Fort Collins Lights Old Town Holiday Display
More than 65,000 lights brightened downtown trees at the annual Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony in Old Town Square.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Civic
Fort Collins lit more than 65,000 holiday lights in Old Town Square during the Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony on November 6. The lights will remain illuminated nightly through February 14, 2027.
Why it matters
The ceremony marks one of Fort Collins' longest-running holiday traditions and draws residents and visitors to the downtown area. The lighting is funded through a partnership between city and downtown development groups.
The lights are installed across more than 334 trees downtown, a process that takes about six weeks each September with help from contractor SavATree LLC. No cost figures for the display were provided.
The players
Emily Francis
Emily Francis is the Mayor of Fort Collins, who led the countdown and switch-flip at the ceremony.
SavATree LLC
SavATree LLC is a tree care contractor that assists with installing and removing the lights from downtown trees.
The details
Mayor Emily Francis and City Council members led a countdown before flipping the switch to illuminate the lights, while Guerrilla Fanfare performed Christmas classics at the event. The lighting effort is funded jointly by the city's Parks and Recreation Department, the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown General Improvement District.
Timeline
Installation of the lights begins each September and takes about six weeks.
The Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony was held on November 6 in Old Town Square.
The lights will remain illuminated nightly through February 14, 2027.
Seasonal Patterns
The annual lighting follows a fixed September-to-February cycle set by the city's Parks and Recreation Department, the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown General Improvement District. Its installation timeline repeats each year, making it a recurring fixture of Fort Collins' winter calendar.
Residents and visitors can view the nightly illuminated trees in Old Town Square through February 14, 2027. The display gives downtown shoppers and visitors a seasonal destination during the winter months.
The takeaway
The annual lighting shows how a long-running civic tradition can anchor downtown activity each winter. Readers planning a visit can expect the display to stay lit nightly through mid-February.
Further reading
For more local civic coverage, see Fort Collins Civic news.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Coloradoan.
