Corn mazes, pumpkin patches, trick-or-treating nights, and more family-friendly activities in October.
Fall is officially upon us. The warm breeze turned into a brisk wind, and the trees are changing from green to yellow. It is time to embrace the change in seasons and jump into some fall-themed activities. Knit an autumn scarf, find the perfect pumpkin pie recipe, or plan yours and your kids’ costumes for Halloween. However you decide to take in the fall vibes, here is a list of family-friendly activities happening in Denver during the month of October.
Maize in the City
Photo Courtesy of Maize in the City (Facebook)
When: October 3–31
Where: 10451 McKay Rd., Thornton
Price: $12
Maize in the City has been celebrating the autumn vibes since 2001. The seasonal fall festival invites families to explore, get lost, and find their way through the Crazed Corn Field Maze, a 20-acre maze that takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. There are also other activities for the kids, like a mini, child-friendly maze, a pumpkin patch, and a petting zoo. The site is open on selected days throughout October. Click here for the full schedule.
Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Photo Courtesy of Pexels
When: October 5–6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St., Denver
Price: $10
The Four Mile Historic Parks hosts its annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival, a two-day event featuring old-fashioned fun in the form of pioneer games, face-painting, crafts, and pumpkin valet tractor vibes. Build your own scarecrow or cornhusk doll, and pick the largest pumpkin to take home and carve into a jack-o-lantern. There will also be live music and food trucks to replenish your energy throughout the day.
Glow at the Gardens
Photo Courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens (Facebook)
When: October 21–25, 5:30–9:30 p.m.
Where: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver
Price: $15-21
The Botanic Gardens host Glow at the Gardens, an immersive, luminous event with light displays, pumpkin art, and the creation of a neon world filled with ghouls and ghosts to celebrate Halloween. Visitors can also expect trick-or-treating, fire performances, demonstrations of pumpkin carving, and carnival games. It is the perfect opportunity to take the kids trick-or-treating while diving into an other-worldly experience.
Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze
Photo Courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens (Facebook)
When: October 11–13, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Where: Chatfield Farms, 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton
Price: $4-8
The Botanic Gardens also presents its own three-day pumpkin festival at their Chatfield Farms location, featuring family-friendly activities like carnival games, hayrides, pony rides, inflatable bouncers and slides, and more. Wander through the 10-acre pumpkin patch or peruse the local craft and artisanal booths. There will also be a mini-maze for children.
BOOnion Station: Trick-or-Treat Parade
Photo Courtesy of Denver’s Union Station (Facebook)
When: October 24, 5–8 p.m.
Where: Denver’s Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver
Price: Free
Union Station transforms into “Boonion Station” for this family-friendly Halloween celebration and parade. Bring your little ones in their best Halloween costumes for trick-or-treating at the shops in the station. Anyone in costume can participate in the costume parade through the Great Hall and be a contestant for the Best Costume and Best Group/Family Costume contests.
Enchanted Hollows: Bigfoot Festivals
Photo Courtesy of Denver Zoo (Facebook)
When: October 3–25, 6–9:30 p.m.
Where: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver
Price: $9–20
The Denver Zoo prepares for the Halloween season with its Bigfoot Festival, a month-long event that is the ultimate autumnal celebration. The Bigfoot Fest offers two unique experiences: the Harmony Hill Bigfoot Festival and Woodlan Hollow, an immersive magical art walk. There will also be other activities for the family, such as pumpkin carvings, cornhole, a Scary-oke sing-along, and animal specialist talks with, of course, the Denver Zoo animals.
Zombie Crawl
Photo Courtesy of Denver Zombie Crawl (Facebook)
When: October 5, 4 p.m.
Where: Skyline Park, 1001 16th St., Denver
Price: Free
The Zombie Crawl comes back to Denver for its 14th anniversary. The event is open to the public, so long as you bring your best zombie attire. Enjoy being part of the horde and everyone’s creativity in their zombie looks. There will also be a costume contest, which requires a fee of $35.
Boo at the Zoo
Photo Courtesy of Denver Zoo (Facebook)
When: October 19–20 and 26–27, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver
Price: $14-20
For the last two weeks of October, the Denver Zoo offers an opportunity to visit the zoo animals and trick-or-treat at the same time. The event offers more than 20 trick-or-treat stations, animal demonstrations of creepy crawlies, and many other activities. The zoo also offers Boo after Dark for a nighttime trick-or-treating experience.