Loveland’s remailing program celebrates 79 years

Postmark Pursuit by Linn’s Staff

Affectionately known as the “Sweetheart City,” Loveland, Co., celebrates its annual Sweetheart Festival held Feb. 14-15, with a pictorial cancel, shown nearby, that features an encircled heart.

Loveland lies 14 miles south of Fort Collins, and for 79 years, owing to an agreement with the United States Postal Service, has spread love around the world through its traditional Valentine remailing program.

Each year, thousands of worldwide love letters are sent to Loveland to be serviced with the city’s special postmark before being sent on their way to express the heartfelt emotion to their recipients.

With more than 12 million letters having passed through Loveland since the program’s inception, the remailing is the largest of its kind in the United States.

This annual tradition of remailing letters has made Loveland a symbol for spreading love through the mail.

Held in downtown Loveland, the Sweetheart Festival celebrates love in all its forms and is the culmination of this enduring tradition of locally postmarked love letters.

This year’s festival includes the annual Sweetheart Classic 4-mile race, live ice sculpting, fire and art demonstrations, and comedic, musical and dance performances, as well as the Little Miss Valentine and Little Mister Cupid Contest.

To obtain the postmark, address your request to: VALENTINE Station, Postmaster, 446 East 29th St., Loveland, CO 80538, Feb 1-28.

Share information by writing to Postmark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365.

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