Loveland is synonymous with Valentine’s Day. Here, romantic heart-shaped love notes dot the streets. Art and sculpture take new forms and local craft brews are transformed into love potion. Like everything else, things will be a bit different in 2021, but that doesn’t make Valentine’s Day any less lovely or romantic. In fact, not only will the community be spreading the love around, but also spreading it out over two weeks.
Here’s what’s planned for Valentine’s Day in Loveland
Valentine Re-Mailing Program
Experience the nation’s largest valentine program. For the past 75 years, Loveland has been the nation’s home for Valentine’s Day and celebrates the 75th year of the Valentine Re-Mailing program, which sends out over 120,000 valentines each year all over the world. Go here for all the details.
Loveland Sweetheart Festival, Reimagined
Loveland’s signature event has been re-imagined into several safe, socially-distanced events.
The Quest for Dan Cupid Scavenger Hunt
What is Valentine’s Day without Dan Cupid? Join the quest during the first two weeks of February to find Dan Cupid and bring him back in time for Valentine’s Day so he can shoot his arrow of love to those across the world from the nation’s Sweetheart City. Start at the LOVE sign and love lock sculpture and unlock clues celebrating the city’s 75 year valentine history on your quest for cupid.
The quest is free and open to everyone. Participants will be entered to win the ultimate Loveland experience trip with hotel stay, food, shopping and more.
More information available here.
Something Redin Downtown Loveland
Valentine-themed lights can be found across Loveland to celebrate the season. Head downtown for the “Something RED” art installations. “Something RED” is an art installation featuring local artists with their interpretation of the color RED – the color of action, violence, heat, luck, happiness, and passion. Installations include glowing symbols of love and luck, sailors’ valentine, and even a robot cheering up his broken-hearted friend. Windows will feature a speakeasy collage, video work and even a pair of Firebirds from February 12 through March 12.
Loveland Lights at Chapungu / Visit Loveland photo
Loveland Lights at Chapungu
Chapungu Sculpture Park in Centerra will be lit up in red and pink lights and sweetheart-themed decor to light up the park from February 1 to 14. Similar to Loveland Winter Wonderlights, the lighting displays will be free and open to the public from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every evening.
Downtown Mural with Scott Freeman
Participants can also help create the “Stamp” Your Love community mural that is on display at the corner of 4th Street and Lincoln Ave. Artist Scott Freeman is working with the Loveland Museum to set up a socially-distanced, safe experience for community members to create pieces for the mural. Time slots to paint are during specific hours January 27 to February 10.
You can register here to help.
LOVE lock sculpture / Visit Loveland photo
Love Lock Sculptures
Two love lock sculptures live in Loveland, Colorado. The largest of its kind, the LOVE lock sculpture, it located at the Loveland Visitors Center where the official Loveland locks are sold.
The second love lock sculpture in the shape of a heart lives at Lake Loveland. Guests can purchase a love lock on-site from the Visitors Center booth and engrave it, then hang it on either sculpture.
Be sure to tag #visitloveland and #lovelandlovelocks when you post your pics!
Group Wedding
To honor love, My Big Day hosts an annual wedding on February 14 where couples get married or renew their vows with a special custom ceremony and romantic touches, making for a memorable Valentine’s Day.
Careful accommodations and adjustments are being made for the 2021 wedding which will be held at Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra. Tickets are on sale now. Details are available here.
Sweetheart Classic Race
The 2021 Sweetheart Classic takes place on Saturday, February 13 in Downtown Loveland on 4th Street. Socially-distance start times for waves, no in-person award ceremony, and other safely measures are in place to ensure safe, healthy fun.
When on course, participants will enjoy diverse terrain and views, from downtown out to River’s Edge Natural Area.
Runners can bring a sweetheart and participate together or single runners can be on the lookout for that future running partner.