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- by Tiffany Dinsmore With another year ending, the fall and winter festivities are beginning! As always Halloween is kicking off our holiday season! Although there are a lot more events being held this year people are still being cautious and most events are being held outside. Christine Forster with My Big Day Events and Marketing along with Thompson Education Foundation created a way to celebrate Halloween in a safe and easy way with NoCo’s Greatest Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Experience. It was a huge success for 2020 and they are hoping for another successful event at the end of the October!  I have asked Christine to answer a series of questions to help give some insight on the second year of this event! How long have you been working with TEF? MBD has been working with Thompson Education Foundation for a couple years now. Although Christine and Kim go way back. "We met 17 years ago volunteering for the Downtown Loveland Association." What was your creative process when creating the Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Event last year? "The idea came about quickly and naturally, but when developing the concept, it was crucial to us that we evaluate who all may benefit from partnering with an event such as this, where might the drive-thru traffic be most appreciated, etc. We reached out to other entities to inform them of our concept and to invite others to join in to give families a safe Halloween."  The event must have been a success to do it again this year, what are the fundraising goals for 2021? "When we initially created this, we didn't have a fundraising goal. We wanted to cover expenses of course - but a safe trick-or-treating option for local families was our biggest goal. We were thrilled by the number of sponsors who supported the event last year and have already seen great response this year!" Is there a particular moment or memory from 2020’s event that stands out to you? "Being on the back end of management for the event, watching hundreds of tickets get snagged up in minutes was a real Ticketmaster moment. To know that we had 3,000 people attend the event and thousands more on the waiting list is our top memory for 2020."  Where is the event located this year and how will it be different from the 2020 event? "This year we are taking advantage of the generous access we have to the Thompson School District Administration building. This allows for plenty of space for booths, vendor parking, volunteer parking, regulated entrance/exit flow, and indoor facilities for our staff and volunteers. The event itself will be the same, with the exception of limitations by county and state. Last year we were limited to the number of people we could have 'gather' at an outdoor event, so our booths could only host 2 workers, and we had to limit volunteers and number of cars in attendance by timed interval." What is the biggest challenge that you are facing with putting this event together? "As with any outdoor event, one challenge can be weather. There is always a chance for snow at the end of October. This event will happen rain, shine, or snow. It will only cancel should there be an absolute blizzard. Also, as with any event right now, we are still dealing with a global pandemic. MBD has planned enough events during the pandemic to have plans and processes in place to offer guests, staff and volunteers a safe experience!"  The drive-thru trick-or-treat experience is just $5 per vehicle (no campers or busses). All guests will sign up for a 30 min window of time to arrive. All tickets will need to be purchased online in advance. Booths are available for businesses, non-profits and schools (and each booth comes with 1 free guaranteed entrance to the event). Thank you Christine for inventing such a unique Halloween experience!
 If you’re anything like us, you’ve been longing for NoCo’s unique summer events and festivals to make a comeback. The good news: Many events are returning this year! Subscribe to our MBD Marketing & Events newsletter (at the bottom of any page on our website) to stay in the know. Here is a list of some of our favorite upcoming northern Colorado events in Loveland, Fort Collins, and Greeley.  LOVELAND Adults-Only Fest of Ale 9 Where: Loveland Aleworks When: July 3, 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Cost: $35 for participants, $10 for designated drivers The Details: Join your friends for Loveland Aleworks' 9th-anniversary party in downtown Loveland. There will be multiple different beers on tap to enjoy, featuring a variety of styles. This year there will be 2 food trucks, live music, and entertaining games. Commemorative glass for everyone. Make sure to visit the Hop Yard, Sour Alley, Slush Station, and Smoothie Stage to find and vote for your favorite of the festival. Learn more here. Kid-Focused Promenade Kids Day at Centerra Where: Promenade Shops at Centerra When: July 7, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Cost: Free The Details: Kids enjoy a fun day of crafts, games, prizes, sweet treats, and more. More info here.  Family Fun Movies on Main at Centerra Where: Main Plaza, Promenade Shops at Centerra When: June 25 (Moana); July 30 (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Cost: Free The Details: Movies on Main is an outdoor movie series held on the Main Plaza and brought to you by The Promenade Shops at Centerra. More details.  People’s Tiny House Festival Where: The Ranch Event Complex When: July 17 and 18 at 10 a.m. Cost: $10 for both days The Details: The People's Tiny House Festival expos all facets of simple living including tiny houses, converted vans, converted school buses, container homes, and more. The event also invites vendors from all over the front range of Colorado to come and display their wares and services. Kid-friendly and dog-friendly! Purchase tickets online. Aspire 3D Kite Festival Where: Loveland Sports Park When: August 22, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Cost: Free The Details: This free event is open to all ages of the public and will include live entertainment, interactive programs, kite design and flying workshops, professional demonstrations, and a variety of activities to inspire all generations. Additionally, the first 300 kids will receive a free kite! We also encourage you to bring your own kite. Let’s light up our beautiful Colorado sky! RSVP online. FORT COLLINS Date Night Garden Concert Series Where: Locations vary by date When: June through September, late afternoon/evening Cost: Varies by artist; $25-85 The Details: Enjoy live music in one of Fort Collins’ picturesque parks from June-September. Concert schedule and lineup information here.  Family-Friendly First Friday Art Walk Where: downtown Fort Collins When: July 2 and August 6, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Cost: Free The Details: Art Walk is a monthly self-guided walking tour that celebrates creativity, culture, and community in Downtown Fort Collins on the first Friday of every month! From fine to funky, Art Walk showcases a spectrum of artistic styles to entertain and engage amateurs and art aficionado of all ages, interests and backgrounds. FoCo Food Truck Rally Where: Fort Collins City Park When: every Tuesday from June 1 - September 14 from 5:45 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. or until trucks sell out Cost: Free entry The Details: Gather for live music and a selection of local food trucks Tuesday evenings at Fort Collins’ City Park. More information and truck lineup here. Fort Collins Foodie Walk Where: downtown Fort Collins When: June 18, July 16, and August 20 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Cost: Free The Details: The Fort Collins Foodie Walk features Old Town’s finest culinary shops, as they stay open late on the 3rd Friday of each month for interactive showcases, seasonal flavors, and exciting taste experiences.  Taste of Fort Collins (weekend passes sold out) Where: Washington Park When: July 24 and 25 Cost: 1-day passes TBD The Details: The Taste of Fort Collins is a northern Colorado tradition – a community celebration with family-friendly activities that are perfect for Northern Coloradans’ active lifestyle. Taste of Fort Collins continues to benefit the Eyeopeners Kiwanis Club of Fort Collins Foundation in its charitable activities in the community. This three-day festival offers attendees food from local and national restaurants, entertainment from regionally and internationally acclaimed musicians, and an eclectic display of fine artisans work as well as the region’s best crafters. Adults-Only Wine Fest Fort Collins Where: The Hilton Fort Collins When: August 6, 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Cost: General Admission $80, VIP $105 The Details: Wine Fest Fort Collins features 500+ wines by over 150 Colorado, domestic, and international wineries, local craft brews and some of Northern Colorado’s best cuisine. Wine Fest Fort Collins was created in 1982 and is the primary fundraising event for Disabled Resource Services. Representatives from local wineries, distributors and breweries serve samples to help attendees learn to appreciate beverages, sampling through sight, smell, and taste. Guests will also learn about pairing by sampling tapas from restaurants and caterers.  GREELEY Family-Friendly Greeley Stampede Where: Island Grove Regional Park When: June 24 - July 7 Cost: Varies by event The Details: This multi-day event boasts rodeo events, a demolition derby, a carnival, and big-name concerts. Purchase tickets for each event online. Weld County Fair Where: Island Grove Regional Park When: July 24 - August 2 Cost: Free The Details: The Weld County Fair is an annual free event held the last week in July. The fair is open to the public and boasts a variety of displays and contests. The fair gives the youth and adults of Weld County an opportunity to exhibit their skills in a wide variety of areas including agriculture, livestock, natural resources, engineering, consumer and family, fine arts, horticulture and family living. 3rd Annual MDA Car Show Where: St. Michael’s Town Square When: August 15, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Cost: Free The Details: Vintage cars and trucks will be on display to raise money to send children to summer camps in Colorado. NCC COGA Chili Cook Off Where: Island Grove Regional Park When: August 14 at 5 p.m. Cost: $10 per person (children under 12 free) The Details: Taste some chili! Stay up-to-date with the event’s Facebook page. To stay up-to-date with northern Colorado events, subscribe to our MBD Marketing & Events newsletter at the bottom of any page on our website. Enjoy your summer, NoCo! 
Things don’t always go as planned The original ceremony was supposed to take place among the statues and sculptures at the Chapungu Sculpture Park. However, sub-zero temperatures forced MBD Marketing & Events to make the difficult decision to move the 4pm and 5pm ceremonies indoors. This decision was made out of abundance of caution for the participants’ safety and health. Right before the 4pm ceremony was set to start, an unfamiliar sound interrupted the mic checks and check-in process - the sound of rushing water. The cold weather had produced frozen pipes and a water main break in the front of the store that had been converted into the wedding venue! The MBD Marketing & Events team jumped into “bucket brigade” mode, and kept the registration area from flooding until the facilities crew and Loveland Fire Department could get the break under control. The team and crews worked so quickly and quietly, that many of the wedding couples were unaware of the emergency!
Plan B is for Beautiful Decorations, hearts, and lights helped to transform the old New York & Co. store into a beautiful wedding chapel. Couples were ushered in and directed to their socially distanced ceremony spots by the smooth sounds of local musician, Branden Sipes. Todd Harding served as the Officiant for both ceremonies. Couples shared their personal wedding vows among thoughtful wisdom and romantic readings during the ceremonies. Some couples shared vows for the first time, while others renewed their original vows from 40 year prior! At the end of the ceremony, Todd pronounced the couples as married or still married, and the celebration moved out in front of the store where event partner, On The Rocks Mobile Bar - and plenty of mobile heaters, were waiting to offer each of the couples a congratulatory toast, complete with signature cocktails!
A Team Effort This event wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership and cooperation of a team of individuals and organizations.
  Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken MBD Marketing and Events have been working with Thompson Education Foundation for a couple of years now. From fundraisers to maintaining their social media MBD has been happy to partner with TEF. But who is TEF and what do they do for the Thompson School District and the community surrounding it? “Thompson Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing exceptional educational opportunities for students and teachers in Thompson School District. Since 1989, TEF has been focused on student success. The foundation supports over 60 programs, activities, and scholarships in partnership with Thompson School District, serving students in Loveland, Berthoud, south Fort Collins and outlying communities.”
So where does your money go when you donate to TEF or participate in one of their many fundraisers throughout the year? Thompson Education Foundation Facts:
We are so blessed to get to work side-by-side this amazing organization! Follow TEF on Facebook to keep up with their efforts to help the community and for some amazing event opportunities! Want to Donate? Click this link to be a part of something spectacular! TEF Pinterest is full of fun ideas for parents looking to entertain their kids! https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/education-k-12/  We are happy to announce that the Annual Valentine's Day Wedding & Vow Renewal Ceremony will take place again in 2021! This annual celebration of love has natural built in social distancing. With a new location, we can ensure elevated safety and health for our guests. Location: We are proud to have Chapungu Park as our wedding location for 2021. The Centerra Metro District and Chappungu Sculpture Park at Centerra are sponsoring and covering the park rental fee to host the wedding this year.  Tickets are now available for the 2021 Wedding & Vow Renewal Ceremony. Due to group size limitations, we are capping both ceremonies. Register soon! http://www.valentinesdayinloveland.com/tickets.html  Get Married or Renew Your Vows in the Sweetheart City: LOVELAND, CO Loveland's Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding Sunday, February 14th, 2021 Chapungu Sculpture Park, Centerra, Loveland CO Ceremony Times: 4pm and 5pm * Officiated by Todd Harding  Christmas is too sparkly…….said no one ever! Our team has scoured the corners of Northern Colorado to find all the best and brightest holiday light displays! Grab a thermos of hot cocoa (or something stronger), some blankets, your favorite Christmas playlist (come back tomorrow for our favorite holiday songs!), and your sweetie, and go out for a festive drive! Here are our favorite spots: 1. Winter Wonderlights - Loveland Winter Wonderlights™ is part of the Loveland Light Trail. Be sure to visit the Loveland Light Trail page for your self-guided tour, including info for the popular Gnome Scavenger Hunt taking place through Dec. 31!  2. Greeley Grizwolds - Greeley 354 50th Avenue, Greeley - This awesome home light display even syncs to music! 3. NoCo Winter Wonderland Drive-Thru - Colorado Youth Outdoors- This family friendly display is sponsored and hosted by Colorado Youth Outdoors. This one mile drive-thru of holiday lights includes twinkling lights, jingle bells, Christmas music, animated outdoor themed features and a fly fishing Santa. 4. Old Town Fort Collins - Always a favorite, you can make an entire evening out of these holiday lights! Plan to pick up some dinner from one of the Old Town restaurants, or finish up some of your holiday shopping under all of the twinkling lights!  5. Eagle Ranch Estates - Loveland This subdivision will surely get you in the holiday spirit with all of their festive displays! 6. The Garden of Lights at The Gardens at Spring Creek - Fort Collins A favorite Fort Collins tradition, you can stroll through vignettes and displays - all twinkling with color and magic! Make sure you plan ahead, however - you will need tickets to attend. $10 per person over 12 years old. Money well spent if you ask us!  7. Realities For Children Big Blue NightLights Tree - Fort Collins This iconic symbol in downtown Fort Collins is a holiday favorite! Representing a beacon of light within the darkness of abuse, this 50 foot tree is a reminder to at-risk children everywhere that they are not alone. This year, the tree has a wonderful show designed by Blazen Illuminations, and set to music that you can listen to from your car - 97.1FM, all provided by local musicians. This show runs every half an hour, 5-10PM through the end of December. www.giveanightlight.com for more information.  Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken  If you’re out drinking or using drugs and need to Make the Call for a safe ride home, we’ve got you covered. No DUI Larimer has compiled a list of ride services throughout our county. Just scroll down to your city for name, description, and contact information for each service.  Fort Collins zTrip: Ride services for northern Colorado with flat rate pricing. Runs 24 hours. Download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. To get $10 off a zTrip EVERY month, text #NoDUI to 970-224-2222. Contact: Use the app or call 855-MY-zTrip Lyft: Pricing based on demand. Runs 24 hours as long as drivers are available. Download the Lyft app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. You can also sign up or get an estimate here [https://www.lyft.com/rider/cities/fort-collins-co]. Contact: Get help through the app or online. NOCO Party Bus: Perfect if you’re planning an outing with a big group. Must book ahead of time. Offers late-night rides. Pricing is hourly and based on number of passengers; view options and pricing here [https://www.nocopartybus.com/pricing/]. Contact: 970-235-0690 Genesis Executive Transportation: Luxury limousine and car service. Rates are charged per mile, hourly, or customized. View pricing online [https://www.genesis-executive.com/rates]. Must book ahead of time. Offers late-night pickup. Contact: 970-599-9519 Ram Ride x Lyft: A taxi service for Colorado State University students that runs on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Ram Ride now pairs with Lyft to provide discounted rates (up to 50% off, up to $10 off per ride) to current CSU students. Download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Contact: 970-491-2248 until 5 p.m. or through the app Transfort (currently FREE due to COVID-19): Fort Collins’ bus service. Does not run late at night. Check the schedule at www.ridetransfort.com. Contact: 970-221-6620 Uber: Similar to Lyft, pricing based on demand. Runs 25 hours. Available on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Contact: Get help online or through the app FLEX: City bus system with routes between Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, and Boulder. Fare is $1.25 per ride per adult – exact change required. Does not operate on certain holidays or very late at night. See the current schedule here [http://www.ridetransfort.com/routes/flex]. Contact: 970.221.6620 Loveland zTrip: Ride services for northern Colorado with flat rate pricing. Runs 24 hours. Download the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. To get $10 off a zTrip EVERY month, text #NoDUI to 970-224-2222. Contact: Use the app or call 855-MY-zTrip Lyft: Pricing based on demand. Runs 24 hours as long as drivers are available. Download the Lyft app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. You can also sign up or get an estimate here [https://www.lyft.com/rider/cities/fort-collins-co]. Contact: Get help through the app or online. Uber: Similar to Lyft, pricing based on demand. Runs 25 hours. Available on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Contact: Get help online or through the app COLT (City of Loveland Transit): Loveland’s city bus service. Adults 18-59 ride for $1.25. Check the schedule and routes at https://www.cityofloveland.org/services/public-works/bus-service. Does not run late at night. Contact: (970) 962-2700 FLEX: City bus system with routes between Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, and Boulder. Fare is $1.25 per ride per adult – exact change required. Does not operate on certain holidays or very late at night. See the current schedule here [http://www.ridetransfort.com/routes/flex]. Contact: 970.221.6620 NOCO Party Bus: Perfect if you’re planning an outing with a big group. Must book ahead of time. Offers late-night rides. Pricing is hourly and based on number of passengers; view options and pricing here [https://www.nocopartybus.com/pricing/]. Contact: 970-235-0690 Genesis Executive Transportation: Luxury limousine and car service. Rates are charged per mile, hourly, or customized. View pricing online [https://www.genesis-executive.com/rates]. Must book ahead of time. Offers late-night pickup. Contact: 970-599-9519 Estes Park NOCO Party Bus: Perfect if you’re planning an outing with a big group. Pricing is hourly and based on number of passengers; view options and pricing here [https://www.nocopartybus.com/pricing/]. Contact: 970-235-0690 Genesis Executive Transportation: Luxury limousine and car service. Rates are charged per mile, hourly, or customized. View pricing online [https://www.genesis-executive.com/rates]. Must book ahead of time. Offers late-night pickup. Contact: 970-599-9519 Estes Park Shuttle Service (FREE): Offers limited hours during the winter. Park at the town’s free parking structure (near the Estes Park Visitor Center) to pick your car up later. Currently operates on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Runs continuously, no reservations required. View the current schedule here [https://www.visitestespark.com/plan/getting-around/free-shuttle-buses/]. Contact: 970-577-3957 if you have questions Eddie Limo: Offers luxury transportation for special events. Must book ahead of time. Services mountain cities, even in winter. Contact: 303-803-7363 Colorado Canyon Connection: Offers one-way trips in town for $10 and round-trip for $15. Operates 24 hours; pickups requested between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. cost an extra $5. Out-of-town trips are available for a different fee. Contact: 970-614-8669 or book in advance online [https://www.coloradoshuttleservice.com] Windsor NOCO Party Bus: Perfect if you’re planning an outing with a big group. Pricing is hourly and based on number of passengers; view options and pricing here [https://www.nocopartybus.com/pricing/]. Contact: 970-235-0690 Genesis Executive Transportation: Luxury limousine and car service. Rates are charged per mile, hourly, or customized. View pricing online [https://www.genesis-executive.com/rates]. Must book ahead of time. Offers late-night pickup. Contact: 970-599-9519 Uber: Similar to Lyft, pricing based on demand. Runs 25 hours. Available on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Contact: Get help online or through the app Sapphire Car Service: Luxury taxi service, happy to accommodate short rides for individuals. Does not require advance booking. Contact Sapphire Car Service for more information. Contact: 979-545-0919 Next time you’re out in Larimer County, Make the Call for a safe ride home!  The No DUI Larimer coalition and campaign was born out of the need to address the problem of impaired driving in our community. The goal is to prevent driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances by increasing community responsibility for safe and responsible driving.
Our campaign is encouraging the public to “Make the Call” to end impaired driving in our community. Make the Call to get a safe ride home. Make the Call about whether you should get behind the wheel, and Make the Call to report suspected impaired drivers. Driving under the influence IS an emergency–please call 911 if you see someone you suspect is driving impaired. Ending impaired driving is a joint effort between law enforcement, government agencies, alcohol and cannabis retailers, local nonprofits, and the community. We need your help to stop impaired driving before it happens, and when it’s happening. Thanks for doing your part. -Partners, RAR, MBD Marketing & Events
Does your teacher go above and beyond her/his normal duties? What about your principle or another one of the schools’ staff? Educator of the Year is about recognizing that we can not do this alone. We need our teachers and the entire staff behind them to prepare our kids for greatness! Nominations begin November 30th 2020. Click here for more information Educator of the Year sponsor, King Buick GMC, feels the best way to give back to the community is through education support: building strong programs that will produce a highly trained workforce that can increase innovation and energy for American manufacturing. To Honor Thompson School District educators, King Buick GMC provides a new loaner car for 60 days to each teacher of the year winner in all categories and a 24 month new loaner car to The TEF Educator of the Year. 
The My Big Day Team loves to shop small and support our fellow, local small businesses in the community. In our last team meeting we discussed our favorite small businesses we personally enjoy supporting and wanted to share them with YOU! Now, more than ever, small businesses (and non-profits) need you support. Please SHOP SMALL this holiday. Here are some idea starters!  Fort Collins
Loveland
Greeley
Timnath
 Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken  |
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My Big Day Company LLC 2021 www.MyBigDayCompany.com
970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 EMAIL US
We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken
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