Loveland Valentine’s Day postmark
There’s no city in the world better than Loveland for sending your Valentine’s Day cards and love letters. The Sweetheart City is currently accepting both for its popular re-mailing program. Send your stamped cards in a larger envelope to: Postmaster – Attention Valentines. 446 E. 29th St., Loveland, CO 80538-9998. You must have proper postage on all of your cards and letters, as well as the larger, outer envelope. (Be sure to weigh your package to check.) The deadline for U.S. destinations is Feb. 7. For those recipients within Colorado, it’s Feb. 9. The international deadline is Feb. 2. If you live or work nearby Loveland, you can also drop off your cards at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. loveland.org/programs/valentine-re-mailing-program
Valentine’s Bazaar
For cupids on the lookout for the perfect gift for their sweethearts, check out the Valentine’s Bazaar at Belmar Plaza (439 S. Upham St.) in Lakewood. The free event is on Feb. 10 and 11. Hours are Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More than 60 curated vendors will be selling handmade jewelry, chocolate, candles, unique art, trendy fashions, flowers and more. Organizers are also offering a Shop & Sip Drink Experience with bottomless mimosas from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. For $20, the ticket includes the two hours of Mimosas, a tote bag and Denver BAZAAR commemorative cup. Free parking is available. denverbazaar.com/valentines2023
Loveland’s Sweetheart Festival
For more than 75 years, Loveland has embraced sweethearts near and far with its Sweetheart Festival. This year, the city invites families and lovers to gather in the downtown Foundry Plaza on Feb. 10 and 11. Besides the four indoor event venues, stroll through the Valentine Flea local art market or the tunnel of love, and enjoy the Foundry community plaza with local performances, food trucks and kids’ activities. Plus, experience the Arts Alive block with interactive art demos, including live ice sculpting, bronze demos and paint your own tile for the Loveland community mural. Cap off your experience with a headlining concert at the Rialto Theater. The affair runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and 1 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. visitlovelandco.org/sweetheartfestival
National Frozen Yogurt Day
Froyo fans can chill out on National Frozen Yogurt Day by spooning their favorite treat for free around town. Two frozen yogurt shops are offering a sweet deal on Feb. 6. At Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, grab a buddy and enjoy a buy-one-get-one free cup of frozen yogurt with toppings. Menchie’s has 9 shops in Colorado – Arvada, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Lafayette, Loveland and Westminster (3). Next, TCBY is serving free froyo and toppings – the first 6-oz. are complimentary. If you swirl more, just pay for the additional ounces. TCBY has three locations – Thornton, Ft. Collins and Greeley. Both offers are available all day. Last year, Pinkberry and Yogurtland also offered BOGO deals for National Frozen Yogurt Day. Check each shop’s social media for any NFYD deals or giveaways this year. menchies.com; tcby.com
Swallow Hill Music Open House
Swallow Hill Music (71 E. Yale Ave.) in Denver hosts a free Open House on Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and an open jam from 2 to 4 p.m. The “noteworthy” event is an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s music school, concerts, children & adult programs and more. Attendees can enjoy mini-workshops, an “Instrument Petting Zoo,” musical performances, free guitar maintenance demonstrations and more. You can also enter to win tickets to concerts and music classes. Registration is required at swallowhillmusic.configio.com/pd/2368/swallow-hill-open-house.
Boulder Mid-Winter Sidewalk Sale
Downtown Boulder merchants and shoppers alike always hope for fair skies during the annual Mid-Winter Sidewalk Sale, this year from Feb. 18 to 20. Check out all of the in-store and on-sidewalk sale 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. Downtown Boulder is made up of more than 80 percent locally owned and operated businesses. boulderdowntown.com/shopping/side-walk-sale
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s BFD Tuesdays
Frugal film fanatics know that the best day of the week to go to the movies is Tuesday. And Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has joined the roster of movie theaters offering a discount on that day with its new BFD Tuesdays special. In the Denver market, the cinemas offer $7 tickets for regular-priced 2D, non-event shows on Tuesdays. The discounted tickets are available at the box office, drafthouse.com or the chain’s app. The savings are up to 50% off the regular ticket price. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has three locations in Colorado: Littleton, Sloan’s Lake and Westminster. drafthouse.com/news/bfd-Tuesdays
Freepotle offer
Chipotle Mexican Grill is making 2023 even tastier for members of its Chipotle Rewards loyalty program. This year, customers can be part of Chipotle Rewards’ Freepotle (“free-poat-lay”) offer with 10 free food drops in 2023. Each offer requires a minimum $5 purchase. Members can expect lots of offers dropped into their account throughout the year, including free guac, Queso Blanco, chips, double protein, a fountain drink and more. Existing Chipotle Rewards members are automatically enrolled in the program. New Rewards members who enroll before March 6 will receive a free side or topping of guac. chipotle.com/rewards
Gem & Mineral Show
Golden is about to get shinier. A dazzling Gem & Mineral Show comes to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds (15200 W. Sixth Ave.), under the auspices of the Denver Gem & Mineral Guild Feb. 24 to 26. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday & Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Attendees will find displays of minerals from around the world, ancient fossils, meteorites, rocks that glow in the dark and handcrafted jewelry. Plus, you can watch skilled lapidary artists cut gems and create beautiful polished stones. Talk with area rock hounds to learn about local field trips and collecting opportunities. Kids can start their own rock collection with $1 grab bags filled with eight minerals. Admission and parking are free. denvergem.org/february-show
Arvada Winterfest
Winterfest is an outdoor multi-cultural celebration at McIlvoy Park (5750 Upham St.) on Feb. 25. The family-friendly event highlights the variety of cultures in the community. The fun includes cultural performances, a pet parade, live ice sculpting, carriage rides, an ugly sweater contest for pets and more. Plus, food trucks, vendors and a beer garden will be on-site. The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. arvadafestivals.com/winterfest
Lakewood Arts Gallery Sale
Calling all artists! The Lakewood Arts Gallery (6501 W. Colfax Ave.) is holding its new and gently used art supplies sale from Jan. 28 to Feb. 24. Find everything from painting supplies, kids’ crafts, art books to fabric and jewelry-making supplies. For a minimal donation, artists of all levels on a budget can pick up new or used supplies for their own creative endeavors. The sale is noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. If you’re an artist, you can also donate your gently used art supplies to the non-profit art council’s annual sale. lakewoodarts.org.
Every month, Laura Daily and Bryan K. Chavez at MileHighOnTheCheap.com compile the “Cheap Checklist” to help smart shoppers find freebies, discounts and deals. Send tips to info@milehighonthecheap.com 14 to 21 days in advance. More freebies, discounts and deals at MileHighOnTheCheap.com.
