Fort Collins Offers Free Saturday Parking in Downtown Garages Through Early January
Fort Collins will provide free parking in all three downtown city garages on Saturdays and designated holidays from November 29 through January 3, 2026, as part of an annual program to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season.
The initiative covers the Firehouse Alley Parking Garage, Old Town Parking Garage, and Civic Center Parking Garage. Parking remains free on Sundays and city holidays year-round.
"This is a great opportunity for the community to support local businesses while enjoying the festive downtown atmosphere," said Eric Keselburg, Parking Services Senior Manager. "We hope this makes it easier for everyone to come downtown and celebrate the season."
The city will also offer free parking on Thanksgiving Day (November 27), the day after Thanksgiving (November 28), Christmas Day (December 25), and New Year's Day (January 1, 2026).
Holiday Shopping Promotion Continues Multi-Year Tradition
Fort Collins has offered free Saturday garage parking during the holiday season every year since at least 2017, according to city records and Downtown Business Association materials. The program is designed to remove barriers for visitors and encourage shopping at local retailers during the peak holiday period.
Similar programs operate in neighboring Colorado communities. Boulder provides free downtown garage parking on all Saturdays and Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year, while Loveland offers free Saturday parking in city lots and garages from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.
The Fort Collins program results in an estimated $30,000 to $50,000 in lost parking revenue during the promotional period, representing approximately 1.2% to 2% of annual garage revenue, according to city parking staff reports. Officials consider this an economic development expense intended to boost downtown retail activity and visitor counts.
Parking occupancy data shows garage utilization increases by 8% to 14% during free Saturday periods, particularly during early afternoon hours when holiday shopping peaks, according to Fort Collins Planning Department and Parking Services analyses.
Standard Rates Apply on Other Days
On days when the free parking promotion does not apply, the first hour remains free in all city garages. Each additional hour costs $1, with a maximum daily rate of $8.
Drivers must initiate a parking session through the city's parking system regardless of their stay duration, even during free periods.
Fort Collins maintains approximately $2.52 million in annual parking revenue, according to the city's 2025 budget. These funds are kept in a dedicated Parking Fund separate from the general city budget and are allocated for garage operations, maintenance, enforcement, and capital improvements.
On-street parking in Old Town Fort Collins core areas remains free, a policy that has been in place since 1965 when the city removed parking meters. The city plans to introduce paid on-street parking in select downtown areas beginning in January 2026, according to city council records.
Fort Collins administrative offices closed November 27 and November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday, with most recreation facilities resuming normal operations November 28.
Additional information about downtown parking is available at fcgov.com/parking or by contacting Eric Keselburg at 970-221-6675.