A Chocolate Affair
Chocolate lovers can start February on a sweet note. Historic Olde Town Arvada celebrates all things chocolate at the annual A Chocolate Affair on Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The family event includes chocolate samplings from Olde Town merchants and local chocolatiers. Samples are just $1 each with proceeds benefiting Ralston House. Plus, if you’re known for your baked goods, consider entering the Chocolate Bake-Off with your own homemade cookies or brownies for a chance to be crowned the best baker. alstonhouse.org/event-details-registration/a-chocolate-affair
Valentine’s Day Loveland postmark
Make your Valentine’s Day cards lovelier with a special postmark. For the 79th year, Loveland is accepting cards and love letters for its popular Valentine’s Day re-mailing program. Send your stamped cards in a larger envelope to: Postmaster: Attention Valentines, 446 E. 29th St., Loveland 80538-9998. You must have proper postage on your cards and letters, as well as the larger, outer envelope. Be sure to weigh your package to ensure you have enough postage. The deadline for U.S. destinations is Feb. 7. For those recipients within Colorado and Wyoming, it is Feb. 10. You can also drop off your cards at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. loveland.org/programs/valentine-re-mailing-program
National Frozen Yogurt Day
Three Denver area frozen yogurt chains are offering a delicious deal on Feb. 6. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, TCBY and Yogurtland are all swirling a buy-one-get-one-free cup of frozen yogurt with toppings. With so many locations, you should be able to easily dig into the deal … maybe even more than once for diehard froyo fans. Menchie’s has nine shops in Colorado. Yogurtland has four shops in the metro area. And TCBY has one store in Thornton, as well as in Fort Collins and Greeley. In the past, Glendale’s Pinkberry has also offered a BOGO deal for NFYD, so check their social media for any last-minute announcements. menchies.com; tcby.com; yogurtland.com/nationalfrozenyogurtday; pinkberry.com
Valentine’s Bazaar
Cupids are always on the lookout for the perfect gift for their sweethearts. This year’s pop-up Valentine’s Bazaar is being held at Aspen Grove (7301 S. Santa Fe Dr.) in Littleton. Shop local for a loved one (or treat yourself) with more than 60 curated vendors offering a wide range of gift. The free event is on Feb. 7 and 8. Hours are Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors will find jewelry, confections, art, fashions and more. There is also a Shop & Sip Drink Experience with bottomless mimosas from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. For $20, the ticket includes two hours of mimosas, a commemorative cup and lip balm. There is also a Friday Night Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m., with two hours of bottomless beer and wine, a souvenir cup and lip balm for $25. denverbazaar.com/valentinesbazaar
Goldens in Golden
Golden Retrievers are invited to wag their tails in — where else? — Golden on Feb. 8. The Goldens in Golden meet-up starts at 11 a.m. near the Golden Visitors Center and Parfet Park at 10th and Washington Avenue. Participating pooches and their humans are invited to gather for a free dog photo and also nab a doggie bag. Even if you don’t have a Golden, watch the photo-friendly (and adorable!) parade of Goldens strutting their stuff on Main Street. There also will be a pet vendor village and plenty of refreshments, including pup cups for the dogs. In addition, many Golden businesses are offering a variety of activities, specials and family fun in celebration of the “golden opportunity.” visitgolden.com/events/annual-events/goldens-in-golden
Chipotle Super Sunday giveaways
Chipotle is making Super Sunday spicy with two giveaways for fans to tackle. Throughout the Super Bowl game on Feb. 9, certain “actions” will trigger Chipotle’s text-to-claim giveaway. The designated code will be shared via Chipotle’s Instagram and X accounts. Be one of the first to text the code to 888-222 to claim a free entrée code. Up to 50,000 entrées in total will be given away. Then, Chipotle is celebrating what it’s calling Extra Sunday by offering free guacamole and queso blanco with the purchase of any entrée the day after the championship game, on Feb. 10. The giveaway is only open to Chipotle Rewards members online via the restaurant’s site or app with the promo code EXTRA25. chipotle.com/extra-sunday
Natural Grocers free chocolate bar
You can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day without chocolate, and Natural Grocers is celebrating the holiday with a tasty giveaway. Members of the grocery store’s loyalty program, {N}power, can stop by on Feb. 14 and pick up a free Chocolove bar. Choose from raspberry, salted caramel, almonds & sea salt and more. naturalgrocers.com/valentines-day
Sweetheart Festival
For nearly 80 years, Loveland has embraced sweethearts near and far. The city invites families and lovers across the world to gather downtown on Feb. 14 and 15 for its annual Sweetheart Festival. The lovely affair runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. See ice sculptors at work, live flame dancers, local performances, neon selfie walls, food trucks and a Kids’ Zone. More than 40 local artisans will also be selling their work at the Valentine Flea Market. In addition, take a stroll through Loveland Lights at Chapungu Sculpture Park from Jan. 31 to Feb. 16. The love-themed light display set to your favorite love songs is open nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. visitloveland.com/sweetheartfestival
Boulder Mid-Winter Sidewalk Sale
Downtown Boulder merchants are looking forward to the city’s annual Mid-Winter Sidewalk Sale, Feb. 15 to 17. Check out all of the in-store and on-sidewalk merchandise from vendors all along the Pearl Street Mall (11th to 15th streets) as far west as the 900 block and as far east as the 2000 block, as well as on adjacent cross-street blocks. Shoppers are sure to find lots of trinkets and treasures at bargain prices from many specialty retailers. Even better, parking is free in city parking garages on Saturday and Sunday and at metered spaces on Sunday. boulderdowntown.com/shopping/side-walk-sale
Arvada WinterFest
Arvada’s WinterFest, a free outdoor multi-cultural celebration, will be held on Feb. 22 at McIlvoy Park (58th Avenue and Upham Street) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-friendly event highlights the variety of cultures in the community, allowing visitors to learn, sample and enjoy diverse arts, culture and entertainment from local artists. Plus, food vendors will be serving lots of global treats. Also planned is a beer garden benefiting the Olde Town Business Improvement District. arvadafestivals.com/Winterfest
Regal Cinemas’ Best Picture Film Festival
Now is the time to catch up on the Academy Awards’ Best Picture nominees — without breaking your entertainment budget. From Feb. 21 to March 2, Regal Cinemas is hosting its Best Picture Film Festival. All of the 10 nominated films will be on the big screen, and at a blockbuster price, with tickets just $5 per film for Regal Crown Club members. Titles and showtimes vary by participating location. Non-members pay $6. AMC Theatres is hosting a two-day best picture showcase marathon on Feb. 22 and March 1, so you can see all of the movies over two weekends. The two participating locations in Colorado are AMC Highlands Ranch 24 and AMC Westminster Promenade 24. regmovies.com/promotions/must-see-nominees; amctheatres.com/events/best-picture-showcase
Gem & Mineral Show
The dazzling Gem & Mineral Show comes to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall (15200 W. Sixth Ave.) in Golden under the auspices of the Denver Gem & Mineral Guild, from Feb. 28 to March 2. Attendees will find displays of minerals from around the world, ancient fossils, meteorites, rocks that glow in the dark and handcrafted jewelry. Witness skilled lapidary artists cut gems and create beautiful polished stones. Talk with area rock hounds to learn about local field trips and collecting opportunities. Admission is free. Young enthusiasts can start their own collection with $1 grab bags filled with eight minerals. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. denvergem.org/show
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