Issuu

AU G U S T 2 02 1

BREAKING OUT

H E A LTH + W E LLN E S S T H E FI T N ES S M ARSHAL L B RE AKS F REE I N FO R T C O L L I NS

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

AUGUST 2021 PUBLISHERS

Jahna Eichel | jahna.eichel@lifestylepubs.com Jason Eichel | jason.eichel@lifestylepubs.com AD DESIGNER

August: Breaking Out Into Town

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

IF THERE’S ONE THING WE’VE LEARNED FROM LIVING IN FORT COLLINS

Irene Middleman Thomas, Tyler Weston

IT’S THAT THERE IS ALWAYS AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF ACTIVITIES AND EXCITING THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN OUR TOWN. This issue highlights what we here at Lifestyle are spending our last month of summer doing- from the incredible Break Free Festival, Wine Fest benefiting Disabled Resource Services, the

Whitney

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mark Rush, Tyler Weston

Horsetooth International Film Festival, and all the local musicians hitting the stage this month, we are beyond excited to break out into the community for some FUN! Often, we get wrapped up in the day to day schedule of life- we forget about all thats new, exciting and ready to be explored. We get comfortable visiting the same spots, going to the same places and doing things we’re more familiar with. Well- it’s time to live life on the wild side this month and go experience things you may never have before. You may just find your next favorite hobby, band or fitness routine by simply living life in Fort Collins! Aren’t we lucky. As always, thanks for reading, and we’ll see you around town!

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Fort Collins Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Fort Collins area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of

ON THE COVER The Fitness Marshall 4

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Fort Collins Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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INSIDE THE ISSUE AUGUST 2021

FEATURES 12 Horsetooth International Film Festival Celebrating Local and Global Filmmakers

16 Wine Tastes Better with a Why Fort Collins’ Longest Standing and Most Charitable Wine Tasting

28 Any Time is Vail Time Not Just a Ski Town

32 Break Free Festival Celebrating Health and Fitness in Fort Collins

28 12

DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

Good Times

Around Town

Our Town

Food & Wine

22 Inspired By 28 Travel Destination 32 Healthy Lifestyle

F I N A L O P P O R T U N I T Y T O C A L L T H E F R O N T R O W O N M O U N TA I N H O M E

2 2 1 E M O U N TA I N AV E N U E , R E S I D E N C E 3 2 1 IN THE HEART OF OLD TOWN FORT COLLIN

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GOOD TIMES

The She Leads Project The She Leads Project celebrated their official launch at The Agave Room. Founded by local business owner Noelle Garcia, the nonprofit aims to help community members in overcoming adversity. Their first official fundraiser will be held August 5th at New Belgium Brewing, more details can be found at sheleadsproject.org

Xanadu Open House Xanadu Med Spa's annual open house gathered community members to help raise funds for charity and see demonstrations of services and treatments available in house. Staff and patrons mingled over food and learned about the benefitted charities and even had a chance to shop with Magpies Market on site.

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

Tiny House Festival Living tiny doesn't mean you have to give up on living comfortably. This fact was on full display at the Colorado Tiny Home Festival where builders, manufacturers and DIY gurus had their assorted tiny homes open wide to share ideas, experience, beautiful craftsmanship and clever uses of space with each other and festival attendees.

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

AROUND TOWN

BIKE TO WORK Bike to Work day is an absolute Fort Collins classic. Local businesses set up all over town and provide breakfast for people who choose to pedal rather than drive to work for the day. We caught up with The Dog Pawlor to join the action. So many smiling faces, bike helmets, and good eats!

OUTDOOR ARTISAN MARKET Your next must have item could be waiting. Vintage Marketplace is hosting a monthly outdoor artisan market featuring twenty other vendors and a sale on the entire store's interior. Next up is August 2nd from 10 AM until 5 PM at 6520 S College Avenue.

FARMSTAND On the Vine at Richmond Farms may be a mouthful of a name but they promise much more

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Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

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OUR TOWN

Horsetooth International Film Festival CELEBRATING LOCAL AND GLOBAL FILMMAKERS

THE FORT COLLINS ARTS SCENE IS NOT A THING EASILY FORGOTTEN. From music venues, art galleries and museums, circus troupes and community and professional theaters; there is some form of art to be found in nearly every corner of this city. Adding a new feather to this cap the last few years has been the Horsetooth International Film Festival, HIFF. While this is not the first or only opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their talents in Fort Collins, it is a little bit different and in a very tangible way. One of the most immediately noticeable differences between HIFF and some of the larger, older film festivals you may have attended, is the focus on community. Rather than simply screening films for eight hours a day and ignoring people’s desire to meet the creators whose work they are taking in, organizers decided to specifically focus on networking opportunities for local, national and international filmmakers, actors, crew members, and other creatives. This festival ties in art and music and actively encourages everyone to make connections with the other people in attendance, to build a community.

ARTICLE TYLER WESTON PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY HIFF 12

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

When the festival’s co-founders, John Hunt and Jesse Nyander first began dreaming up Fort Collins’ only international film festival, that community factor was a huge priority in how they envisioned the event. Both had participated in and helped to organize smaller local festivals in the past, but never something this ambitious. “I think it stemmed from a community need,” Hunt says of their motivations beyond personal ambition. A film festival allows an opportunity to not only celebrate that community but also to grow it and place a spotlight on the talent in our area. From there, it was simply a matter of creating the event. After teaming up with their Event Operations Manager, Taylor Strope, and Communications Director, Katrina Pfannkuch, they were able to pull off the herculean effort of launching a new film festival. “All of the arts have their own big events in Fort Collins, this is the film version.” Nyander says of the robust local art community and the need to celebrate film as a part of that. Last year, when COVID forced so many events to be cancelled, the team was forced to adapt. Cancelling might’ve been easier, but they couldn’t lose their steam. They couldn’t let this thing they had created, only in its second year, sputter out. The solution? To take advantage of some of the more unique film watching opportunities available in Fort Collins; The Holiday Twin Drive In Theatre and The Lyric Cinema. Outdoor seating - a social distancing dream. This year, they’ve decided to stick with these distinctly Fort Collins venues while also screening films at The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Promising a full week of top-notch film from around the world, music and discussion. One filmmaker to keep an eye out for this year is Ben Hess. His short film Maggie won a crowd favorite award as well as the award for Best Colorado Short Film. Hess also participated in the inaugural 2019 festival with a music video he made for local rockers Whippoorwill. He’s since made a second video with the band and says the music video category is one of the more unique features of the festival. As a relatively new filmmaker Hess says HIFF has played a significant role in his development. “They definitely try to give a stage to local filmmakers,” Hess said of his breaking into film festivals through HIFF. His music videos and original short films have gone on to be included in other film festivals across the country and even win a few more awards.

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

OUR TOWN (CONTINUED)

Also returning, after winning last year’s Women in Film and Media Colorado Content Award, is Marin Lepore. After attending the festival in 2019, having worked on a friend’s film that was selected, she came back last year with her own submission. It was the pilot episode for a web series titled, I Put the Bi in Bitter, inspired by her own experiences in high school. Lepore has submitted again this year, and is also working on her first animated project. “I think what makes HIFF unique is the quality of content they select,” Lepore says of the burgeoning international festival, “I feel like it’s above a lot of other film festivals that curate for quantity over quality.” Always aiming bigger, the HIFF team has got a few surprises up their sleeve to add to this year’s festival, although they weren’t inclined to divulge them all. What they could tell us is that attendees can look forward to a week, or just one day if that’s your preference, filled with some of the best original film work available both locally and globally. However they grow their goal remains steadfast, building a festival that is designed specifically to help the local film community grow.

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

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FOOD & WINE

WINE TASTES Better with a Why FORT COLLINS’ LONGEST STANDING AND MOST CHARITABLE WINE TASTING

ON THE LENGTHY LIST OF THINGS YOU MIGHT DO BENEFITING CHARITY, DRINKING FINE WINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD MAY NOT OFTEN COME UP AS A POSSIBILITY. Disabled Resource Services’ annual Wine Fest fundraiser has been changing that for Northern Colorado residents. While they were unable to do it last year, the organization’s ambitious and delicious fundraising event is back on August 6th for it’s next installment, nearing forty years, and grants it’s participants a rare opportunity to not only sample a multitude of wines and beers, but also to discuss them with the vintners, brewers and distributors whose expertise brings them to our homes and glasses. We’ll talk more about the wine soon. But first, a little about Disabled Resource Services or DRS. Larimer and Jackson counties here in Northern Colorado are home to more than thirty thousand people with disabilities, many are unemployed or underemployed and living in poverty. Often this is due to difficulty finding work, particularly jobs that are able to provide the accommodations that would be necessary for them to perform at their best. Many also lack an interpersonal support system that could enable their success. The goal of DRS, as a center for independent living, is to provide Photo Provided by DRS

resources and guidance for people that enable them to lead more productive, self-directed, and independent lives. The majority of their staff and board is composed of people with a disability as well.

CONTINUED >

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY TYLER WESTON 16

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

“We usua l ly bri ng out ou r best stu ff. Ou r port, ca bernet sauv ignon, merlot.”

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

FOOD & WINE (CONTINUED)

As Joan LaBelle, DRS’ Executive Director and a person with a disability herself puts it, “A person with a disability is best suited to advise a person with a disability.” For non-profit organizations such as DRS, fundraising is a huge part of reaching and assisting their target community. Working with people of any age or disability, they set goals, advocate, provide referrals, and even independent living training to reduce the stress of life and improve people’s daily experiences in a world that often fails to consider the needs of people with disabilities. “We do things with people instead of for people,” Dave Swinehart, DRS’ Director of Development and Marketing, says of their approach, “empowering people to take control of their lives.” One of the more successful programs piloted by DRS is their durable medical equipment locker. The goal is to make various medical equipment that can often be cost prohibitive to a person with limited income more accessible to our community, thereby improving the ability of people with disabilities to live more independently than they might otherwise. Wine Fest is DRS’ biggest fundraising event and provides a large portion of their annual budget. That being said, they pull out all of the stops. With unlimited wine and other drinks available for tasting, hors d’oeuvres a plenty, raffles and a silent auction for a multitude of luxurious prizes, this is not an event to be missed. Hosted at the Hilton Fort Collins, participants can even rent a room in a block reserved specifically for the event. With more than 150 participating wineries and over 500 wines available to sample, a room may not be a bad idea. Still, if you prefer the comfort of home after a few hundred sips, DRS has partnered with its sponsors to provide LYFT rides home to anyone in need. After all, making sure everyone arrives at home safely is an important part of hosting excellent and long-standing parties. They’ve also had an app developed to help people keep track of their favorites through the difficult-to-trace vines of taste testing. VIP ticket buyers will not be disappointed to be sure. Early access to the event means more time for food, wine, and conversation with the experts. Additionally they will have access to a private hospitality room where they can take a load off and rest between rounds and, perhaps most appealingly, a larger wine glass. 18

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

Photo Provided by DRS

“It’s a cocktail party with a purpose,” Swinehart says of the event, “It’s a way for people to celebrate the opening of society again for a worthy cause.” Not to be left out of blending their wines with a quality cause, local wineries also take part in the Wine Fest fundraiser. One of those is Laporte’s Ten Bears Winery. Bill Conkling, the founder and vintner behind the winery’s delicious boutique wines has been participating for thirteen years now and says he enjoys getting to share his wines and knowledge in the name of a good cause and benefit to his community. He’ll bring several bottles of a variety of his wines to share with Wine Fest visitors and has two very important tips for first timers to the event. Arrive early, and don’t be afraid to ask for small pours or dump out overly generous ones. There is quite a bit of wine to sample after all, if you have too much too early, you’ll definitely miss out on more than you might otherwise. “We usually bring out our best stuff,” Conklin says of Ten Bears’ participation in the fundraiser, “our port, cabernet sauvignon, merlot.” Conklin also mentioned he plans to bring his Cameron Pass White, a new release made from a hybrid grape called Aromella. This aromatic cross between American and traditional European wine grape varieties gives the new wine a taste that is truly distinct and delicious. Whether you prefer white or red varieties, or perhaps just love benefitting your community, Wine Fest has something for everyone. You might find your new favorite wine or win big in the silent auction, but you’ll absolutely help to provide assistance for some of our communities most vulnerable residents. After last year’s event having to be cancelled, the tickets this year are selling quicker than they ever have in the past and the DRS team is seeing their goals not only realized but exceeded. The more the merrier is their motto for this event of course and tickets can be purchased at winefestfc.org

“We do th i ngs w ith people i nstead of for people, empower i ng people to ta ke control of thei r l ives.”

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

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INSPIRED BY

goes on

the beat

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY TYLER WESTON

THERE IS NO NEED TO REMIND YOU OF THE COVID-19 PAN-

some good fortune present itself through

DEMIC. It affected every community in our country, geographic and

the more sparsely available quarantine

social alike. Still, in Fort Collins the stakes seemed to feel higher.

shows; playing a few socially distanced

With so much of the local identity wrapped up in live music, and so

outdoor shows around town, streaming

many professional musicians calling this place home, could we ever

at Washington’s, and even playing at Red

recover? Of course, it didn’t take long for us to find ways to adapt and

Rocks. All great opportunities but without

persevere. From live-streamed concerts to drive-in theater shows

the crowds as they might traditionally

and small, private backyard gatherings, Fort Collins showed how

appear; dancing, singing and cheering, it

magical a place it truly can be and kept it’s music alive.

wasn’t quite the same.

After over a year of surviving on less frequent shows in substan-

“It’s like a tug of war type of relationship,”

tially different circumstances, things are coming back to normal.

Ruby reflects on the musician and crowd

Perhaps even better than before. Marquees and schedules are rap-

dynamic, “if they’re really excited we go with

idly filling up and national acts have their tours scheduled to pass

them and that thing didn’t happen as much

through our little music mecca once again. While there may still be

with the pandemic.” The ability to have

cause for caution, there is also reason to celebrate. Live music, in all

crowds gathered closely and that electric

of its crowded room and sticky floored glory, is back. For the profes-

exchange of energy it can create is what he

sional musicians and music industry workers in our area, that means

missed most during quarantine and cau-

their careers are back.

tious, socially distanced shows.

Lance Ruby, one of those professional musicians I mentioned,

While the gigs were down in an overall

is ready. You may have become acquainted with Ruby’s musi-

sense Ruby managed to stay busy by taking

cal stylings with one of several big local acts he performs with.

on more guitar students, many digitally. He

Musketeer Gripweed, Graham Good and the Painters, Bevin Luna,

also took some of the down time to spend

Bo Depena and Crescent City Connection, to name a few. These

more focused on honing his craft, practicing

and his other projects, along with teaching lessons, keep Ruby

and recording both as a hired gun and band

pretty busy in a typical scenario. He was also lucky enough to have

member alike.

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

CONTINUED >

Mike Shamrock at Higher Grounds Studios

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

INSPIRED BY (CONTINUED)

Lance Ruby at Higher Grounds Studios

“My playing is probably the best it’s ever been,” Ruby says, excited to share his work with audiences again. Another of our local pros is Mike Shamrock. He’s something of a tribute band wiz these days and you’ll find him performing in bands like Guerilla Radio, Sabotage and others that pay homage to many of the bands that inspired him as a young player and, like many of us, provided the soundtrack to his youth. He also performs original music and teaches guitar. For Shamrock the gigging schedule didn’t really seem to slow down once we got past that initial few months of quarantine. Taking advantage of opportunities at bars that had been able to re-open and wanted live music even if it was for significantly smaller crowds. Tickets were more expensive and the pay a bit less reliable but they were able to continue working.

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

Not all of them managed and like many other businesses were forced to close their doors permanently.

ergized crowds, “they’re coming out in droves and

The crew at The Aggie Theater is one that made it

it’s awesome.”

through and now, they’re ready to provide a music expe-

One group that may have had it worse off are the

rience that is better than ever. Dalton Latham, General

industry workers who staff our venues. Bars are one

Manager at The Aggie says they’ve been opportunisti-

thing, and were allowed to open again fairly early

cally working to improve the venue over their closure.

on. What took much longer was to open the doors of

“People coming in are getting an experience they’ve

concert venues who, without any shows or crowds,

had before, but it’s highly elevated from what they’re

had no means of income for nearly an entire year.

used to.” Latham says of the work.

For them opening up means even more than just

Something everyone seems to have noticed is that

a return to their careers, it means they’ve survived

people are simply glad to be back. People are wan-

impossible odds.

dering into shows simply because they were excited

“We were the last to be able to re-open,” Bri Long,

to hear music from the sidewalk. All of the people

Assistant Talent Buyer at the Aggie says, looking back

who work so hard to create these experiences are

on the last year, “we just got to open, to not even full

every bit as excited and grateful to have their liveli-

capacity, a few weeks ago.”

hoods back. Grateful to have the music back.

OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK SO HARD TO CREATE THESE EXPERIENCES

EVERY BIT AS EXCITED AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEIR LIVE

AR E

ALL

“It’s good to see peoples faces,” Shamrock says of playing to the now freshly mask-less and re-en-

LIHOODS BACK. GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE MUSIC BACK.

JAZZ is PHSH performing at The Aggie

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

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TRAVEL DESTINATION J NOT UST A I SK

TOWN

ANY TIME IS VAIL TIME

ARTICLE IRENE MIDDLEMAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY MARK RUSH

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

We had driven up to Vail for a quick two-day getaway and to enjoy the opening night of Bravo! Vail’s annual summer music festival, back in operation after last season’s COVID 19 cancellation. We stayed in one of the sumptuously furnished rental condominiums at the well run Manor Vail, which is conveniently less than a five-minute walk away from the festival’s main venue, The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, famed for its excellent acoustics, as well as the exqui“LET ME TAKE YOU ON AN ADVENTURE,” PAMELA DAVIS SAID

site Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.

AS SHE BECKONED US TO A SHORT PATH ALONG THE SIDE

We love the gardens so much that when in Vail, we typically

OF A COVERED BRIDGE, OVER THE BABBLING CREEK. There it

visit them several times each day to enjoy the flowers at different

was, under the branches of an enormous spruce tree.

times. Founded by former First Lady Betty Ford, the non-profit

We cried out with delight at the small table set at the creekside,

gardens are home to mountain plants from all over the world,

replete with a bottle of Cabernet, a lavish and beautifully presented

many of them rare, and fosters conservation and education. The

charcuterie tray, alluring goblets and place settings adjoined by fluffy

ADA-accessible gardens are laid out by regions, with superb

white sheepskin covered stools. “Here is everything you need,” our

signage and a worthy visitor center and gift shop. Spectacular

host said with a smile, gesturing to a bag full of accoutrements. “Text

displays of columbines, poppies, Indian paintbrush, lupines, and

me if I’ve forgotten anything, otherwise, relax and enjoy. I’ll be back

dozens more are dizzying in their beauty. Suggested donation is

to clean up in two hours.”

$5 per person, while annual memberships are encouraged. The

Picnic Vail, launched by Davis, owner of the Vail catering business

Gardens are open from dawn to dusk.

CONTINUED >

The Grazing Fox, is one of the newest, and elegant, additions to the Vail Valley. This oh-so-manicured, pedestrian-geared European-style village, a rather faux, yet perfectly so, hodgepodge of Austrian/Swiss/ French/German alpine architecture, came to fruition in 1966. Maybe you have visited to ski its 5,000+ acres of world-class trails. Of course, winter is the season that put Vail on the map. But nowadays, just as many folks go to Vail in the other seasons, which all have their glories.

We love the gardens so much that when in Vail, we typically visit them several times each day to enjoy the flowers at different times.

In its 55 years, Vail’s population stands at close to 6,000, but when one views the many high-rise condo and hotel buildings, it can seem much bigger. Indeed, that perception is misleading. “Oh yes,” a local hotel worker told me, with a raised eyebrow, “some folks here own 6 or 7 homes. These places can stay empty for months, even years, sometimes.” To be sure, Vail, with an altitude of 8,200 feet, is known as a luxury village, where ski lift tickets were $229 last season and a pastry and coffee easily top $10 at many spots. You might run into some famous faces or be unaware that those amongst you are billionaires, but all are welcome here in this delightful destination. Some of the biggest delights are free of charge, or very inexpensive.

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

TRAVEL DESTINATION (CONTINUED)

Vail has it all - recreation, culture, cuisine, wildlife, and yes, some outstanding people-watching.

of towering falls at the end. Horseback riding and fishing are also available at the ranch, as well as overnight stays in cozy cabins or two rustic, yet elegant, “glamping” tents. Note: No showers, but modern bathrooms, and a superb event space hosts dozens of weddings and other special occasion gatherings each summer. Back in Vail, it is a must-do to stroll, bike ride or run along the Vail Recreation Path, which runs through the center of town, winding from East to West Vail following the meandering Gore Creek with 1,100 acres of open space, stretching for 15 miles. Impossible flowers, both wild and planted, are everywhere and you will be astounded by some of the very posh, and

The night of our visit, the performance of All Mozart, featuring

enormous homes you will see along the way. You will also pass by a

violinist Joshua Bell, was sold out to an adoring crowd. While cov-

wealth of excellent restaurants and shops, several of which have been

ered seats can be upwards of $100, lawn seating can be as low as

around since Vail’s inception with loyal clientele.

$5. Many free performances are also often given, as noted on the Bravo!Vail.org website.

Art lovers can, until September 1, take in Art in Public Places (AIPP) featuring new murals by artists Olive Moya and the collec-

After a leisurely, and extremely delectable Picnic Vail repast, we

tive duo Pedro Barrios and Jaime Molina, as well as Ben Roth’s

strolled in the cool early evening air through the Alpine Gardens,

large-scale interactive installation at Stephens Park Playground.

once again, to arrive at the Amphitheater. Savoring the bottle of fine

Enjoy a free one-hour public art tour of Vail each Wednesday of the

Cabernet which we had just downed, along with the hearty meal,

month through September 1st at 11 a.m. leaving from the Vail Village

what could be a more perfect evening than to be topped off by hear-

Welcome Center on the top level of the Vail Village parking structure.

ing Bell and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra?

The tour winds its way through the Village with discussions of the

In 1987, Bravo! Vail was founded as a public 501 (c) 3 Colorado

history of the Vail Valley, the founding of Vail mountain, the master

non-profit corporation. Since then, it has evolved from a small cham-

planning of the Village, and the importance of site-specific art. The

ber music series to an international music festival with dozens of

Town of Vail’s public art collection includes over 60 works of art,

performances throughout the Vail Valley. It is the summer home of

and we enjoyed spotting the many wildlife sculptures alongside the

some of the world’s greatest musicians and orchestras.

pedestrian paths in town. While some may prefer perusing the many

For those of a more adventurous spirit, Vail Resorts’s Epic Discovery summer program started up in 2016. Mountaintop activities such as ziplines, alpine slides, a ropes course, etc. are reached

high-end boutiques, others might spend the time waiting for those shoppers by enjoying the public art installations. Or both! Vail has it all - recreation, culture, cuisine, wildlife, and yes, some

by a gondola ride, along with educational components. And of

outstanding people-watching.

course, one can simply take the gondola ride up and hike down the

www.visitvailvalley.com

wildflower-bedecked trails. Another option is to drive the scenic route for 12 miles on Red Sandstone Road, past enormous aspen groves and mindblowing views of the Gore Range, to Piney River Ranch, owned and operated by the U.S. Forest Service, which is only open each year from June 21 to the last weekend in September. The road is rough and very curvy, but well worth the effort. A bushy fox passed us, brushing up against a clump of purple and white columbines, while many deer grazed in the meadows beyond. Various activities are offered in this divine spot with its sparkling 6-acre lake offering canoeing and standup paddleboard. Piney River’s six mile hike to the Upper Piney River Ranch and Piney Waterfalls is a leisurely, moderate hike with a gorgeous reward

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

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HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

break free festival

ARTICLE TYLER WESTON

CELEBRATING HEALTH AND FITNESS IN FORT COLLINS

AFTER A FORCED HIATUS LAST YEAR BREAK FREE

Break Free is Fort Collins’ first fitness festival and is already

FESTIVAL IS BACK AND SET TO TAKE OVER CANVAS

making waves and ready to expand into new places. That’s

STADIUM AND THE CSU CAMPUS ONCE AGAIN. On

for next year though, this year it’s still at home here in the

August 27th they’ll be gathering the local fitness commu-

choice city, and this year is going to be big.

nity with national fitness gurus and musicians. Break Free

Breathwork, yoga, dance, cycle routines, guided work-

is a celebration of health and fitness aimed at building

outs and fitness community is just where it starts. This

a strong and health-minded community in Fort Collins.

year the festival’s organizers are aiming to make a truly

Fort Collins Lifestyle | August 2021

memorable event with exercises and music led by DJ Kap Slap, who’s remixes and style have been a smash hit in fitness circles particularly. They’ve also got plans for glow in the dark body paint and fire dancers to keep the celebration going after dark as well as a chance to workout with California based YouTube workout guru,

“We are gonna have a party and we’re gonna move our bodies and

The Fitness Marshall, who’s infectious energy and body positive

we’re gonna connect,” Pastor says of the plan for this now annual

approach to fitness is sure to get everyone moving.

event, “It’s gonna be an experience from the moment you walk

Rachel Pastor, the festival’s founder, has made her life in fitness

through the door.”

and in dreaming up this one of a kind experience she was looking

So maybe you’re a fitness junkie and this festival is everything

for an opportunity to share her passion with her community. While

you’ve ever dreamed of, or maybe you’re a little bit newer in your

there aren’t quite enough tickets for the whole city to attend, Pastor

own fitness journey and ready to try something new. Break Free is

wants everyone to feel welcome to come learn, move, and celebrate

sure to get you fired up, moving, and inspired to take your fitness to

with their community.

the next level.

CityLifestyle.com/FortCollins

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