Join us for Fun Night 2025, our annual evening of games, food, competitions, and community fun, designed for our K–8 crews! This is our biggest family event of the year, and everyone is welcome.
📅 Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:30–8:00 PM
📍 Location: Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
New this year, Fun Night requires no ticket. We are suggesting a donation of $10 per kid to help raise money to support Polaris programs. Every contribution goes towards supporting our students and school!
Each kid will receive a ticket for a slice of pizza, and water and lemonade are free for everyone. Additional pizza slices for kids or adults can be purchased for $2 each at the event. All attendees are welcome to taste entries from the Student Bake-Off and Chili Cook-Off!
Kids can enjoy a wide variety of activities, from karaoke and carnival games to crafts, face painting, dance parties, and more. There’s something for everyone to try, with plenty of chances to have fun together!
This event wouldn't be possible without our amazing community. Please consider helping at the event and sign up to be a volunteer.
The Bake-Off is open to all Polaris students in grades K–8. Space is limited and only the first 20 entries who sign up in each age group will be judged.
Age Groups are: K–2nd, 3rd–5th, and 6th–8th.
Bake your best recipe and bring about 48 bite-sized samples, pre-portioned into approximately 1-inch pieces. Entries should be dropped off at the Bake-Off table in the gym between 3:20 and 5:30 PM.
Everyone at Fun Night gets to taste the desserts! A panel of judges will decide the winners, and winners from each age group will be announced at 7:45 PM with prizes for the top bakers.
The Chili Cook-Off is open to all Polaris families and community members. Bring your best recipe—spicy, mild, meaty, or vegetarian! Space is limited and only the first 20 entries who sign up in each category will be judged.
Categories are: Meaty and Vegetarian
Prepare a pot of chili big enough to share, along with any toppings or condiments you’d like. Drop off your entry between 3:20 and 5:30 PM at the Cook-Off table in the gym. Please bring your chili in something that will keep it warm (like a crockpot), as there will not be a way to heat chili on-site. Power strips will be provided for plugging in warmers. Bowls and spoons for tasting will be supplied.
Everyone at Fun Night gets to sample the chili and cast their votes! Winners in each category will be announced at 7:45 PM, with prizes awarded to the top chili chefs.
The Silent Auction is one of the highlights of Fun Night! Each crew creates themed baskets, and local businesses and families donate amazing items. There’s something for everyone, from family fun packages to unique treasures.
Bidding is open all evening, and all Fun Night attendees are welcome to join in. Keep an eye on the tables, there are plenty of opportunities to grab something special while supporting Polaris!
Check back at the silent auction tables at the end of Fun Night to see if you won any items. You can then check out and pick up your items. If a winner does not claim their item that evening, the CTC will contact them to coordinate.
Do you need volunteers?
YES! Fun Night runs on the energy and support of our community. Student and adult volunteers help with games, activity rooms, food tables, and more.
Sign up for CTC emails and we will let you know once our volunteer sign-up is available.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
Nope! Fun Night doesn’t require tickets. Instead, we suggest a $10 donation per child, which can be given the through the link above or at the door.
Is the suggested donation required?
No, it’s not required. We want every family to feel welcome, regardless of contribution. If you’re able to donate, it helps cover event costs and supports Polaris.
Can I give more than the suggested donation to support Polaris?
Yes! Every extra dollar makes a difference and goes directly toward student activities and programs.
Is this event only for Polaris students?
Fun Night is designed for Polaris K–8 families, but siblings and other family or community members are welcome to join in the fun.
Can I drop off my child, or do parents/guardians need to stay?
This is a family event, not a drop-off. Parents or guardians should plan to stay and enjoy the evening with their kids.
What if my child has dietary restrictions?
We know this is important for many families. For both the Chili Cook-Off and Student Bake-Off, we ask participants to list common allergens (like nuts, dairy, gluten, etc.) on their entry forms, and we’ll plan to have those clearly marked at the event.
That said, we can’t guarantee against cross-contact or trace ingredients, so please use your best judgment and feel free to bring along food that’s safe for your child.
Can adults buy food too, or is it just for kids?
Yes! Adults can purchase additional pizza slices for $2 each, and everyone is welcome to sample chili and bake-off treats.
A Wanderlust Adventure, Aggie Theatre, All Star Cleaning, Audacious Truffles, Axe and Ale, Bad Daddy's Burgers, Bas Bleu Theatre, Beatspace Fitness, Bindle Coffee, Boettcher Concert Hall, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Canyon Concert Ballet, Chipper's Lanes, Choice City, City of Fort Collins Golf, City of Fort Collins Recreation, Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys, Club Pilates, Comedy Works, CSU Performing Arts, Cups Community Coffee, Curiosities, DC Oakes, Denver Art Museum, Denver Film, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Zoo, Discovery Museum, Divine Light Reiki & Massage, Echo Mountain, Fit5 Studio, Flingin Pots, FoCo Fondo, Fort Collins Ghost Tours, Fort Collins Nursery, Fort Fun, Fossil Creek Nursery, Front Range Classical Ballet Academy, Gib's Bagels, Global Village Museum, Gnar Runners, Gulley Greenhouse & Garden Center, History Colorado Center, Hot Corner Concepts, Houska Automotive, HuHot Mongolian Grill, Hydrate IV Bar, Joseph Miranda Pottery, Josh & John's, Katie Miner Style, Krazy Karls Pizza, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, Loveland Choral Society, Loveland Laser Tag Fun Center, Loveland Ski Area, Me Oh My Pie, Metropolitan Theaters, Millennium Gallery of Living Art, Mishawaka, MouCo, Mugs CSU, Museum of Art Fort Collins, Mythmaker Brewing, Nature's Own, New Belgium Brewery, Nothing Bundt Cakes, OpenStage Theatre, Oriental Trading Company, Paddle Board @ The Comedy Overlook, Penrose Taphouse, Premier Skin Clinic, Pure Barre, Pure Drip IV Health & Wellness, Rally5, Reps and Restore, Ripple Effect Martial Arts, Rocky Mountain Adventures, Rodelle, Rollerland Skate Center, Runner's Roost, Salus, Samana Float Center, Scheels, School of Rock, Silver Grill, Sky Corral Ranch, Snack Attack, Snowy Range Ski Area, So Cool Ballooning, St. Peter's Fly Shop, Star of India, Studio Vino, Tamburi Winery, Tandem Squared Rolled Ice Cream & Coffee Café, Tellus, Terry Bison Ranch, The Cupboard, The Gardens on Spring Creek, The Human Bean, The Little Gym, The Melting Pot, The Yoga Shack, Uno Mas Taqueria y Cantina, Vern's Place, Whetstone Climbing, Wilbur’s Total Beverage, Wild Roots Studio, Wing Shack, Wolverine Farm Publick House, YMCA of the Rockies Resort, Yoga Pod Fort Collins, and Zwei Brewery
If you would like to donate something to the silent auction, please email us at ptc4polaris@gmail.com.