Fall is a great time to have fun as a family. The weather is crisp but not too cold and the Denver area is full of opportunities for family friendly fun. Check out this list of things to do in Denver this fall and make your own bucket list!
101+ Things to Do This Fall in Denver
- Throw on your lederhosen and celebrate Oktoberfest Denver for two different weekends (Sept. 19-21, 26-28).
- Take your family leaf peeping and experience the glory of Colorado’s fall colors. Check out these tips for Leaf Peeping with Kids before you go.
- Enjoy family activities and real apple cider at the Morrison Ciderfest on Sept. 27.
- Honor everyday heroes with a day of fun at First Responder Fun Fest (Sept. 20).
- Walk 12 acres of a lighted wonderland at Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park (through Oct. 5).
- Marvel at the work of talented artists at the Castle Rock ArtFest (Sept. 6-7).
- Explore the Rockies by rail on the Georgetown Loop Railroad.
- Sign up for a fall workshop at Art Spark Creative Studio.
- See Dracula like you’ve never seen it before at the Colorado Ballet (Oct. 5-12).
- Navigate the Adventure Forest at the Children’s Museum of Denver at the Marsico Campus.
- Learn about Colorado’s mining history at Miner’s Day in Leadville featuring a parade, kids activities, trucks, live music and fireworks (Sept. 20).
- Bring your kids ages 0-3 to the hands-on program just for them on Wednesday at WOW Children’s Museum.
- Celebrate all things fall at the Boulder Fall Fest, a 3-day event (Oct. 3-5).
- Be one of the first to explore the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s newest exhibit all about elephants — The Secret World of Elephants (opens Oct. 24).
- Prepare for ski season with indoor classes at Shredder Ski School, for ages 9 months to 10 years.
- Pick up a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch at Chatfield Farms, operated by the Denver Botanic Gardens (open Oct. 10-12).
- Bring your train lovers to the Colorado Railroad Museum.
- Try your hand at 1890’s carnival games at the Littleton Harvest Festival (Oct. 11).
- See a replica of the fighter Luke Skywalker flew in at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.
- Visit Tattered Cover Book Store, one of the top independent book stores in the country. They hold tons of kid friendly events.
- Take advantage for free day at Dinosaur Ridge on Sept. 13.
- Watch a show at the Gates Planetarium.
- Tiptoe through the eerily illuminated gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens’ York Street location transforms for Halloween.
- Dive into a weekend of wonder at the Aurora Borealis Festival (Oct. 10-11).
- Explore the fossils and rocks at the Morrison Natural History Museum.
- Collect candy at Denver Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo (Oct. 3-26).
- Pretend it’s still summer with indoor swimming at Moorhead Recreation Center, Carla Madison Recreation Center, Apex Center or Montclair Recreation Center.
- Get your tickets for Boo at the Zoo at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Oct. 17-19, 24-26, 31).
- Learn to cook at Uncorked Kitchen.
- Pick fresh apples at Denver area orchards.
- Get the wiggles out on a raindy day at Sky Zone or Urban Air Adventure and Trampoline Park.
- Take a day trip to Colorado Springs.
- Play archery dodgeball at Archery Games Denver.
- Watch the coffin races (yep, that’s right) in Manitou Springs (Oct. 25).
- Sign up for a lesson or mini league at the Denver Curling Club.
- Take a free tour of the Colorado State Capitol.
- Catch the final home stands at Coors Field. Visit our guide for taking kids to a Rockies Game before you go!
- Explore Cave of the Winds Mountain Park. Use their Colorado resident discount.
- Make your own free/cheap fun for fall and avoid costly admission prices.
- Go on a fall, family friendly hike.
- Get in the mood for the coming holiday season with fun at The North Pole – Santa’s Workshop vintage amusement park.
- Escape the chaos with a trip to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.
- Take a spin on the Carousel of Happiness.
- Get your fall family fun at the annual Cider Days festival in Lakewood.
- Grow your imagination through play at Junkyard Social.
- Reach new heights at iFLY Denver.
- Take a free tour at Hammonds Candies. Don’t forget your free samples!
- Reserve a private campfire at Anderson Farms during their Fall Festival.
- Cheer on the boats at the Colorado Dragon Boat festival (Sept. 6-7).
- Watch 70+ floats in the Broadway Halloween Parade (Oct. 25).
- Jump and dive at Lava Island.
- Gather your brave friends and experience the Haunted Field of Screams.
- Immerse yourself in Meow Wolf, an attraction like nothing you’ve experienced.
- Enjoy the weather and chill at one of Denver’s family friendly breweries.
- Get resources and connections at the Douglas County Community Baby Shower (come say hi to us and get some swag).
- Learn the rich history of the United States Mint and how billions of coins each year are produced for the American public with a free, guided tour of the Denver facility.
- Embrace your inner Ted Lasso at a Colorado Rapids match.
- Walk the Triceratops Trail in Golden, a 1.5-mile gravel hiking trail that winds between large, vertical walls of sandstone and into reclaimed clay pits.
- Test your bravery during Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest.
- Sing along to The Lion King musical at Buell Theatre (Oct. 23-Nov. 16).
- Take your kids to their first Nuggets game – check out our tips for a family friendly experience.
- Take part in a history of Denver walking tour.
- Hear the incredible story of the Unsinkable Molly Brown at her home in Denver.
- Bring your pet dressed for Halloween to march in the Howl-a-Ween Pet Parade (Oct. 26) at Union Station.
- Hike at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre.
- Watch wildlife roam at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge.
- Attend the family friendly Autumn Gold Music Festival in Estes Park (Sept. 20-21).
- Check out the unique gourds at Bartels Pumpkin Patch.
- Get lost (and hopefully found!) in a Denver area corn maze.
- Warm up with fresh-pressed apple cider at these Denver spots.
- Explore thousands of butterflies and other insects at the Butterfly Pavilion.
- Bury your kids in corn at Maize in the City.
- Pick the perfect pumpking for carving at these Denver area pumpkin patches.
- Maximize your costume by attending several trick or treating events!
- Walk ghostly trails at the Haunted Trails Adventure at Bear Creek Lake Park (get tickets in advance!).
- Get your face painted, jump on a hayride and more at the Prairie Harvest Fest (OCt. 25).
- Play monster-themed mini golf in Centennial.
- Cheer on the Colorado Avalanche.
- Run around Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center.
- Spend a chilly day digging in the sand at Kids Dig.
- Enjoy a family night out on Fridays at Kids Wonder.
- Get all your Halloween fun at BOOnion Station Trick-or-Treat Parade (Oct. 30).
- Fill up your candy bucket early at The Shops at Northfield’s Candy Crawl (Oct. 5).
- Visit a cat cafe and show the animals some love.
- Make crafts after school at the Pauline Robinson Branch of the Denver Public Library.
- Celebrate not-so-spooky Halloween at Spooktacular in Castle Rock (Oct. 18).
- Get scared at the Creepy Walk in the Woods in Loveland.
- Experience the Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns at Hudson Gardens.
- Navigate the mini corn maze at Mile High Farms in Bennett.
- Take a guided mystery tour at Fairmount or Riverside Cemetery.
- See an unedited viewing of Rocky Horror Picture Show (Sept. 29).
- Say a proper goodbye to summer with the End of Summer Fair at Wonderland Brewing Company (Sept. 6).
- Go on a flashlight tour after hours at the Butterfly Pavilion.
- See a Midsummer’s Night Dream at the Shakespeare in the Parking Lot on Sept. 6.
- Take your little mermaids to see Ariel and friends at Disney’s Little Mermaid at Lakewood Cultural Center (Sept. 5-21).
- Cluck your way over to the Colfax ChickenFest at 40 West Arts District (Sept. 13).
- Run the family friendly Spooky Sprint 5K, 10K and Half Marathon in Littleton (Sept. 14).
- Admire the fall night sky at Denver Astronomical Society’s Public Viewing Nights, make a reservation first!
- Go on a ghost tour in Breckenridge.
- Get in the fall mood with Spice Whoopie Pies from Denver’s Bird Bakery.
- Take a breath from all the fall sports and activities and truly appreciate Colorful Colorado.
