A family races down the giant slide at the 2022 Larimer County Fair Carnival located at The Ranch Event Complex in Loveland. This year’s fair starts on Friday. (Loveland Reporter-Herald file)

LOVELAND

Larimer County Fair

The 2024 Larimer County Fair and Rodeo takes place Aug. 2-6 at The Ranch fairgrounds, 5280 Arena Circle.

Hours are 4-10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, and Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 5-6, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4.

Events at this year’s fair include free concerts, Carnival Americana, community and 4-H events, open-class competitions, food vendors, specialty shows, exhibits and more.

Entertainment includes the Globe of Death, The Canine Stars, Wildman Phil, Salida Circus, Neutron Ninja, Mobile Earth & Space Observatory, Vintage Tractor Display, Noah’s Ark Petting Zoo and Pony Rides, Everblocks and drone racing.

Colorado State University will offer exhibits on clean energy and agriculture.

Horse exhibits include a Draft Horse Show, Colorado Regulators Mounted Shooting and Complete Equestrian Vaulting.

A free pancake breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4.

Carnival Americana hours are 4 p.m.-midnight Friday, Aug. 2, and Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 5-6, and noon-midnight Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4. A one-day pass is $40 and an all-days pass is $100.

The annual parade will be held in downtown Loveland starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 27, proceeding from Fairgrounds Park north on Railroad Avenue to Sixth Street, heading east a block and back to the park on Cleveland Avenue.

The 4-H Junior Livestock Sale will cap off the fair at 4:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7.

Parking at the events complex will be free for the fair.

For details, visit treventscomplex.com/events/larimer-county-fair.​

Laugh Out Loveland

Dan Bublitz Jr of Dan Bublitz Comedy, Jeff Albright of LoCo Comedy and Russ Bondi will bring back the Laugh Out Loveland Comedy Festival taking place in downtown Loveland on Aug. 1-4.

The second-year comedy festival will feature more than 25 comedians from across the country who will perform at various venues in downtown Loveland.

The festival will include six stand-up comedy showcases, each headlined by nationally touring comedians, a “Best of Fest” showcase, two themed shows, and an open mic.

Venues include Loveland Aleworks, Verboten Brewing, Sky Bear Brewing, Black and Blues Music and Brews, Meadkrieger, Tom Davis Saloon, Axe to Grind and Slice n’ Roll.

Headliners include Adam Cayton-Hollan (Those Who Can’t), Georgia Comstock (Comedy Works Regular), Eeland Stribling (Comedy Works New Faces Winner), Hannah Jones (Netflix is a Joke Radio), ShaNae Ross (High Plains Comedy Festival), Zach Reinert (800 Pound Gorilla media), and Rosalie (High Plains Comedy Festival). The festival will also feature Colorado up-and-coming comedians along with comedians from across the country.

The event schedule, tickets and details can be found at laughoutloveland.com. Options include individual tickets for $15 (plus fees) and four-day All Access Passes for $100 (plus fees).

Scheer Golf Tourney

The Thompson Education Foundation annual golf tournament will start at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at Mariana Butte Golf Course, 701 Clubhouse Drive.

Funds raised will go toward the Dr. Stan Scheer Memorial Student Opportunity Fund, which honors the legacy of former school superintendent and his spirit of generosity by providing gap funding for Thompson School District students to embrace individual academic, leadership, recognition and extracurricular opportunities when there are financial barriers.

Cost is $500 for a foursome. Register at thompsontef.org/golf-tournament.

Flight 629 Memorial

A Flight 629 Memorial Concert will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. Fourth St.

United Flight 629 exploded over the town of Firestone on Nov. 1, 1955.

No memorial marker was ever created for the 44 victims of the tragedy, but now work is underway to get a memorial installed near the original crash site by Nov. 1, 2025, the 70th anniversary of this event.

The Aug. 3 concert will be the first fundraiser in the effort, and features Christine Alice and The Canyon Echoes.

Tickets are $30.

For details, call 970-962-2120 or visit rialtotheatercenter.org.

Pantry in the Park

Pantry in the Park, a community picnic and food drive for the Food Bank for Larimer County, will be held at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Mehaffey Park, 3285 W. 22nd St.

The event includes a picnic lunch, family activities, face painting, a treasure hunt and more.

The event is hosted by Love 4 Larimer and the NoCo Secret Samaritan.

Admission is five nonperishable food items per person.

For details, visit bit.ly/3Yg9axa.

Larimer County Rodeo

The 2024 Larimer County Fair PRCA Rodeo will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 4-7 at the Budweiser Events Center, 5290 Arena Circle.

Opening night, Sunday, Aug. 4, is Military and First Responders Night, Monday, Aug. 5, is 4-H Youth Night, and Tuesday, Aug. 6, is Bobblehead Night.

All three nights will include Mutton Bustin’ for children ages 5-7, bare back riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, barrel racing, tie down roping, team roping and saddle bronc riding. Learn more at treventscomplex.com/prca-rodeo.

Tickets are $21-$27.

For details, call 877-544-8499 or visit https://www.treventscomplex.com/events.

Sour Festival

The second annual Sour Festival will take place at 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3,  at desk chair workspace, 201 E. Fourth St.

The event will include sour beer tastings, live music and snacks.

More than 15 local breweries are participating.

VIP tickets are $55 and include early access to the festival at 1 p.m. VIP ticketholders can try one beer available only to them.

General admission is $40.

For details, and tickets, visit bit.ly/4c3ytWi.

Craft Show and Sale

Big Thompson Brewery, 114 E. 15th St., will hold its second annual Craft Show & Sale and Homemade Marketplace at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3.

The event will feature 20 local artisans at the brewery’s the back lot, offering homemade items, gifts, crafts, artwork and more.

There also will be a food truck, music and hourly drawings.

Admission is free.

For details, contact Barb Biegel at 970-619-8138 or [email protected].

Trafficking Talk

Sean Wheeler of Starfish Ministries will present a voice for boys in the fight against sex trafficking in a talk at 9:30 a.m. Thursday Aug. 1, at the New Life Center at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 2500 N. Garfield Ave.

Donations will be accepted.

To reserve a spot, call the church at 970-663-3810.

Veterinary Clinic

To assist local people in need, the Loveland Salvation Army has partnered with the StreetDog Coalition to provide free veterinary care to pets of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. They hope to protect the human-animal bond by caring for pets through assistance without judgment, but with compassion and kindness.

Free services are offered for dogs and cats including physical exams, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, nail trimming and vouchers to spay or neuter a pet.

Veterinary appointments are offered at 1-3 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at the Loveland Salvation Army, 840 N. Lincoln Ave., Suite 101. Call 970-699-8380 to schedule an appointment.

The Loveland Salvation Army also provides pet supplies to those in need, including food, collars and leashes.

Donations can be made at loveland.salvationarmy.org, or people can make a dog or cat food donation of unopened cans or bags.

​FORT COLLINS

Human Library

The Human Library returns to Fort Collins at 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court.

While typical libraries offer print books and digital eBooks for check out, the Human Library allows participants to borrow a human book and engage in conversations about their unique stories. The program encourages all participants to “unjudge” a human book by its cover.

Participants can “check out” community volunteers who have been subjected to bias, stereotyping, or intolerance due to their lifestyle, race, beliefs, disability, etc., including people who identify as gay, Black, a body artist, wheelchair user, etc. and explore their experiences in our community. The hope is that everyone can gain new understandings that advance acceptance and inclusion among diverse groups.

The Human Library started as a Danish project in 2000, and there are now 80 events every year worldwide.

This year’s local program is focused once again on “Being Me in Fort Collins.”

Guests planning to attend are asked to preregister for the free event at fcmod.org/human-library.

Swing Band

Northern Colorado New Horizons Swing Band will perform at 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Drive.

Enjoy the opening concert of the Northern Colorado New Horizons Concert Band, a local branch of the New Horizons International Music Association. Free tickets are available at the front desk of the Fort Collins Senior Center or by calling 970-221-6644. Space is limited to 200.

For details, visit fcgov.com/recreation/senior-center.

Keyboard Odyssiad

Pianists from around the world will take center stage to perform during the International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival Aug. 3-10, at the University Center for the Arts at Colorado State University, 1400 Remington St., in the Griffin Concert Hall, Organ Recital Hall and Runyan Hall.

The event brings together global competitors and internationally renowned musicians for a week-long classical piano competition and festival.

The live semi-final and final rounds are free and to the public.

Events open to the public include:

• Saturday, Aug. 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Semi-final rounds.

• Monday-Wednesday, Aug. 5-7, 9 a.m.-noon: Final rounds at Griffin Concert Hall.

• Monday, Aug. 5, 4 p.m.:  Saehyun Kim concert at Griffin Concert Hall.

• Monday, Aug. 5, 7:30 p.m.:  Inon Barnatan concert at Griffin Concert Hall.

• Tuesday, Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m.:  Sergei Babayan concert at Griffin Concert Hall.

• Wednesday, Aug. 7, 3:30 p.m.:  Vyacheslav Gryaznov concert at Griffin Concert Hall.

• Wednesday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m.:  Kemal Gekic concert at Griffin Concert Hall.

• Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 8-10, 9 a.m.-noon: Final rounds at Organ Concert Hall.

• Friday, Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m.:  Zuill Bailey, cello, and Bryan Wallick, piano at the Organ Recital Hall.

• Saturday, Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m.:  Clayton Stephenson concert at the Organ Recital Hall.

The final round performances also will be live streamed on odyssiad.com.  Details and the complete schedule can be found there as well.

Bark-in Movie Night

Poudre Pet & Feed Supply will host Bark-In Movie Night at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, at the Holiday Twin Drive-In, 2206 S. Overland Trail.

The event features “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” a pet expo and live music by the Bruce Cook Band.

Tickets include the movie, a combo meal, snacks and a dog or cat gift package. Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for kids. The event benefits the Animal Friends Allliance

For details, visit holidaytwin.com/tickets/bark-in-movie.

An Evening in Paris

Bas Bleu Theatre will hold a fundraising event, An Evening in Paris, at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Elizabeth Hotel, 111 Chestnut St.

Step into the radiant world of Paris at this evening brimming with entertainment, silent and live auctions, a dessert auction and more. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and there will be champagne at every VIP table.

Tickets are $100.

For details, visit bit.ly/4dbFGW1.

Parker Players

The Parker Players will present “Friends in Mile High Places” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St.

The Parker Players’ fourth sketch comedy revue will be presented in the style of a Second City Revue, diving into everything from the joys of brewery hopping in Fort Collins to the struggles of dating in Denver and all surrounding areas.

Tickets are $15-$20.

For details, call 970-221-6730 or visit lctix.com.

Affordable Housing

Elevation Community Land Trust, YIMBY Fort Collins and Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity will host an affordable homeownership information session at 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at Wolverine Farm Publick House, 611 Willow St.

Attendees will learn about ECLT’s affordable homeownership models and additional housing projects in the area.

The session is free and open to the public.

For details and to RSVP, visit facebook.com/events/820414663387389?ref=newsfeed.

Lorna’s Swingset

Colorado gypsy jazz band Lorna’s Swingset will give a free concert at 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave.

The museum will offer free admission at 5-8 p.m. that day for First Friday Art Walk.

For details, call 970-221-4600 or visit globalvillagemuseum.org.

WINDSOR

Duck Race

The Windsor Optimist Club will hold its 14th annual Duck Race at 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, starting at the 17th Street bridge over No. 2 canal, behind the Windsor Gardener, and ending at the 11th Street bridge, behind the Windsor Recreation Center.

Duck adoptions are $10 each, and are not tax-deductible. Proceeds will go toward: Safe Halloween and Windsor Bike Night with Windsor Police Department; Main Park Easter Egg Hunt; Christmas in Windsor craft show; Oratorical and Kids Speak Out competitions; support of Student of the Month at the Windsor and Severance Middle schools; and support of robotics, and scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors.

Admission is free.

For details, visit windsoroptimistclub.org/page/duck-race.

Weed Warriors

A Weed Warriors session will take place at 9-11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at Treasure Island Demonstration Garden, 31500 Laku Lake Road.

Learn about common weeds and help pull weeds at the garden.

Bring a water bottle and wear closed-toed shoes. Breakfast snacks and coffee will be provided.

Weed Warriors takes place on the first Friday of the month May-September.

For details, visit windsorgov.com/calendar.aspx?EID=6527.

ESTES PARK

Astronomy Festival

Rocky Mountain National Park will hold its 2024 Astronomy Festival Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2-3.

The event celebrates dark night skies, the field of astronomy and night sky stewardship. It will feature interactive daytime activities, evening presentations and night sky telescope viewing opportunities on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park at Fall River Visitor Center. During the evenings on both the west and east sides of RMNP, guest speakers will offer presentations and attendees can look at different features of the night sky using telescopes.

On the east side of the park, presentations will take place at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and at Glacier Basin Campground.

Evening presentations will take place on the west side of RMNP at Kawuneeche Visitor Center.

Special guest speakers will include: Arlin Bartels, senior project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center;  Dr. Fran Bagenal, University of Colorado – Boulder, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Sciences; Dr. Erica Ellingson, UC Boulder, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences; Dr. Li-Wei Hung, National Park Service Night Skies and Natural Sounds Program; Deb Price, DarkSky Colorado; Dave Schlichting, NASA HUNCH mentor and Grand Astronomy founder; Dawn Wilson, photographer and writer.

On the east side of RMNP, join NPS staff and volunteers beginning at 8:30 p.m. for telescope viewing at Upper Beaver Meadows parking area. Participants should take available shuttles or drive to the end of Upper Beaver Meadows Road, approximately two miles down the dirt road, to the parking area.  Expect parking to be limited. Parking is not allowed on vegetation.

Park staff recommends people wear warm layers and good footwear for walking and bringing water and snacks and flashlights with a red-light or red-light filter to help protect your night vision.

For details on all the offerings, times, visit go.nps.gov/rmnp/nightskyprograms.

Free Day at RMNP

Aug. 4, the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, will be a free admission day at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Other free admission days this year will include National Public Lands Day on Sept. 28, and Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The free days are observed at RMNP and all parks that charge entrance fees.

For details, visit nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm.