Video by: CTV News Anchor Madison Sloan. She can be reached at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @MadisonLSloan.
Each year as the air gets cooler and the holiday season comes closer, Old Town Fort Collins shines bright. This Friday, the downtown holiday lights will be turned on.
The lights are scheduled to come on at 6:30 p.m., and will light Walnut Avenue, Linden Street, Pine Street, Old Town Square, Oak Street Plaza and Mountain Avenue, according to the Downtown Fort Collins’ event page.
“It takes [the city of Fort Collins] about five weeks to hang them all,” said Torre Wilkinson, volunteer coordinator and event specialist for the Downtown Business Association.
The lights will remain shining until approximately Feb. 14.
A lighting ceremony will take place in Oak Street Plaza from 5-6:30 p.m. Several groups from Colorado State University Center for the Arts will be performing, and hot chocolate and other treats will be available.
The ceremony and lighting is “a collaboration between the Downtown Business Association, the Downtown Development Authority and the City of Fort Collins,” Wilkinson said.
The three work together as organizations to put on this annual event.
Local sponsors (Blue Ocean Enterprises, Banner Health, Cosner Financial Group, Eye Center of Northern Colorado and First National Bank) pay the associated costs of the lights, and ensure Old Town stays lit through the winter.
With the holiday season fast approaching, let the festivities begin at this year’s downtown holiday lights.
Collegian Reporter Madison Wittman can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @madiwitt.