Fall has arrived, and so has the fun!
October in Colorado is a great time to enjoy the beautiful fall colors while attending unique festivals. You can also visit one of many farms to find your perfect pumpkin. Need fall-inspired ideas on what to do this month? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favorites:
October 1-31: Haunted hotels – throughout Colorado
Some of Colorado’s supposedly haunted hotels include Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, which served as a makeshift Navy hospital and morgue during WWII, the Oxford Hotel in Denver, which was the site of a brutal murder-suicide in 1898, the Goldminer Hotel in Nederland, where the hotel is so nice some formerly living guests refuse to leave, and maybe most famously, the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, which has been named one of America’s most haunted hotels. You can even explore Stanley Hotel’s spooky history during a 60-minute “spirited” night tour.
October 4: 16th Street Grand Opening Celebration- Denver, Colorado
Once one of the top tourist meccas in the state, 16th Street, which used to be known as an outdoor mall, suffered during the pandemic.
But the grand reopening takes place on Oct. 4, exactly 43 years after the inaugural opening of the urban revitalization project.
Visitors to the heart of downtown Denver can enjoy music, a scavenger hunt and special birthday treats. The new 16th Street features plenty of outdoor patios, restaurants, ice cream shops and climbable art.
October 4: Tour de Corgi – Fort Collins, Colorado
Have a great time in Fort Collins at the annual Tour de Corgi event, a must-see show of pure delight each October in Colorado. Photo by Mike Barry, courtesy of Tour De Corgi.
Photo: Have a great time in Fort Collins at the annual Tour de Corgi event, a must-see show of pure delight each October in Colorado. Photo by Mike Barry, courtesy of Tour De Corgi.
What’s cuter than a corgi, you may ask? A corgi in a costume! You won’t want to miss this fun, corgi-filled event, featuring a corgi parade and costume contest. As a bonus, all proceeds from this event benefit local dog rescues.
October 4: Paws in the Park – Longmont, Colorado
Looking for another opportunity to connect with your four-legged friend? Paws in the Park combines a little exercise, a pancake breakfast and a vendor village filled with local, pet-friendly businesses.
The 5K race starts at 9 a.m. at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Park. Your furry sidekick can join you in the 5K pet walk starting at 10:30 a.m. The event supports the Longmont Humane Society. Join in the fundraising efforts before the event by setting up a personal or team page via the event site to raise money.
October 4: 46th Toy Bowl – Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo law enforcement officials take on the Pueblo Bikers United on the football field. This annual event has been taking place for 46 years. An entry fee of $5 helps pay for Christmas toys for needy children in the Pueblo community. Attendees can also bring a new, unwrapped toy.
The game starts at 11 a.m. at CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl, 2200 Bonforte Blvd.
October 1 through November 9: 13th Floor Haunted House – Denver, Colorado
USA Today ranked the 13th Floor as one of the top five most terrifying haunted houses in the United States. And this year, it has expanded to include three main attractions: the Legend of the 13th Floor, Twilight of the Damned and The Blood Shed. Tickets start at about $20.
You can expand your terrifying night to include other activities like escape games or axe-throwing. The 13th Floor Denver is at 3400 E. 52nd Avenue. It’s open most evenings in October, but check their website for all dates, times and ticket prices.
October 10 and 11: Aurora Borealis Festival – Aurora, Colorado
Never experienced the magic of the Northern Lights? Here is your chance to enjoy them without traveling to the northern U.S., Canada or beyond.
This two-day evening festival under the open skies of Aurora, Colorado, offers stunning recreations of the Aurora Borealis. This event takes place at High Prairie Park and includes immersive light art, live music, cultural performances, family activities and hands-on art experiences.
October 11-13: Celebrate fall at the Pumpkin Festival – Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms
Pick your favorite pumpkin at the 10-acre pumpkin patch, explore the corn maze and enjoy food trucks, live music, artisan booths, hayrides and face painting at this fall-themed festival. Once you’ve selected your pumpkins, use the free pumpkin daycare service. This way, you can fully enjoy the remainder of the festival without carrying your pumpkins around. (Here is a list of other pick-your-own pumpkin patches in Colorado.)
October 11 and 26: Dia de los Muertos celebrations and festivals – Longmont and Denver, Colorado
Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, celebrations have roots in both indigenous Aztec and Mayan cultures and Catholicism. Unique traditions have emerged in Mexico, Guatemala and among Mexican Americans throughout the U.S. and in Colorado.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 11, the streets of downtown Longmont, Colorado, come alive – with the dead. This celebration of culture, heritage, life and love features traditional live music and dance, face painting, sugar skull decorating, crafts and more.
From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 26, enjoy a unique community experience that unites all cultures, races and ethnicities. Held at the National Western Complex in Denver, the Colorado Day of the Dead Grand Festival has artists, singers, performers and vendors.
Oct. 25: Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival – Manitou Springs, Colorado
Like many in the late 1800s who ventured west, Emma Crawford was looking for a cure for her tuberculosis. She hoped to find it in the cold-water mineral springs of Manitou Springs, but within two years, her illness overcame her. However, her love for the town was well known, and her wish was to be buried on top of Red Mountain, according to the Manitou Springs tourism website.
Her partner, an engineer on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, honored her wish. With help from 11 townspeople, Emma’s coffin was carried up the 7,200-foot slope and buried near Red Mountain’s summit. But then, almost 40 years later, nature’s elements unearthed the coffin, and it raced down the hillside. Young children found only a few of her remains along with her nameplate.
The townspeople started the event in 1995 in Emma’s memory.
Join in the parade, build a coffin to race or enjoy the festivities during this season of spooky festivity and soulful remembrance.
October 25: Victorian Halloween for Kids at the Rosemount Museum – Pueblo, Colorado
Bring your family to explore this 37-room mansion built in 1893. Starting at 10 a.m., visitors get a trick-or-treat bag and, at their own pace, tour the home to see an abundance of original material and furnishings within. There will be treats and prizes as you make your way through. Get in the Halloween spirit and dress up to compete in the different age-category costume contests starting at age 2.
House capacity is limited, so there could be a wait. Admission is $4 for ages 3 and older.
October 17-19, 24-26, 31: Boo at the Zoo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Colorado Springs, Colorado
This unique Colorado Springs experience allows your kids to dress up and trick-or-treat while visiting zoo animals at night. Activities include a haunted house, a spooky graveyard, a pumpkin patch and a giraffe feeding experience. New this year is a costume contest where winners get tickets to the zoo’s December Electric Safari. Buying tickets in advance for Boo at the Zoo is required.