LOVELAND
Buckhorn Northern
The Buckhorn Northern Railroad will open for the season Friday, May 15, at North Lake Park, Taft Avenue and 29th Street.
The train is an authentic replica of the actual steam train that hauled clay from the Devil’s Backbone to Wild’s Brick Yard west of Loveland.
Hours will be 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Sundays, and 2-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays when the Lions Club holds a noon meeting. The train also will run on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays, but is otherwise closed on Mondays.
Rides cost $1 and all ages are welcome.
For details, visit lovgov.org/services/parks-recreation/parks-facilities/buckhorn-northern-railroad.
Forks & Fury
The Loveland Community Kitchen will hold Forks & Fury: The Great Community Kitchen Throw Down, Thursday, May 14, at Venue 319, 319 N. Cleveland Ave.
The first time fundraising event will celebrate 30 years of serving neighbors in need.
It will bring together local chefs, restaurants and community members for a lively tasting competition centered around the theme: “Homegrown Talent. Homegrown Impact.” Guests will enjoy a variety of inspired small bites from eight local chefs, hor’dourves, desserts, wine and beer while supporting the Community Kitchen’s mission by voting on their favorite option.
The event kicks off with a VIP hour at 5 p.m., followed by general admission at 6 p.m.
Proceeds from the event directly benefit the Loveland Community Kitchen, helping expand its reach and impact for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
Tickets are $125 for general admission and $175 for VIP admission.
For details, visit lovelandcommunitykitchen.org.
Stars on Ice
The 2026 Stars on Ice tour brings America’s elite figure skaters to Loveland for a performance at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Blue Arena, 5290 Arena Circle.
Headlining the tour is Ilia Malinin, the reigning world champion and three-time U.S. champion known worldwide as the “Quad God,” the first and only skater to land a quadruple axel in competition, and Olympic champion Alysa Liu, who made a triumphant return to the sport in 2025, winning the U.S.’s first world title in women’s singles in nearly two decades and went on to win the gold medal at the 2026 Olympics..
Also in the cast are ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Isabeau Levito, Amber Glenn and Jason Brown.
Tickets are $62.82-$167.99, available at treventscomplex.com/events/detail/2026-stars-on-ice-tour.
Jim Willard Talk
Jim Willard will present “Sounds, Sights, and Scenes from the Sensational Sixties” for the Loveland Connection at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 12, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3448 N. Taft Ave.
He will touch on highlights, lowlights, and music from the 1960s. Some will be remembered, some forgotten, but all were real.
Willard recently retired after writing more than 2,650 columns for “Trivially Speaking,” a weekly column for the Reporter-Herald. He continues to present programs like this one with more than 50 presented in 2025.
The public is invited to attend.
For details, contact the past-president, Kitty Ellison, 970-581-5312.
Spring Dance Recital
High Country Dance will present its 2026 Spring Recital at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15, and 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. Fourth St.
Tickets are $14-$18.
For details, call 970-962-2120 or visit rialtotheatercenter.org.
Historical Coasters
To celebrate Historic Preservation Month, the Loveland Historic Preservation Commission has created historical coasters for six businesses in the historic downtown area and one for the Hewlett- Pickard plant on 14th Street Southwest.
Each coaster gives a brief history of an historic building.
To help celebrate, the commission is inviting the public to visit the participating establishments and pick up a coaster. Those collecting four or more coasters can bring them to Railroad Days at the Milner Schwarz House at Fairgrounds Park at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 30, where they can purchase a Great Rail Ale pint glass for the discounted price of $1, courtesy of the Save the GW Depots Committee/Loveland Historical Society.
Both the coasters and the glasses will be available while supplies last.
Businesses where people can get the coasters are: Grimm Brothers Brewery – in the historic Hewlett Packard building, 815 14th St. SW B100; Slice and Roll Pizza Pub — in the historic El Centro Building, 141 E. Fourth St.; The Flipside — in the historic Allen & Bartholf Opera Building, 140 E. Fourth St.; Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. Fourth St.; Pulliam Community Building, 545 N. Cleveland Ave.; Sandos/desk chair workspace -— in the historic First National Bank, 201 E. Fourth St.; and Verboten Brewing — in the historic W.H. Vorrreiter Coal Company building, 127 E. Fifth St.
For details, visit lovelandhistorical.org.
Nominations Sought
The League of Women Voters-Larimer County is seeking nominations for women in Larimer County who are working to expand/protect voting rights for all eligible voters, protecting women’s rights and creating a world where gender doesn’t limit opportunities.
Nomination forms are available at lwv-larimercounty.org/wed and are due by June 1.
Selected women will be recognized at a celebration of Women’s Equality Day at 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at The Forge Event Center in Loveland.
The public is invited to attend and tickets will be available for purchase in June.
FORT COLLINS
Explorer Artist Gallery
An opening reception for the Explorer Artist Gallery will be held at 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 14, at the Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St.
View original artwork from local artists whose work is featured in the 2026 Natural Areas Explorer.
Attendees can pick up a copy of the Explorer and discover the full calendar of activities that Natural Areas staff, volunteers and partners are offering.
The gallery will be open through the end of June.
For details, visit poudrelibraries.librarycalendar.com/events.
International Trivia
International Trivia and Wine Night: Around the World in 50 Questions will take place at 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, at the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave.
The geography-themed night will challenge participants’ knowledge of countries, cultures, landmarks and more while participants sip wines from around the world and snack as they play.
The event is for ages 21-plus.
Tickets are $15.
For details, call 970-221-4600 or visit globalvillagemuseum.org.
Beyond Fear Talk
Gen Kelsang Gomlam, an American Buddhist nun and the U.S. Western National Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition, will present Beyond Fear: A Public Talk at 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 15, at Bas Bleu Theater, 401 Pine St.
Gomlam will discuss how the fear and the anxiety that so many experience is not inevitable, and how through the practice of meditation, we can learn to work skillfully with our fear.
Everyone is welcome.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.
For details, visit meditateinfortcollins.org/gen-gomlam-downtown-talk.
Farmers Market
The Larimer County Farmers’ Market will open for the season at 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at 200 W. Oak St.
The market is marking its 50th anniversary this year. Having started in 1976 with a few backyard gardeners sharing extra produce, it has grown into a gathering place where local growers, producers and neighbors come together to celebrate local flavor, all managed by CSU Extension staff and Colorado Master Gardeners in Larimer County.
Markets will take place at 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 31.
For details, visit larimer.gov/extension/larimer-county-farmers-market.
Faith 250
Faith 250: “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” will be presented at 6-8 p.m Tuesday, May 12, at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court.
The museum is hosting the evening centered on Frederick Douglass’ landmark 1852 address, delivered in the midst of slavery. Douglass argued that national rituals untrue to their intended meaning corrode a country’s shared identity — yet rather than turning away from America, he set a pattern of demanding the country live up to its purpose.
Registration is required.
For details and to register, visit fcmod.org.
GREELEY
Tusk
Tusk: The Classic Tribute to Fleetwood Mac will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 15, at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave.
Playing the hits and deep cuts spanning the career of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group Fleetwood Mac, Tusk has been crisscrossing the country since 2008 as The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Five professional musicians bring Fleetwood Mac’s music to life, both the band’s and members’ solo hits, with each performer embodying one of the core members — Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.
Tickets are $26-$59.
For details, call 970-356-5000 or visit ucstars.com.
