Fall is such a cozy time of the year. It offers a welcome escape from the intense summer heat, but still offers warm days and crisp evenings. It’s a wonderful time of year to get outdoors and take advantage of Denver’s beauty. There are events, activities, and opportunities to get out and explore new parts of the city. So grab your pumpkin spice latte and take a look at these top things to do in Denver in the fall.
Explore Denver Beers, Wines, and Distilled Spirits
Nothing beats a crisp fall evening spent with friends sipping a beer. There are many great beer gardens to check out, as well as microbreweries and distilleries. Wine and cider tastings are also available. One of the best ways to explore Denver breweries is to go on a Denver Microbrew Tour. Not only will you taste some amazing beer, but you will also learn more about the history of Denver. Tours include:
- LoDo Craft Beer Tour
- RiNo Beer and Graffiti Tour
- Mocktails and Murals Tour
- Seasonal and Private Group
Halloween Activities in Denver
Halloween is a fun time of year in Denver. Families can find wholesome activities such as trunk-or-treats, corn mazes, and harvest festivals. Additional family-friendly activities include Boo at the Zoo, the Broadway Halloween Parade, and Glow at the Gardens. Adults and teens can aim for haunted houses, zombie crawls, and fright fests. Check out these Halloween activities in Denver and fill up your October calendar.
Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes
As you can imagine, you won’t find a pumpkin patch or corn maze in Denver, but there are many options within a short drive. Here is a look at some of the closest pumpkin patches and corn mazes to Denver.
Maize in the City
Buckle up the kids and head to Maize in the City. It is a relatively short trip north to Thornton, and it’s worth it because this place has tons of activities for the kids. These include:
- corn mazes
- pumpkins
- corn kernel box
- playground
- hay bale maze
- wagon rides
- bouncers
- corn launcher
- sand art
- barrel train
- face painting
- petting zoo
- pony rides
- duc races
- photo ops
Mile High Farms
Take a short drive east to Bennet to check out Mile High Farms. Children and adults will find all sorts of ways to celebrate fall. Available activities here include:
- two corn mazes
- antique tractor hayride
- play castle
- bouncy castle
- wagon and tractor tire corn pits
- Grover’s Garden with farm animals
- barrel cart rides
- stage performances
- farmer’s playground
- pumpkin patch
Rock Creek Farm
Another option to the northwest is Rock Creek Farm in Broomfield. It is one of the oldest pumpkin patches in northern Colorado and includes a corn maze, hay bale maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals, and more. It’s a little smaller than the others, but still offers plenty of family fun.
Haunted Houses
Numerous well-known haunted houses are located near Denver. Get your scare on and check out any or all of these top four haunted houses in Denver.
The Frightmare Compound
Operating for more than 40 years, The Frightmare Compound offers a haunted house, a monster museum, a coffin-ride simulator, and mini escape rooms. Enjoy a frightful evening with friends from mid-September to early November,
13th Floor
Bring your friends to a truly frightening experience at 13th Floor. Step on the elevator and travel upward to the forbidden 13th floor to experience horrific monsters. In addition to the main attraction, you can experience Twilight of the Damned, The Blood Shed, mini escape rooms, ax-throwing, a Tiki tarot bar, a horror-themed secret bar, a twisted clown maze, and more.
Terror in the Corn
Take a short drive to Erie to Anderson Farms to experience Terror in the Corn. Traverse a mile-long path through a twisted cornfield filled with your worst fears. Emerge at Raven’s Gulf, an abandoned town where something sinister hides behind every corner. Don’t go alone; there is strength in numbers.
Haunted Field of Screams
Experience the largest haunted attraction in Colorado at Haunted Field of Screams. Spanning 40 acres in Thornton, all are invited to walk through giant corn stalks. Beware, you never know what will be lurking behind the next corner. Expect to find multiple haunted houses, and then, good luck surviving the Riverdale Gates of Hell.
Elitch Gardens Fright Fest
Families are invited to celebrate the spooky season during the day at Elitch Gardens with trick-or-treating, fall-themed activities and adventures, and the rides and attractions that make this park famous. Once night falls, the little ones should go home, as terrifying experiences take over at Elitch Gardens Fright Fest. Everyone can enjoy their favorite rides while also experiencing haunted houses, scare zones, and live entertainment.
Zombie Crawl
Every year, Denver residents enjoy putting on their best zombie outfits and coming out for Zombie Crawl. This free celebration of zombie culture includes DJs rocking Halloween classics, costume contests, and bars serving ghostly cocktails. Everyone participating in this pub hop gets a “survival kit” with discounts, drink vouchers, complimentary shots, and invites to Halloween parties after the crawl.
Ghost Tours
Ghosts are a common topic in Denver, especially if you live near Cheesman Park. Sure, there are manufactured haunted houses in the area, but sometimes the spookiest experiences happen because of true stories. Many old Victorian houses also carry stories of ghosts, and you can see why at the Molly Brown House Museum. You can also go on a ghost tour. Here are a few that are available.
Cheesman Park Ghost Tour
Cheesman Park is gorgeous, and many families enjoy it year-round. However, this park has an eerie history, as it served as the city’s first cemetery. On the Cheesman Park Ghost Tour, you can hear about accounts of paranormal activity in the park, how the bodies were removed before turning the land into a park, and about the Haunted Mansion Homes of Humboldt Island.
Twilight Ghost Tour
Explore the area once known as millionaires row on a Twilight Ghost Tour. Guides will take you through this gorgeous historic neighborhood and talk about local history and residents who lived in these mansions. While the tour does not enter the homes, frequent paranormal encounters do occur.
Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tours
Offering multiple tours, Dark Side of Denver Tours offers a unique look into Denver’s history. One tour takes you inside several of the most historic buildings in the Lodo neighborhood. Another explores Cheesman Park and the adjacent neighborhood, and a third tour takes participants to Capitol Hill.
Take in Fall Foliage in and out of Town
Denver is known for its outdoor activities, and fall is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the weather and the views. There are plenty of opportunities in Denver, or you could go for a drive toward the mountains to see some epic fall foliage. The changing aspens are magical. Within the Denver area, you can go for a hike in Cherry Creek State Park or take your boat out onto the reservoir. In addition, you can fly fish on the South Platte River or have a picnic in one of the local parks. Some of the best parks in Denver are Washington Park, City Park, Cheesman Park, Sloan’s Lake Park, and Confluence Park.
Cheer on Professional Sports Teams in Denver
Fall is the perfect time to go to a game in Denver. Summer can be hot, winter can be cold, but fall tends to be just right. In addition, at this time of year, the Rockies, Nuggets, and Rapids are winding down their seasons, and the Broncos and Avalanche are just getting started. Denver fans have opportunities year-round to support their teams. Each stadium offers a unique atmosphere and all offer the chance to grab food or drinks with friends before or after.
Celebrate Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the bridge between Halloween and Christmas. Thanksgiving weekend is often the kick-off for Christmas-themed events around town. Before truly transitioning to Christmas, stop and celebrate Thanksgiving. Invite friends over for Friendsgiving, make the trek home to be with your family, host a dinner yourself, or donate your time to others in need. There are many ways to help feed the homeless on Thanksgiving in Denver, with one of the biggest being the Denver Rescue Mission.
If you’d like to get some exercise before stuffing your face, participate in a turkey trot. Among others, The Harvesting Hope 5k takes place every year in Central Park. Walk, run, skip, hop, or trot your way to the finish line and eat your Thanksgiving meal without guilt.
Fall Festivals in Denver
Festivals bring communities together and there are many great festivals available in Denver during every season. Festivals in Denver during the fall celebrate food, drink, the arts, films, and the holidays.
Oktoberfest
Sure, there are small Oktoberfest celebrations around Denver, but the biggest event takes place over multiple weekends at Larimer and 21st in the Ballpark District. Denver Oktoberfest started in 1969 and has gotten bigger and better each year. Grab your lederhosen and prepare to consume some calories in the form of beer, spirits, and German food. In addition to the food and drink, there are multiple competitions, such as competitive stein hoisting, keg bowling, the Long Dog Derby, and a talent show and costume contest. You can rent a private cabana, find treats and merchandise in the vendor area, let loose in the party tent, and enjoy live music as well.
Great American Beer Festival
Beer enthusiasts rejoice. Taking place in October, the Great American Beer Festival is popular every year. More than 250 breweries and cideries from all 50 states are represented at this festival, which features a competition, seminars, and the chance to sample a wide variety of beers on a massive festival floor. The event spans three days, and you can purchase tickets for one, two, or all three days. Cheaper designated driver tickets are also available.
Denver Film Festival
Celebrate the cinema with films from around the globe. Join other movie lovers, emerging filmmakers, and others in the business at the Denver Film Festival that begins in late October. One of the oldest film festivals in the country, all in attendance can enjoy thought-provoking and diverse films. More than 40,000 people attend the festival each year, which offers movie screenings, Red Carpet presentations, panel discussions, workshops, filmmaker Q&A sessions, and networking opportunities.
Denver Arts Week
Watch for Denver Arts Week in November. This event takes over the entire city with hundreds of events scheduled. Watch for First Friday Art Walks, Free Night at the Museum, and events that incorporate the arts and personal wellness. It’s a great time to get together with friends, grab a glass of wine, browse local art galleries, catch a performance, and support local artists. If you have been putting off a visit to the Denver Art Museum, this is also a great opportunity to go.
Mile High Holidays
As fall comes to a close, it’s time to look toward the holidays. Before the season officially turns to winter, holiday events are in full swing around the city. Watch for concerts and live music, performing arts shows, lighting displays, drone shows, tree lightings, and tons of holiday events. This city knows how to be festive and as fall turns to winter, joy and merriment fill the air.
Fall is just the best in Denver. It’s no wonder that many people say that fall is their favorite season. Even though you can get an occasional snowy or hot day, temperatures are mild. The scenery in and around Denver is breathtaking. There are festivals filled with food and drink, opportunities to celebrate Halloween and watch sporting events, and multiple celebrations of culture and the arts. Don’t miss a beat. Get out your calendar and start making your plans for Fall in Denver.