The aspen leaves are starting to turn gold and the morning air is getting crisper every day.
But before you start getting too amped up for powder days and shredding gnar on the slopes, there’s plenty to enjoy about fall in Colorado — , football, pumpkin porters and , just to name a few.
There are also some pretty awesome festivals happening around the state. Whether you love tasting craft spirits or eating green chilies, there’s a little something for everyone at these festivals that celebrate all things fall in Colorado.
Applefest
Location: Various venues, Cedaredge
When: Oct. 4-7
Website:
Love apples? Of course you do. Then you’ll definitely want to check out Applefest in Cedaredge, which offers everything you need to celebrate the arrival of fall 2018. There’s a beer garden, a pin-up girl contest, a junior rodeo, a pancake breakfast, a 5K race and lots of live music. Plus, there will be vintage motorcycles, classic cars and tractors to peruse while you’re there. Event organizers are anticipating more than 25,000 people to show up.
43rd Annual Cider Days
Location: Lakewood Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood
When: Oct. 6-7
Cost: $5 to $8
Website:
Cider Days in Lakewood has been going strong for 43 years, so you’re guaranteed to have a good time at this quintessential fall festival. There will be family-friendly entertainment options all weekend, including a magic show and square dancing, plus tons of activities for kids like a balloon artists, a craft zone, a petting zoo, train rides and more. The festival is also a great opportunity to learn something new by watching historical demonstrations of blacksmithing, wood carving, quilting, chair caning and sawmilling, just to name a few. Of course, you can munch on (and drink!) all the apple-inspired foods and beverages you can think of — freshly baked apple crisp and hard cider, here we come.
Punkin Chunkin Colorado
Location: Arapahoe Park Racetrack, 26000 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora
When: Oct. 6-7
Website:
If you’ve never watched a pumpkin catapult through the air, you are seriously missing out (the record in Colorado is 4,970 feet!). For the uninitiated, punkin chunkin requires teams of people to design a device, like a trebuchet or a catapult, to launch a pumpkin as far as possible. While you’re there, be sure to check out the Corvette car show, beer garden, pony rides, pumpkin patch and fall crafts. Plus, there’s going to be a new chainsaw carving competition this year.
Telluride Horror Show
Location: Various venues, Telluride
When: Oct. 12-14
Cost: $15-$150
Website:
Calling all horror-lovers: This is the film festival for you. For three days, you can watch all the suspenseful thrillers you want at a handful of super cool theaters in beautiful Telluride. The festival features more than 20 feature-length films, plus 50 shorter movies, events and programs. All the movie venues are within walking distance of one another, so you can really get to know this eclectic mountain town on foot.
Botanic Gardens Pumpkin Festival
Location: 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton
When: Oct. 12-14
Cost: $4 to $10; children 2 and under are free
Website:
Prepare to come home with a pumpkin (or two) from the Botanic Gardens Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms. In fact, festival organizers recommend you bring a wagon with you so you don’t have to lug your pumpkins around all day as you enjoy tons of family and children’s activities, live music, beer and wine vendors and delicious food (they even offer “free pumpkin daycare”). There’s also an antique tractor exhibit from the Front Range Antique Power Association, horse-drawn hayrides, pony rides, photo booths and face painting. Of course, you may also want to check out the famous corn maze for an extra fee.
The Bloody Mary Festival
Location: EXDO Event Center, 1399 35th St., Denver
When: Oct. 13, 10:30-6 p.m.
Cost: $45-$55
Website:
The tangy taste of tomato juice, a little kick if you like yours spicy, plus a veritable vegetable garden in a cup — has a more perfect cocktail been invented? This event is a good reason to do a little day drinking on a Saturday morning or afternoon (there are two sessions) for an outing with friends. Tickets include two hours of unlimited tastes of Denver’s most creative and innovative Bloody Marys, plus other food and drink samples. You also get to cast your vote for The People’s Choice Award for the best Bloody Mary in Denver.
Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival
Location: Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave., Breckenridge (and other locations)
When: Oct. 19-21
Cost: $45
Website:
The main event of the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival is the “grand tasting” on Saturday, where you can sample delicious craft spirits and cocktails while listening to live music and snacking on some tasty morsels. Other festival activities taking place throughout the weekend include a scavenger hunt, several tours, a cooking class and brunch.
Looking for other cool events to check out? Visit for more fun finds.
