Holiday lights will sparkle in Downtown Fort Collins on Friday, November 7

Contact Information

• Valerie Van Ryn, Marketing Manager, 970-221-6875, [email protected]

The annual Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony, sponsored this year by Fort Collins Connexion, is set to kick off the holidays in Old Town Square on Friday, November 7 when the light display will illuminate for the first time this season.

Live music will be performed by Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band on the stage in Old Town Square from 5:30-7 p.m., with a short ceremony taking place at 6:30 p.m. before the lights turn on.

"The annual tradition of turning on the lights downtown is the unofficial kick off to the holiday season in Fort Collins," said director of Community Services, Dean Klingner. "The holiday lighting program is a unique feature of the Fort Collins community. We're fortunate to live in a place that truly values creating spaces for people to gather and enjoy being together, while also supporting local businesses and restaurants."

The lighting program, which is collaboratively funded by the City of Fort Collins, the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown General Improvement District, provides the ideal backdrop for residents as they enjoy all the amenities of the downtown area throughout the winter season. This year's lighting ceremony is sponsored by City partner, Fort Collins Connexion.

"Fort Collins Connexion is proud to serve as the event sponsor for the Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony this year," says Chad Crager, executive director of Connexion. "As Fort Collins' community-owned fiber optic internet provider, Connexion is dedicated to supporting local initiatives, strengthening Fort Collins' economy and fostering connection throughout the community."

Street Closures and Business Access

Street closures near the event zone will be in place starting at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, November 7. The closures include:

• Walnut St. (between College Ave. and Mountain Ave.)
• 200 block of Linden St. (between Walnut St. and Jefferson St.)
• Mountain Ave.(eastbound and westbound, between College Ave. and Remington St.)
• Remington St. (between Mountain Ave. and Oak St., parking garage access will remain open)

Event Location and Parking

The holiday lighting ceremony occurs on the stage in Old Town Square, with lights turning on throughout Downtown Fort Collins. Event attendees should expect a high volume of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic before and after the event.

Parking garages are located at the following locations:

· 209 E. Mountain Ave. (Old Town Garage)

· 120 N. Mason St. (Civic Center)

· 165 Chestnut St. (Firehouse Alley)

Additionally, attendees are encouraged to use public transportation (MAX This link opens in a new browser tab), walk or bike to the event.

Additional Information about the Downtown Lighting Program

The downtown lights are funded and installed each year as part of a collaborative effort between the City's Parks Department, the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown General Improvement District. Contract partner SavATree, LLC helps to install and remove the lights from more than 334 trees in the downtown area.

The installation of the holiday lights begins in September and takes about six weeks to complete. There are more than 65,000 individual lights placed in trees throughout Old Town, which will be illuminated each evening from November 7 through February 14, 2026.

For more information on street closures, business participation, and details of the lighting ceremony, visit fcgov.com/downtown-holiday-lights.