Autumn is my favorite time of the year. There are always so many cozy activities to participate in and there is a warm feeling in the air, almost nostalgic. During the fall, many people carve pumpkins, bake yummy treats, go to haunted houses or maybe even go to a carnival. If you aren’t sure what to do or where to go this year, or you are in need of some fun places to go near you, then this article is for you.
In Colorado Springs, there are actually many places to visit. Hellscream Haunted House is a very popular attraction downtown. It is a multi-level experience where visitors walk through rooms of creepy, spooky, and somewhat gory decoration. There are scare actors scattered throughout the building who take their job very seriously. The decoration and costume work is very detailed and elaborate. This spot is great for those who want a good scare or enjoy the spookier side of fall. The attraction is open from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays. Tickets are sold starting at $24.
For those who don’t enjoy horror, there are cozier options. One example is the Pumpkin Fest at Venetucci Farm. This event is open through the end of October, every Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. There are hayrides, a hay maze, pumpkins of any size for 10$, farm animals on Saturdays and Sundays, a market and farm store, concession stands and food trucks and farm flowers are available for purchase until the first frost of the year. There are many decorated photo areas for those who want to take some cute fall photos. Tickets are available online.
If you are willing to make a little bit of a drive, here are some attractions within an hour from the Springs. Terror in the Corn is one of the Denver area’s top haunted events located at Anderson Farms in Erie, CO. The event is open from 7-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets start at $43. Another option is Diana’s Pumpkin Patch in Canyon. This pumpkin patch is a festively decorated family farm with thousands of pumpkins, a corn maze, a corn pit, a hayride, outdoor games and fire pits. The farm is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets start at $15.
Another fun location in Denver that is kid-friendly, featuring pumpkins, s’mores, and trick-or-treating is the Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns. This is an outdoor event on a glowing trail of thousands of magnificent, hand-carved pumpkins. This year’s event features a nautical seascape, a pirate ship, dinosaurs, dragons, and much more. There are food and beverage spots on sight, and tickets start at $9.99 and are sold online only. The event is open on select days through November 2.
For those who have younger siblings or if you are a parent with children, there are many trunk-or-treats around town. A few examples include the Pikes Peak Athletics Trunk or Treat at Pikes Peak Athletics Training Center on Saturday, October 25 from 1:30-3:30 p.m., Cripple Creek Annual Trunk or Treat on Halloween from 5-7 p.m., and Trunk or Treat at the Westside Community Center on Halloween from 5-7 p.m.
If the activities and events listed above don’t satisfy you, here are a few extras: Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest and FRIGHTOPIA Adult Night, Purranormal Cat Show (October 25-26), Pup-kin Fest (October 25), Cave of the Winds’ Haunted Lantern Tour, Haunted Ghost Tours Manitou, The Western Mining Museum, and Cripple Creek’s Fall Festival.