Fall in Colorado is blissful — especially after the exceptionally hot (and smoky) summer we had to endure this year. We can give swamp coolers and central air conditioning a rest, at last, light up those backyard fire pits and revel in our cooler nights and temperate days. And get out to a fall festival or three.

There are plenty of opportunities in Colorado to pick a pumpkin, build a scarecrow, take a hayride, sip some cider and maybe get the bejesus scared out of you by a ghastly ghoul.

(Note: With COVID-19 and the delta variant lurking, please be safe: While most of these events are outdoors, check websites for mask and social distancing requirements.)

Fall Festival at Anderson Farms in Erie

Fall Festival: Your ticket at Anderson Farms includes a 25-acre corn maze, combine slide, the wooden train, tire mountain, Krazy Rainbow Maze, pedal carts, farm animals and Fort-A-Lot-A Fun, a magic show (on select days), plus a wagon ride to the 25-acre pumpkin patch, where you’ll find 70 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds. Pumpkins priced between $2 and $12. Open six days a week through Oct. 31.

Fall festival hours: Sat. 9 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon. and Wed. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (closed Tues.), Thurs. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Prices: Ages 4 & up, $15-$23; free for 3 and under.

Terror in the Corn (ages 10 and up) or Zombie Paintball Hunt: Your ticket to each includes admission to the fall festival. Terror in the Corn is a 30-minute haunted hayride and ghost town attraction. Zombie Paintball Hunt is an interactive, after-dark paintball experience with guests shooting “zombies” in a cornfield from a wagon. Through Oct. 31. Terror in the Corn/Zombie Paintball Hunt hours Thurs. and Sun. 7-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 7-11 p.m.

Terror in the Corn: Thurs. and Sun. $30, and Fri.-Sat. $33. Quick Passes available for $45-$48.  Zombie Paintball Hunt tickets are $25 Thurs. and Sun., $27 Fri.-Sat. Quick passes available for $40-$42.

Little Ghouls, Oct. 30-31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids get a special treat bag, a ride on a trailer, a walk through part of the haunted attraction for $5 (in addition to the Fall Festival admission).

New for 2021: The Platinum Pass for $125 gets you instant access to Terror in the Corn and Zombie Paintball Hunt, plus a T-shirt and more.

Anderson Farms: 6728 County Road 3¼, Erie, 303-828-5210, andersonfarms.com.

Fall at Botanic Gardens at Chatfield in Littleton

Corn Maze: Wind your way through 7 acres of corn, through Oct. 31. Mini-maze available for kids under 10. Admission includes entry to the pumpkin patch. Hours: Fri.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices from $10 to $15, depending on membership. Kids 2 and under free. New this year: Tickets must be purchased online in advance; they will not be available on-site. Oct. 8-10, ticket purchase to Pumpkin Festival necessary to gain entry to Corn Maze. 

Pumpkin Festival: Oct. 8-10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes hayrides, entry to the pumpkin patch, antique tractor exhibit, photo booths, carnival tickets, mini maze, local craft and artisan bootrrhs, food trucks and vendors, live music and more. Bring your own wagons to transport pumpkins. Average price of pumpkins is $8.  Admission $7 to $12; must pre-purchase general admission tickets online before entry.

Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, 720-865-3501, botanicgardens.org/events.

Glow at the Gardens 

A nighttime celebration of our favorite gourd, at Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street in Denver. Includes pumpkin artistry plus performing artists. Oct. 19-24, from 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $17-$21 for members; $19-$23 for nonmembers. Free for 2 and under. General admission tickets on sale to nonmembers at 10 a.m. on Oct. 4. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance.

Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, 720-865-3500. botanicgardens.org/events 

Colorado Pumpkin Patch in Monument

Your ticket includes a farm animal petting area, tractor hay rides, laser tag, human foosball, a straw maze, pony rides, bounce pillow, tube swings, straw slides, face painting and more (some activities carry an extra fee). Pumpkins range from $2.50-$12. Through Oct. 31. Hours: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wed.-Sun. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Ticket prices: $11-$14, depending on day. Kids 3 and under free; $38 season pass. No online ticketing; purchase tickets on side at the ticket booth.

Colorado Pumpkin Patch, 18065 Saddlewood Road, Monument, 719-799-6708, coloradopumpkinpatch.net.  

Fall at Cottonwood Farms in Lafayette

Your ticket includes a 4-acre corn maze, straw bale maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals, steam engine and farm equipment, farm stand and wagon rides ($5 per person on Saturdays and Sundays, for families or other cohort groups only). Through Oct. 31. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Prices: $5 daily; kids under 5 and seniors over 65 are free. Tickets available online up to one week in advance (prepaid admissions are encouraged). Visit the Fall Market, where you can purchase pumpkins, squash, decorative items and more without admission to the patch, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cottonwood Farm, 10600 Isabelle Road, Lafayette, 720-890-4766, cottonwoodfarms.com.

Fritzler Farm Park in LaSalle

Farm Park: Your regular daytime ticket to the farm includes the pumpkin patch (50 cents a pound), corn mazes, go-carts, Slide Mountain, pillow jump, beer garden, backyard games and more. Cost: Fun Pass (does not include Scream Acres, paintball gallery or inflatables) online is $17.95, at gate $22.95. The Ultimate Fun Pass for daytime admission is $27.95 online; at the gate it’s $32.95, and it includes Fun Pass attractions plus one paintball session and one pumpkin cannon session. The Daytime Season Pass is $57.95. Kids 3 and under free. Hours, through Oct. 31: Fridays 4-10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sundays noon-5 p.m. Oct. 20-21, 6-9 p.m.

Select attractions close at 6 p.m. Fireworks every Friday night in October, plus Sat., Oct. 9.

Scream Acres: Creatures lurk in the corn and come alive as you pass. Children 13 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian; not recommended for small children. Hours: Fri.-Sat. dark to 10 p.m., Oct. 20-21, 6-9 p.m. Through Oct. 30.

The cost of the basic “Chillin’ ” admission (you will wait in line) online is $27.95, $32.95 at the gate. The Shriekin’ Faster tickets (guaranteed entrance within the hour) are $37.95 online. The Screamin’ Fastest tickets are $47.95 online and $52.95 at the gate, and guarantee you front-of-the-line access. The season pass (unlimited visits) is $82.95. Paintball Gallery and Pumpkin Cannon are a $6 add-on at the gate. 

Fritzler Farm Park: 20861 County Road 33, LaSalle, 970-737-2129, fritzlermaze.com.

Long Neck Pumpkin Farm in Colorado Springs

Admission includes the story barn, hay rides, the hay bale slide, duck races, bean bag toss, farm animals, games and more. Through Oct. 31. Hours: Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Prices: $13 per person until Oct. 3; $15 Oct. 8-31. Kids 2 and under are free. Pumpkins are $7-$10 with paid admission; straw bales and corn stalk bundles $10. Reservations only for three sessions daily (10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.); no walk-ups. New this year: a renovated farmers market and two new areas to explore.

Long Neck Pumpkin Farm, 7595 California Drive, Colorado Springs, 719-551-0525, longneckpumpkinfarm.com

Miller Farms Fall Harvest Festival in Platteville

Admission includes a corn maze, Antique Alley, farm animals, a giant “Croc-pit,” a hayride and other activities, plus a tractor ride with stops along the way to pick-your-own produce. Load up a wagon with pumpkins, gourds and winter squash and more for $40. Through mid-November. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Prices: $25 for ages 14 and up; $15 for ages 4-14; free for 4 and under. Special group and school pricing.

Miller Farms: 13912 CR 19, Platteville, 970-785-6133 or [email protected], millerfarms.net.

Fall at Mazzotti Farms in Hudson

Ticket includes a scare-free corn maze, petting zoo, and a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Plus, make a scarecrow with your kids for $40. Through October. Hours: Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Prices: $14 for admission. Kids under 2 are free.

Mazzotti Farms: 24120 Weld County Road 8, Hudson, 303-536-4089, mazzottifarms.com.

Fall at Moon Farm in Fruita

Your ticket includes the petting zoo, corn maze, straw maze, creepy clown house, haunted castle, hayrides and more. Pumpkins are priced by size. Through Oct. 31. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Cost: $7 per person. Kids 4 and under are free.

Moon Farm, 1360 18½ Road, Fruita, 970-261-1113, moonfarm.net.

Studt’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze, Grand Junction

General admission includes multiple corn mazes (including two for the little ones), the pumpkin patch, pumpkin jumps, Hay Mountain, a petting zoo, zip lines, a barrel train, corn cannons, pedal cars, pig races, and more. Pony rides on weekends are an extra $5. Oct. 1- 31. The PumpkinFest — starting at 10 a.m. on Sat., Oct. 30 — includes games, carving contests, a treasure hunt and a pumpkin drop.

Hours: Tues.-Thurs. noon-7 p.m.; Fri. noon-9 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed Mondays. Prices: $12 weekend admission, kids 3 and under free. Tues.-Thurs. $9. Pumpkin prices vary, starting at $1. Group and senior rates available.

Studt’s, 21½ and I½ Road, Grand Junction, 970-305-9006, studtspumpkinpatchandcornmaze.com.

Pumpkin Patch at Wishing Star Farm in Ellicott

Admission includes the petting zoo, duck races, horseshoes, roping dummies, train rides, hay slide, tire jungle, a pumpkin patch, a pallet maze and lots more. Oct. 1-31. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Prices: $12 per person; 2 and under free. Pony rides are $5; pumpkins of any size are $5. Group rates available.

Wishing Star, 24024 Highway 94, Ellicott, 719-244-7252, wishingstarfarm.com.

Maize in the City in Thornton

Admission is free to this farm, with bouncers, barrel train rides, escape rooms, pony rides, petting  zoo, sand art, corn kernel box, corn launchers and more. (Attractions are free to $20.) Entrance to the 20-acre corn maze is $12 for adults, $9 for children, and $5 per child for the mini-maze. Choose from 15 variety of pumpkins and gourds set in the easy-pick field; prices vary by size, from $1 to $20. Open through Oct. 31. Hours: Fri.-Sun. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. noon-7 p.m. Mazes close at 6 p.m.

Maize in the City, 10451 McKay Road, Thornton, maizeinthecity.com.

Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns at Hudson Gardens

A walking trail at Hudson Gardens with 5,000 hand-carved funkins and larger-than-life displays that depict a magical carnival, nautical seascape, dinosaurs and dragons. Open at 7 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, Oct. 1-31. (Gardens are open sunrise to sunset.) 

Tickets $10.99-$14.99 for kids (ages 3-12), $14.99-$19.99 for adults (ages 13+). Children 2 and under free.

 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton. Attraction info at 510-896-3361, magicofthejackolanterns.com.

Pumpkin Harvest Festival at Four Mile Historic Park

Fall Harvest Festival Oct. 1-3 includes a pumpkin patch, prairie games, art depot, tractor rides, a petting zoo and more. Add-on experiences include the inventing room ($25), axe throwing ($5) and build-your-own scarecrow ($25) — check the website for pricing and hours of operation. Live music by Swallow Hill Friday and Saturday 5-8 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m. Food trucks available. General admission tickets $10-$16; free for children 6 and under. Hours: Oct. 1 5-8 p.m., Oct. 2 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Oct. 3, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Also at Four Mile Historic Park: Spirits & Spirits on Oct. 23 (21 and over) offers signature cocktails and an “Aura Experience” from 6-10 p.m. Activities include ghost stories by the fire; a palm and tarot reading; and a lantern-lit tour of the Four Mile House Museum. General admission tickets $50 for members; $55 for nonmembers. Aura Experience tickets $90/$100.

715 S. Forest St., Denver. 720-865-0800. fourmilepark.org/pumpkin-harvest-festival

Fall Fest and more in Estes Park

Enjoy pumpkin painting and crafts, hay rides and a caramel apple bar, plus live music and line  dancing on Saturday, Oct. 2 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Estes Park Fall Fest at the Dorsey Museum, 90 Program Way, Estes Park. ymcarockies.org

The Pumpkins & Pilsners Festival at Bond Park features food trucks, a beer tent, free face paintings and pony rides, a pumpkin patch and more. Sat., Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. visitestespark.com 

Then, dress in your Halloween costume at YMCA of the Rockies on Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 31. It’s a family-friendly haunted forest with creepy surprises. ymcarockies.org 

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