Loveland Is Officially in Love Again & Celebrating the 80th Valentine Season
- ben690452
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
There are a lot of places that celebrate Valentine’s Day, but only one city has been doing it for 80 years. This week, we had the chance to attend the official launch of Loveland’s 80th Valentine Season, and if there was ever a reminder of why Loveland proudly wears the title Sweetheart City, this was it.
Hosted at Venue at 319, the press conference brought together the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Visit Loveland, and an incredible group of community partners who have turned February into something truly special. This is not just a holiday here. It’s a month-long celebration of love, connection, creativity, and local pride.
A Tradition That Reaches the World
One of the most magical parts of Loveland’s Valentine Season is the Valentine Re-Mailing Program. Every year, nearly 100,000 valentines from all 50 states and more than 110 countries make their way to Loveland to receive the official collector’s stamp and postmark before being sent on to loved ones around the globe.
What makes it even more special is how hands-on it is. Volunteers and sponsors carefully hand-stamp every single piece of mail. It is a simple act, but one that carries a whole lot of heart.
Love is in the Streets
If you are in Loveland this February, look up. More than 400 large Valentine hearts will soon be lining the streets, each filled with love notes that make even a quick drive through town feel meaningful. These iconic hearts, provided by the Thompson Valley Rotary Club, sell out every year within hours and have become one of the most recognizable symbols of the season.
Events That Make February Feel Full
This year’s Valentine's Season is packed with experiences for every kind of love story.
• February 7th: The Love and Local Market at The Hub at Kinston is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of date. From dueling pianos and local vendors to cookie decorating and Valentine making, it’s playful, creative, and welcoming, whether you bring a partner, friends, or just yourself.
• On February 14, downtown Loveland comes alive for the Sweetheart Festival, a full day celebration that transforms the city into a venue crawl filled with music, comedy, ice sculpting, fire performances, food trucks, and a flea market featuring more than 40 vendors. Visit enough locations and you can even lock your love with a keepsake love lock at the Visitor Center.
• For those who like to start Valentine’s Day with a little movement, the Loveland Sweetheart Classic offers runners and walkers the chance to race solo or as a couple on a brand new course. Keep an eye out for Romeo, the heart-shaped runner delivering love letters along the way.
• If you are ready to say I do or say it all over again, the Valentine Group Wedding and Vow Renewal Ceremony returns for its tenth year at the beautifully renovated historic Pulliam Building. Nearly 500 people have already shared their vows in Loveland, with couples traveling from nine different states to be part of this one-of-a-kind experience.
• New this year is the Sweetheart Ball, also held at the Pulliam Building. Inspired by the romance of the 1940s, this evening invites guests to step back in time with vintage attire, a 15-piece big band, a jazz lounge, and the kind of glamour that feels straight out of another era.
Valentine Flavors You Can Only Find Here
Loveland’s Valentine Season would not be complete without its signature treats.
The 2026 Loveland Valentine Wine from Sweet Heart Winery features a Barbera from Amador County with notes of black cherry, vanilla, and nutmeg. It is fruit-forward, beautifully balanced, and perfect for sharing.
Coffee lovers can cozy up with the official Valentine Coffee, crafted in partnership with Top of the Lake Coffee. This medium roast Central American blend is smooth, warm, and made for slow mornings and meaningful conversations.
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse brings back the legendary Bleeding Heart beer for its 15th version. Based on their German Porter, Master Thief, this year’s edition will reveal new flavors and is available starting mid-January.
For dessert, B Sweet Cupcakes delivers the Sweetheart Cherry Chocolate Chip cupcake, a cherry cupcake with dark chocolate chips, cherry cream cheese frosting, and a chocolate heart on top. It is exactly as indulgent as it sounds.
There is even a Valentine candle this year, Sweetheart Spruce, hand-poured by 11-year-old Kinzie Sargent, whose candle sales support a cause rooted in kindness and generosity.
Why Loveland’s Valentine Season Still Matters
After attending the launch, one thing was clear. Loveland’s Valentine Season is not about being flashy or commercial. It is about people. It is about shared traditions, local creativity, and the belief that love in all its forms is worth celebrating loudly and often.
Whether you are mailing a Valentine across the world, running hand in hand through town, dancing under big band lights, or sipping coffee with someone you love, February in Loveland feels different. And after 80 years, it still does exactly what it was meant to do. It brings people together.
Happy Valentine's Season, NOCO!
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