Log in
My Account
Subscribe 99¢ for 3 months
Newsletter
Finger pushing
weather icon 36°F
Weather from WeatherAPI

Daily Weather Report
Powered By:

Login
My Account
Subscribe
Newsletter

Archive Information

Carrier Portal

Search

Buy Our Photos

Loveland celebrates sweethearts in annual Valentine’s Day festival

By February 14, 2026 | updated 3 weeks ago

Attendees of the Loveland Sweetheart Festival etch love messages into ice on Valentine's Day. (Michael Braithwaite / The Denver Gazette)

Love was in both the air and the land north of Denver on Saturday.

As Americans celebrated Valentine’s Day, Loveland earned its name, hosting its annual Sweetheart Festival.

Hundreds of people from all over the Front Range, many wearing pink-colored or heart-patterned attire, gathered as to celebrate. Some watched as ice sculptors rushed to finish their creations in sunny, near-60 degree temperatures; others danced to the love songs played by a DJ in the square.

“We love it here, the atmosphere is fantastic, it’s just full of love,” said Gail Helton, who was attending the festival with her partner of 15 years, Rob.

The Heltons had made the trek from their Arvada home to visit Loveland for the first time and take part in the festival. They weren’t alone; several others said they had traveled from other parts of the state just for the occasion.

In addition to the bubble guns utilized by many of the children in attendance, vendors at the festival also got in on the main theme, offering romantic candlelit dinner and hot air balloon event packages for people to either purchase or place their name in the running for.

In addition to the main festivities, attendees could also join in a “Sweetheart Stroll” through downtown Loveland. Each interested attendee was provided a blank passport that they could then fill with stamps from participating businesses.

People hang locks on a metal structure
A family hangs “love locks” on a metal structure next to the Loveland Museum during the city’s annual Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Festival. (Michael Braithwaite / The Denver Gazette)

Anyone who reached at least five stamps would get a free “love lock” to place on a metal heart sculpture in Peters Park, just next to the Loveland Museum.

The festival had the Heltons reflecting on the significance of bringing people together for a love-themed event.

“It’s wonderful. Especially in the atmosphere of this time in the U.S.A., there’s a lot of controversy,” said Gail Helton. “This is so fulfilling.”

The festival continued into Saturday night with musical performances and a Sweetheart Ball.

Michael Braithwaite

Reporter

PREV

PREVIOUS

I-70 closed Friday evening after snowy, two-dozen vehicle pileup

Interstate 70 was closed for nearly three hours in the eastbound direction Friday evening after two dozen vehicles crashed in snowy conditions. Authorities first responded to reports of a multiple vehicles involved in multiple crashes on the interstate just east of the Eisenhower Tunnel around 5:17 p.m. Friday, according to a Friday night news release […]

NEXT

NEXT UP

From decrepit to opulent: How 20 years of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House has elevated Denver

Celebrating two decades since downtown finally got a worthy home for opera, ballet, concerts and more People forget what life was like before the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. When opera fans had to head down to the basement to find a bathroom. Talk about bottoming out. “People don’t remember that there were more seats in […]
Welcome Back.

Streak: 9 days i

Stories you've missed since your last login:

Stories you've saved for later:

Recommended stories based on your interests:

Edit my interests