May 2026 Happenings at FCMoD

Posted on by Krystle in Front Page

Looking forward to a May full of music, animals, and community!
Events are always changing, so please check the calendar for the most up-to-date information.

Click on the links provided for detailed information and to purchase event tickets.

  • Saturday, May 2, City Nature Challenge ID Party – You’re invited! Meet up with other City Nature Challenge Participants, learn how to ID observations in iNaturalist, and do your part for ongoing biodiversity research. No wildlife knowledge or expertise required. This is a pay what you can event and registration is encouraged.¢
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  • Sunday, May 3, Autism Resource Fair – The Fort Collins Autism Resource Fair is a FREE, annual event hosted by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery that provides information and support for the autism community in and around Fort Collins. Special Guests: Dr. Temple Grandin (talk is sold out but Dr. Grandin will be signing books afterward) and Drawings by Trent. For full information, please check the link here.¢
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  • Tuesday, May 5, Speaking up for Cleaner Air program with Environmental Services – Listen to your neighbors share their stories of fighting for cleaner air in our community during an evening of storytelling, connection, and community. Free snacks, kids’ activities, and community resources. This is a pay what you can event and registration is encouraged.
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  • Saturday, May 9, Amphibian Week Event – Close out Amphibian Week at the Museum with activities and guided tours along the Poudre River throughout the evening! Museum activities are drop-in, while guided tours require pay what you can registration.¢
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  • Tuesday, May 12, Tour with Executive Directors – Have you ever wanted to meet the Executive Directors at the museum? If you’re an Explore More member, you can take advantage of this benefit May 12th! Registration is required. Not an Explore More member yet? Purchase or upgrade now!
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  • Tuesday, May 12, faith 250: What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? – An evening bringing multi-faith communities together to share in song, spoken word, and meaningful conversations around intrinsic American values. This event is being put on by faith 250, please register using their google form here (this link will take you to an external registration page).
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  • Friday, May 15, School Day Out (SOLD OUT) – All day camp for kids who need something to do while school is not in session. This camp is music themed and full of fun! This event is currently sold out. To be added to the waitlist for any cancellations, please email camps@fcmod.org.
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  • Friday, May 15, Monthly Member Night – Members get all the benefits! Enjoy an evening at the museum as an FCMoD Member. Registration is encouraged. More details to come.
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  • Thursday, May 21, Historic Preservation, the Bicentennial Commission, & Civic Action – Staff from the Museum of Discovery and the City Historic Preservation office will explore how the Fort Collins community came together to celebrate the bicentennial in 1976, and how it created important momentum for the work of historic preservation in our city. Registration is required due to limited seating.
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  • Saturday, May 23, E/MERSION 360: Chief Ojih + DanDan – a live electronic music and visual art series transforming the Digital Dome Theater into an immersive performance space. Each event pairs top Colorado electronic artists and DJs with curated full-dome visuals, creating a one-of-a-kind 360° sensory experience that blurs the line between sound, art, and technology. This event is restricted to those 18 years or older. Tickets are available for purchase here.
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  • Friday, May 29, Dome After Dark Music Show: Chappell Roan – Step inside FCMoD’s OtterBox Digital Dome for an after-hours music experience that surrounds you with the songs you love – set to mesmerizing 360° projected visuals and booming theatrical surround sound. Tickets are available for purchase here.
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  • Saturday, May 30, Heritage Courtyard Open House – Join us offsite at the Heritage Courtyard next to the Center for Creativity as we highlight the 1905 Upper Boxelder Creek Schoolhouse with an interactive open house for all ages. 
    • Play: Try your hand at traditional 1900s games. 
    • Learn: Explore the architecture and stories of our one-room school. 
    • Create: Participate in schoolhouse-themed activities and crafts. 

    Free and open to the public – no tickets necessary, just drop in!
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Our Black-footed Ferret Feedings happen the first and third Saturday of every month starting at 9:30 am. At 10am on the second and fourth Saturday every month you can Meet the Animals in our live animal exhibits. As always, we’ve got Dome Shows six days a week in the Otterbox Digital Dome Theater all month long.

  • Event dates and times are subject to change and we’re always adding new events, please check our museum calendar for the most up-to-date information.
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City Nature Challenge and FoCoMX

Posted on by Finn Smith in Adults, Ages 3-5, Ages 6-8, Ages 9-12, Any Age, FoCoMX, Front Page, Life Science, Music, News, Programs, Teens, Uncategorized

I know a lot of us are trying to decide how to spend our time this weekend. Do we get out in nature to capture observations for the City Nature Challenge (learn more about City Nature Challenge here)? Or do we engage in the time-honored tradition of wandering around Old Town Fort Collins catching random shows and discovering new local music (learn more about FoCoMX here)?

Good news: you don’t have to choose!

While meandering old town taking in shows, just keep an eye out for any bugs, critters, or wild plants that you could snap a picture of on your way to the next venue.

Some tips for urban nature observing:

  • Wild nature can be found anywhere, even in the middle of a city. Look for weeds pushing up through the cracks in a sidewalk, mosses growing on brick buildings, birds perching in landscaping trees, or pollinators visiting flower pots.
  • You may have heard that “Captive and cultivated” organisms (in other words, anything placed or being maintained by humans) don’t count for the City Nature Challenge, and that is true! However, they can still be useful.
    • “Captive and cultivated” organisms like landscaping plants can be uploaded to iNaturalist even though they won’t count toward the City Nature Challenge. In fact, it can be useful information for scientists. It can tell them what kinds of plants are attracting pollinators to an area, what kinds of planted trees may be propagating, etc. Just make sure you mark your observation as “Captive/Cultivated” so as not to confuse the data!
    • While “Captive and Cultivated” organisms don’t count toward the City Nature Challenge,
      organisms that they host do! Look for birds in branches, bugs on leaves, mushrooms or moss
      growing on bark — anything not intentionally placed or maintained by humans is considered
      wild.
  • Remember: the pictures you take for your observations don’t have to be pretty or perfect, they just have to be evidence of the presence of an organism.
    • While there are some incredible photographers on iNaturalist, it’s not a photography platform. The main purpose is to document wild nature where we live!
    • If you are running from one venue to another to catch the start of a set and can’t stop to do a full photoshoot for that grasshopper you spotted, that’s okay! Grab the best photo you can and keep running to make it to that show!

Get inspired for your FoCoMX City Nature Challenge adventure by checking out other observations that have been made in Old Town

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