Loveland, Colorado Loves Valentine's Day

Loveland, Colorado is also known as the Sweetheart City. When you have love in your name and heart in your nickname, it's no wonder the city of Loveland loves Valentine's Day. The February holiday is filled with many traditions in the Sweetheart City. Some of them take place long before February 14th. Here are just a few of the ways Loveland celebrates Valentine's Day.

Miss Loveland Valentine

Since 1962, a competition has been held each year to choose Miss Loveland Valentine. Local young women who are high school seniors are eligible to enter the competition which is sponsored by the Thompson Valley Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

In November, a panel of judges chooses one lucky young woman to represent the city of Loveland as Miss Loveland Valentine. The young woman attends many events in the community. She gives speeches, helps out with the valentine remailing program, and makes a trip to Denver to meet the Governor.

Official Loveland Valentine Card and Cachet

The Chamber of Commerce in Loveland holds a contest each year to decide the design and wording of the official Loveland valentine card and cachet. The card is sold in local stores and in 2009 was also sold online. The cachet is a small design and verse that is stamped on the outside of the envelope that goes with the official card. It is also stamped on the envelopes of valentines that are sent through the valentine remailing program. (The remailing program is explained later in this article.)

Contestants can submit artwork and/or verses for the card and/or cachet. The contest begins in early fall with submissions taken until early November. The winners are notified in December and a press conference is held in early January to unveil the card and cachet designs and verses. The winners of the contest and Miss Loveland Valentine are introduced to the media at the press conference.

Loveland Valentine Remailing Program

The valentine remailing program has been in existence for over 60 years. The valentine remailing program was started in 1947 by Postmaster Elmer Ivers and Chamber of Commerce President Ted Thompson. Ted and his wife Mabel were responsible for the success of the program. They are known as Loveland's "Valentine Sweethearts". They are now deceased, but their hard work and dedication made Loveland's valentine remailing program famous worldwide.

Approximately 200,000 cards and letters go through the Loveland valentine remailing program each year. Valentines are sent to Loveland from all over the world to be remailed with the Loveland postmark and stamped with the official cachet for that year. During the first two weeks in February, a group of about sixty senior citizens volunteer to stamp the envelopes with the official Loveland cachet. The post office is grateful to have these dedicated volunteers on hand each year to help.

For information on how to send a valentine through the Loveland remailing program go to: http://www.loveland.org/ValentineProgram

Valentine Hearts Program

The Thompson Valley Rotary Club is responsible for the Valentine Hearts program. The program is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club.

Throughout the month of February, large wooden hearts decorate the light poles in Loveland. People pay a fee to post their love messages on the hearts. The messages are painted in white on the large red hearts for all to see as they drive or walk through the main streets of town.

If you would like more information on the Valentine Hearts program, you can contact the Loveland Chamber of Commerce at 970-667-6311.

As you can see Loveland, Colorado and Valentine's Day make a great combination. Happy Valentine's Day from the Sweetheart City!

Sources:
http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=25698
http://www.loveland.org/ValentineProgram
http://www.withlovefromloveland.com/about.shtml
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/localnews/co/2009/co_2009_0116.htm
Loveland Chamber of Commerce Valentine Card Contest Brochure