Poudre RiverFest Celebrates Our Love of the River With Live Music, Beer, More

An event celebrating the Northern Colorado gem, the Cache La Poudre River, happens every summer in Fort Collins. Even if you don't get on the river all the time, doesn't mean you won't enjoy the day celebrating the Poudre.

When is the Poudre RiverFest in Fort Collins for 2026?

Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., thousands will gather in the Old Town area of Fort Collins to get in touch with not only the river, but the community as well at Poudre RiverFest. It's hard to believe it all started over 30 years ago as a small "river clean up" excursion, when today it's such a big event.

READ MORE: The Free Monday Night Movies in Old Town Square for Summer

A Fun Free Event That's Educational as Well

The free Poudre RiverFest takes place at New Belgium, where we can enjoy their craft beers; it also has a lineup of bands throughout the day. However, the event is about educating the community on the aspects of the river - about river health, conservation, and watershed protection.

What Bands Will Be at Poudre RiverFest in 2026?

• Cary Morin Duo: 12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Antonio Lopez: 1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
• Desiderata: 2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Slow Caves: 4:00 pm. - 5:00 p.m.

There will also be activities such as a free yoga class on the grass at New Belgium, a free nature paining session inside New Belgium, a Kids/Family zone, and a drawing session using ink made from wood burned in the Cameron Peak wildfire.

Something that sounds very interesting to me, is that they'll also have a 30' x 10' tunnel that will be an "immersive journey along the Cache La Poudre." Find out more at the link above.