensive list of cultural amenities in the Fort Collins area.
Lincoln Center
Loveland Arts and Culture Page - Listing of available cultural highlights.
Loveland Rialto Theater
OpenStage Theater

Libraries

Museums