Fun Things To Do In Longmont
Fun Things To Do In Longmont
Whether you’re indulging in farm-to-table cuisine, attending a seasonal soiree, discovering art or venturing into nature, you’ll have an unforgettable experience with these fun things to do in Longmont.
1. Explore Outdoor Activities
Embrace Longmont’s 300-plus days of sunshine, miles of trails, water and parks, and distant marbled views of Longs Peak — Rocky Mountain National Park’s only fourteener and Longmont’s beloved namesake.
Speckled with lakes, reservoirs and creeks, Longmont has plenty of places for water adventures, from fishing at St. Vrain State Park to kayaking on McIntosh Lake. Rent a stand-up paddleboard and practice your balance as you paddle with friends on Union Reservoir’s gentle ripples.
Want a view of water sparkling from the sun’s rays? Take a swing for a hole-in-one at a sprawling championship golf course.
Bike one of many trails on the St. Vrain Greenway or lead a leashed furry friend on a moderate stroll around the Lagerman Agricultural Preserve to hear quacking ducks and geese. Embark on a scenic drive to Rocky Mountain National Park for an alpine getaway — the journey is just under an hour away. Once you’re there, take a calf-burning hike and spot bighorn sheep, bugling elk or scurrying marmots.
Harvest fresh vegetables, witness sweeping wildflower-dotted fields and take home rose-infused body-care products at one of Longmont’s farms. During the fall, gather your own apples at places like Ya Ya Farm & Orchard, or take a family-friendly hayride and pluck the plumpest pumpkin from the patch at Ollin Farms. Get inspired by agrivoltaics, the combination of solar energy and agriculture, on a tour of Jack's Solar Garden, where you'll learn how this vegetation virtuoso utilizes solar power to reduce water usage and cultivate everything from root vegetables to salad greens.
2. Attend Events & Festivals
Longmont brims with events year-round, whether it’s a sunny summer bash or a winter-wonderland festivity.
Find organic produce, pick out a rotund bread boule and hunt for the perfect flower bouquet at the Longmont Farmers Market, which runs April to November. Sink your teeth into fresh-picked fruits at the late-springtime Strawberry Festival Vintage & Antique Market or watch movie screenings and hear inspiring talks at the Boulder International Film Festival, held at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center in March.
Summertime brings exceptional live music, softball tournaments, county fairs and more. Wave a rainbow flag in a joyful parade during Longmont Pride, inflate your blow-up flamingo for beach-themed beer-paloozas and be wowed by elaborate fireworks displays for Independence Day.
Pumpkin carnivals and town-wide Oktoberfests thrive in the golden-hued days of fall. Celebrate the spicy, savory and sweet flavors of the town by dining at 30-plus restaurants presenting farm-fresh specials and creative twists on classic menu items at Longmont Restaurant Week in October. Craving fall dessert? Sample the decadent spiced treat at Pumpkin Pie Days Vintage & Antique Market and haul home your own gourd to carve with the family. In mid-October, watch dancers in face paint or marigold crowns at the longest-standing Día de Muertos celebration in the state, or check out exhibits displaying colorful flags and commemorative altars at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center and Firehouse Art Center throughout the month. Round out the autumnal season with meats wrapped in steaming cornmeal at the Tamale Fair in November and enjoy live music, professional lucha libre shows and more family-friendly activities.
Although the weather is colder, winter offers fun ways to appreciate the season. Go ice skating at the Longmont Ice Pavilion, gaze at twinkling lights displays downtown and don your most appalling garment for the holiday-themed Ugly Sweater 5K.
Check out Longmont’s events calendar.
3. Admire Art & Discover Museums
As a Certified Colorado Creative District, Longmont has seemingly endless ways to check out its expressive side with galleries, theaters, markets and more. Marvel at photography, paintings, quilting and mixed-media from global artists at the Firehouse Art Center, or drop in on a workshop to learn the intricacies of making masterpieces.
Stroll through bustling downtown Longmont’s handful of summer and fall markets, including ArtWalk and Summer on the Streets. Tap your foot to live music, try your hand at painting, peruse tents for handmade toys and jewelry or munch on a flaky baked good.
From murals and benches to mosaic-tiled sculptures, Longmont showcases an impressive collection of Art in Public Places throughout downtown and woven into its neighborhoods. Want to create your own craft? Steady your hand at a pottery-painting class or take the little ones along to appreciate the art and story time at whimsical Crackpots.
Support community dramatics at dazzling musical-theater venues. Don’t miss entertaining shows or classic movies at the historic Longmont Theatre Company, or enjoy tender prime rib and a production at Jesters Dinner Theatre (previous seasons have included “Seussical” and “Fiddler on the Roof”).
Learn more about Longmont’s storied past at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center; their displays and collection of more than 27,000 objects and photographs detail centuries-old Native American and European-settler history. Let the kids unleash their creativity at hands-on events like Discovery Days and LEGO exhibits, or unfold a lawn chair at movie nights and summer concerts.
4. Sample Local Fare at Longmont Restaurants
Thanks to an abundance of regional farms, chefs at Longmont restaurants pride themselves on utilizing fresh ingredients to present delicious eats with international influences.
Taquerias and Latin American eateries abound — the chili-stewed birria at LoCo Burrito is mouthwateringly tender, and the sirloin stir-fry at Rosario’s Peruvian Restaurant is a local favorite.
Dive into a colorful spread of flower-garnished Thai food at Anchan Thai, including crispy spring rolls and fried bananas with honey. Melt-in-your-mouth sashimi and specialty sushi (like the Broncos Roll, topped with snow crab and caviar) await at Sumo Sushi & Grill.
Enjoy Louisiana-inspired shrimp and grits at Lucile’s Creole Cafe, or taste The Roost’s short-rib tacos and sweet-potato fries. Tuck into a cheeseburger topped with caramelized onions and tangy Longmonster sauce at Scratch Kitchen, the restaurant inside 300 Suns Brewing, and nurse a hoppy IPA while you’re there.
Although it’s not technically a restaurant, Cheese Importers is a must-visit; browse the selection of 500-plus cheeses from around the world, as well as crackers, cured meats and more gourmet goods. Looking for more ways to get into the sensationally stinky snack? Visit The Art of Cheese, where you'll learn to create everything from soft burrata to crumbly cheddar.
5. Drink Up at Breweries & Distilleries
Longmont flaunts a thriving beverage scene with local breweries and distilleries. At Left Hand Brewing, a cozy tasting room and large beer garden provide a relaxing backdrop for sipping a refreshing light ale or dancing to live music. Find your new favorite German-inspired lager at award-winning Wibby Brewing before watching a cornhole competition. Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse serves up seasonal stouts with wood-fired pizza, and at Oskar Blues, you can order a mouth-puckering sour and grab crepes, hot dogs or tacos from food trucks.
Pair smoky Colorado-crafted whiskey with live jazz, weekly trivia and game nights at fermenters like Copper Sky Distillery, Dry Land Distillers and Abbott & Wallace Distilling.
Craving a different libation? Visit St. Vrain Cidery — their taproom features 36 ciders bursting with fruity flavors, from apple and grapefruit to guava.
For a comprehensive taste of Longmont’s beer and booze scene, hop aboard the BrewHop Trolley for a guided hop-on and hop-off tour of the town’s breweries, distilleries and cidery.
