“Moose Is Loose” Campaign Kicks Off on Valentine’s Day
Trevor Phipps
Every winter, the City Above the Clouds tends to wind down with the ending of summer and holiday seasons; and yes, the advent of cold, bitter Arctic weather.
Well, welcome to the winter of 2026, when a balmy Florida-like mercury streak riddled the month of February, with Woodland Park remaining a surprising location for events and shopping.
Still, regardless of any temporary reprieves from Old Man Winter, the calling of the town’s popular Moose is a familiar cry in Teller County this time of year.
For the last 26 years, Woodland Park’s famously elusive Moose makes his grand arrival during the month of February. To celebrate the Moose’s return, many local businesses offer special sales and deals to welcome the Moose, as he makes special appearances over three weekends annually.
This year, the town’s Moose makes his big return at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 14 at Tweeds Fine Furnishings in downtown Woodland Park. Those who arrive at the beginning of the citywide sale Saturday morning will get the chance to win prizes, receive giveaways, and enjoy sweet treats and hot beverages. The morning also starts the sale at Tweeds where shoppers can find 15 – 75% off sales storewide.
A Popular Tradition
“The Moose Is Loose” campaign started in 2000, and for many it has become a family tradition in Woodland Park every February,” Tanner Coy, owner of Tweeds Fine Furnishings said. “The sale was originally started by Tweeds Fine Furnishings as a way to help retail businesses keep their doors open during the lean winter months with enticing sales prices up and down Main Street. It’s grown to include the Coffee Crawl, Paint the Town with the Moose and a wildly successful scavenger hunt.”
This year, the Moose comes back to town with a special message centered on kindness. During the kickoff event on Saturday, the Moose will officially swear in members of the new “Antler League of Kindness.”
“Throughout the Moose Is Loose Sales event, the Moose is partnering with local businesses, schools, and community organizations to recognize everyday heroes—people and groups who quietly serve, protect, teach, and support our town,” the Moose Is Loose website states. “Instead of just shopping from stop to stop, participants will encounter moments that celebrate: service, compassion, creativity and community spirit. These moments are designed to remind us that kindness doesn’t require grand gestures—it starts with showing up, paying attention, and caring.”
The Moose Scavenger Hunt
One rather new addition to the sale is the scavenger hunt. Shoppers are now incentivized to visit all participating locations to complete various tasks. “Teams earn points by completing challenges, answering trivia correctly, and submitting creative photos at designated stops,” the website states.
“The scavenger hunt is really what I am excited about this year,” Coy said. “We’re incentivizing groups to go on the scavenger hunt by offering five ‘Moose Bucks’ that spend like cash at any of the participating businesses in Woodland Park.”
If a team completes all of the tasks, they can earn up to 110 Moose Bucks per team. The teams who earn the most points and come up with the most creative photos will get to choose a special prize from the Moose Treasure Trove at Tweeds.
The Moose Coffee Crawl
On Feb, 21, the special sales event and Moose Is Loose campaign plans to bring back its coffee crawl that proved to be a big hit last year. “The coffee crawl is great and it’s back by popular demand,” Coy said. “It’s a guided tour through several different coffee shops here in the community that have prepared special beverages for those customers.”
This unique event gives tourists or those new to town a chance to find their favorite coffee shop in town. For locals, it’s a good excuse to get out of your go-to coffee spot and try the other coffee cafes the city has to offer.
The coffee crawl starts on Feb. 21 at Café Leo at noon. Then at 12:30 p.m. the coffee crawlers will head to the Donut Mill before checking out Java House at 1 p.m. Solid Grounds will have a special beverage waiting at 1:30 p.m., and then the crawl will end with a cup at Tweeds from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Art Walk and Paint the Town Events
On February 28, the Moose Is Loose event lineup will switch its focus to local art. The day starts at Our Reserve Gallery with the “Moose Art Adventure” running from noon to 3 p.m.
This special art walk gives visitors a chance to enjoy local artwork and connect with the artists in the community. “Moose Is Loose encourages locals and visitors to take in the art walk as part of the celebration, combining shopping, art, and community engagement in one experience,” the event website reports.
Later that evening, shoppers can enjoy the grand return of the Paint the Town with the Moose. This adults-only evening event features local artisans along with food and craft cocktails. Stay tuned to the Mountainjackpot.com or our Facebook page for more details about this event.
Overall, the Moose Is Loose sale runs from Feb. 14 to March 1. For more information, visit the Moose Is Loose website.
