Hey again, Northern Colorado! 👋

There’s something magic about knowing what’s going on around you—not just the big stuff, but the small, local, beautifully ordinary things. A concert in the park. Wildflowers up north. A bakery you didn’t know you needed.

That’s why I started NOCO Word with my partner David. Not because we have all the answers, but because we believe community is built in the noticing. In stories passed around. In cheering each other on.

This newsletter is our way of sharing the good stuff happening in our backyard. If it helps you feel more connected to this place we call home—even just a little—then we’re doing what we came here to do.

Thanks for reading. Now let’s get into what’s blooming, buzzing, and building across NOCO this week. ⬇️

From Spuds to Spurs: The Story of the Greeley Stampede

Before it was fireworks and Ferris wheels, it was potatoes.

The Greeley Stampede—now one of the largest and most iconic rodeo celebrations in the world—began humbly in the late 1800s as a small community gathering to celebrate Greeley’s local potato farmers. It wasn’t until 1922, though, that the first official event took root, proudly named the Greeley Spud Rodeo.

That inaugural year had all the charm of a prairie-town fair: bucking broncs, roping competitions, a pie-eating contest, horse and bike races, and even a rip-roaring Model-T “free for all” across two dusty miles. About 2,500 folks came out to cheer, feast, and hoot through the day—and a tradition was born.

By 1920 (just before the official naming), Greeley’s summer celebration had grown large enough to claim the title of world’s biggest fair or festival. Over time, the event rebranded itself as the “Go West with Greeley” Rodeo—a nod to Horace Greeley, the town’s namesake and his rallying cry: “Go West, young man.”

Eventually, in 1972, a community contest gave us the name we know today: the Greeley Independence Stampede.

Today, the Stampede draws nearly 450,000 attendees each year—welcoming guests not just from across Colorado, but from Canada, Mexico, England, and beyond. It now stands as the second-largest fair in Colorado, and its PRCA-sanctioned rodeo ranks among the biggest on the planet.

But at its heart, the Stampede still feels like a hometown story. A celebration of hard work, community pride, wide open spaces—and the enduring spirit of the West.

Greeley’s spud roots may be humble, but the legacy? Pure gold. 🥔✨🐎

JUST A PINCH BAKERY: Sweet treats, savory eats, and a great place to meet.

Tucked just off Eisenhower, Just a Pinch Bakery is serving up something special: kolaches. These pillowy pastries—originally from Central Europe—can be a little sweet, or a little savory, and totally worth the stop. The name comes from kolo, meaning “circle” or “wheel,” and yes, they’re as satisfying as they sound. What does that mean for your wallet and palette? A great treat at a good price. 

My partner David and I often find ourselves here post-motorcycle ride, splitting a warm kolache or two and grabbing a cappuccino next door at Loveland Coffee Company. (Pro tip: the coffee’s fantastic, the staff’s even better, and the tables are big enough for a meeting—or a long, chatty catch-up.)

Whether you're fueling up with friends or grabbing a bite solo, this duo of local gems makes a perfect pairing.

Cereal, Synth, and a Whole Lotta Heart

What happens when you mix neon nostalgia with a heap of generosity? You get the 2nd Annual Cereal Box Community Concert—and this year, it’s bigger, brighter, and even more heartwarming.

On Wednesday, July 16, That Eighties Band (yes that one—the Denver-based tribute group that’s rocked stages for Google, Disney, and 2,000+ other shows) will light up Centennial Park in Wellington from 6:30–8:30PM with a free-spirited flashback to the ‘80s. Expect Bon Jovi, Journey, Def Leppard—and maybe a little Moonwalk if the mood strikes.

But this isn’t just a dance party. It’s a community fundraiser with a twist: admission is $10 and a box of cereal (kids are free), and here’s the kicker—Black Hills Energy is matching every cereal box donation. Bring 2, they’ll double it. Bring 4, they’ll double that too.

Your donations will go straight to the Wellington Community Services Center Capital Campaign, helping build a permanent home for the local food pantry and service organizations. And yes—cereal is one of the most requested items.

Come for the hits, stay for the cause. Pack a picnic, grab a bite from a food truck, sip something cold from the Beverage Tent (cheers, American Legion Post 176), and dance your heart out on behalf of your neighbors.

🎶 Community never sounded so good.

From Berthoud in the south to the Wyoming state line up north, Fort Morgan in the east to Estes out west, each week we will to pull together a list of the top events happening all over Northern Colorado.

July 15-16, 2025

TUESDAY, JULY 15

Open Mic Night @ Da Big Kahuna Tiki Bar & Grill (Loveland) — 7pm to 10pm — $20 Nacho's & 2 Beers — 548 N Lincoln Ave, Loveland, CO, United States, Colorado

Open Mic Tuesday's @ Scrumpy's (Fort Collins) — 6pm to 10pm — 215 N College Ave, Fort Collins CO, 80524

Line Dancing on the Lawn at Foothills Mall (Fort Collins) — 7pm-9pm — New to line dance? No problem! Come learn with us! — $10 per person — 215 E Foothills Pkwy, Fort Collins, CO

GuloGulo Writing Workshop & Poetry Open Mic @ Wolverine Farm Publick House (Fort Collins) — Workshop at 4pm, Poetry Open Mic staarts at 6pm — 316 Willow Street Fort Collins, CO 80524

Japanese Street Food Cooking Class @ Ginger & Baker Teaching Kitchen — (Fort Collins) 5:30 pm - 8:30pm — $95 per person — 359 Linden St Fort Collins, CO 80524

Happy Hour Yoga @ The Movement Apothecary (Fort Collins) — 4:30 to 5:30pm — 2721 S. College Ave., Unit 3 Fort Collins, CO 80525

Pickle and Preserve @ Farm Fusion (Fort Collins) — 2 to 4pm — What you'll make: Quick-Pickled Veggies, Herb-Infused Vinegars, and a Garden Chimichurri.Garden goodies: Cucumbers, carrots, beets, peppers, herbs.Take-home: Mason jars of pickles + herb vinegar. — 2627 Cattlemans Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA

Humdinger Trivia @ City Star Brewing (Berthoud) — 6 to 8pm

Jake Shimabukuro w/ Venture Still (duo) @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre — 7:45pm (Doors open at 5:45pm)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

Magic Rat Film Showcase @ The Elizabeth Hotel (Fort Collins) — 6pm to 9pm — $10 per person — WOMEN IN FILM – Cassie LeFevre, Hannah Tran, and Madison Santamaria — 111 Chestnut Street Fort Collins, CO 80524

The Concert Truck @ Library Park (Fort Collins) — 10:30am — Feel the power of classical music without the stuffy vibes

The Concert Truck @ Civic Center Park (Fort Collins) — 6:30pm — Feel the power of classical music without the stuffy vibes

Bonsai Workshop at Gilded Goat Brewing Company - Downtown location (Fort Collins) — 6:30 to 8:30pm — $85 — 132 W Mountain Ave Fort Collins, CO 80524

Gateway Show @ The Comedy Fort (Fort Collins) — 7:30pm — 167 N College Ave, Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO 80524

Euchre Tournament @ Stodgy Brewing Co. (Fort Collins) — 5:30 to 8:30pm Free to play, beer related prizes — Show up around 5pm, you need to be in your seats and ready to start by 5:30! 

Concerts in the Pioneer Courtyard featuring Once Upon a Tune (Berthoud) — 5:30  to  8:30pm — Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum 224 Mountain Ave, Berthoud, CO 80513

Need Help Putting Your Business on the Map (Literally)?

Hey neighbor! 👋 I run FATE Local, a local branding, web, and marketing studio that helps Northern Colorado businesses look better, sound better, and get found online.

Whether you need a new logo, a website that actually works, or help climbing the Google search ladder—we’ve got your back. We're small, nimble, and right here in your backyard. No call centers. No cookie-cutter solutions. Just clean design, thoughtful strategy, and results you can see.

🔗 Learn more about what we do at FATE Local →

Let’s make your business the one everyone’s talking about.

— Megan
Founder, FATE Local
Based in NoCo, built for NoCo 💪

That’s it for this one! Stay Curious, NOCO! See you on Thursday.