In this issue of City News, you’ll find out how to settle into fall with Pumpkins on Parade, how to become a Volunteer Naturalist and how to celebrate CSU Homecoming with events at Collindale Golf Course!

- Kelly DiMartino, City Manager

Don’t forget to voluntarily turn your sprinkler system off by Oct. 1. This shouldn’t affect your lawn’s health – it will come back strong and green in the spring while helping save water.

Eligible residential Fort Collins Utilities water customers who pledged to save water and turn off their sprinkler system by Oct. 1 will be entered into a drawing for $50 off their water bill.

October 20-23  |  6-9 p.m., nightly

The Gardens on Spring Creek’s Pumpkins on Parade is a fun-for-all-ages celebration of Halloween and the harvest, featuring hundreds of pumpkins and gourds arranged across The Gardens in artistic displays.

Don your costumes and share your creativity through our Carved Pumpkin Contest to receive half off your event ticket! Enjoy activities like a full bar, pumpkin bowling and entertainment by TimFoolery the Magician and Amy and the Good Little Witches.

The community favorite not-so-spooky Halloween event is back and better than ever! Kiddos ages ten years and under receive treat bags filled with goodies, including coupons, promotional materials, and of course, candy. Families also enjoy a hayride, a walk through the not-so-spooky barn and plenty of photo opportunities. Tickets will be available online starting at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, October 5 on a first-come, first-served basis. *Please remember, reservations are only needed for participating children; adults do not need tickets for entry.

FC Moves is hosting a Dia de los Muertos-themed bike-in movie night at the Museo de las Tres Colonias on Saturday, Oct. 29, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The movie “Coco” will be shown, and FC Moves will have small giveaways and hot cocoa.

On Friday, October 14, Collindale Golf Course will be hosting a day of events to celebrate CSU’s homecoming weekend. Kick things off with a golf tournament benefitting the Youth Golf Scholarship Fund and The Tom Ehlers Student Athlete Endowment Fund at CSU, and end the day with Friday Night Lights from 3–10 p.m. The free event will include food vendors, live music and a fireworks display.

Applications are open this month for the final round of the City’s ARPA Small Business Grants. As part of pandemic recovery efforts, the City launched the Small Business Grants program to help the local small business community address impacts of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Fifty-four artists will open their studios for the Fort Collins Artist Studio Tour and Sale October 22-23. The free self-guided tour reveals the creative process right in the artists' studios. Meet artists, buy original artworks and learn how artists create pottery, jewelry, painting, sculpture, fiber art and more!

Stop by the Studio Tour Preview Exhibit at the Lincoln Center beforehand to preview artists’ work, pick up your Studio Tour Map and plan your visits.

(Shown here: Jeanne Shoaff’s studio)

Always wanted to be an interpretive park ranger? Love sharing cool facts and history with family and friends while visiting natural areas? Become a Volunteer Naturalist!

Natural Areas is offering a two-week training session to teach you to be an interpretive guide. After completion, you can lead programs and share your passion with the community. Training will be on various dates between Oct. 25- Nov 15. Only 20 spots are available for this year's Volunteer Naturalist training.

Pumpkins on Parade: October 20-23
Volunteer to assist with set up, greeting guests, scanning tickets and leading the family-friendly games and activities. Register.

Treatsyvlvania: October 29-30
Volunteer to hand out candy to youngsters at this beloved family event for safe trick-or-treating. 

Event Options (Click below to sign up.)

• Oct 28 | 5:30-7 p.m.
• Oct 29 | 5-7 p.m.
• Oct 30 | 1-3 p.m.
• Oct 30 | 4-7:30 p.m. 

A new special exhibition, Earth Matters, is underway at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and the museum has worked to develop special programming around the themes of the exhibition. Programs are available for the public to attend; explore the complete list of programs before planning your next visit.

Earth Matters is open until January 8 and is free with museum admission.

Fall is right around the corner, bringing cooler temperatures, CSU football, and, yes, leaf removal. Whether you dread or enjoy this annual chore, the City wants to remind you that pushing leaves and lawn debris into City streets isn’t just unsafe, it’s illegal. Consider composting leaves or find a drop off facility using the City’s recycling resources.

If you or someone you know needs help with leaf removal, consider signing up for the City’s Adopt A Neighbor program.

Water-efficient faucets and toilets are the way to go. They’re better for the environment and your wallet. But with less water running through your plumbing, it’s critical to keep fats, oils and grease (FOG) and trash out of your pipes.  

"Flushable" wipes are not flushable, despite being advertised that way. They can get stuck in your pipes, break City equipment and cause sewer backups. 

Toss FOG in the garbage and only flush the three Ps: pee, poo and toilet paper.

October is Radon Awareness Month and a great time to test your home for this naturally occurring, radioactive gas. Radon is colorless and odorless and is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Testing your home is easy: Pick up a short-term ($6) or long-term ($20) test kit at the Fort Collins Senior Center (1200 Raintree Dr.).

Learn more about the risks of radon in your home at fcgov.com/radon.

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