Family Fun This Fall in Denver
The upcoming months offer some of the best times all year in the Denver area. The temperature cools, the leaves change color and there are a host of incredible events and activities that your family will absolutely love. Dinosaurs, cultural festivals, Halloween fun and much more will be part of your schedule this fall. Get the details you need here.
Oktoberfest
Sept. 19-21 & Sept. 26-28
In the Ballpark Neighborhood (between 20th and 22nd Sts. on Larimer St.)
www.oktoberfestdenver.com
Looking for an excuse to break out your liederhosen? Then Denver’s Oktoberfest celebration is for you. The event (one of the city’s longest running festivals and one of the largest of its kind in the nation) is modeled after Oktoberfest in Munich Germany. The festival has truly become a Denver mainstay, with traditional German attractions, music from national touring groups, performances by international dancers, children’s activities, the first ever Oktoberfest Denver 10K Run, a Green Village and authentic cuisine. Admission to the event is free.
Colorado’s Fall Colors
September
Various Front Range Scenic Byways
www.coloradobyways.com
Fall in Colorado isn’t complete without taking in the brilliant transformation of the state’s signature tree, the Aspen. The fall change from mellow green to stunning gold takes place during various weeks in September, depending on where you are – since the color only lasts a week, timing is everything! One of the best leaf-peeping routes on the Rocky Mountain Front Range is the Peak-to-Peak Scenic and Historic Byway that travels the high-altitude road between Black Hawk and Estes Park. Virtually every way you look, you’ll see majestic Aspen colors. Another great Front Range ride is along the Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway, just south of the historic town of Georgetown. Bunches of blazing Aspen can be found all over this incredible drive.
5th Annual Festival Italiano
Sept. 20-21
Belmar Center, Lakewood
www.belmarcolorado.com/sub/event/festival_italiano/index.html
Mamma Mia! The fifth annual Festival Italiano Food & Wine Festival at Belmar Center is a fun-filled celebration of all things Italian. The event will feature over 70 of the finest Italian food, wine and artisan vendors from the area who will sell ceramics, gelato, sausage, baked goods, pasta, flowers, herbs, sculpture, antique maps, produce, pizza and much more. What should you expect? Throwers from Florence, regional Italian wine tastings for adults, chef demonstrations, live Italian music and dancing, Italian movies, Balistreri vineyard's children's grape stomp, a bocce ball tournament – it’ll all be happening this weekend. Come get a taste of la dolce vita in Belmar.
Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries
Beginning Sept. 26
Denver Museumof Nature and Science
www.dmns.org
Dinos are coming to Denver! Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science brings new findings to life in exciting detail. The exhibit features incredibly detailed dioramas, lifelike recreations of hundreds of ancient animals, hi-definition computer animated dinos, a Dino-themed IMAX movie and much more. It’s a trip back in time the whole family will love. There will be a myriad of interactive aspects to this event that will allow your kids to get down and dirty with some dinos.
Fright Fest
Oct. 3-Nov. 1
Elitch Gardens Theme Park
www.elitchgardens.com
Things get spooky around this time of year – especially at Denver’s famed downtown theme park, Elitch Gardens. This enormous fun zone transforms from theme park to "scream" park all month long for Fright Fest. From
haunted houses to a free Trick-or-Treat Trail, there's something for the whole family to enjoy.
Pumpkin Fest & Corn Maze
Oct. 11-12 (Pumpkin Fest) 
Corn Maze is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Sept. 5 through Oct. 26.
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
www.botanicgardens.org/content/pumpkin-fest
Come search for the perfect jack o' lantern or pumpkin pie gourd for all your Halloween and fall festivities! Thousands of pumpkins will be ripe for the picking from the Denver Botanic Garden at Chatfield’s pumpkin patch. The gardens will be filled with exciting children's activities and vendors selling handcrafted gifts. Explore the myriad of animals at the working farm, tour the historical ranch, and enjoy the carnival rides!
And your kids will absolutely love Chatfield’s incredible Corn Maze, one of the most attended mazes in the country. Boasting 12-foot stalks of corn, this year’s maze will include so many twists and turns that it will be the most challenging one yet! This year's design will highlight an intricate picture of the globe in honor of the Botanic Gardens’ sustainability efforts. The maze will include two illuminated observation bridges that provide a bird’s eye view to help you navigate. Kids under 10 should check out the free mini maze and a corn box to roll around in. Barrel train and hay rides will be available on select weekends. For teenagers and adults, there’s a winding haunted trail and haunted house that is sure to send chills down your spine. It’s a can’t-miss October event!