Plan autumn outings with some of these local seasonal events as unofficial fall kicks off
PUEBLO AND EL PASO COUNTIES, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the unofficial start to fall kicking off this Labor Day, the rest of the fall season is just behind it.
The 56th Annual Fountain Valley Fall Festival parade on Labor Day gave attendees a hint of fall. It included more than 40 school groups, community organizations, businesses and families.
The theme for this year's parade was “Fabrics of America.”
After the parade ended, the festival got underway at Metcalfe Park with a kids' activity station,
beer garden, music performances, a variety of vendors, and young entrepreneurs ages 5-17 selling their own products.
“It’s an old-fashioned, good, family-friendly event as we all celebrate Labor Day and all of the workers that have made this country what it is today... We have lots of folks here, from babies to — I just spoke to a lady that was in her 90s,” said Dan Blankenship, chair of the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Here's a list KRDO13 compiled of some of the upcoming fall festivals and events across El Paso and Pueblo Counties to look forward to as the weather gets cooler:
Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival
The Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival kicks off next weekend and runs Sept. 18-20. According to organizers, the festival was created to honor Pueblo's agricultural history and encourage local community members to buy fresh, local produce. The event will also have live music, cooking competitions and street vendors.
It takes place downtown along Union Avenue starting at 3 p.m. on September 18. More information is available on the festival's website.
Pumpkin Fest at Venetucci Farm
Running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October, Pumpkin Fest is celebrating 90 years at Venetucci Farm. General admission is $8 for those over the age of three. The fest features access to farm grounds, a spooky trail and hayride and food and coffee trucks, according to organizers.
Additional activities that are available for an extra fee include pumpkin picking and farm-fresh flowers, according to organizers. The fest also has five themed weekends. It kicks off Oct. 3-4 with Oktoberfest followed by The Great Pumpkin Weekend on Oct. 10-11 with pumpkin beer and a Charlie Brown reading nook.
There is also a Scarecrows and Flannel weekend followed by a Witches & Wizards Weekend. The event ends on Halloween with a Pup-kin fest, the only weekend for dogs on the farm.
For more information, including how to purchase tickets, visit Venetucci Farm's website.
Fall Festival in Cripple Creek
The fourth annual Fall Festival in Cripple Creek is hosted by the Two Mile High Club. Organizers say the event, which runs on October 3 and 4, features a chance to meet the Cripple Creek donkey ambassadors.
Officials also say there will be live music throughout the weekend and an outdoor movie on Saturday. The festival also features a pet parade, pumpkin decorating, family activities and wood carving, according to officials.
Admission is free for the event. More information can be found on the Two Mile High Club website.
Boo at the Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is hosting seven days for Boo at the Zoo. Oct. 16, 17, 23-25, 30 and 31 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to collect candy and help raise money for wild orangutans, according to the zoo's website. Officials say all candy distributed at this year's Boo at the Zoo is made by companies using sustainable palm oil, which they say helps protect wild orangutan habitats.
The Sky Ride will also be running during the event for $3 a person, with the last ride of the night at 8 p.m. The zoo says advance tickets are required for on-site parking and the event itself. Once purchased, a ticket will indicate the earliest time someone can enter the zoo, with a 30 minute grace period.
Tickets and more information are available on the zoo's website.
Pumpkins in the Park
On October 24, Old Colorado City is putting on a family-friendly event at Bancroft Park and Colorado Alley Parking Lot. Featuring a pumpkin patch, face painting and fun fall crafts, organizers say the event will also have special prizes and offers.
There is also a pumpkin carving contest and costume contest planned during the day. They even say some special visitors from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo may stop by.
The event is free for visitors. Find out more about the event online.
El Paso County Fair and Events Center Fall Fest
The El Paso County Fair and Events Center is hosting its Fall Fest on Halloween this year. Guests can enjoy the fun from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Organizers say more information is still coming, but they are ramping up the events this year.
Those interested in being a vendor at the event can sign up right now on the Fair and Events Center website. Organizers say the food truck sign-up is currently at capacity, but those interested can join a waitlist. Indoor and outdoor merchandise and informational booth sign-ups are available.
7th Annual Multicultural Festival
Pueblo's seventh annual Multicultural Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 4. According to organizers, the event kicks off at 10 a.m. at Mineral Palace Park and runs until 7 p.m. It will feature cultural performances that honor Indigenous heritage and Aztec ceremonies. There is also a marketplace and culinary section featuring local goods, according to officials.
The festival will also feature educational displays to learn about the different cultures throughout the day. The event is free and open to the public. Find more details on the city's website.
Miners' Pumpkin Patch
Every Saturday in October will be hayrides, pumpkin picking and food trucks at this pumpkin patch. Organizers say it's their biggest event of the year. The Miners' Pumpkin Patch game area will have a giant checkerboard, cornhole and a hay maze, according to organizers.
There will also be gold panning and machinery demonstrations at the historical area. Organizers say new this year will be a spooky story time at the Stamp Mill.
More information is available on the Western Museum of Mining and Industry's website.
Skeleton Craze in Manitou Springs
If you're walking around Manitou Springs this fall, get ready to see skeletons in store fronts. The annual Skeleton Craze is the start of Arts Month each October in the Pikes Peak region, according to organizers.
Throughout the month of October, you can also vote for the best store front skeleton. Last year's winners were Flowers...and the Moon. The prizes included a gift card in Manitou Money.
More information and a sign-up for interested businesses is available on Manitou Springs' website.
Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival
A fan-favorite event in Manitou Springs is back on October 24. This year's Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival opens at 10 a.m. The fan zone, located in the 700 block of Manitou Ave, starts then with a parade at noon.
Races kick off after the parade, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., according to organizers. Sign-ups for 2026 races are available now.
The races were started in 1995 as a first of their kind, according to the city. Earlier this year, people thought the race was in danger of being cancelled after signs were put up asking for help. The city's police chief asked for the funds to hire 15 additional officers to help with the races, something that got approved but will reportedly cost almost $10,000.
To learn more and sign up for the race, visit the city's website.
Fall Fest at the Flying W
On the evening of October 10, the Flying W will host its Fall Fest. Organizers say that in addition to the classic Chuckwagon Dinner Show, guests can visit a petting zoo and a new fall show. That features the famous Flying W Wranglers, a caramel apple station and a fall dessert.
The event runs on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the show starting right at 5 p.m. To purhcase tickets, go to the Flying W Ranch website.
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