Top Fall Events in Colorado Springs

Top Fall Events in Colorado Springs

Fall events really bring the joy of the season to life. Crisp, cool air breezing through your hair as you hunt for the perfect pumpkin. Leaves changing to gold and red as you cruise through the mountains. Hearty pumpkin chili, pumpkin snacks and pumpkin beverages galore in every restaurant and store! We love everything about this magical time of transition and we especially love how the Centennial State has turned fall into a nonstop celebration. Take some time to enjoy the season with these events around the region.

Reynolds Ranch House Harvest Festival At WMMI

The Western Mining Museum has perfected the autumn welcome party with the beloved Miner’s Pumpkin Patch celebration. Running every Saturday in October, this is one of the few pumpkin patches in the Pikes Peak region that won’t require a long drive to enjoy. It’s located right across from the Air Force Academy on the sprawling outdoor property of the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. 

Visitors will experience live demonstrations, including the use of a real apple cider press and a pumpkin catapult. Attendees will also get to try their luck at gold panning and see real mining machinery in action. Outdoor games and a tractor pulled hayride are fun for all ages, and the sack races and magic shows give the event the small-town nostalgic feel that really amps up the fall atmosphere. Food trucks will be on site to satisfy your cravings. Admission includes one pumpkin per person and access to all outdoor fun.

• Oct. 5, 12, 19 & 26 @ 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Cripple Creek Fall Festival 

Colorado aspen trees are really something to behold in the fall. Make the short trek to Cripple Creek and enjoy them in all their splendor during the Cripple Creek Fall Festival. Everyone’s favorite mining town is one of the best places in Southern Colorado to experience the annual “gold rush” of the aspens turning. The fall party, which includes a fantastic craft fair, is a big golden bonus. 

The event is completely free and open to the public. All proceeds generated will be used for the care and feeding of Cripple Creek’s resident donkey herd. How cool is that? Visitors can expect live music, fall-themed adult beverages, a chili cook-off, a pie judging contest and much more. Make the fall festival a stop on your leaf-peeping tour, or bring the family and make a day of it. Both the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine and the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad will be open that weekend, so you will have lots of options for things to do all around town. Be sure to dress in layers and bring water and sunscreen for that high-altitude climate. 

• Oct. 5 & 6 @ 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Walking Tour: Ghosts of Downtown

• Oct. 5 & 6 @ 10-11 a.m.

Skeleton Craze in Manitou

Humorous, spooky and artistic skeletons are invading Manitou Springs! Each October, businesses, galleries and other local organizations work together to make this tiny town a much spookier place with the annual Skeleton Craze competition. Store windows, walls and sidewalks become haunting new sets with skeletons as the shining guest star of the show. All you have to do to check out the bony mayhem is to pay a visit to Manitou Springs through Oct. 31. Keep an eye out for ballot information. Visitors usually get a chance to vote for their favorite skeleton display. The winners will be awarded bragging rights, the envy of their competitors and the stress of trying to outdo themselves next year. 

• Oct. 1-31 throughout Manitou Springs

Boo at the Zoo

Boo at the Zoo is a perennial favorite for kids and parents — and more than a few children at heart. Each year, small ghosts and goblins gather at dusk to scavenge for treats under the watchful eyes of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s wild residents. This event brings the Zoo alive with the spirit of Halloween, but in a way that isn’t too scary for young kids. The candy is handed out by local businesses and organizations, giving parents peace of mind when letting their kids trick-or-treat. Even better, all treats handed out are made with sustainable palm oil, which helps protect wild animals and their habitats. 

Many zoo exhibits will be open during this time, although a few of the habitats may be closed for those animals that need their beauty sleep. Don your favorite costume and head out for this one-of-a-kind Halloween adventure! Safety precautions will be in place so the whole family can enjoy Halloween worry-free. This event is online timed ticketing only. Book ASAP as this is likely to sell out quickly.

• Oct. 18-20, 25-27 & 31, 4-8:30 p.m. (last admission at 7:20 p.m.),

Boo at the Bridge: Trick or Treat at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Stuff your treat bag while enjoying the view from America’s highest suspension bridge! Costumed kiddos will get an experience like no other when they get the chance to trick-or-treat 1,000 feet above the crashing Arkansas River. Over 30 vendors will be at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park to hand out candy during this one-night event. Entrances are staggered to ensure your safety, and the park supplies all of the candy for extra peace of mind. 

The candy won’t be the only thrill available, either. The Royal Gorge will have both the Cloudscraper Zip Line and Royal Rush Skycoaster open during the event. Even if you don’t choose to ride, you will have to pause and take a moment to appreciate watching costumed characters sailing across the canyon! Bring a coat or warm blanket. Sometimes the fall air can be a little chilly when it blows across the bridge. 

• Oct. 19, 4-7:30 p.m. 

Oct 31 – Cripple Creek Annual Trunk or Treat

Trunk or treat is a fun alternative to going door to door. Kids collect treats from trunks elaborately decorated by families and businesses hoping to bring Halloween cheer with altitude. This is a wonderful community event for all participants. You can sign up to decorate and host your own trunk here.

• Oct. 31, 5-7 p.m.
  

Haunted Lantern Tour at Cave of the Winds

If you’re looking for an extra spooky Halloween experience with a thrill-chasing twist, head over to Cave of the Winds for the Director’s Cut Haunted Tour. Adventurous souls are given a small, handheld lantern and led deep into some of the least visited parts of the caves. Your guide, should you dare to follow them, will spin spooky tales and share a few scary facts about some of the cave’s stranger phenomena. Learn about the history of the cave and its unexplained phenomena, and hear some deliciously scary ghost stories to get your heart pumping for fall. 

The Director’s Cut is one of the longest tours you can take at Cave of the Winds, even longer than the regular haunted tour offered during regular hours. The special Halloween tours run later, too. The last victims … guests … enter the caves at 10 p.m. Be prepared to bend, crouch and get a little dirty. This tour is intended to be scary and children under 13 are not permitted. 

• Oct. 4-31, check calendar for available dates. $45 per person, ages 13 and up.

Paranormal Peak Trunk or Treat

• Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $10 for adults. Kids 15 and under are free. Find event and weather updates here. 

Old Colorado City Pumpkins in the Park

Old Colorado City kicks off fall with a community pumpkin patch in Bancroft Park on Oct. 19. Attendees will enjoy a day of autumn-themed activities, including fall crafts, pumpkin painting and more. Live music will be playing in the park all day and there will also be dance performances. 

The rest of Old Colorado City will also be celebrating during Pumpkins in the Park. Local restaurants have fall fare on the menu, businesses will be offering special deals and sidewalk sales and Scarecrow Days — the scarecrow version of Skeleton Craze — will be in full swing. 

• Oct. 19, noon-4 p.m.