From valentine remailing to an annual group wedding, plan for these Sweetheart City events

Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·4 min read

Who says the holiday season is over? In Loveland, it's just beginning.

The Sweetheart City's valentine season — marked by its annual Sweetheart Festival, group wedding and iconic valentine remailing program — is officially underway.

Loveland announced the valentine card design, collector's stamp and postmark that will be used during this year's valentine remailing tradition Jan. 2. It also laid out deadlines for getting your valentines stamped in time as well as this year's suite of sweetheart-themed events planned around the city.

Here's how Loveland's valentine remailing program works

Volunteer stampers will reconvene in Loveland early this year, where they'll stamp and send off the roughly 100,000 valentines that make their way through the Sweetheart City each valentine season. To get your valentine stamped with this year's special valentine message and postmark, package your pre-addressed, pre-stamped valentines in a larger first class envelope and either send it to "Postmaster - Attention Valentines, 446 E. 29th St., Loveland, CO 80538-9998" or drop off your pre-addressed, pre-stamped valentines at any of these Loveland locations through Feb. 12:

  • Loveland Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 5400 Stone Creek Circle, Suite 200 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday)

  • Aims Community College, 104 E. 4th St. (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday)

  • Independent Financial, 935 N. Cleveland Ave. (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday)

  • Elevations Credit Union, 970 E. Eisenhower Blvd. (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday)

  • Barnyard Vet & Pet Supply, 806 14th St. SW (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday)

  • The HUB Centerra, 6402 Union Creek Commons Drive (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday)

A little history: How did Loveland become the Sweetheart City?

From Jan. 16 through Feb. 9, you can also drop off valentines in the red mailboxes displayed in the lobby of Loveland's post offices, which are located at:

  • 446 E. 29th St.

  • 601 Cleveland Ave.

To get your valentines to their intended recipient in time, mail them by:

  • Feb. 1 (for international mail)

  • Feb. 5 (for destinations in the continental U.S.)

  • Feb. 7 (for Colorado mail)

Valentine events planned in Loveland this sweetheart season

The Loveland Sweetheart Festival

When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10

Where: Downtown Loveland

Whether you're single or coupled, come one, come all to the Loveland Sweetheart Festival. The free event features live ice carving and art demonstrations, musical and dance performances, a tunnel of love, palace of sweets, food trucks and more.

The Loveland Sweetheart Classic

When: 2:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10

Where: Downtown Loveland

Want to be in the heart of the action at Loveland's Sweetheart Festival? Sign up for the city's Sweetheart Classic, an annual 4-mile run and walk that starts and ends downtown during the annual festival. To learn more, or register for a spot, visit sweetheartcityracing.com.

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Loveland Lights at Chapungu Sculpture Park

When: Feb. 1-18

Where: Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra, 5995 Sky Pond Drive

Loveland's holiday-themed Winter Wonderlights will be going pink and red starting Thursday, Feb. 1, as the twinkling scene switches into valentine mode with valentine decor and a 30-minute love song light show set to run nightly from 5-9 p.m. The display will have one last hurrah from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, with a free live event featuring twinkle lights, dueling pianos, wine and beer tastings and more.

Colorado Eagle's Sweetheart Game

When: Wednesday, Feb. 14

Where: Blue FCU Arena, 5290 Arena Circle

For the second season in a row, the Colorado Eagles will be playing a special sweetheart game on Valentine's' Day. The game will start after a special pregame group wedding on the ice at 4 p.m. It will also feature red and pink light-up sticks provided to the first 2,500 fans by the city of Loveland, a special photo booth and more. A special $60 sweetheart tickets pack, complete with two tickets and a $20 credit for concessions, will be available at coloradoeagles.com later this month.

Valentine group wedding

When: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14

Where: Blue FCU Arena

Want to say "I do" on the ice? Loveland's annual Valentine's Day group wedding is returning to Blue FCU Arena before the Colorado Eagles' now-annual sweetheart game. Couples will be able to take to the ice around 4 p.m. to either exchange or renew their vows. The event features a personalized ceremony, commemorative photos, gift bags, special wedding cupcakes, a love lock and a chance to win prizes. The cost is $160 per couple and registration is limited. To secure your spot, visit valentinesdayinloveland.com.

Couples kiss after saying their vows at a group wedding ceremony on the ice at the Budweiser Events Center on Feb. 14, 2023, in Loveland. Twelve couples got married during the Valentine's Day event, with more renewing their vows.
Couples kiss after saying their vows at a group wedding ceremony on the ice at the Budweiser Events Center on Feb. 14, 2023, in Loveland. Twelve couples got married during the Valentine's Day event, with more renewing their vows.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Here are the deadlines for Loveland's valentine remailing, 2024 events