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🎨 Fort Collins: Where the Utility Boxes Are Prettier Than Your Apartment Walls

🎨 Fort Collins: Where the Utility Boxes Are Prettier Than Your Apartment Walls

Murals, pianos, storm drains—yep, they’re all part of our arts scene. Here’s why Fort Collins is one of Colorado’s most creative towns.

What's Happenin' Team
April 11, 2025

🎨 Fort Collins: One Big Open-Air Art Gallery

Think Fort Collins is all beers and bikes? Think again. We’re also home to one of the most colorful public art scenes in Colorado—literally. From pianos on street corners to murals on transformer boxes, this town knows how to turn the everyday into a canvas.

2025 marks 30 years of the City’s Art in Public Places program, and the creativity just keeps growing. Whether you’re admiring a sculpture downtown or catching a glimpse of art from your seat on the Transfort bus, Fort Collins keeps things fresh, unexpected, and very photo-worthy.

Want to see how you can get involved—or just where to spot the next masterpiece? Start here.

🎨 Why Fort Collins Is an Artsy Little Powerhouse

Art at the Bus Stop

Think Fort Collins is all beer and bikes? Think again. This town knows how to paint, sculpt, and piano its heart out—literally.

We’re talking murals on transformer cabinets, storm drains turned into street art, and painted pianos popping up downtown for anyone to play (yes, even you with your one-song repertoire). Fort Collins’ Art in Public Places program is turning the city into an open-air gallery, and 2025 marks 30 years of doing just that.

Here’s why Fort Collins might be Colorado’s most creative town:

🎹 Pianos About Town

A local favorite—these public pianos are painted by local artists and placed across downtown for anyone to play. It’s a perfect mashup of spontaneous music and visual flair. Learn more.

🎨 Transformer Cabinet Murals

Since 2004, artists have been turning plain utility boxes into bright, bold murals all over town. It’s art with a purpose: these paint jobs help reduce graffiti and bring color to unexpected corners of FoCo. Want to get involved? The city is taking artist applications through April 29. Details here.

🚌 Art at the Bus Stop

Transfort buses and shelters now double as canvases thanks to the My Fort Collins art project, highlighting artists’ stories and local pride. We call it culture on wheels.

💧 Storm Drain Murals

Yep, even the storm drains are getting an artistic upgrade. These temporary murals educate folks about protecting our local watershed—with serious style.

🖼️ Public Sculpture

From whimsical to abstract, Fort Collins is stacked with sculpture—from the Civic Center to Oak Street Plaza. One of the latest? Sunset Over Horsetooth by local legend Amelia Caruso is currently being painted downtown.

From neighborhood murals to painted crosswalks, Fort Collins doesn’t just support public art—it lives it. It’s another reason this town stays colorful, creative, and full of community vibes.

So next time you’re out and about, look around—you’re walking through one of Colorado’s most vibrant galleries.

🎨 Want to add more local color to your life? Check out the Art in Public Places program and Pianos About Town to get involved.

🎨 FoCo Art Vibes Poll

If you could magically turn one everyday object in Fort Collins into a work of public art, what would you pick?

☑️ Tap to vote—we’ll share the most popular pick in Monday’s issue!

🗓 What’s Happenin’ in Fort Collins: Event Listings

🎭 Friday, April 11

🆓 Free Events

SMOK BBQ Live Music: Christine Alice📍 Foothills Mall | ⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM 🆓 Free | BBQ and live music. That’s Friday done right.

The Bloom Room at FoCo Café📍 FoCo Café | ⏰ 5:00–9:00 PM | 🆓 Free | Herbal mocktails and mellow vibes return to the café lounge.

💵 Ticketed Events

The Minutes – OpenStage Theatre📍 Lincoln Center | ⏰ 7:30–10:30 PM 💵 $15–$39 | A sharply funny political satire digging into small-town council drama.

Cyclops w/ Machaki, Ridence, HazelHatesYou b2b SINK ME!📍 Aggie Theatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM 💵 $15–$22 | Bass heads, assemble. It’s going to be a heavy night at the Aggie.

Heffy at The Coast📍 The Coast | ⏰ 7:00 PM 💵 $19.68 | A night of alt sounds and indie energy downtown.

Virtuoso Series Concert: Ron Francois & Mauricio Nader📍 CSU UCA | ⏰ 7:30–9:30 PM 💵 $0–$15 | Violin and piano, beautifully paired. CSU students get in free.

Party for Partners: Goes West 📍 Lincoln Center | ⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM 💵 $35–$300 | Western-themed fundraiser supporting youth mentorship programs.

Forage to Feast: Cooking with Mushrooms📍 Farm Fusion | ⏰ 5:00 PM 💵 Learn how to prep and cook wild mushrooms—flavor-packed and locally foraged.

Saturday, April 12

🆓 Free Events

Children’s Authors & Illustrators Signing📍 Old Firehouse Books | ⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM 🆓 Free | Local authors and illustrators—bring the kids and their questions.

Foothills Winter Farmers Market📍 Foothills Mall | ⏰ 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

🆓 Free | The season is winding down—grab your goodies while you can.

Spring Artisan Market📍 Senior Center | ⏰ 10:00 AM–4:00 PM 🆓 Free | Over 60 local makers and artists selling handmade goods.

💵 Ticketed Events

31st Annual Powwow & Art Market

📍 Northside Aztlan Center | ⏰ 4:00–10:00 PM 💵 $3–$15 Celebrate Indigenous culture with art, food, drumming, and dancing.

Cake Decorating: Piping Spring Florals

📍 Ginger and Baker | ⏰ 11:00 AM–1:00 PM 💵 $70 | Learn to pipe delicate spring blooms like a pro.

Signature Fly Fishing School

📍 St. Peter’s Fly Shop | ⏰ 9:00 AM–4:00 PM 💵 $175 | A deep dive into fly fishing from local experts.

Easter Keg Hunt

📍 Fort Collins & Loveland | ⏰ 1:00–5:00 PM 💵 $45 | This adult Easter egg hunt involves brews and prizes. Hop to it.

Olympic Village at The Coast📍 The Coast | ⏰ 5:00 PM 💵 $24.21 | Games, beats, and a whole vibe.

Baja Birria Cooking Class📍 Ginger and Baker | ⏰ 5:30–8:30 PM 💵 $95 | Learn to make mouthwatering birria tacos and tortillas.

It’s a 2000s Party – Fort Collins📍 Aggie Theatre | ⏰ 9:00 PM 💵 $20 | From flip phones to MySpace jams—come dressed to impress.

Sunday, April 13

💵 Ticketed Events

The Minutes – OpenStage Theatre📍 Lincoln Center | ⏰ 7:30–10:30 PM💵 $15–$39 | Didn’t catch it yet? Final showing of the weekend.

AJ Lee & Blue Summit📍 The Coast | ⏰ 8:00 PM 💵 $27 | A soulful blend of bluegrass and Americana.

Imani Winds & Boston Brass📍 Lincoln Center | ⏰ 7:30 PM 💵 $20+ | Two powerhouse groups on one epic bill.

Intro to Fly Fishing📍 St. Peter’s Fly Shop | ⏰ 12:00–4:00 PM💵 $125 | New to the fly rod? This class is for you.

Improv Level 1 Workshop – The Comedy Fort📍 Comedy Fort | ⏰ 1:00–4:00 PM 💵 $200 | Session one of this 6-week improv series kicks off Sunday.

🌤 Fort Collins Weather Outlook

Friday, April 11 | Sunny — 82° / 44° A perfect day for patio beers, park hangs, or pretending you’re getting work done outside. SPF up!

Saturday, April 12 | Partly Cloudy — 86° / 49° Warm, breezy, and full of potential. Winds pick up in the afternoon—secure your picnic blanket.

Sunday, April 13 | Partly Cloudy — 66° / 35° A cooldown is coming. Expect gusty winds from the west and a slight chance of afternoon showers.

Monday, April 14 | Partly Cloudy — 59° / 33° Cooler with scattered clouds. Not quite sweatshirt weather, but close enough.

Keep Fort Collins Colorful

Photo by FoCo Creative District

Whether you’re tapping a few keys on a painted piano or spotting a new mural on your bike ride, you’re part of what makes Fort Collins a creative playground. Want more ways to get involved in the local scene? Check out Art in Public Places, and don’t miss the open artist calls if you or someone you know wants to leave a mark (literally).

Catch you Monday with more FoCo fun. Until then, stay colorful.

—Your What’s Happenin’ Fort Collins Crew 💛

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