The Style Issue S E P TE M B E R 2 02 6
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LIFESTYLE LETTER
The Way We Show Up
September 2026 PUBLISHER
When we started planning this year's Style Issue, I found myself thinking about what style really means. At first, my mind went where it always does. Fashion. Clothes. The colors we'll wear as summer slowly gives way to fall. But the more time I spent working on this issue, the more I realized style has very little to do with any of those things. The people I've admired most throughout my life have never stood out because of what they were wearing. They've stood out because of the way they carried themselves. They remembered your name. They kept their word. They listened more than they spoke and somehow made everyone around them feel like they mattered. Those are the people you never forget, and I think that's a style that never goes out of fashion. As we worked through this issue, I kept seeing that same thread. I met people who lead with quiet confidence instead of chasing recognition, people who have built trust one relationship at a time, and people who are creating opportunities for others simply because someone once believed in them. Their stories couldn't be more different, but they all reminded me of the same thing. The way we choose to live leaves a far greater impression than anything we could ever wear. That's one of the things I love most about this community. Every month, we have the privilege of meeting people who are making Northern Colorado a better place in ways that often go unnoticed. They're building businesses with integrity, serving their neighbors without expecting recognition, and investing in the people around them simply because they care. Those stories remind me that making a difference rarely happens through one grand moment. More often, it's built through small, consistent choices. Showing up. Being kind. Keeping your promises. Taking the time to encourage someone else. Those moments may seem ordinary, but over time, they become the legacy we leave behind. As you turn these pages, I hope you enjoy the stories, of course. But more than that, I hope you find yourself recognizing someone. Maybe it's a neighbor. Maybe it's a local business you've quietly supported for years. Maybe, if you're lucky, you'll even see a little bit of yourself. Thank you for spending a little time with us each month. It's a privilege to share these stories, and I hope they leave you feeling just a little more connected to the community we all call home.
D E S I R E E G U S TA F S O N , P U B L I S H E R @ LOV E L A N DA N D S O U T H L I F E S T Y L E
Desiree Gustafson | desiree.gustafson@citylifestyle.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Desiree Gustafson, Adriana Karagozian C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R S
Emily Carter Photography, Monica Jean Photography
Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Loveland & South Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Loveland & South area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle
Visit our Instagram C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E . C O M / LOV E L A N DA N D S O U T H
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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R
Publications’ opinions. No portion of 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 Loveland & South Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
POP & SIP BOBA • DIRTY SODA • ENERGY DRINKS
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inside the issue SE PTE M B E R 2 02 6 | STYL E
Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.
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Featured
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Departments
The Quiet Work Of Trust
Because trust is earned long before it's ever needed.
Beauty in the Details
What if the most extraordinary thing about you has been there all along?
Riding Toward Legacy
Legacy isn't inherited. It's built by those willing to ride first.
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Lifestyle Letter
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City Scene
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Business Monthly
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Local Limelight LIFE + CULTURE
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Must See ARTS + CULTURE
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Happy Hour FOOD + BEVERAGE
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Inspired By LIFE + CULTURE
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Events
WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESTIGE AND PLACEMENT? With City Lifestyle’s co-branded print + digital packages, your business captures attention wherever our community is looking. Build unmatched local credibility on the page, and drive immediate action online. Ready to double your local reach? Contact your local publisher by scanning below.
Member credits reflect your ownership in PVREA. They are the investments you’ve made through your electric use. Member credit retirements are a return of that member investment. RETURNING MARGINS TO MEMBERS SINCE 1939
Learn more about this year’s member credit retirement at pvrea.coop www.pvrea.coop
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SEPTEMBER 2026
city scene WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
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1: The Gasoline Lollipops take the Foundry Stage during downtown's Wednesday Night Concert Series 2: Men's Networking Group "The Hustle Hour" at their monthly meeting at 477 Distilling 3: Pop & Sip Boba sets up for the Larimer County Fair Weekend 4: Pop & Sip Boba sets up for the Larimer County Fair Weekend 5: Poudre Valley REA at the Larimer County Fair Parade 6: Weedin Insurance Agency celebrates 75 years and gives back to the amazing non-profit Be The Gift. 7: Northern Colorado's sustainability community gathered to share ideas, build connections, and inspire meaningful change
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C I T Y SC E N E
Want to be seen in the magazine? TA G Y O U R I N S TA G R A M P H O T O S W I T H @ L O V E L A N D A N D S O U T H L I F E S T Y L E
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8: Eva & Jim Shockey celebrate the grand opening of the newest Bass Pro Shops in Loveland 9: Congratulations to Veronica Schlagel Insurance Agency, winner of this year's Johnstown BBQ Day Parade 10: Club Loveland Member Cheryl McDonald-Pugh completed her first Iron Man in Oregon at 75 years old! 11: Sweet Heart Winery proudly supported the Courage Classic, helping change lives one mile at a time 12: PLUNJ Loveland with just the right light at sunrise 13: The All American Car Show hosted all the classics 14: Employees' children enjoyed a day of learning, laughter, and hands-on fun exploring life at PVREA
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SEPTEMBER 2026
business monthly A R O U N D U P O F N E W S F R O M LO C A L B U S I N E S S E S
PVREA & Pipe Line Productions House Won a Telley Award Some stories deserve to be seen far beyond the communities where they begin. This year, Poudre Valley REA and Pipeline Production House were honored with a Telly Award in the General – Energy & Utilities category for Delivering Value That Matters. The film shines a light on the people behind PVREA and the work they do every day to serve their members. It's a well-earned recognition for a story rooted in service, purpose, and the strength of community.
Scan to read more
FeelLove Celebrates Cliff's 1,000th Visit FeelLove Coffee recently celebrated a remarkable milestone as longtime customer Cliff stopped in for his 1,000th visit. More than a loyal customer, Cliff has become part of the heart of the coffee shop, reminding everyone that the best cafés are built on relationships, not just coffee. The FeelLove team expressed their gratitude to Cliff and the Loveland community for the friendships, support, and memories that have filled every cup along the way.
A New Gathering Place at The Ranch The Ranch Events Complex recently welcomed partners and community leaders to celebrate the ribbon cutting of its new 21-acre Event Lawn. The special preview offered guests a first look at the expansive outdoor venue before its public debut during the Larimer County Fair. Designed to host concerts, festivals, community gatherings, and signature events, the new lawn marks an exciting addition to Northern Colorado's event landscape and creates even more opportunities for people to gather together.
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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY
Want to be featured? G E T I N T O U C H AT C I T Y L I F E S T Y L E . C O M / L O V E L A N D A N D S O U T H
From Scratch Farm's First Harvest Dinner As summer drew to a close, guests gathered beneath the Colorado sky at Lazy Stud Ranch for an unforgettable Harvest Dinner hosted by From Scratch Farm. The evening brought together live jazz, a thoughtfully prepared gluten-free harvest meal, and the simple joy of sharing good food around a common table. Surrounded by open fields and meaningful conversation, the dinner celebrated the season's abundance and the connections that grow when a community gathers together.
Scan to read more
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NOCO LOCAL BUSINESS PODCAST
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WORK OF TRUST
THE QUIET
BECAUSE TRUST IS EARNED LONG BEFORE IT ' S E VER N EEDED.
ARTICLE BY DESIREE GUSTAFSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA JEAN PHOTOGRAPHY
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"STYLE IS HOW YOU CARRY YOURSELF. CONFIDENCE, KINDNESS, AND AUTHENTICITY NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE."
The day has not quite begun when Cristy Walston finds the time she values most. The phone is quiet, emails have not started filling her inbox, and there is room to think. Some mornings begin with a workout, a cold plunge, coffee, or simply a few minutes to herself. When she can, she heads for the mountains, takes her dogs on a trail, or sits near the water. It is where she resets. That quieter side of Cristy surprises people. For someone who spends so much of her life meeting clients, networking, and building relationships, she is naturally introverted. Solitude gives her the space to recharge, and she has learned that taking care of herself is not separate from how she serves others. It is what allows her to return fully present. That idea of showing up has shaped nearly every part of her life and business. Long before she was recognized as American Family Insurance’s Agent of the Year, Cristy knew she wanted work that felt useful. “I wanted a career where I could genuinely help people,” she says. A natural problem solver, she found in insurance a way to help families identify the gaps that could threaten the futures they were working to build. CONTINUED > S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LOV E L A N DA N D S O UT H
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"TRUST IS BUILT SLOWLY. IT LIVES IN THE PHONE CALL RETURNED, THE QUESTION ANSWERED WITHOUT RUSHING, AND THE CONVERSATION WHERE SOMEONE FEELS HEARD."
When she opened her agency thirteen years ago, she chose relationships over transactions. What she loves most, she says, is “earning trust and being someone my clients can rely on through every stage of life.” For Cristy, that trust is built slowly. It lives in the phone call returned, the question answered without rushing, and the conversation where someone feels heard before they ever feel sold to. “You can learn so much about a person by just listening to their story,” she says. That belief has become one of the simplest explanations for how she approaches business: listen first, educate honestly, and do what is right for the person sitting across from you. Over thirteen years, some of those conversations have carried real weight. Cristy has helped families receive life insurance benefits after losing someone they love. She has seen what thoughtful preparation can offer in the middle of grief: the ability to step away from work, meet financial obligations, and have a little space to breathe. Those moments have made the work deeply personal. “Insurance isn’t just a policy,” she says. “It’s about protecting your people and the dreams you’ve worked hard to build.”
Her approach to life is much the same. Cristy does not expect things to go perfectly. When something difficult happens, she tries to slow down and ask what it can teach her. She believes we cannot control everything that happens, but we can control how we respond. That perspective did not come easily. The first five years of business ownership were hard. She stepped into entrepreneurship without knowing exactly what she was doing and learned through uncertainty, setbacks, and persistence. Looking back, she sees those years as the place where much of her confidence was built. “Every challenge that was thrown my way taught me a lesson and strengthened my confidence,” she says. That confidence is not about having everything figured out. Cristy describes it as keeping the promises you make to yourself, taking action before you feel perfectly ready, and choosing integrity even when the easier option is available. So when asked what style means, she does not begin with fashion. To Cristy, “style is how you carry yourself,” and confidence, kindness, and authenticity never go out of style. It is a fitting CONTINUED >
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answer because the way she lives and the way she leads are difficult to separate. Success has changed for her, too. Earlier in her career, achievement mattered most. Today, it looks more like meaningful work paired with enough freedom to enjoy the people and experiences she loves. It means doing work she is proud of without losing herself inside it. Agent of the Year is an impressive recognition, but it feels less like the definition of Cristy’s success than a reflection of what she has built quietly over time: relationships, consistency, resilience, and a reputation for caring about the person before the policy. When asked how she hopes her life will be remembered, her answer reaches well beyond business: “She lived with purpose, lifted others up along the way, and left every person she met a little better than she found them.” Maybe that is the clearest picture of Cristy’s style. Not something worn, but something practiced. A way of moving through work and life that leaves people feeling listened to, supported, and a little more certain than they were before.
"THE STRONGEST REPUTATIONS AREN'T BUILT OVERNIGHT. THEY'RE EARNED ONE RELATIONSHIP, ONE CONVERSATION, AND ONE PROMISE KEPT AT A TIME." 20
LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | L I FE + CU LT U RE
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Beauty in the Details What if the most extraordinary thing about you has been there all along? There are parts of ourselves we stop noticing. The freckles we've had since childhood. The laugh lines that appeared somewhere between raising children and chasing careers. The scar with a story we almost forget to tell. Our eyes are no different. We glance at them every morning in the mirror, calling them blue or green or hazel, and move on with our day. We rarely stop long enough to wonder what they're actually holding. The answer is astonishing. Every iris is made up of thousands of tiny fibers, rings, and textures that come together in a pattern no one else in the world has. Even your own left eye doesn't match your right. They're as individual as a fingerprint, quietly carrying a story that has been with you your entire life. Most of us simply never get close enough to see it. That changed when Edge Optics became the first practice in Northern Colorado to offer iris photography, bringing an experience to the region that feels equal parts art, science, and wonder. Now, with locations in Fort Collins and Loveland, people are discovering something they never expected to find inside a routine glance in the mirror. The idea began thousands of miles away.
ARTICLE BY DESIREE GUSTAFSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILL MAESTAS
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While traveling overseas with her family, owner Mindy Bryant stumbled across iris photography and watched strangers stop in their tracks as they saw their own eyes enlarged for the first time. Some laughed. Some stared in disbelief. Others simply smiled. It wasn't just because the images were beautiful. It was because they were personal. She knew Northern Colorado needed to experience that same feeling. Walk into Edge Optics today, and you'll often hear the same first reaction. "Wait...that's my eye?" It is. Only now it looks less like an eye and more like something painted by nature itself. One iris resembles a distant galaxy bursting with color. Another looks like ocean waves folding into one another. Some remind people
of flower petals, tree rings, or the first light breaking over the mountains. No one tells you what you're supposed to see. That's part of the magic. Everyone sees something different. Families have turned their irises into collections that celebrate both what they share and what makes each person beautifully unique. Couples have created artwork for anniversaries and weddings. Parents have photographed their children's eyes, quietly preserving a moment they know won't last forever. Because while our eyes stay with us, the people we share them with don't always. That's what makes these portraits feel different from a photograph. They don't capture what someone looked like. They capture something that has always been part of them. For a Style Issue, it's easy to think about clothing, color palettes, or the trends that change from season to season. But style has always been something deeper. It's the quiet confidence that comes from embracing who you are. It's recognizing that what makes us different isn't something to hide. It's often the most beautiful thing about us. That idea has always been at the heart of Edge Optics. Known for blending personalized eye care with thoughtfully curated eyewear, the practice has built its reputation on helping people see clearly. Iris photography simply expands that mission in an unexpected way. It reminds us that seeing isn't only about sharper vision. Sometimes it's about perspective. Sometimes it's about realizing that something extraordinary has been looking back at you your entire life. Maybe that's why people leave with more than a piece of artwork. They leave having seen themselves a little differently than they did when they walked in. And perhaps that's the most beautiful part of all. CONTINUED >
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ARTICLE BY ALLISON BANKSTON | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
INGREDIENTS: • • • • • •
1 bottle, standard size, of pinot grigio 2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider 1 cup club soda 1/2 cup ginger brandy 3 Honeycrisp apples, chopped 3 pears, chopped
DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients together and stir. Refrigerate for an hour or so (or longer) before serving. The drink can be enjoyed immediately, if desired, but the longer you let the ingredients sit and mix, the deeper the flavors will be. Giving it time to develop will make the drink more captivating and interesting.
NOTE: Regular brandy can be used, but ginger brandy gives it an extra kick of flavor.
APPLE CIDER
sangria A LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL TREAT
As the season transitions into fall, it still features the warm, sunny days of summer but nights start to drop into the crisp temperatures. That leaves us in the limbo of wanting cool, refreshing drinks part of the time but also craving the deeper, spice-infused flavors of autumn. This recipe for apple cider sangria is the perfect blending of the seasons, leaving you feeling both refreshed and warmed through the deep flavors and interesting hints of spice. It’s a great drink to add to any dinner party, cocktail gathering, back deck after-hours get-together, or birthday bash. Here’s what you need to make the perfect mid-season cocktail to enhance whatever event you have planned.
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L egacy isn' t inh er ited. It's built by th ose w illing to rid e f i rs t.
RIDING TOWARD LEGACY ARTICLE BY ADRIANA KARAGOZIAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY CARTER PHOTOGRAPHY On certain mornings, the West feels less like a place and more like a promise. It lives in the dust rising beneath hooves, in the bright brass of a rodeo arena, in the hush that falls just before a horse moves. For Mathena Washington, that promise has become a path forward, one shaped by discipline, grace, and a deep desire to make room for others behind her.
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Washington is Colorado’s first woman to compete for the title of Miss Black Rodeo USA, and she carries that distinction with both pride and purpose. Her story is not only about pageantry, performance, or polished presentation. It is about belonging. It is about visibility. It is about a young woman who has spent years learning how to turn admiration into action, and action into legacy. From the beginning, horses were never simply animals in the background of her life. They were companions in becoming. Washington did not grow up in a home with horses of her own, but she was raised in their orbit. "My parents never had any horses when I was growing up, but they always made sure I was around horses, whether it be camps, volunteer opportunities, or just ride my bike five miles down the road and volunteer at the closest horse barn." That early devotion never faded. It deepened. That kind of childhood leaves its mark. It teaches a young person that passion does not always arrive with ownership or convenience. Sometimes it arrives through effort. Sometimes it comes through service. Sometimes it grows quietly, one visit at a time, until it becomes part of your bones. For Washington, horses became a source of calm, connection, and wonder. They were also a mirror for the kind of life she wanted to build, one rooted in presence, trust, and work that matters. Her words carry the awe of someone who has truly watched a horse move and understood that beauty can be both powerful and gentle. "These creatures,” she reflects, “they just move with the grace of the wind." That reverence sits at the center of her journey. It is why she kept showing up. It is why she volunteered. It is why she sought out the spaces
"Winning a title would be an honor, but building a legacy that opens doors for others is the real goal."
CONTINUED >
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"I want every child to know there's a place for them in the saddle, in the arena, and in the future of the West."
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where horses lived, even when those spaces were not built for her reflection. And it is why the opportunity that came into her life this year felt so singular. The path to Miss Black Rodeo USA began in a season of momentum. While at the stock show, she volunteered with the Schwarzenberger Equine Facility from Loveland, and made her way to the Martin Luther King Day Rodeo, where she began interviewing people and building connections. One introduction led to another, and before long she found herself in conversation with Black Rodeo Association leaders who saw not just enthusiasm, but readiness. The timing mattered. So did the question of age. So did her history with communication, modeling, and equine work. But what really carried weight was the clarity of her purpose. Washington had been thinking about a future in horses, leadership, and community service for years. She simply had not imagined it arriving through a pageant. "My journey since February of this year has been very mission goal oriented, focused, and the best part about being given this opportunity is that I have actually thought about an opportunity like this, but I wasn't thinking it would be a pageant." The pageant, then, is not the end of the story. It is the amplifier. It gives her a stage from which to speak about representation, access, and the importance of seeing black cowgirls and horsewomen in spaces where they have historically been underrepresented. For Washington, image is not vanity. It is visibility with intention. It is a message to the next generation that they belong
in the arena, in the grandstands, in the saddle, and on the microphone. "My image is very important to me, and knowing that there are other young kiddos that look like me that never see us out there at the rodeos is one of my goals to change." That goal reaches beyond a crown. It reaches toward a future where children from inner cities, agricultural communities, and every place in between can see themselves as stewards of land, animals, and heritage. Washington is already building toward that future through the nonprofit she is building,"I'm working on launching my nonprofit called the High Plains Legacy Riders Foundation, so that's going to give our inner city kids access, ability, and education to land ownership, horsemanship, and it's going to be very important for our youth to continue to learn about that because there's no more land." The organization is meant to create access, ability, and education for youth who may never otherwise be introduced to land ownership or horsemanship. That perspective seems to come from every generation that shaped her. Her family’s influence runs through the story like a strong thread. From her grandparents she inherited practical wisdom, reverence for property, and a hands-on understanding of how to live close to the earth. From her father she learned structure, leadership, and discipline and from her mother she learned patience and perseverance for going after your dreams. From both sides of her family, she received the kind of formation that does not always announce itself early, but eventually reveals its full force. CONTINUED >
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Washington’s confidence is not accidental. It has been built piece by piece through years of observation, education, work, and courage. She studied communications. She learned how to interview, present, and adapt. She modeled. She served. She coached. She took risks. When her path in college shifted, she did not lose momentum; she redirected it. The result is a young woman who knows how to stand in front of a room, a camera, a horse, or a crowd and remain fully herself. That, perhaps, is what makes her so compelling. She is not trying to become someone else to fit the moment. She is bringing her whole self to the moment and asking the moment to expand. She says the future looks like winning Miss Black Rodeo USA, traveling to rodeos and horse events across the country, and building a new community of multiethnic, bicultural youth who
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feel welcome in western spaces. She hopes to inspire girls to grow up and do what she is doing, to ride, to lead, to create, to claim space, and to carry legacy forward with dignity. There is something undeniably heroic about that kind of vision. Not the loud heroism of a legend invented after the fact, but the real kind: the kind that begins in ordinary effort and refuses to stop. The kind that shows up in volunteer hours, in early mornings, in long conversations, in the willingness to be the first. The kind that opens a door and leaves it open. For Mathena Washington, the rodeo arena is more than a competition. It is a platform, a classroom, and a calling. It is where she can honor the horses that shaped her, the family that grounded her, and the children she hopes will one day see themselves not at the edge of the story, but at its center.
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SEPTEMBER 2026
events A S E L E C T I O N O F U P C O M I N G LO C A L E V E N T S
SE PT E M BE R 5T H
Berthoud Art Walk Downtown Berthoud | 11:00 AM Berthoud Art Walk transforms downtown into an open-air gallery featuring local artists, live demonstrations, and unique artwork. Pick up a free Art Walk map, shop limited-edition posters, and end the day at the Wildfire Street Fest with food trucks, beer and wine, live music, dancing, and interactive art. Celebrate creativity while supporting local artists and community organizations. Art Walk: 11 AM – 5 PM. Wildfire Street Fest: 5 PM – 9PM SE PT E M BE R 7 T H
Berthoud Flapjack Day 321 Mountain Avenue in downtown Berthoud | 11:00 AM The event features free pancakes, breakfast beer flights, vintage cars, live music, and a 1950s dress theme to benefit the Berthoud Historical Society. SE PT E M BE R 1 1 T H - 1 3TH & 18TH - 2 0TH
Northern Colorado Parade of Homes 10:00 AM Tour 35 exceptional homes across Northern Colorado during this FREE, self-guided community event. Explore the latest in home design, construction, kitchens, outdoor living, and technology. Pick up your Parade of Homes Magazine, vote in the People's Choice Award sponsored by Weaver Stone, and enter to win a beautiful bathroom countertop. SE PT E M BE R 1 1 T H
4th Annual Sour Invitational This event will be held on 4th Street in between Cleveland Ave and Lincoln Ave | 5:00 PM Join us for our 4th Annual Sour Invitational as we take the party outdoors between Lincoln and Cleveland on 4th Street! Featuring 15+ local breweries serving up their best sour creations, this year’s event will also include food vendors, live music, and multiple ways to enjoy the festival experience. Come sip, stroll, and see how amazing Downtown Loveland’s 4th Street looks after construction. SE PT E M BE R 1 1 T H , 1 2 TH , & 13TH
Goodguys 28th Griot's Garage Colorado Nationals 5290 Arena Circle Loveland CO | 8:00 AM America's favorite car show returns to the Rockies for a high-octane weekend featuring more than 2,000 hot rods, muscle cars, trick trucks, and classics from 1999 and older. Enjoy AutoCross racing, vendors, swap meet, cars for sale, live music, a free kids zone, and Meguiar's Sunday Celebration with awards, including Ron Jones Garage Builder's Choice. Bring the whole family along. SE PT E M BE R 1 2 T H
Bites From The Block 4th Street Downtown Loveland | 11:00 AM Experience the flavors of Downtown Loveland at Bites on the Block, a delicious tasting event held during the Fourth Street Block Party on Saturday, Sept 12 from 11am-4pm! With one tasting ticket, you'll enjoy 9 delicious samples from 9 different restaurants for just $20. From sweet treats to savory specialties, each stop offers a taste that showcases the unique flavors and creativity of our local chefs. CONTINUED >
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They couldn’t find a shingle up to their standards...
So They Invented it. 180 mph Wind Warranty Class A Fire Rated Class 4 Impact Resistant Scan to get started 5 year Hail Warranty Ultra dimensional appearance of slate or wood shakes.
970.888.4763
Roofing | Siding | Windows | Painting
S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/LOV E L A N DA N D S O UT H
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Pastels on 5th Street 205 E 5th St, Loveland, CO | 10:00 AM Presented by Dutch Bros, Pastels on 5th Street is one of Northern Colorado’s most highly anticipated and well-loved events. The free, family-friendly festival brings together artists, businesses, and vendors to transform Downtown Loveland into a spectacular sidewalk art gallery. Most importantly, Pastels on 5th Street serves as a fundraising event for Alternatives to Violence. SE PT E M BE R 1 2 T H
Johnstown Fall Fest Downtown Johnstown, Colorado | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Fall Fest is one of Downtown Johnstown’s signature annual events, bringing together more than 4,000 attendees for a full day of community celebration. The event features a lively beer garden, local vendors, live music, and a variety of family-friendly activities for kids. Fall Fest highlights the energy of Downtown Johnstown and provides a welcoming space for residents and visitors to come together and enjoy the fall season. SE PT E M BE R 1 3T H
Loveland Honey Festival Fairgrounds Park 700 S. Railroad Avenue | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Featuring several honey vendors, mead tasting, observation beehive, Busy Bee Kid Zone, Beeswax and bee-themed products. SE PT E M BE R 1 8T H
Lynyrd Skynyrd with special guest 38 Special Blue Arena 5290 Arena Cir, Loveland, CO | 7:30 PM Lynyrd Skynyrd brings their legendary sound to Blue Arena on Friday, September 18, 2026, joined by special guest 38 Special. Don’t miss an evening of classic rock favorites live in Loveland. SE PT E M BE R 1 9 T H
Loveland Chocolate & Cheese Fest 5290 Arena Cir, Loveland, CO | 11:00 AM A Full Day of Chocolate & Cheese Sampling, Shopping and Entertainment! Meet some of the BEST local, regional and national chocolatiers and cheesemakers! Chocolate EVERYTHING ... Cheese EVERYTHING! Loads to sample and buy! AND: You'll love our great gift vendors! SE PT E M BE R 2 0 T H
Colorado Bridal Show Embassy Suites 4705 Clydesdale Pkwy, Loveland, CO | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM MDT Plan Your Wedding at Colorado's Largest & Longest Running Bridal Show Circuit-CO Bridal Shows!
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