10 Fall Festivals in Colorado
While it may technically be a shoulder season, in Colorado, we believe that fall is something worth celebrating.
While it may technically be a shoulder season, in Colorado, we believe that fall is something worth celebrating.
There’s a special feeling about gathering in Colorado’s charming mountain towns as the leaves change color, the air becomes crisper and the end of the year draws near. Plan a weekend getaway around these Colorado events to share in the excitement with our local communities. From classic Oktoberfests and pumpkin patches to niche film festivals and bugling contests, each of these events provides their own unique approach to welcome the season in grand style.
Downtown Boulder's Fall Fest: Sept. TBA, 2024
Boulder
Boulder's autumn fest lines up music performances, a beer/wine/margarita garden, local food vendors, artisans selling their wares and family entertainment along the city's bustling Pearl Street Mall. Located just blocks from the foothills, ring in the fall season with striking mountain views.
Chile & Frijoles Festival: Sept. TBA, 2024
Pueblo
This event is your best chance to taste the pride of Pueblo — a special, intensely flavorful variety of green chile that thrives in this region. Served smoking on a stick, chopped and tucked into a quesadilla or sprinkled in salsa, it’s the star of this show. Cooking competitions, live music, dancing, arts and crafts, a jalapeño-eating contest and a farmers’ market round out the festivities.
Poudre Pour: Sept. 30, 2023
Windsor
This annual event combines stewardship and environmental education with a heaping side of fun. Along with presentations about the heritage of the Cache la Poudre River and the importance of the water it provides, expect delicious craft-beer and beverage tastings, gourmet appetizers, historical costumes, live music and plenty of entertainment for the kiddos.
Oktoberfest Denver: Sept. 22–24 & Sept. 29–Oct. 1, 2023
Denver
Oktoberfests around the world are largely about beer, but downtown Denver’s autumn celebration turns out fun for the whole family with food booths, polka dancing, singalongs and live music along with wacky contests like beer keg bowling and competitive stein hoisting.
Miners Pumpkin Patch: Oct. 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2023
Colorado Springs
Head to Colorado Springs for a bevy of autumnal entertainment, from hayrides and gold panning to press-your-own cider opportunities and blacksmith demonstrations — all while supporting the Western Museum of Mining & Industry. Expect delights like pumpkin picking, face painting and food-truck dining.
Mountain Harvest Festival: Sept. TBA, 2024
Paonia
Colorado’s Western Slope town of Paonia covers all the festival bases at their annual celebration of harvest with live concerts, farmers’ markets, beer and wine tasting, a chili cook-off, arts and crafts, and farm tours. The bounty from locally owned orchards, ranches and farms brings in revelers from all over surrounding Delta County.
Elk Fest: Sept. 30–Oct. 1, 2023
Estes Park
The beautifully haunting bugle of a bull elk is unmistakable, and every October spectators head to Estes Park to experience the phenomenon. The elk gather there, at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, to show off for their ladies during the start of the rutting (breeding) season. At Elk Fest, you can learn about these beasts’ behavior, observe them in their natural habitat, participate in a bugling contest and see performances by Native Americans.
Applefest: Oct. 6–8, 2023
Cedaredge
Driving into the small town of Cedaredge on Colorado’s Grand Mesa, you’ll pass row after heavenly row of trees bursting with shiny red and green apples beckoning you to sink your teeth in. At Applefest, more than 180 vendors share the area’s agricultural wealth with visitors, who can also check out a classic car and antique tractor show, bands and much more.
Telluride Horror Show: Oct. 13–15, 2023
Telluride
Already famous for film, Telluride is also embracing the spooky fun of October at Colorado’s first and largest horror-film festival. Mingle with fellow film buffs as you view screenings of works from around the globe including horror, suspense, thriller, dark fantasy, sci-fi and dark comedy from Telluride’s unique theaters.
Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival: Oct. 6–8, 2023
Breckenridge
Fall's the time when spicy spirits become the perfect answer to chillier temps. Sip the best offerings from small-batch, artisan distillers and learn more about the distilling process in Breckenridge, a town with its own pioneering distillery.
