6 things to do in Colorado in October

By:
September 12, 2023
Have a great time in Fort Collins at the annual Tour de Corgi event, a must-see show of pure delight each October in Colorado. Photo by Mike Barry, courtesy of Tour De Corgi.
Have a great time in Fort Collins at the annual Tour de Corgi event, a must-see show of pure delight each October in Colorado. Photo by Mike Barry, courtesy of Tour De Corgi.

Fall has arrived, and so has the fun!

October in Colorado is a great time to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and milder temperatures, explore unique fall festivals and find your perfect pumpkin at one of the state’s many pumpkin patches. Need fall-inspired ideas on what to do this month? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favorites:

October 1: Walk, jog or run the Denver Hot Chocolate 5K, 10K or 15K

Research suggests that doing your physical activity outside can be a simple way to magnify its health benefits. Photo by Getty Images.
Research suggests that doing physical activity outside can be a simple way to magnify health benefits. Photo: Getty Images.

Get fall started with some physical activity and a cup of hot chocolate. The 5K and 10K courses take runners past two scenic lakes within Washington Park in Denver, and the 15K course runners get an extra sweet view as they run parallel to Cherry Creek. After the race, you’ll find a chocolate-filled post-run party and expo for the whole family.

October 6-8: Celebrate fall at the Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms

young boy leans on pumpkins in a pumpkin patch. Now is a great time to pick your own pumpkins at a pumpkin patch in colorado
Make the Halloween season more festive by heading to a pumpkin patch or farm to pick your own pumpkins. Photo: Getty Images.

Pick your favorite pumpkin at the 10-acre pumpkin patch, explore the corn maze and enjoy food trucks, live music, artisan booths, hayrides and face painting at this fall-themed festival. Once you’ve selected your pumpkins, use the free pumpkin daycare service. This way, you can fully enjoy the remainder of the festival without carrying your pumpkins around. (Here is a list of other pick-your-own pumpkin patches in Colorado.)

October 6-8: Taste the world-renowned Cedaredge apples

The Surface Creek Valley in Western Colorado is known for its temperate climate, and early settlers took advantage by growing award-winning apples, peaches, and other fruits.
Cedaredge Applefest. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cedaredge.

If apples are more your cup of tea, the Cedaredge Applefest is a must.

The Surface Creek Valley in western Colorado is known for its temperate climate, and early settlers took advantage of it by growing award-winning apples, peaches and other fruits.

The annual festival has been celebrating area fruit growers since 1977, commemorating the Colorado fall harvest and rich agricultural history of the Surface Creek Valley.

Festivities include live music, art, craft and food vendors; a chili cookoff; golf tournament; car, tractor and motorcycle show; pinup competition; 5K run and much more.

October 7: Attend the annual Tour de Corgi, the ultimate corgi meet-up and parade through Old Town Fort Collins

According to a Forbes study, Colorado ranks #1 as the state with the most devoted dog owners. Photo by Mike Barry, courtesy of Tour De Corgi.
According to a Forbes study, Colorado ranks #1 as the state with the most devoted dog owners. Photo by Mike Barry, courtesy of Tour De Corgi.

What’s cuter than a corgi you may ask? A corgi in a costume! You won’t want to miss this fun, corgi-filled event, featuring a corgi parade and costume contest. As a bonus, all proceeds from this event benefit local dog rescues.

October 20-22, 27-29, 31: Check out Boo at the Zoo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Boo at the Zoo event is legendary for young and old alike. Photo courtesy: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
The top three most searched Halloween costumes in Colorado in 2022 were witch, dinosaur and Stranger Things costumes. Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

This unique Colorado Springs experience allows your kids to dress up and trick-or-treat while visiting zoo animals at night. Activities include a haunted house, a spooky graveyard, a pumpkin patch and a giraffe feeding experience. Buying tickets in advance is required.

October 1-31: Soak up the beauty of fall in Colorado with a train ride through the mountains.

Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad is one of the great scenic train rides in Colorado. Photo courtesy of Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad.
Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad is one of the great scenic train rides in Colorado. Photo courtesy of Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad.

Hop aboard the Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad on one of their special fall train rides happening all month long. Enjoy views of the Arkansas River Valley and yellowing aspens as you ride through some of the state’s most beautiful and epic landscapes.

Check out other historic train rides throughout Colorado, or visit great spots to enjoy Colorado’s fall colors.

 

To do in Colorado

About the author

Megan Jansson is a Social Media Communication Strategist at UCHealth with a passion for all things health. She worked as a certified personal trainer for many years, earned her bachelor’s degree in strategic advertising at the University of Colorado Boulder and earned her master’s degree in public health at Colorado State University. Always having a big passion for writing, she’s written numerous articles and stories for Colorado State University and the Colorado School of Public Health.