Cool days and even cooler nights are blissful during autumn in Colorado — especially after the late summer heat we had to endure this year.
Time to get out, take a walk among the pumpkins and revel in a fall festival or three. Here are some of the spots in Colorado to visit farm animals, take a hayride, sip some cider, get lost in a corn maze, buy some gourds and maybe get the bejesus scared out of you by a ghastly ghoul.
(Editor’s note: Some of the usual events may look a little different this year due to changes in insurance for some small farms. Check your favorite spots to find out what they are able to offer this year.)
BENNETT
Mile High Farms: Just 30 or so minutes from Denver find 11 acres featuring two corn mazes, a petting zoo, antique tractor hayride, pumpkin patch, corn pits, playground, concessions and more. The fall festival takes place each weekend until Oct. 29. Hours: Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: Kids ages 5-12 pay $13, adults 13-59 $18, and seniors 60-plus, first responders and military pay $15. Pumpkins run 60 to 85 cents per pound. 11 Cavanaugh Road, Bennett, 720-560-0730; milehighfarms.com
BROOMFIELD
Rock Creek Farm: Come take a hay ride, visit farm animals, spread out on the picnic tables and venture into the hale bay maze on this working farm. Admission to the farm is free this year, but there will be pumpkins and fall goodies available to purchase farm stand style. Plus, plenty of fall-perfect spots to snap a picture or two. The farm opened on Oct. 2 and is open through Halloween, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Rock Creek Farm, 2005 S. 112th St., Broomfield; 303-465-9565; rockcreekfarm.com
COLORADO SPRINGS
Long Neck Pumpkin Farm: Admission includes the story barn, hay rides, the hay bale slide, duck races, bean bag toss, farm animals, games and more. Explore the pumpkin yard, cottonwood grove, the meadow and the farmers market. The fun lasts through Oct. 29. Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $17, kids 2 and under are free. Pumpkins are $7-$10 with paid admission. Online reservations required. Long Neck Pumpkin Farm, 7595 California Drive, Colorado Springs, 719-551-0525; longneckpumpkinfarm.com
Miners’ Pumpkin Patch: Support the Western Museum of Mining and Industry while also celebrating pumpkin season. Enjoy the children’s straw maze, vintage apple press, hayrides and farm animals. Admission is $11 in advance, $13 at the door; pumpkins cost $6 in advance, or $7 day-of; 3 and under are free. Open every Saturday in Oct. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Western Museum of Mining and Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs, 719-488-0880; wmmi.org
DENVER
Glow at the Gardens: See the Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street in Denver lit up with spooky lights, skeletons and ghostly projections. Includes pumpkin artistry plus performing artists. Oct. 17-22, from 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $23-$27 for nonmembers; $21-$25 for members; Free for 2 and under. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance, though currently the event is sold out.
Glow Before Dark: Oct. 14 through Oct. 22, visit the gardens for some daytime spooky-themed fun. This is the first year for Glow Before Dark, a response to the famed Glow at the Gardens that sells out each year. The visit includes scary scenes, a graveyard, scarecrows and pumpkin displays. Cost: $7-$15 depending on age, status and membership discounts. Kids 2 and under are free. Hours: During regular hours, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., daily. Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500; botanicgardens.org/events
Pumpkin Harvest Festival at Four Mile Historic Park: Pumpkin Harvest Festival Oct. 14-15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Includes a pumpkin patch, prairie games, art depot, tractor rides, a petting zoo, marketplace and more. Add-on experiences include axe throwing and build-your-own scarecrow ($25). Live music and food trucks available. General admission tickets online $16-$22; free for children 3 and under. VIP package $33-$35. Prices go up the days of events.
Also at Four Mile Historic Park: Spirits & Spirits on Oct. 21 (21 and over) offers signature cocktails and an experience with Victorian Spiritualism. Hours: 6-10 p.m. Activities include ghost stories by the fire; tarot reading; aura photography; drag bingo; and a lantern-lit tour of the Four Mile House Museum. Tickets $30-$85.
And the Halloween Haunt on Oct. 28 from 4:30 to 8:30 includes face painting, creepy crafting, crawly critters and more. Food trucks and treats available. Cost: $15-$20, or $125 for a four-person package that includes drink tickets, popcorn, glow toys and s’mores. 715 S. Forest St., Denver; 720-865-0800. fourmilepark.org/pumpkin-harvest-festival
ELLICOTT
Pumpkin Patch at Wishing Star Farm: Admission includes the petting zoo, horseshoes, roping dummies, train rides, hay slide, tire jungle, a pumpkin patch, a pallet maze, Frisbee golf and more. Through Oct. 29. Hours: Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Prices: $11 for online tickets, $13 at the gate; 3 and under free. Sat. and Sun. Pony rides are $5; pumpkins priced by size. Fall Season Pass $25 each for up to four. Activity tokens: $5. Group rates available. Wishing Star, 24024 Highway 94, Ellicott, 719-244-7252; wishingstarfarm.com
ERIE
Fall Festival at Anderson Farms: Your ticket includes a 25-acre corn maze shaped like dinosaurs, combine slide, the wooden train, tire mountain, Krazy Rainbow Maze, pedal carts, farm animals and Fort-A-Lot-A Fun, plus a wagon ride to the 25-acre pumpkin patch, where you’ll find 70 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds. Pumpkin prices $2-$12. Open six days a week through Oct. 30 (closed Tuesdays).
Fall festival hours: Sat. 9 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon. and Wed. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed Tues.), Thurs. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Prices: Weekdays $17 or $27 for date-specific anytime entry; Weekends $28 or $38 for date-specific anytime entry; free for 3 and under.
Terror in the Corn at Anderson Farms: Terror in the Corn (ages 10 and up) is a 30-minute haunted hayride and ghost town attraction. Through Oct. 30. Terror in the Corn hours Thurs. and Sun. 7-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 7-11 p.m. Prices (which include admission to the Fall Festival): Thurs. $39, Quick Pass $54; Fri.-Sat. $42, Quick Pass $57. Sun. $41, Quick Pass, $56. Platinum Pass: $130. Anderson Farms: 6728 County Road 3¼, Erie, 303-828-5210; andersonfarms.com
ESTES PARK
Pumpkins & Pilsners Festival: The Pumpkins & Pilsners Festival at Bond Park features food trucks, a beer tent, free face paintings and pony rides, a pumpkin patch and more. Sat., Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 170 MacGregor Ave., Estes Park; visitestespark.com
Halloween Spooktacular: Dress in your Halloween costume at the Halloween Spooktacular at the YMCA of the Rockies all day on Saturday, Oct. 28. It’s a family-friendly haunted forest with creepy surprises. 2515 Tunnel Road, Estes Park; ymcarockies.org
FRUITA
Fall at Moon Farm: Your ticket includes the petting zoo, corn maze, straw maze, creepy clown house, haunted castle, hayrides and more. Pumpkins are priced by size. Through Oct. 31. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Cost: $7 per person. Kids 3 and under are free. Moon Farm, 1360 18½ Road, Fruita, 970-261-1113; moonfarm.net
GRAND JUNCTION
Studt’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze: General admission includes GellyBall (paintball with no cleanup required), multiple corn mazes (including two for the little ones), the pumpkin patch, pumpkin jumps, Hay Mountain, gemstone mining, a petting zoo, zip lines, a barrel train, corn cannons, pedal cars, bird aviary and more. Mechanical bull and pony rides on weekends are an extra $7. Through Oct. 29. Hours: Tues.-Thurs. noon-7 p.m.; Fri. noon-9 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Closed Mondays. Prices: $17 weekend admission, kids 2 and under free. Tues.-Thurs. $12. Pumpkin prices vary, starting at $1. Group and senior rates available. Studt’s, 21½ and I½ Road, Grand Junction, 970-305-9006; studtspumpkinpatchandcornmaze.com
HUDSON
Fall at Mazzotti Farms: Admission includes a scare-free corn maze, petting zoo, and a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Plus, make a scarecrow with your kids for $50. Sat. and Sun. through October. Hours: Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices: $17 for admission. Kids under 2 are free. Mazzotti Farms: 24120 Weld County Road 8, Hudson, 303-536-4089; mazzottifarms.com
LAFAYETTE
Fall at Cottonwood Farms: Your ticket includes a 4-acre corn maze, straw bale maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals, steam engine and farm equipment, farm stand and wagon rides ($5 per person on Saturdays and Sundays). Through Oct. 31. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Prices: $5 daily in advance, $7 walk-ins; kids under 5 and seniors over 65 are free, including wagon rides. Tickets available online up to one week in advance (prepaid admissions are encouraged). Visit the Fall Market, where you can purchase pumpkins, squash, decorative items and more without admission to the patch, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cottonwood Farm, 10600 Isabelle Road, Lafayette, 720-890-4766; cottonwoodfarms.com
LASALLE
Fritzler Farm Park: Your regular daytime ticket to the farm includes the pumpkin patch, corn mazes, go-carts, Slide Mountain, pillow jump, beer garden, backyard games and more. Fun Pass (does not include Scream Acres, paintball gallery or inflatables) prices vary on level and each has a processing fee. For non-peak days (aka most weekdays), online is $26.95 plus fee, at gate $29.95. The Ultimate Fun Pass for non-peak daytime admission is $42.95 online, at the gate it’s $45.95, and it includes Fun Pass attractions plus one paintball session and one pumpkin cannon session. For peak days (aka weekends), the Fun Pass is $36.95 online, and $39.95 at gate; Unlimited Fun Pass runs $52.95 online, and $55.95 at gate. Kids 2 and under free. Hours, through Oct. 29: Fridays 4-10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Select attractions close at 6 p.m. Fireworks every Friday night in October.
Scream Acres: Creatures lurk in the corn and come alive as you pass. Children 13 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian; not recommended for small children. Hours: Fri.-Sat. dark to 10 p.m., Sun. 6-9 p.m., through Oct. 29. Cost: Peak day general admission (you will wait in line) is $41.95 online, $44.95 at the gate. VIP admission (skip the line) are $61.95 online, $64.95 at the gate. Non-peak day admission is $36.95 online and $39.95 at the gate. VIP non-peak admission runs $56.95 online, $59.95 at gate. Paintball Gallery, FLO Paintball Gallery, Pumpkin Cannon and Inflatables are an $10 add-on at the gate. Fritzler Farm Park: 20861 County Road 33, LaSalle, 970-737-2129; fritzlermaze.com
LITTLETON
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms: Pumpkin Festival: Oct. 6-8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes hayrides; entry to the pumpkin patch and corn maze; antique tractor exhibit; photo booths; carnival tickets; mini maze; local craft and artisan booths; food trucks and vendors; live music and more. Bring your own wagons to transport pumpkins. Average price of pumpkins is $8. Admission $12 to $16, depending on age and membership. Kids 2 and under free. Visitors must pre-purchase timed, general admission tickets online before entry.
Corn Maze: This year’s maze theme is “Under the Sea,” so wind your way through 7 acres of corn shaped like fish, mermaids and sea turtles. The event runs through Oct. 29, and is held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There’s also a mini-maze available for kids under 10 and a barrel train ride included with admission. Prices $12 to $16, depending on age and membership. Kids 2 and under are free. Tickets must be purchased online in advance; they will not be available on-site. Oct. 7-9, ticket purchase to Pumpkin Festival necessary to gain entry to Corn Maze. Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, 720-865-3501; botanicgardens.org/events
Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns at Hudson Gardens: A walking trail at Hudson Gardens with 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins and larger-than-life displays that depict a magical carnival, nautical seascape, dinosaurs and dragons. Opens around sunset (times change as the month goes on) through Oct. 31, closed Mondays as well as select dates (Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17). On Sunday, Oct. 8 there’s a low sensory night. Timed tickets sold online. Cost: $14.99 for kids (ages 3-12), $19.99 for adults (ages 13+), and $34.99 for skip-the-line flexible tickets. Children 2 and under free. 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Attraction info at 510-896-3361; magicofthejackolanterns.com
LONGMONT
Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch: Hunt for the perfect pumpkin and have extra fun with the animal train ride, balloon typhoon, cornstalk tunnel, dragon roller coaster, pumpkin painting, petting zoo, pony rides and more. Food vendors and face painting ($5 to $10) on weekends. Buy organic produce at the farm stand. Through Oct. 31. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily (less activities available on weekdays), save for Oct. 31 when it closes at 4:30 p.m. Ticket prices: Free admission to farm, but weekday activity wristbands run $15 for kids and $5 for adults. Weekend activities are pay-as-you-go, running $1 for most. Pumpkins sold by the pound. Smaller list of activities weekdays, most carnival activities on Saturdays and Sundays only. Cash preferred, no American Express cards accepted. 9059 Ute Higway/CO 66, Longmont; rockymtnpumpkinranch.com
MONUMENT
Colorado Pumpkin Patch: Your ticket includes a farm animal petting area, tractor hay rides, laser tag, human foosball, a straw maze, pony rides, bounce pillow, tube swings, straw slides, face painting and more (some activities cost extra). Face painting, pony rides and hot concessions run Fri.-Sun. only. Through Oct. 29. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wed.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Ticket prices: $12-$18, depending on day. Kids 3 and under free; $40 season pass. No online ticketing; purchase tickets on-site at the ticket booth. Colorado Pumpkin Patch, 18065 Saddlewood Road, Monument, 719-799-6708; coloradopumpkinpatch.net
PLATTEVILLE
Miller Farms Fall Harvest Festival: Admission includes a corn maze, Antique Alley, farm animals, a giant “Croc-pit,” a hayride and other activities, plus a tractor ride with stops along the way to pick your own produce (up to four bags per person, one bag for ages 4 and under). Load up a wagon with pumpkins, gourds and winter squash and more for $50. Through mid-November. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Prices: $25 for ages 11 and up; $15 for ages 5-10; free for 4 and under. Special group and school pricing. Must sign the online release form prior to visiting. 13912 CR 19, Platteville, 970-785-6133 or [email protected]; millerfarms.net
THORNTON
Maize in the City: Admission is free to this farm, with barrel train rides, escape rooms, pony rides, petting zoo, sand art, corn kernel box, corn launchers and more. Entrance to the 20-acre corn maze is $14 for adults, $10 for children, and free for kids 4 and under. The mini maze costs per person, under 2 are free. Choose from 15 variety of pumpkins and gourds set in the easy-pick field; prices vary by size, from $1 to $20. Indian corn, straw bales, cornstalks and carving kits also available. Open through Oct. 31. Hours: Sat.-Sun. 9 a.m. -7 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays except for Oct. 31 (noon-6 p.m.). Closed Thursdays except Oct. 19 and 26, noon-6 p.m. Mazes close at 6 p.m. Maize in the City, 10451 McKay Road, Thornton; maizeinthecity.com