With the leaves changing colors and the temperatures getting cooler, October is filled with exciting events to celebrate the season. Brew fests are common, including the Wine in the Pines Keystone and numerous Oktoberfests to choose from.
For those looking for a scare, Halloween haunted houses and hayrides can be found all over the front range throughout October. Make the most of these warmer pre-winter days while they’re around by attending an exciting festival.
Here’s a look at the top annual October events in Colorado, in chronological order:
2025 Annual October Festivals in Colorado
South Pearl Farmers’ Market
- Date: Sundays | May 4 – November 9, 2025
- Address: Pearl Street & East Arkansas Avenue, Denver
- About: This is one of the top Denver area farmers’ markets that has been happening since 2001. They keep the produce and fare as local and fresh as possible.
Highlands Farmers Market
- Date: Sundays | May 18 – October 12, 2025
- Address: Highland Square, 32nd Avenue, Denver
- About: Great farmer’s market with handcrafted goods and locally grown produce. Don’t go hungry because there is plenty of homemade food for sale, fresh and ready to eat.
Civic Center EATS
- Date: Wednesday and Thursday, early May to mid October, 2025
- Address: Denver
- About: Civic Center EATS is a one-stop shop for some of the best food on wheels you can find in the Mile High City. Located in Denver’s Civic Center Park, there will be about 10 to 15 food trucks selling a myriad of delicious meals.
The 13th Floor Haunted House
- Date: Select days, mid September to early November 2025
- Address: Denver
- About: The 13th Floor Haunted House is Denver’s scariest Halloween event. If a night of fright is on your agenda, this is the place for you.
Elitch Gardens Fright Fest
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: Weekends, September 28-November 3, 2024)
- Address: Elitch Garden Theme Park, Denver
- About: A “fun by day, fright by night” festival with a lot of Halloween-themed events for all ages to enjoy.
Durango Cowboy Gathering
- Date: Wed-Sun, October 1-5, 2025
- Address: Durango
- About: Celebrate the rich history of the American cowboy, with live performances, poets, and musicians, now in its 37th year.
Handmade In Colorado Expo: Vail Village
- Date: Friday-Saturday, October 3-4, 2025
- Address: Vail Village
- About: The 18th annual art is event held over four weekends at four different venues around the state, showcasing various creations from Colorado artists.
Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival
- Date: Fri-Sun, October 3-5, 2025
- Address: Breckenridge
- About: Enjoy live music, regional liquor, and food. Events include Poker Run, Historic Saloon Walking Tour, Breckenridge Distillery Tours, Honey Gitter’s live show at the historic Gold Pan Saloon, and Hangover Brunch.
Cedaredge Applefest
- Date: Fri-Sun, October 4-6, 2024
- Address: Cedaredge
- About: Celebrate Cedaredge’s rich farming history at this annual autumn celebration happening the first full weekend in October. Some highlights include a chili cook-off, golf tournament, 5K run, classic car show, live concerts, and apple pie sales.
Phamaly Theatre Company: Dance Nation
- Date: Thur-Sun, October 9-19, 2025 —Dance Nation by Clare Barron
- Address: Aurora
- About: Now in its 36th season, the Phamaly Theatre Company presents two shows at The People’s Building at 9995 East Colfax Avenue in Aurora.
Great American Beer Festival
- Date: Thur-Sat, October 9-11, 2025
- Address: Convention Center, Denver
- About: Heading into its 43rd year, GABF is one of the largest beer festivals in the US, with four sessions to choose from, and over 3500 beers.
Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms
- Date: Fri-Sun, October 10-12, 2025
- Address: Chatfield Farms, Littleton
- About: The 10-acre pumpkin patch at Chatfield Farms, operated by the Denver Botanic Gardens, operates for only one weekend. Head on out to pick out your favorite pumpkin, and then stroll the other wonderful plants on display.
Telluride Horror Show
- Date: Fri-Sun, October 10-12, 2025
- Address: Nugget Theatre, Telluride
- About: The 16th annual 3-day Telluride Horror Show is the state’s spookiest and largest horror film festival boasting plenty of films to scare your pants off.
Dia de los Muertos
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: Saturday, October 12, 2024) | Events also held throughout October
- Address: Longmont
- About: Celebrate the annual Day of the Dead Festival in Longmont. This longstanding Mexican tradition is on full display in downtown and other locations around the city.
bRUNch Run 5K + 10K
- Date: Sun, October 12, 2025
- Address: Denver
- About: A fundraising race that comes with brunch, scented medals, and free swag, this event is for those who love getting active and eating.
Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
- Date: Fri-Sun, October 17-19, 2025
- Address: Colorado Springs
- About: With the purpose of cultivating awareness, empathy, and a deeply connected community, the Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival is a 3-day celebration of women and others who are often unseen, unheard, and misunderstood.
Knock Your Boots Off Beer Tasting & Chili Cook-Off
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: Saturday, October 19, 2024)
- Address: Golden
- About: Annual chili competition featuring bottomless craft beer and chili tastings held by downtown Golden.
Treat Street
- Date: Sat-Sun, October 18-19, 2025
- Address: Aurora
- About: A Halloween trick-or-treating family fun event hosted at the Arapahoe County “Scaregrounds” full of costumes, games, and delicious treats.
Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame
- Date: Tues, October 21, 2025
- Address: Colorado Springs
- About: The Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is a yearly celebration of the athletes, teams, coaches, and contributors who have left their mark on the community. Taking place at the Broadmoor World Arena, there will be a reception, silent auction, and dinner.
Wine In The Pines
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: Friday-Saturday, October 25-26, 2024)
- Address: Keystone
- About: Summit County’s premier wine festival returns in 2024 for its 41st year. Enjoy exquisite wine paired with savory cuisine.
Emma Crawford Coffin Races & Parade
- Date: Sat, October 25, 2025
- Address: Manitou Springs
- About: Starting with a parade through town, the annual coffin races are formed of teams of four pallbearers and one “Emma”. The races have been covered nationally by the Travel Channel and are usually held on the last Saturday in October.
Bloody Mary Festival
- Date: Sun, October 26, 2025
- Address: EXDO Event Center, Denver
- About: The 9th Annual Bloody Mary Festival is the largest event of its kind, boasting a range of unique and tantalizing Bloody Marys as well as plenty of food and beverages.
Denver Film Festival
- Date: Fri-Sun, October 31-November 9, 2025
- Address: Denver
- About: Back for its 48th year, the Denver Film Festival showcases hundreds of full-length films, music videos, and shorts at multiple locations across the city.
Hops Drops
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: Saturday, October 26, 2024)
- Address: Evergreen
- About: This is a family-friendly music and beer event with live performances, food vendors, kids’ activities, and plenty of craft beer from some of Colorado’s most notable breweries.
Denver Zombie Crawl
- Date: TBD 2025 (last event: October 19, 2024)
- Address: Lower Downtown, Denver
- About: It’s free to dress up as an undead zombie and tag along on this annual bar crawl, held at 7 pm on Saturday in LoDo. Drink tickets are purchased ahead of time.
Mile High Horror Film Festival
- Date: TBD or cancelled indefinitely
- Address: Denver
- About: Every autumn, the Mile High Horror Film Festival descends on Coloradans eager to get their fair share of scares. This annual event has attracted notable attendees like Jack Black and Linda Blair.
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