2017 Guide to Fall Festivals in Colorado Springs

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This guide is presented in partnership with Briargate Pediatric Dentistry | Orthodontics

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. Join me in heading out to enjoy that crisp fall air!! 

Did we miss a festival? Please email full details to [email protected] & we will add it in.

September 4th 10 AM, First Pitch 1 PM

Admission: Adults (18-54) $8, Seniors (55+) $5, Students (6-12) $4, Under 6 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

Come cheer on your home team in this vintage baseball game, being played with vintage rules (no mitt or glove, except for the catcher), where “cranks” (spectators) can influence the umpires call. Root for your home team, The Camp Creek Cloud Busters, against the 1882 Denver & Rio Grande Reds. There will be vendors on site selling hot dogs, popcorn and ice cream, or you can purchase a cold cream soda or root beer from the General Store. And, you are welcome to bring your own picnic.

Open Friday the 8th: 5-11 PM, Saturday the 9th: 9 AM-11 PM, and Sunday the 10th: 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 in advance online for $20.
For additional information and a complete schedule of all the events, please see their website.

The 8th 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. They are 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! 2017’s Festival will see the addition of an Escape Room, a classic car show, and The Portal: an immersive audiovisual technology where you can come face-to-face with someone in a distant Portal live, full-bodied, as if they were in the same room with you! Check their website for a full map of events and their locations.

Sept 16-17, 9 AM – 4:30 PM

1190 First Street, Penrose, CO  81240

Admission is free. Come celebrate the opening of the pumpkin patch with hayrides to and from the patch, great food, BBQ, turkey legs, hot dogs and fresh pies.  

September 23rd from 10 AM to 5 PM

Admission: Adults (18-54) $8, Seniors (55+) $5, Students (6-12) $4, Under 6 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 8th Annual Garden of the Gods Rock Ledge Ranch Powwow Committee to celebrate America’s indigenous nations with a program representing many Native American Tribes in a traditional Powwow. The day’s activities will include dancing, drumming, and singing. Guests will also be able to enjoy native foods, arts, crafts and exhibits.    

 

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 1-2, Saturday 10 AM – 9 PM (last admission 8 PM), Sunday 10 AM – 6 PM (Last admission 5 PM).  

1649 Poplar Ave., Canon City, CO 81212   (719) 821-9133

Admission is $10 per person and includes a pumpkin while they last; Kids under 5 are free, but does NOT include a pumpkin.  

On regular days they have a pumpkin patch, corn bin, hay slide and duck races, and a newly designed corn maze. For their October 1st and 2nd Fall Festival, they will have available old fashioned games such as: sack races, three-legged races, corn toss, duck races and a face painter available on site. They are a working farm and ask that you please follow the parking signs and be respectful of their neighbors when parking and using the farm.

October 7th from 10 AM-3 PM.

Admission to Rock Ledge Ranch is free this day for the festival, but there are additional fees for activities, 50 Cents per ticket and pumpkins are $5 each.

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. There will also be a silent auction and food vendors on site.

 

Saturday Oct 7th.

In “downtown” Penrose, there will be a parade at 10:30, and an all day street fair.

 

Saturday, October 7, 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 400 and 800 Meters. Entry for the adult races start at $35 and the kid runs are $5.

After the race, from 12-3 PM, come and visit Venetucci Farms. Pumpkins may be purchased for $.50 per pound.  

Oct 7-8, 10 AM-4 PM

Location: Western Museum of Mining and Industry, 225 North Gate Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80921

Admission: $5 per person

The 6th Annual Reynolds Ranch Harvest celebrates the Reynolds Ranch legacy and the spirit of the fall. Activities include a pumpkin patch, hayrides, a farmers’ market, hands-on-activities, crafts for kids, operation of indoor and outdoor machinery, Gold Canyon Gunfithers, Gold and Gem panning with the Gold Prospectors of Colorado and more.

October 13-15, 9 AM-5 PM daily.

Located at: 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, CO 80128

Admission: Non-Members: $8 Adult, $7 Student, Seniors, Military, $6 Members or Child (3-12), $5 Member Senior, $4 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, 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: Corn Maze (Sept 15-Oct 29), Glow in the Gardens (Oct 18-26): fun-filled nights with jack-o-lanterns, luminaries, and larger-than-life pumpkin displays and many fall-themed activities; Dia De Los Muertos Festival Nov 4th.  Please see the Botanic Garden’s website for more information on each of these fun-filled events!

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 14th 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 20, 21, 22, 27, 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 3-64), $12.75 for Zoo Members, $15.75 for military and 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 3-64), $15.75 for zoo members, $18.75 Military and 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. Animal exhibits will close at 8:20 PM, and last sky ride is at 7:30 PM.

Saturday, October 21st, events starting at 7:30 AM

Registration in advance is $35, day-of the event is $40, and includes a Waldo or Wenda kit that includes a shirt, hat and glasses.

The event will take place mostly on Tejon street between Costilla and Cache La Poudra Street.

Downtown Colorado springs will be taken over by thousands of Waldos and Wendas in the sixth annual 5K fundraiser. Registration includes a Waldo or Wenda costume and entry in to the 5K. This is a family-friendly event to raise fund for the local community. Runners of all ages and abilities are welcome-walkers and strollers too!  For more information please see the event website.  

Date/Time: Friday, October 27th 6-8pm
 
Admission: FREE event and all are welcome!
 
Location: Vista Grande Baptist Church, 5680 Stetson Hills Blvd. 80917
 
Games for all ages, Bounce Houses, Cake Walk, Hay Ride, food, lots of candy, prizes, and much more!

 

Oct 28th, 12-3 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 event starts off with a parade of all the coffins and teams as well as authentic hearses at 12:00 pm. The parade is followed by 70 teams racing coffins down Manitou Avenue. To race, registration are due by Friday October 25th at 5 PM.

Oct 28-29.  Open to the public 9-5, entertainment and events 10-4.

Admission: Adults $15, Seniors $10, Child $5, Under 2 are free

Location: Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W 44th Ave, Golden, CO 80226  (303) 279-4591

Ride the historic Denver & Rio Grande Steam Locomotive in a vintage passenger car, hosted by conductors and engineers in full costume. Visit all of the Town’s special stops to fill your treat bags.

 

Briargate Pediatric Dentistry | Orthodontics

Let our little family treat your little family! Briargate Pediatric Dentistry is a family-owned business in Colorado Springs where we want your child to have the best experience possible. Dr. James Busch is a Board Certified Pediatric dentist and father who believes in conservative dentistry tailored to each child’s individual needs. Come check us out for kind, gentle (and fun!) pediatric dental treatment. Call 719-260-1600 to make an appointment!

 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!!