2016 Guide to Fall Festivals in Colorado Springs

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As our days of lovely weather and longer sunlight dwindle, we are always looking for opportunities to take advantage of activities before the snow flies! This guide will help you plan out your last days of fall.

From carnivals to geeky science festivals to scary haunted mines, there is something for everyone no matter how old or what your interests are, so join me in heading out to enjoy that crisp fall air!! 

Open Friday, September 9th: 5-11 PM, Saturday, September 10th: 9 AM-11 PM, and Sunday, September 11th: Noon-6

Located at: St Gabriel the Archangel, 8755 Scarborough Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Briarfest is a community festival featuring a carnival midway, games, food, music, art, silent auction, wine, and a beer garden. There will be something for everyone!  All of the rides and carnival company games take tokens only, which can be purchased at machines throughout the midway and all carnival food areas.  Or an all-day wristband can be purchased online for $20.
For additional information and a complete schedule of all the events, please see their website.

The 6th annual What If Festival takes place in the Pikes Peak Center, the Pioneers Museum, the Plaza of the Rockies and 6 city blocks of downtown –Tejon and Cascade are closed from Colorado Ave to Vermijo for this celebration of imagination and innovation featuring sustainable engineering, hi-tech fitness, geeky gadgets, tiny houses, local foods and indy music.  

Come and check out geeky gadgets, DIY demonstrations, cool experiments, new technologies, hands-on-learning, live performances on three stages, with 100 interactive games and challenges!  Check their website for a full map of events and their locations.

Open in September starting September 16th, on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7:30 to 11 PM.  In October they will open on Thursdays the 13th, 20th, and 27th from 7:30-10 PM.  They will also be open Sunday and Monday, October 30th and 31st from 7-10 PM.

Located at the Museum of Western Mining and Industry: 225 North Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921  

(719) 488-0880

Ticket prices for 2016 range from $15 for a single regular admission to the Colorado Fear Fest to $60 for the VIP Combo ticket for both the Haunted Mines and Colorado Fear Fest.

The Haunted Mines are designed to thrill, scare, and entertain you.  It’s an indoor, outdoor and underground experience that is physically and psychologically challenging.  Not recommended for those under 12 years.

Friday, September 23rd – 3pm to Midnight
Saturday, September 24th – 10am to Midnight
Sunday, September 25th  – 10am to 6pm

Located at Union Avenue Historic District, Pueblo, CO 81003

$3 Daily Single Admission
Children 12 & Under FREE!

The annual Chile & Frijoles Festival Presented by Loaf ‘N Jug‚ held each year in late September‚ is Pueblo’s harvest celebration. Every year, thousands pay homage to two of the Pueblo area’s best loved crops – green chilies‚ particularly Pueblo chile‚ and frijoles or pinto beans.

The event features music‚ arts and crafts‚ cooking competitions and chilies‚ chilies‚ chilies. Held downtown along Union Avenue‚ it draws Pueblo residents as well as people from across the state and around the nation.

September 24th from 10 Am to 5 PM

Admission: Adults (18-54) $8, Seniors (55+) $5, Students (6-17) $4, Under 5 are free.

Rock Ledge Ranch, across from the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center at 1401 Recreation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80905

(719) 578-6777

The Living History Association comes together with the 7th Annual Garden of the Gods Rock Ledge Ranch Powwow Committee to celebrate America’s indigenous nations with a program representing many Native American Tribes.

The Living History Association and the 7th Annual Garden of the Gods Rock Ledge Ranch Powwow Committee offer a program that is expanded from what they regularly offer honoring America’s indigenous nations.  This day’s program represents many Native American Tribes traditional and educational events.

October 1st from 10 AM-3 PM.

Admission to Rock Ledge Ranch is free this day for the festival, but there are additional fees for activities.

Rock Ledge Ranch, across from the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center at 1401 Recreation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80905

(719) 578-6777

Come enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, old-time music, pick a pumpkin, scramble for candy, and tour the restored 1880s Rock Ledge House and 1907 Estate House.

October 1st from 2:30 PM-5 PM.

FREE!

SafeSplash Swim School, at 13171 Bass Pro Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921

(719) 900-2550

Come enjoy a bounce house, fire truck, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, face painting, games and prizes!  Fun for the whole family!

October 7th-9th, 9 AM-5 PM daily.

Admission: Non-Members: $8 Adult, $7 Members, Seniors, Millitary, $6 Child (3-15), $5 Member Child, Under 2 are free.  Discounted Corn Maze tickets can be purchased for $8.  Pumpkins are an additional cost, the average pumpkin costs $8.

Admission includes: entry to the pumpkin patch, antique tractor exhibit, tractor-pulled parking shuttles, hay ride, pony rides, photo booths, barrel train rides (for 12 and Under), mini maze for under 10, jumping pillow, 5 carnival game tickets for each paid child admission, corn hole and jenga games, face painting and live music. For an additional fee: the Corn Maze, food, drinks, mechanical bull rides, hamster ball and additional carnival game tickets.

There are many other themed events happening at the Botanic Gardens: Glow in the Gardens: fun-filled nights with jack-o-lanterns, luminarias, and larger-than-life pumpkin displays and many fall-themed activities; Calaveras y Ofrendas and Dia De Los Muertos.  Please see the Botanic Garden’s website for more information on each of these fun-filled events!

Saturday, October 8th, start times depend on the race you are running

Located at: 5210 US-85, Colorado Springs, Co 80911  

(719) 391-8102

They have a 5K, a 10K, and  Kids Fun Runs of ¼ and ½ mile.  Entry for the adult races start at $35 and the kids runs are $5.

While the Venetucci Farm is closed to the public for the 2016 season due to severe weather destroying their crop, they will be open to the public on this day from 10 AM to 2 PM for their Family Farm Day.  They will have face painting, wagon rides, live music and more.

October 8 & 9, 10 AM-4 PM

Located at the Museum of Western Mining and Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80921

(719) 488-0880

Admission is $5 per person over the age of 4

Admission includes: hayrides, face painting, blacksmith demos, stamp mill demos, apple cider press demos, farmers market, hay bale maze, family photo area, ‘scary’ stories, make a scarecrow, decorate your pumpkin, and a limited number of daylight tours of the haunted Mines (additional $5 recommended donation per family).

At various locations around the city of Colorado Springs, this eight day science festival is a collaboration of national and local science organizations working together to facilitate and enhance science literacy in our region through informal learning experiences.

There are events for kids, events for adults and events for all ages at various locations around the city.  The event kicks off October 8th at UCCS with the family-friendly Cool Science Carnival Day with free admission and parking.  

For a full calendar of events, their locations, and any possible fees, please check their website.

October 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31.  Hours 4-8:30 PM, the last ticket sold at 7:30 PM

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, located at: 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 633-9925

The zoo will close early for day visits at 3 PM on those dates. The last ticket of the day will be sold at 2 PM on those days, guests must exit and then the Zoo will open for Boo at the Zoo at 4 PM.

Tickets: $17.75 (ages 3-65), $12.75 for Zoo Members, $15.75 for military and over 65, $0.75 for ages 2 and under. Tickets are sold each night of the event at the Zoo only. No passes or other coupons are accepted, advance tickets are not available.
Sky Ride Combo Pricing: $20.75 (ages 3-65), $15.75 for zoo members, $18.75 Military and over 65, $0.75 for ages 2 and under

Don your costume, bring your trick-or-treat bag and flashlight for a frightfully good time! Activities include: haunted fun house, ghoulish graveyard, lighted pumpkin patch, trick-or-treat stations, boo carousel, pirates cove, select animal exhibits are open: giraffes, Monkey Pavilion, The Loft and Encounter Africa, and select encounters with shows each evening by education interpreters.

2324 W Colorado Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80904

The biggest pumpkins in Colorado will be rolling into Old Colorado City! Come see who wins the prize for the largest pumpkin in the territory. Bring the family and join the fun! Giant Kid’s Zone, including characters from Wizard of Oz, spinning wheels, games, prizes, a pumpkin patch and more. Come dressed for the annual costume contest. Walk around and enjoy the Giant Sidewalk Sale, along with our Scarecrow displays at many of the local shops. Maybe you would prefer the Spirit Tour with local craft beer and wine tastings down the avenue starting at 1 p.m. Something for everyone! 

Price: Tickets will be available for $20 at the Pumpkin Weigh station on 25th and West Colorado Ave.

October 22, 10 am – 3 pm
 

October 29th, 12-4 PM, in Downtown Manitou Springs

Teams of five, one Emma and four runners, push their coffins 195 feet to the finish line. The fastest times earn trophies as well as a chance to win Best Emma, Best Entourage, and Best Coffin. There is even a separate fire department division that competes for their own traveling trophy. The Races start off with a parade of all the coffins and teams as well as authentic hearses at 12:00pm. The races begin with two teams per heat racing for their own time. Awards are announced and handed out after the races at 2:00pm.

 COSMB’s Guide to Fall & Halloween!

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Kristin, Senior Writer
Once Upon A Time, in another life, Kristin graduated from the University of Michigan with a plan to teach high school math. But then, life happened when she wasn’t looking…. She married an Army guy and 23 years, 3 kids, a few dogs, 7 homes, and 2 continents later she’s now a single mom living here in Colorado Springs. Along the way she volunteered for the Army, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and several schools; managed volunteer organizations, coached judo, trained to be a whitewater rafting guide, biked down Pike’s Peak and even managed to teach some high schoolers a little math before forging new trails writing, teaching and financial planning. She never knows what’s coming around the bend, but she’s learned to handle whatever life (and the Army!), throws at her with a smile and a laugh. She’s pretty sure you can get through anything with those, even if you have to fake it occasionally!!