Fort Collins Lincoln Center facts for kids
The Lincoln Center is a fantastic place in Fort Collins, Northern Colorado, where you can enjoy all sorts of performing and visual arts. It's a big center that brings professional theatre, dance, music, comedy, and art shows to the community. They even have special programs just for kids!
This amazing center was created in 1978. The people of Fort Collins really wanted a new place for arts and culture. They voted to raise money for it, and the community also helped by raising extra funds. This teamwork helped build The Lincoln Center, which quickly became a popular spot for families and art lovers.
In 2010, The Lincoln Center got a big makeover! It had an $8.4 million renovation to make it even better for visitors and performers. The updates included beautiful new lobbies, a cool rooftop deck, new bar areas, a lovely art gallery, and a super modern sound system. Everyone in Northern Colorado was excited to see the "new" Lincoln Center!
What You Can See and Do
The Lincoln Center is one of the biggest places in Northern Colorado to see nationally touring shows. This includes popular Broadway musicals and famous performers. Many local groups also use the center, like OpenStage Theatre, Canyon Concert Ballet, and The Fort Collins Symphony. This makes The Lincoln Center a busy and exciting place for everyone.
Performance Hall: Big Shows and Concerts
The Performance Hall is the largest stage at The Lincoln Center. It's perfect for big shows like plays, musicals, and major concerts. This theatre has 1,187 seats, so lots of people can enjoy the show! It also has special dressing rooms for performers and a large lobby for everyone to gather before or after an event.
Many famous acts have performed here, including U2, Ray Charles, and STOMP. The Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra also performs here regularly. The stage even has a special hydraulic orchestra pit that can move up and down!
Magnolia Theatre: Local and Youth Shows
The Magnolia Theatre is a smaller, but still very well-equipped, stage. It has its own lighting, sound, and projection systems. This theatre is often used by local groups, children's and youth theatre productions, and community theatre companies. It's also a great spot for business talks and presentations. Like the Performance Hall, it has dressing rooms and a lobby for guests.
Canyon West Ballroom: Parties and Events
The Canyon West Ballroom is the largest indoor space at The Lincoln Center for events. It's over 5,000 square feet, which is huge! This elegant room is perfect for weddings, big business meetings, conferences, and other special events. It has beautiful chandeliers, fancy ceilings, and wooden decorations. It also has its own lighting and sound systems, and it's easy to connect to the kitchen for catered food.
Columbine Room: Meetings and Classes
The Columbine Room is another great event space, a bit smaller than the ballroom. It's about 2,700 square feet. This room is excellent for meetings, classes, smaller parties, and special events. It has a modern look with warm colors. It also includes a built-in sound system, a projection screen for presentations, and adjustable lighting. Like the ballroom, it has easy access to the kitchen for food.
Rooftop Deck: Outdoor Fun
The rooftop deck is a unique outdoor space on the second floor. It's about 2,400 square feet and is surrounded by trees, giving you a cool view. It's a perfect spot for parties, wedding ceremonies, or other special outdoor events. You can get there by a grand staircase or an elevator. At night, sparkling lights make it look magical! There's also a bar inside the lobby nearby.
Terrace: Garden Gatherings
The Terrace is another spacious outdoor area, over 2,800 square feet. It's surrounded by trees, green gardens, and a beautiful fountain. This makes it a charming place for outdoor parties, lunches, or musical events. It's located right outside the main level of The Lincoln Center, so you get the beauty of the outdoors with the convenience of indoor facilities close by. It's paved for easy setup and has electrical outlets for sound and lighting.
Founders Room: Cozy Receptions
The Founders Room is a cozy and elegant room located right off the main lobby, next to the Performance Hall. It's a great spot for a smaller gathering before or after a show, or for any event where you want a warm and personal setting. The room has nice neutral colors and elegant decorations. It also has a small area for catering with a sink and prep station.
Art Gallery: See Amazing Art
The Lincoln Center's Art Gallery is the main place for art exhibits. It usually hosts about nine to twelve different art shows each year. These art shows can make a special event even more exciting! The gallery is a unique space for small parties or cocktail gatherings. Because they want to protect the art, food and drinks are usually not allowed inside the gallery itself. However, other areas in the building can be used for food and drinks. The art exhibits change regularly, so there's always something new to see!
LC LIVE: The Performing Arts Season
The Lincoln Center presents its own shows called LC LIVE. These shows are part of The Lincoln Center's performing arts season, which usually runs from September to May. LC LIVE brings a wide variety of shows, including professional theatre, dance, music, comedy, and fun programs for families. Some of their popular series include "Showstoppers," "National Geographic Live," and "Imagination." You can buy tickets for individual shows or get season packages through The Lincoln Center website or by calling their Box Office.
