The Fair Just Took Over Loveland — Here's Your Move

Hey Loveland —

Fair week is officially here, and if you only do one thing this weekend, we already know what it is (scroll to Must-Do). Between the rodeo, a free concert, and — yes — an actual event built for cowboy romance readers, this issue has range.

Thanks to everyone who's been replying with tips lately. Keep them coming. Got a business, event, or good boy/girl we should feature? Just hit reply.

Let's get into it.

Loveland's about to get loud, in the best way. The Larimer County Fair rolls into town Friday and doesn't let up until Tuesday, with a free concert and at least one delightfully random event rounding out the weekend.

Larimer County Fair — Free gate admission, rides, animals, and a rodeo. Details here.
The Gist: The 2026 fair runs Friday, July 31 through Tuesday, Aug. 4 at The Ranch, themed "Colorado & Country" for the U.S. 250th and Colorado's 150th anniversaries.
Why It Matters: It's the first big event on the fairgrounds' brand-new 21-acre Event Lawn, and it closes Sunday night with a synchronized drone show right after the rodeo. More on that here.

Studio Vino: Happy Campers Paint Night — A guided paint-and-sip, Friday evening. Grab a spot.
The Gist: Friday, 7–9 p.m., cozy outdoor-adventure themed canvas session.
Why It Matters: An easy, low-key date night before the fair crowds take over the rest of the weekend.

Sounds of Centerra: Be Kind Rewind — Free 90s and 2000s concert, Friday night. Event info.
The Gist: Friday, 7–9 p.m. at Chapungu Sculpture Park — the free outdoor series' final show of the summer, paired with a back-to-school night.
Why It Matters: No ticket, no cost, and it's an easy family plan before the fair opens.

Wild Hearts & Western Nights — A night built for cowboy-romance readers. Ticket info.
The Gist: Saturday, 6–8:30 p.m. at The Ranch, tickets $55–$99.
Why It Matters: It's exactly the kind of niche, only-in-Loveland-this-week plan worth knowing about — even if you're just telling a friend who'll actually go.

How are you spending fair week? Reply and let us know:

New Event Lawn debuts at the fair — Details.
The Gist: This year's fair is the first major event held on The Ranch's new 21-acre Event Lawn.
Why It Matters: More room, less scramble for shade or seating if you're headed out this week.

No City Council meeting Aug. 4 — Meeting schedule.
The Gist: Council's regular August meetings shift to Aug. 18 and 19; there's no meeting on the 4th.
Why It Matters: Good to know if you're tracking a city agenda item.

Free Saturday yoga continues — Fitness on the Plaza.
The Gist: Free all-levels yoga at The Foundry Plaza, Saturday mornings through Aug. 29.
Why It Matters: An easy, free way to start a fair-week Saturday before the crowds show up.

Farmers Market keeps rolling — Market info.
The Gist: Sundays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Fairground Park through Sept. 27.
Why It Matters: A solid, low-effort Sunday-morning plan if the fair crowds aren't your thing.

Backyard Tap — A dog-friendly beer garden downtown with rotating food trucks and a genuinely relaxed patio. Good pick if you want to unwind without a plan. backyardtap.com

HUB Café by Fresh Plate — The newer spot at Kinston Centerra: Colorado-fresh breakfast, lunch, and happy hour with a patio and Front Range views. Worth a stop before or after the fair. centerra.com/kinston/hub-cafe

Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project — Downtown, dog-friendly, and known for barrel-aged and fruit-forward beers you won't find elsewhere in town. verbotenbrewing.com

Sky Bear Brewery & Pub is a family operation — daughter Amanda runs the front of house, while her parents Mark and Linda handle the brewing and the rest. What started as homebrewing at Mark and Linda's place turned into a downtown Loveland taproom, and now it's turning into something bigger: Sky Bear is upgrading to a larger space just around the corner on 4th Street, aiming to open by fall 2026.

The new spot will have more outdoor room, including a back patio and two front patios, plus an upstairs space that can hold more than 100 people for private events. It's a two-minute walk from their current location, so regulars won't have to go far to find the same family-run beer, cocktails, and pub food they already know — just with more room to spread out.

It's a nice reminder of how much of downtown Loveland's food and drink scene is still genuinely family-run. Follow along at skybearbrewery.com, or read more on the move via WhatNow's coverage.

No verified weekend fare cleared the bar this week — check Google Flights from DEN if you're feeling spontaneous.

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Colorado State University officially became a member of the Pac-12 Conference on July 1, joining Boise State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State, and Utah State alongside existing members Oregon State and Washington State. It's the result of a process CSU leadership set in motion back in 2024, and it puts the Rams on a bigger national stage — with CSU's athletic director calling it a historic, transformative moment for the university, not just its sports programs.

For Loveland's CSU-adjacent households, it's a genuine hometown-pride moment: more visibility, new rivalries, and a fresh season to watch unfold starting this fall. Read more via CSU Source.

Meet Sarge!— Hi, I am Sarge. I am a super sweet and loving older gentleman looking for a home, I like to cuddle, play with toys and give kisses. I have a good history with kids and cats. I can be body sensitive in my older age so I need a home without kids under 8. I do not like to share my food with other dogs and do not like when other dogs are in my personal space so I need a home as your only pup. I would love to have a chance to meet you and become a part of your family.

Fair-week honesty: the real test of stamina isn't the rodeo, it's finding parking. Godspeed, Loveland.

From the City of Loveland's own recap of this year's fair: this season's Event Lawn debut is being framed as a first look at what's ahead for The Ranch — more room for bigger gatherings and future festivals, with this year's fair as the opening chapter. Read the full post

Grab a friend at the fair and film a quick "ranking every fair food in one bite" reaction video — it's simple, it's local, and it's the kind of thing that does well precisely because everyone has an opinion about funnel cake.

That's fair week in a nutshell — go easy on the rides after the funnel cake. Thanks for reading, and thanks to everyone who forwards this to a friend; it's how we grow.

Got a tip, a business we should feature, or a good boy/girl for Pet Corner? Just reply. And if this was useful, forward it to someone who needs a weekend plan.