Fort Collins Marks Decade of Open Streets with Car-Free Celebration

The City of Fort Collins will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its popular Open Streets event on Sunday, transforming Lady Moon Drive into a vibrant, car-free community space for five hours of free activities and entertainment.

The milestone event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 14, closing the street from Le Fever Drive to Shallow Pond Drive in southeast Fort Collins. Residents can expect live music, interactive arts activities, fitness classes, and food trucks lining the route.

Open Streets has grown significantly since its debut in 2014, when 1,958 people attended the first event, according to a city evaluation report. The annual celebration now draws between 7,000 and 8,000 participants each year, making it one of Fort Collins' largest community events.

Promoting Active Transportation

The event serves as more than just community entertainment—it's a key component of Fort Collins' strategy to encourage walking, biking and other active modes of transportation. This year's Lady Moon Drive location connects neighborhoods, businesses and parks, highlighting the potential for shared public spaces.

"Open Streets offers numerous benefits, from fostering social cohesion to inspiring a fresh perspective on our built environment and promoting active transportation," said AnnMarie Kirkpatrick, the city's Active Modes Specialist. "Events like these create a ripple effect of positive impacts by bringing the community together."

Community-Supported Event

The city funds Open Streets through a combination of budget allocations, vendor fees and sponsorships. Sponsorship opportunities are available for $3,000, while vendor fees are set at $100, according to the city's vendor guide. The city operates the event on a nonprofit basis, ensuring collections don't exceed the actual operating costs.

Fort Collins' Open Streets falls in the middle range compared to similar events across Colorado. While smaller than Denver's multi-mile Viva Streets events, it offers comparable programming tailored specifically to the local community.

The celebration continues the city's decade-long commitment to reimagining public spaces and demonstrating how streets can serve as community gathering places rather than just vehicle corridors.

For updates and more information, visit fcgov.com/openstreets.