In a lot of places, New Year’s Eve looks the same: glitter, countdowns, champagne flutes clinking at midnight.

Northern Colorado has another option.

Here, for some, the year ends with the thud of hooves, the crack of the gate, and a rider trying to stay centered as the clock runs out.

For years now, Loveland has hosted a New Year’s Eve rodeo. One part sport, one part celebration, one part this feels about right. It’s not an old frontier ritual handed down through generations. It’s something newer, dating back to the mid-2000s, but it taps into an older instinct. Around here, you don’t tiptoe into a new year. You meet it head-on.

Rodeos have long been part of Northern Colorado life, not as spectacle, but as skill. Riding, roping, handling animals under pressure. These were practical abilities before they were ticketed events. Winter didn’t soften that relationship—it sharpened it.

So a New Year’s Eve rodeo makes a certain kind of sense.

Instead of reflecting quietly, the year goes out loud. Instead of counting down gently, it gets wrestled. There’s something comforting in that—especially in January. A reminder that beginnings here have never been delicate affairs.

The new year arrives either way. Around here, sometimes we greet it with dust in the air, cold in our lungs, and the understanding that staying upright is an achievement worth cheering.

I hear it as we walk—
not the crunch we were promised,
not the hush we rehearsed for,
but dry leaves talking back to our boots
along the Poudre’s edge.

I hear the creek moving,
freely, unafraid, unheld,
water carrying its long sentence onward,
flowing past pauses,
refusing the punctuation of ice.

Cottonwoods stand bare and patient.
The birds sing the wrong season,
call, stall, try again—
as if gently corrected by the air
rolling down Horsetooth’s shadow.

This is the sound of a place undecided,
a landscape breathing without commitment,
holding its coat open,
letting us pass through.

It is the land mid-thought.

We walk it quietly,
boots on borrowed ground,
listening—
while it lasts.

Northern Colorado Wildlife Center, based in Fort Collins, recently entered its 10th year of providing wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, education, and advocacy for the region’s injured and orphaned animals.

As part of marking this anniversary, the center announced new leadership with Michela Dunbar as executive director. Dunbar brings deep hands-on experience and wildlife rehabilitation credentials — including state and international licensing — and has been part of the organization for years. Her priority, she says, is to continue guiding the center with integrity, compassion, and long-term sustainability, keeping wildlife care strong for years to come.

Since its founding in 2016, the center has grown into an important regional resource, helping thousands of animals each year and educating tens of thousands of community members through outreach programs and public engagement.

If you’d like to learn more or support their work, you can visit their site at nocowildlife.org.

👉 Read the original article on North Forty News

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.

Books & Brews @ Sky Bear Brewery & Pub — 6pm (Loveland) — Sip, swap, repeat! Bring a book, grab a brew, and trade your reads with fellow bookworms downtown. 👉 RSVP & details

Sip & Script @ Sky Bear Brewery & Pub — 6 to 7:30pm (Loveland) — Learn calligraphy basics and craft your own 2026 vision or Bingo card — pens, ink, and all materials included! 👉 Grab your spot!

January Book Club @ Ginger and Baker — 6 to 8pm (Fort Collins) — Join the team for a lively discussion on this month’s food-themed book Good Things by Samin Nosrat 👉Get reading

Eva Rose King @ The Mayor of Old Town — 6pm (Fort Collins) — Colorado folk songstress Eva Rose King performs live at this cozy downtown venue — free admission 👉Folk tunes, cozy vibes, catch it live

New Mexico Lobos at Colorado State Rams Mens Basketball @ Moby Arena — 5pm (Fort Collins) — Cheer on CSU basketball vs. the New Mexico Lobos at Moby Arena. 👉Bring the green 

Social Deduction Game Night @ Purpose Brewing & Cellars — 6pm (Fort Collins) — Meet up for board-game fun including Werewolf, Avalon & more — newbies welcome! 👉Trust no one—drink good beer

Dinner with Entrepreneurs — Loveland Small Business Owners Edition — 7 to 10pm (Loveland) Share a meal, swap stories, and build community with fellow local business owners. 👉Grow your small-biz crew

Pottery Wheel Throwing 3-Day Immersion Series (Jan 6-8th) @ Our Town Market - 5957 Sky Pond Dr suite d160 (Loveland) — Dive deep into the clay — learn wheel technique, trimming, and glazing over this hands-on weekend workshop. 👉Get your hands dirty

Dim Sum Teaching Class @ Ginger and Baker Teaching Kitchen — 5:30pm to 8:30pm (Fort Collins) — Bring a date or grab friends and learn to make crab rangoons, shrimp siu mai, chicken dumplings, sauces and more with amazing instruction! 👉Yum yum, dim sum 

MTG Card Game Collective @ Loveland Public Library 4:00 pm (Loveland) Commander-style Magic The Gathering gameplay — bring decks & duel! 👉Draw cards, make plans, rule the multiverse.

Bingo Night Quick Play @ Sky Bear Brewery & Pub 6:00 to 7:00 PM (Loveland) — Quick-play bingo before comedy night! Prizes, laughs, and maybe a free beer or two. 👉B-I-N-GO & brews—win prizes before the laughs begin!

Comedy Night with LoCo Comedy @ Sky Bear Brewery & Pub 7:30 to 9:00 PM (Loveland) — Get your giggle on with LoCo Comedy’s hilarious lineup — host, headliner, features, openers, great drinks & food! Tickets are just $7.👉 Laugh your pint off

Foco Fondo Film Fest @ The Lyric 5:30 pm (Fort Collins) — Celebrate the love of bikes and community with this fundraising film festival showcasing short films 👉Get your spokes spinning and your popcorn ready

The Art and Science of Mushroom Farming | Poudre Pub Talk @ Salt Road Brewing 6pm (Fort Collins) — Dive into the fascinating world of organic mushroom cultivation with experts from Hazel Dell Mushrooms — learn about exotic varieties, techniques, and more over a pint. 👉 Get fungi with it

Friendly Reminders @ Aggie Theatre 8pm (Fort Collins) — Sit back for an indie-folkgrass groove from this string quartet blending folk, bluegrass, and jazz — perfect for cozy winter evenings of thoughtful lyricism and harmony. 👉 Harmony for your soul!

Rest & Reset: Deep Nourishment for the Nervous System @ Masque by Mask Balanced Skincare 7:15 pm (Fort Collins) — A restorative experience blending breathwork, gentle movement, and sound healing to soothe the nervous system and invite inner ease — perfect winter wind-down. 👉 Press reset

City Star Social Run @ City Star Brewing 6pm (Loveland) — Group run + post-brew hang — your Thursday fitness + fun routine. 👉 Run now, beer later!

Tabletop Networking for NOCO @ Centennial Leasing & Sales of Northern Colorado 8:15am to 10:30am (Windsor) — Connect with local professionals over board games and casual networking, 50 business cards required! 👉Get tickets

Knife Skills Class — Fajita Night @ Ginger & Baker 5:30 to 8:30pm (Fort Collins) — Sharpen your cooking game with hands-on knife technique training while you prep fajita night favorites 👉Slice like a chef, sizzle like a pro

Shovelin Stone with The Unweildies & Christine Alice @ Avogadro’s Number doors at 7pm, show at 8pm (Fort Collins) — A night of heartfelt folk and Americana featuring Shovelin Stone alongside local favorites. 👉 Warm harmonies for a cold night

Mike Finders @ City Star Brewing 6 to 8:30pm (Loveland) — Live music from Mike Finders — laid-back tunes with great brews. 👉Sip, with smooth live sounds.

2026 Vision Board Workshop @ 7 Old Town Square Suite 100, 9am to 12pm (Fort Collins) — Let creativity lead your year! Bring your goals to life with a vision board workshop — all materials provided and big dreams encouraged. 👉 Start the year with intention (and scissors)

Soft Hackle Fly Tying Class @ St. Peter’s Fly Shop 10am to 1pm, $75 (Fort Collins) — Learn the classic soft-hackle technique and tie versatile flies perfect for winter and spring fishing. 👉 Your fly box will thank you

Live Music w/ Luke Hann & Zolo @ Magic Rat, 4 to 6pm (Fort Collins) — Catch an energetic night of live music blending indie, rock, and groove-forward jams. 👉 Get your groove on!

The Dinner Detective: True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show @ Fort Collins Country Club 6 to 9pm (Fort Collins) — An interactive whodunit paired with a full dinner — solve the crime while suspects hide in plain sight. 👉Eat while sleuthing

Frogboat + Riding Carpets + Yellow Knife (Presented by Mishawaka) @ Avogadro’s Number 8pm, $15 (Fort Collins) — A stacked night of indie and alternative rock brought down the canyon and into Old Town. 👉 Three bands, zero regrets

Radius Claus: Local Music Festival @ Surfside 7; 2 to 12pm (Fort Collins) — Celebrate Fort Collins’ local music scene — One Day, 2 Stages, 16 Bands. 👉 Celebrate music.

The Droptines @ The Aggie Theatre 8pm (Fort Collins) — Texas-rooted Americana with grit, heart, and storytelling that hits just right live. 👉Boot-stompin’ songs and bar-room poetry.

Petals & Pints Floral Class @ Verboten Brewing 11am to 1pm, $65 (Loveland) — Create your own floral arrangement while sipping craft beer 👉 Drink beer, make flowers, impress yourself.

Derek Dames & OHL @ City Star Brewing 6 to 8:30pm (Loveland) — Live performance from Derek Dames with OHL — music, brews, crowd. 👉 Turn it up

Truly Beginning Sewing Class @ 5957 Sky Pond Dr suite d160, 1:30pm, $29 (Loveland) — Stitch your way into sewing with this beginner-friendly class — all materials included! 👉 Thread the needle

Improv Level 1 Class @ The Comedy Fort 1 to 4pm (Fort Collins) — Jump into the fundamentals of improv comedy in this beginner-friendly class focused on confidence, collaboration, and saying “yes, and.” 👉Learn laughs unscripted

Plantiness Party @ Ginger and Baker, 11am to 1pm, $55 (Fort Collins) — A celebration of all things green with plants, vendors, workshops, and community fun. 👉Buy plants. Feel joy.

Framed Moss Class @ Bath Garden Center 12 to 2pm, $40 (Fort Collins) — Design a low-maintenance moss art piece perfect for winter décor — no watering required. 👉All the greenery

Drag Brunch @ The Lyric 11am to 1pm (Fort Collins) — High-energy drag performances paired with brunch and cocktails — bold looks, bigger personalities. 👉Come hungry. Leave dazzled.

Kinky Boots @ Lincoln Center 2pm (Fort Collins) — The Tony-winning musical packed with heart, humor, and fabulous footwear. 👉Check out the killer choreography.

Customize Your First Aid Kit @ Estes Valley Library Hondius Room 6:30 pm (Estes Park) — Learn how to tailor your own first aid kit for adventures, trip length, group needs, and more — expert-led by a Wilderness EMT from Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue. 👉 Build your kit