Spooky season is here!
Fall is always my favorite time of year. The weather starts to get nicer and all the best events pop up.
No matter how spooky you are, there's something that you're sure to enjoy at this time of year. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, immersive experiences, light displays, parades... this season has it all!
While we may be lacking the the apple picking fun of other states, Colorado sure does have a wealth of spooky season events, so let's take a look at all of my favorites coming up this year.
I've sorted this list into the following categories:
🎃 Pumpkin Patches & Farm Fun
🎃 Light Up the Night
🎃 Haunted Houses
🎃 Immersive Experiences
🎃 Family Friendly Fun
🎃 Spooky Shopping
Pumpkin Patches & Farm Fun
Anderson Farms Fall Festival
Located just outside of Erie, north of Denver, Anderson Farms is a favorite Fall destination with Colorado families. You'll find a huge range of Fall and Halloween activities here including Colorado’s largest corn maze, a 40 acre pumpkin patch with tractor pulled wagon rides, pumpkin canons, a petting zoo, barrel train rides, fun playgrounds, fire pits, face painting, and plenty of food options.
In the evenings things get a little spookier with the popular Terror in the Corn. You can find out more about this outdoor haunted attraction in the Haunted Houses category below.
Anderson Farms Fall Festival is open Wednesdays through Mondays (closed Tuesdays) from September 25th through November 1st. Hours vary depending on the day. Terror in the Corn opens September 26th and runs on Thursday to Sunday evenings through November 1st.
Anderson Farms is located at 6728 County Rd E 3 1/4, Erie.
Timed entry tickets for Anderson Farms Fall Festival start at $18.00 for weekdays (Monday - Thursday) and $31.00 for weekends (Friday - Sunday). Anytime tickets for weekends are $41.00. Early bird pricing is available. Children ages 3 and under are admitted free of charge.
Tickets can be purchased at the event, however they do often sell out so it's best to book in advance online. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
You can see our visit to Anderson Farms Fall Festival here.
Chatfield Farms Corn Maze
For a fun day time event, make sure to check out Chatfield Farms Corn Maze in Littleton. Every Fall Chatfield Farms is home to a 7 acre corn maze that delights visitors. It's family friendly and not spooky at all. Visitors under the age of 10 can also explore the mini corn maze. Barrel train rides are included with every child ticket purchased and, for an additional cost, there is an escape room located on site.
Chatfield Gardens Corn Maze is open Fridays, Fridays through Sundays from September 19th through November 2nd from 9am to 5pm.
Chatfield Farms is located at 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd, Littleton.
Tickets start at $20.00 for adults, $12.00 for children (ages 3 - 15), and children ages 2 and under are admitted free of charge.
Tickets must be booked in advance online. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Chatfield Farms Pumpkin Festival
Want to visit the Chatfield Farms Corn Maze AND pick pumpkins? Make sure to visit October 11th through 13th for the Chatfield Farms Pumpkin Festival. As well as the corn maze listed above, this event includes a 10 acre pumpkin patch (with pumpkin babysitting available so you can enjoy the rest of the event without lugging around heavy pumpkins), carnival games, hay rides, photo booths, access to the mini corn maze for children 10 and under, family friendly entertainment, lots of yummy food options, face painting, and an antique tractor display.
Chatfield Farms Pumpkin Festival runs October 10th through 12th from 9am to 4pm.
Tickets start at $20.00 for adults, $12.00 for children (ages 3 - 15), and children ages 2 and under are admitted free of charge.
Chatfield Farms is located at 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd, Littleton.
Tickets must be purchased in advance online. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
7th Generation Farm Fall Festival
7th Generation Farm is our local pumpkin patch. It's a much smaller farm than Anderson Farms and doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it does have a good range of pumpkins and some fun activities for the kids. Plus it has lots of great photo opportunities. Here you'll find plenty of pumpkins, a corn maze, a hay bale maze, a hay bale castle, pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks, a market stand with locally grown fruits and vegetables, and more.
7th Generation Farm Fall Festival is open Tuesdays through Sundays from September 26th through November 2nd. Hours vary depending on the day.
7th Generation Farm is located at 1536 Courtesy Road, Louisville
Tickets are $15.00 per person ages 3 and up. Children 2 and under are admitted free of charge.
For more information click here.
Four Mile Historic Park Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Visiting Four Mile Historic Park in Denver is like taking a step back in time to Denver's Old West part. The park is home to Denver's oldest standing structure (now the Four Mile House Museum), as well as replicas of historical buildings and a working farm with horses, goats, chicken and pigs. The park is home to many popular seasonal events including several for Halloween.
Pumpkin Harvest Festival will be held on October 18th and 19th from 9am to 5pm. This event includes live entertainment, a marketplace, face painting, prairie games, demonstrations of blacksmithing, tractor rides, and of course, a pumpkin patch. Add on activities including scarecrow making are also available.
Four Mile Historic Park is located at 715 S Forest Street, Denver.
Tickets for the Pumpkin Harvest Festival start at $20.00 for adults, $12.00 for children (ages 4 -17), and children ages 3 and under are admitted free of charge.
Fall Festival at Fritzler Farm Park
Much like Anderson Farm, Fritzler Farm Park in LaSalle is home to a popular Fall Festival. This Fall Festival features a giant corn maze, a pumpkin house, pedal go carts, a barrel train, a corn pit, slide mountain, a U-Pick pumpkin patch, festive food and drinks, pumpkin canons, fun photo opportunities and so much more. On Friday evenings through October there will be a fireworks show.
On Friday and Saturday evenings Fritzler Farm Park ups the spooky ante with Scream Acres. This haunted event features spooky entertainment in a haunt experience like no other.
The Fall Festival runs Fridays through Sundays from September 26th to October 26th. Hours vary depending on the day.
Fritzler Farm Park is located at 20861 County Road 33, La Salle.
Tickets for Fall Festival start at $26.42 per person. Tickets for Scream Acres are an additional cost.
For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Light Up the Night
Denver Botanic Gardens: Glow at the Gardens
Every October Denver Botanic Gardens lights up in the evenings with a spectacular exhibition of light displays, jack-o'lanterns, sculptures made of pumpkins, and characters in costumes. It's a family friendly event with nothing too spooky on display, but you will find the odd skeleton or two in displays. Visitors are welcome to come in costume (no prop weapons or scary masks allowed).
Every October Denver Botanic Gardens lights up in the evenings with a spectacular exhibition of light displays, jack-o'lanterns, sculptures made of pumpkins, and characters in costumes. It's a family friendly event with nothing too spooky on display, but you will find the odd skeleton or two in displays. Visitors are welcome to come in costume (no prop weapons or scary masks allowed).
This year's Glow at the Gardens runs from October 21st through 26th from 6pm to 9pm. The event sells out every year so make sure to get your tickets ASAP.
Denver Botanic Gardens is located at 1007 York Street, Denver.
Tickets for Glow at the Gardens are $34 for adults, $28 for children (ages 3 - 15), and children under 3 are admitted free of charge.
For tickets and more information click here.
To see our previous visit click here.
Denver Botanic Gardens: Glow Before Dark
Interested in checking out the spooky vignettes, pumpkins and decorations at Denver Botanic Gardens but unable to make it in the evening? No problem! During the day, visitors to Denver Botanic Gardens can enjoy the exhibits of Glow at the Gardens minus the glow. The exhibits might not be quite as spooky in the daylight, but they're still fun to see.
Glow Before Dark runs from October 18th through 26th during general admission hours and is included with daytime general admission tickets. The carved pumpkins will not be on display until October 21st to ensure that they stay fresh throughout Glow at the Gardens.
Denver Botanic Gardens is located at 1007 York Street, Denver.
For more information and to book general admission tickets for Denver Botanic Gardens click here.
Magic of the Jack O'Lanterns
Returning to Colorado this year is Magic of the Jack O'Lanterns at Hudson Gardens & Event Center in Littleton. This fun event features 5,000 hand carved pumpkins and pumpkin displays. You'll find a large array of Jack O'Lnterns from classics to elaborately carved pumpkins depicting beloved movie and tv characters, sports stars and celebrities. Multi pumpkin sculptures in the form of mythical creatures, movie characters and famous artworks are sure to delight. The gardens are lit up beautifully and music can be heard throughout. You'll find concession stands offering food, drinks and toys on site.
Magic of the Jack O'Lanterns runs Tuesdays through Sundays from September 19th through November 2nd on select dates. Hours vary depending on the day.
Hudson Gardens is located at 6115 S Santa Fe Drive, Littleton.
Timed entry tickets start at $23.99 for adults, $13.99 for kids (ages 3 - 12), and children ages 2 and under are admitted free of charge. Any time tickets start at $38.99 and allow guests to skip the line.
For more information and to book tickets click here.
Spooky Light Show
Looking for a Halloween exhibition that doesn't require leaving the comfort of your car? I've got just the thing for you! Spooky Light Show is a drive through light and music experience that the whole family will love. Visitors drive through tunnels of twinkling lights while pumpkins, ghosts and other spooky (but friendly) lighted characters sing and dance along to favorite Halloween songs. Rug up in your favorite Halloween pajamas and sing along as you take in the lights.
Spooky Light Show is held at Water World and runs most nights from October 3rd through October 31st from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
Water World is located at 8801 N Pecos Street, Federal Heights.
Tickets are $29.99 per vehicle and must be purchased in advance online here.
You can see our previous visit here.
Haunted Houses
For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
13th Floor Haunted House
Lovers of all things spooky and gruesome should definitely check out 13th Floor Haunted House. This Denver favorite is back with all new thrills and chills this year. They're all spooky in their own way with creepy characters appearing out of the dark, screams and terrifying sounds, vivid and quite realistic looking gory displays, lots of smoke and strobe lights, and an awful lot of darkness. On site you'll also find add on attractions including No Name's Clown Chaos (a curtain maze in complete darkness), Trick R Treat AR experience, axe throwing, and mini escape rooms. Visitors will also find Shriekeasy Bar and The Sacred Skull Tiki Bar with spooky cocktails, as well as food trucks on site.
13th Floor Haunted House is open now through November 9th. Days and hours vary so make sure to check online.
13th Floor Haunted House is located at 3400 E 52nd Avenue, Denver.
Tickets vary in price depending on the day but start at $29.99.
For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Terror in the Corn
Located at Anderson Farms just outside of Erie, Terror in the Corn is one of Colorado’s favorite spooky events each year. Unlike most haunted houses, Terror in the Corn is located outside in, you guessed it, a cornfield. A one mile long trail leads visitors through the haunted cornfield full of jump scares and frights, to the abandoned town of Raven’s Gulch, where things are just as spooky.
Terror in the Corn is open Thursday through Sunday from September 26th through November 1st from 7pm to 10pm/11pm depending on the day.
Tickets start at $43.00 and include entry to the Fall Festival, so you can arrive early and make a day of it before the spooky thrills at night.
Anderson Farms is located at 6728 County Rd E 3 1/4, Erie.
For more information and to buy tickets click here.
Fright Fest at Elitch Gardens
Elitch Gardens in Denver is a popular theme park year round, but in October things get a little spooky with the annual Fright Fest. During the day the scares are family friendly with trick or treating, a costume contest, Halloween bingo and a scream contest. In the evenings the scares get a little more, well... scary! Fright by Night sees gruesome characters haunting the park as well as haunted attractions including two haunted houses (Carnevil and Lock Up: No Escape), Séance, Terrortories and circus performances. Fright by Night is recommended for ages 12 and up. For both Family by Day and Fright by Night visitors are welcome to come in costume. Throughout October there will also be special events held in the park.
Elitch Gardens is open Saturdays and Sundays from September 27th through November 3rd as well as select Friday evenings. Hours vary depending on the day.
Elitch Gardens is located at 2000 Elitch Circle, Denver.
Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion, located at Reinke Brothers in Littleton, has been scaring Colordans for over fifty years. This beloved haunted house offers experiences for visitors of all ages. Those who love the scare factor turned all the way up can experience the jump scares, creepy lighting, scare actors, and spooky animatronics you’d expect to find at any haunted house. Younger visitors, and those who aren’t quite so fond of spooky thrills, can experience the lights on tour, a guided tour through the haunted house with the lights on and no scare actors.
Haunted Mansion is open seven days a week from September 26th through November 2nd. Hours vary depending on the day.
Lights On tours are available Saturdays and Sundays from 10am - 1pm.
Haunted Mansion tickets are $22.00 Sunday through Thursday, and $30.00 Friday and Saturday. Tickets for the Lights On tour are $12.00. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online by clicking here.
Haunted Mansion is located at Reinke Brothers, 5663 S Prince Street, Littleton.
Immersive Experiences
Meow Wolf: Trick or Treating in the Multiverse
Meow Wolf's Convergence Station is one of my favorite places to visit in Denver. It's full of wonder and sure to amaze visitors at any time of year, but in the lead up to Halloween things get a little extra cosmic and weird!
Along with all of the exhibits that make Convergence Station feel like a trip to a new dimension visitors will find scavenger hunts, meet & treats with Meow Wolf characters, temporary tattoos, crafting stations, and so much more. Visitors are encouraged to come in costumes and there will be daily costume competitions.
Trick or Treating in the Multiverse will be held on October 26th. Doors open at 12pm and this all ages event runs through 6pm. The event is included with your entry ticket.
Meow Wolf Convergence Station is located at 1338 1st Street, Denver.
For more information and to book tickets click here.
You can see our visit to Convergence Station at Halloweeen here.
Spookadelia at Spectra Art Space
You know I love a good immersive exhibition and Spookadelia at Spectra Art Space is one of my favorites.
Spookadelia: Unspoken definitely fits the bill for a Halloween celebration with its psychedelic displays but it's not just for the spooky season. In fact, this fun and colorful immersive exhibition is generally on display through Winter and Spring too. So if you miss going in the lead up to Halloween (which is easy to do with so many other things happening during spooky season) you can always go check it out after Halloween too.
Spookadelia: Unspoken opens October 4th and is open Wednesdays through Mondays.
Spectra Art Space is located at 1836 S Broadway, Denver.
Tickets for Spookadelia start at $3.18 for adults and $14.64 for children 10 and under.
For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Family Friendly Fun
Horrid and Scr3am & Sugar Coffee Company
Butterfly Pavilion Events
The Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster is home to creepy crawlies all year round, but to celebrate the spooky season they have a special limited time exhibition called Spiders Around the World from September 26th to October 31st. This exhibition will feature 20 different spider species from around the world, including the appropriately named skeleton tarantula and Colombian pumpkin patch tarantula, as well as orb weaver spiders spinning their intricate webs in the Spider Dome.
The Bug-A-Boo event will be held on October 18th, 19th, 25th, 26th, and 31st. During these days visitors are encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes and take part in trick or treating among the butterflies and insects that call the Butterfly Pavilion home.
Evening flashlight tours are also available on October 17th, 18th, 19th, 24th (adults only), 25th and 26th.
Butterfly Pavilion is located at 6252 W 104th Avenue, Westminster.
Tickets to the Butterfly Pavilion start at $15.95 for adults, $10.95 for children (ages 2 -12), and children under 2 are admitted free of charge. Spiders Around the World and Bug-A-Boo are included with entry. Flashlight tours are $18 for adults and $12 for children.
For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Wild Fall at Denver Zoo
Celebrate Fall and the Halloween season with all your favorite animals at Denver Zoo! Throughout October visitors will find creature carved pumpkins, roaming costumed characters, festive food and drinks, special animal demos and creepy crawly meet and greets. All of this fall fun is included with regular entry.
On select evening in October things get a little spooky with Boo at the Zoo. This add on event will be held on October 3rd, 4th, 10th - 12th, 17th - 19th, and 24th - 26th. A sensory friendly event will be held on October 31st. Visitors will find a trail that leads through the 84 acre zoo with trick or treating stations along the way. There will also be animal demos with creepy crawlies, festive photo opportunities with characters and sets, a silent disco, and special spooky cocktails for the grown ups. Visitors are encouraged to attend in costume.
Denver Zoo is open daily from 10am to 4pm. Trick or Treat Trail runs from 5:00pm to 9:00pm on the dates listed above.
Denver Zoo is located at 2300 Steele STreet, Denver.
Tickets to Denver Zoo are $26.00 for adults, $19.00 for children (3 - 15), and children 2 and under are admitted free of charge. Boo at the Zoo events are priced the same. Candy bags for children 2 and under are available for $5 during Boo at the Zoo.
Tickets must be purchased online in advance. For more information and to purchase the tickets click here.
Colorado Railbike Adventures Haunted History Ride
For a spooky experience like no other, head to the aptly named Erie for an evening ride with Colorado Railbike Adventures. Wondering what a Railbike is? It’s a pedal powered, four seater “bike” that rides along decommissioned railroad tracks. It’s a fun adventure with friends and family, and on select October evenings it gets a little spookier than usual.
Haunted History rides run from October 10th through November 2nd on selected evenings. Hours vary depending on the night, but there are typically rides at 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 8:30pm.
Colorado Railbike Adventures is located at 4121 County Road 3, Erie.
Tickets are $180 per bike, seating up to four people.
For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
We haven’t done the Haunted History Ride, but you can see our regular day time ride with Colorado Railbike Adventures here.
Colorado Railroad Museum Harvest Haunt Express
This event is a great one for train lovers of all ages. Colorado Railroad Museum is a fun place to visit at any time of year, but for two special days in October things get a little spooky with a Halloween themed event featuring fun activities including train rides, “not so spooky” haunted railcars, a hay bale maze, and trick or treating. Visitors are encouraged to attend in costumes.
Harvest Haunt Express will be held on October 18th and 19th from 10am to 3pm. The museum is open from 9am to 5pm on both days.
Colorado Railroad Museum is located at 17155 W44th Avenue, Golden.
Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children. Entry includes a timed train ride. This event is likely to sell out, so make sure to book in advance. You’ll select your train ride time when booking tickets.
For more information and to book tickets click here.
Union Station Events
Denver's Union Station is always a fun place to celebrate holidays throughout the year, and Halloween is no different. Boonion Station Trick or Treat Parade is a family friendly trick or treating event held on October 30th at 4:30pm. Along with trick or treating throughout the station there will be a family friendly parade, live entertainment, face painting and balloon art. The Howl-a-ween Pet Parade will be held on October 26th from 12pm to 3pm.This dog friendly event is open to the public and will feature adorable pooches in their best Halloween costumes.
Union Station is located at 1700 Wewatta Street, Denver.
For more information about Boonion Station Trick or Treat Parade click here.
For more information about Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade click here.
Broadway Halloween Parade
If you ask me, every holiday needs its own parade and Denver just happens to have one for Halloween with the annual Broadway Halloween Parade. This fun parade features floats, people in costumes and, like all good parade, candy for the kids watching! Spectators are encouraged to dress up in costumes.
Broadway Halloween Parade will be held on Saturday October 15th from 6pm to 8pm. Plan to arrive early as parking in this area can be tricky. We actually missed much of the parade last year as we spent 45 minutes trying to find a park.
The parade will run down Broadway from 5th Avenue to Alameda Avenue.
For more information click here.
You can see last year’s parade here.
Nick’s Fall Fest at Nick’s Garden Center
There aren’t many free Halloween attractions around, so this one is popular with Denver families. Each October, Nick’s Garden Center in Aurora is home to Nick’s Fall Fest. This family friendly Halloween attraction offers free entry and features kid’s story time, a straw maze, kiddie play area, and so much more. Train rides, pedal karts, putt putt golf, an inflatable obstacle course and more are available on site for kits $6 each. For $20 visitors can purchase a wrist band which includes the train rides, tractor ride through the Tunnel of Terror, pedal carts, and the inflatable obstacle course.
Nick’s Fall Fest is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm Sunday, from September 27th through November 2nd.
Nick’s Garden Center is located at 2001 S Chambers Rd, Aurora.
For more information click here.
Spooky Shopping
Ok, this one isn't specifically a Halloween event, but definitely a must do during the spooky season - or any time of year if you like spooky stuff like we do. Horrid is Denver's horror shop and features all sorts of goodies with a focus on horror movies and witchcraft supplies. They also run spooky workshops and feature local artisans and artists. As if that wasn't enticing enough, you can also find Scr3am & Sugar Coffee Company onsite serving up wicked coffee and spooky treats.
Horrid is open 11am to 7pm Tuesday through Thursday, 9am to 7pm Friday and Saturday, and 9am to 5pm on Sunday. Closed Mondays.
Scr3am & Sugar Coffee Company is open Tuesday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Horrid and Scr3am & Sugar are located at 1974 S Acoma Street, Denver.
For more information about Scr3am & Sugar click here.
For more information about Horrid click here.
The Wizard’s Chest
A Denver favorite since it opened in 1983, The Wizard’s Chest is a one of a kind store. Part toy store and part costume shop, a visit to The Wizard’s Chest is 100% a magical experience. The store features a huge range of costumes and accessories, making it the perfect place to visit during spooky season. You’ll find costumes and accessories here that you won’t find anywhere else.
The Wizard’s Chest is located at 451 Broadway, Denver.
The Wizard’s Chest is open 11am - 7pm Monday through Friday, and 10am - 7pm Saturday and Sunday.
For more information click here.
Reinke Brothers
A spooky favorite located in Littleton. Reinke Brothers is a costume and magic store with a huge range of costumes, wigs, accessories, theatrical props, make up, and magic tricks. Anything you need for spooky season can be found right here. They even host a popular haunted house on site (you can read about it above in the Haunted Houses) category.
Reinke Brothers is located at 5663 S Prince St, Littleton.
From September 26th through November 2nd Reinke Brothers is open seven days a week with extended hours as late as midnight on weekends. Hours vary depending on the day. Outside of spooky season, Reinke Brothers is open Tuesday through Sunday.
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