As a local tour company, we’re well informed on the city’s seasonal happenings — and there are so many things to do in Denver in fall, especially. Activities range from harvest celebrations to family-friendly festivals, Halloween attractions, leaf peeping, and more.
This guide highlights the absolute best autumn activities in Denver, allowing you to make the most of this short, scenic season. We also share free activities and day trips for every interest.
Table of Contents
Best Things to Do in Denver in Fall
Savor Local Eats on a Delicious Denver Food Tour
Several partnered restaurants highlight seasonal ingredients
Autumn is harvest season and what better way to enjoy its bounty than on a Downtown Denver Food Tour! This 3-hour guided experience includes five generous tastings from award-winning restaurants. Savor Colorado green chile, fry bread tacos, flaky baked empanadas, and more local flavors — which you can pair with complementary boozy beverages.
While walking between stops, your expert guide will share insights about the city and its dining scene. Delicious Denver Food Tours also hosts other engaging experiences, like its RiNo Arts District Food Tour and Denver Wine Walk. These tours accommodate all dietary needs and preferences, as well as varying group sizes. Both locals and tourists love these foodie outings!
Get Rowdy at a Denver Broncos Football Game
Photo: Denver Broncos Facebook
Cheer on the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High this season! There are several home games from Sept. – Dec. These include matches against rival teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders. Wear all orange, pick up a case of Broncos Country pale ales, and tailgate at the stadium for the complete experience.
Hoist Beer Steins at Denver Oktoberfest
Photo: Denver Oktoberfest Facebook
Denver Oktoberfest is a two-weekend festival located on Larimer and 21st in Ballpark. Festivities occur Sept. 20 – 22 and Sept. 27 – 29. Enjoy the beer hall and German-inspired fare, live music, and competitions like stein hoisting and keg bowling. Admission is free but VIP ticket holders get the full package with unlimited beer and wine, included meals, and more.
Join a Fall Festival at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Photo: Denver Botanic Gardens Facebook
There are many reasons to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens during the fall. The Chatfield Gardens location will host its Hop Festival on Sept. 21. The Littleton site will also celebrate its annual Pumpkin Festival, complete with a 7-acre corn maze, on Oct. 11 – 13.
The downtown York Street location will have a fall plant and bulb sale on Sept. 27 – 28. Its spooky Halloween event, Ghosts in the Gardens, occurs Oct. 4, Oct. 12 – 13, and Oct. 17 – 20. Also, don’t miss Glow at the Gardens. Thousands of jack o’ lanterns will decorate the venue on Oct. 22 – 27.
Lastly, the Denver Botanic Gardens hosts free days through autumn. Get free admission to its Plains Conservation Center on Saturday, Nov. 16, as well as York Street and Chatfield Gardens on Friday, Nov. 29.
Partake in the Iconic Great American Beer Festival
Photo: Great American Beer Festival website
The Great American Beer Festival is one of the country’s largest beer competitions. On Oct. 10 – 12, more than 500 craft breweries from across the US will serve 2,000+ tastings at the Colorado Convention Center. Enjoy every ale imaginable at GABF, from seasonal brews to flagship pours and award-winners. Wear a pretzel necklace into the venue and enjoy concessions on-site.
Catch an Outdoor Concert at Breckenridge Brewery
Photo: Breckenridge Brewery Facebook
Soak up the year’s last few warm weekends at Breckenridge Brewery. Its 12-acre Littleton location will host a free concert on Sept. 14 featuring blues, folk, and country tunes from Bill McKay Band. Paid shows will occur on Sept. 7 and Oct. 12 with headliners Cannons and Kaleo. Jam out and toast to the season with flavorful craft brews, like its Autumn Ale and Palisade Peach Wheat.
Cheer on Your Favorite Football Teams at Number Thirty Eight
Photo: Number Thirty Eight Facebook
Hanging out at Number Thirty Eight is one of our favorite things to do in RiNo — and that’s especially true this football season. With more than a dozen screens, this spacious food and music venue will show every single NFL game, plus every game featuring the CU Buffs. When they and the Denver Broncos play, expect full-blown watch parties with live DJs, party packs from on-site eatery Split Lip, and plenty of exuberant fans.
Support Local Restaurants During Denver Harvest Week
Photo: Denver Harvest Week website
Denver Harvest Week is set to occur from Sept. 30 – Oct. 3 at Ironton Distillery and Crafthouse. It will feature 24 independent chefs and local restaurants. Each evening, guests will be provided passed appetizers, a five-course meal served family style, and access to an open bar.
Ticket sales benefit the non-profit EatDenver, which supports the local restaurant industry with advocacy, education programs, and networking opportunities. Denver Harvest Week also supports The GrowHaus, which provides food access, health education, and professional development to local communities.
Share a Toast at Balistreri Vineyards Harvest Party
Photo: Balistreri Vineyards website
Balistreri Vineyards, one of the top wineries in Denver, will host its 22nd annual Harvest Party on Oct. 6. The celebratory feast will include a roasted pig, seasonal sides, wood-fired pizza, and plenty of desserts paired with the winery’s yet-to-be-released vintage. Other house wines will be available for tasting, as will live music and family-friendly activities like pumpkin decorating, face painting, and the annual children’s grape stomp!
Celebrate the Season at the Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Photo: Visit Denver website
On Oct. 12 – 13 , Four Mile Historic Park will host its annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival. This family-friendly event features live music, dozens of local vendors, and the opportunity to build your own scarecrow. Visitors can also pick pumpkins from the patch, nosh on apple cider donuts, and enjoy other seasonal festivities at this Glendale attraction.
Be Spellbound by Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns
Photo: Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns website
The Hudson Gardens in Littleton transform during Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns, a family-friendly festival that takes place on select nights from Sept. 20 – Nov. 2. Expect to see thousands of glowing pumpkins within themed scenes, like a Harry Potter display and a nautical sea-scape. Others are stacked to form dinosaurs, dragons, and even a giant Ferris wheel. Local food trucks, a s’mores station, and Halloween-inspired cocktails add to the fun.
Participate in the Mile High United Way Turkey Trot
Photo: Mile High United Way website
The 50th annual Mile High United Way Turkey Trot will occur on Nov. 28! Each year, thousands participate in the four-mile run/walk through Washington Park. Register the whole family, little ones and pups included, to benefit the local community. Proceeds go to community partners which supply affordable housing, professional development services, basic needs, and more.
Things to Do in Denver for Halloween
Spot Ghouls and Goblins at the Broadway Halloween Parade
Photo: Broadway Halloween Parade Facebook
Spooky floats, costumed entertainers, and more Halloween revelry will appear on Broadway between 5th and Alameda on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Broadway Halloween Parade started small but is now in its sixth year, drawing more than 30,000 attendees. Wear your best costume to the event — and if you don’t have one, swing by The Wizard’s Chest on Broadway before the festivities start at 6 pm.
Let Out Screams at Elitch Gardens’ Fright Fest
Photo: Elitch Gardens Facebook
All ages will love celebrating Halloween at Elitch Gardens’ annual Fright Fest. The two-part event features Family by Day activities, like the Trick or Treat Trail in KiddieLand. Then, during Fright by Night, ghouls and goblins appear throughout the amusement park. Get spooked by costumed characters and haunted houses, and let screams out on thrilling rides.
Join a Local Historian on a Denver Ghost Tour
Photo: Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tours Facebook
Learn about the city’s paranormal happenings on a Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tour. Its most popular two-hour tour includes visits to Union Station and the surrounding historic structures. Hear stories of those who haunt these former bars and brothels as night falls in the LoDo neighborhood.
Phil Goodstein, a local author who’s written extensively on Denver’s history and ghostly encounters, leads two other tours. Join this eccentric character in exploring the spooky sites throughout Capitol Hill or Cheesman Park — if you dare!
Be Frightened by 13th Floor Haunted House
Photo: 13th Floor Haunted House Facebook
13th Floor Haunted House is one of the most popular Halloween attractions in Denver. This year’s storyline centers around a “blood moon” which draws out a demented taxidermist, villainous pirate, and a blood-thirty monster — all sure to give you a fright!
There are also three themed bars on-site, as well as other experiences. Arm yourself with a jellyball gun and target the zombies in the shooting range. Get through a labyrinth haunted by a deranged clown, have your tarot cards read, and enjoy more Halloween fun.
Free Things to Do in Denver in Fall
Join the Inaugural Highlands Oktoberfest
Photo: Highlands Oktoberfest website
Sept. 14 marks the first-ever Highlands Oktoberfest, a Bavarian-themed event that’s free to attend and fun for the whole family. Its schedule features a costume contest, as well as competitive stein hoisting and keg bowling. There will also be several live music performances, kids’ crafts and activities, and more than eighty local vendor booths. To round out the festivities, hearty German-inspired fare and traditional lagers will be available for purchase on-site.
Savor Mooncakes at Far East Center’s Mid-Autumn Festival
Photo: Vinh Xuong Bakery Facebook
Mid-Autumn Festival is a major holiday throughout Asia and on Sept. 21, Far East Center will host a free family-friendly celebration. Explore its night market featuring global street food, music, and entertainment including cultural performances, a K-pop dance battle, and a karaoke contest. The event will also feature a jumbo mooncake-eating contest, along with plenty of regular-sized mooncakes available for sale.
Visit Several Neighborhoods During Denver Arts Week
Photo: Art District on Santa Fe website
Denver Arts Week occurs Nov. 1 – 10. It will kick off with First Friday events in several city neighborhoods. Visit Tennyson Street, the Art District on Santa Fe, and the 40 West Arts District, which will host a Día de los Muertos art crawl. A number of cultural sites will also host free days this week, including the incredible Clyfford Still Museum.
Enjoy the Season’s Bountiful Farmers Markets
Photo: Colorado Fresh Markets website
Celebrate harvest season at several local farmers markets! The Highlands Farmers Market appears every Sunday through Oct. 13. On Saturdays through Oct. 26, head to the City Park Farmers Market. The Cherry Creek market also operates on Saturdays through Oct. 12.
See this list for more options across the metro area and enjoy one of the best things to do in Denver in fall!
Take the Family to Morrison Ciderfest
Photo: Morrison Ciderfest Facebook
Morrison Ciderfest occurs on Sept. 28 in the community’s charming downtown district. Watch cider press demonstrations, climb aboard hay rides, shop from local arts and crafts vendors, and dance to live music all day long. All ages are welcome at this free event.
Explore Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
Photo: Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre Facebook
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is also located in Morrison and is an iconic Colorado attraction. Of course, the venue’s concerts, film screenings, and fitness events require paid tickets. But simply visiting Red Rocks is one of the best free things to do in Denver in fall. See the amphitheatre, hit the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, and take a hike through the incredible rock formations.
Admire Fall Foliage Along Cherry Creek Bike Path
Photo: Uncover Colorado website
Pedaling down the Cherry Creek Bike Path is a wonderful way to admire fall colors in the city. This 40-mile route connects downtown’s Union Station with Franktown, a small community near Castle Rock. Bikers can access the path from several points, explore Cherry Creek State Park, and visit other highlights featured on its TrailLink map.
Leaf Peep on Nearby Hiking Trails
Photo: Eldorado Canyon State Park Facebook
Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far to admire the mountains’ fall foliage. Some of the area’s best leaf-peeping trails are found in nearby Golden Gate Canyon State Park. It has hikes for all skill levels, as well as camping and other outdoor activities.
Eldorado Canyon State Park is another ideal aspen-viewing location, as is Herman Gulch and Mount Bierstadt, one of the easiest and most popular Colorado 14ers. Find its trailhead along the stunning Guanella Pass.
Day Trips from Denver in Fall
See Golden Aspens on a Scenic Drive
Photo: Guanella Pass – Clear Creek County Tourism Bureau
Guanella Pass can also be enjoyed without a strenuous hike. Simply drive the scenic route from Georgetown to Grant, admiring gold and orange aspens along the way. To extend the journey, head eight miles west from Grant to Kenosha Pass, another gorgeous area.
The Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway is also a wonderful fall experience. It runs from Black Hawk to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and its iconic Trail Ridge Road.
Experience the Spooky Stanley Hotel
Photo: The Stanley Hotel Facebook
The Stanley Hotel is another iconic destination in Estes Park. It’s famous for inspiring Steven King’s The Shining, and visitors can even stay in the suite he booked in 1974. The hotel also hosts theatrical seances, spooky nightly tours of the grounds, and several other events for horror fans — and the general visitor, too.
Even if haunted attractions aren’t your thing, the Stanley Hotel is worth a visit. Admire the surrounding fall colors, stay in a historic room, and enjoy dining on-site. The Cascades Restaurant is highly recommended, having the largest selection of whiskeys in Colorado.
Attend Elk Fest in Estes Park
Photo: Visit Estes Park website
Elk Fest is yet another reason to make a trip to Estes Park this fall. This annual event takes place on Sept. 28 – 29 and coincides with the elk rut. Herds are often seen throughout town, bugling to find a mate.
Families can participate in the festival’s Rut Run 5K, wander the vendors’ stalls, and listen to local musicians including Danny Many Horses. Native American dancers will join him in performances and storytelling. In addition, several Estes Park shops and eateries will offer specials during the event, allowing visitors to make the most of their experience.
Climb Aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad
Photo: Georgetown Loop Railroad Facebook
The Georgetown Loop Railroad route is absolutely stunning in autumn. The historic locomotive winds through colorful aspen groves and into the mountains, amazing visitors with its views. Fall foliage is best admired on the weekends of Sept. 20 – 22 and Sept. 27 – 29.
The attraction hosts several other seasonal rides including the Pumpkinfest Train on Oct. 4 – 6, which provides children with a free pumpkin and candy. Adults will enjoy the Autumnfest Train the following two weekends, which includes free beer tastings from local craft breweries.
Pick Apples at Local Orchards
Photo: Worrell Family Farms and Orchard Facebook
If you want to pick apples in the Denver area, plan well in advance! Nelms Farm in Golden and Ya Ya Farm & Orchard in Longmont are popular destinations. Their U-Pick orchards require reservations, which often sell out by August.
But don’t worry if you missed the memo. Worrell Family Farms has apple picking available on Saturdays through late October — no reservations required. Find its orchard and country store in Eaton, located around an hour northeast of Denver.
Enjoy Autumn Activities at Anderson Farms
Photo: Anderson Farms website
Anderson Farms is located in Erie, about 30 minutes north of Denver. It features several family-friendly attractions, including wagon rides to the pumpkin patch and the opportunity to meet farm animals.
All ages will love the massive corn maze, which features several checkpoints. Punch cards are provided, making for an interactive experience. Come nightfall, there’s also Terror in the Corn. Get spooked by costumed characters and Halloween decor as you make your way through this “Mile of Mayhem.”
See Creepy Crawlers at the La Junta Tarantula Festival
Photo: Visit La Junta
From mid-September through early November, thousands of tarantulas appear across the Comanche National Grassland in southeast Colorado. Many refer to it as a migration, but it’s actually a mating season for these creepy, crawling creatures. For insights into their behaviors and guided “tarantula treks,” make the 3-hour drive down to the La Junta Tarantula Festival happening on Sept. 27 – 28.
Watch New Releases at the Telluride Horror Show
Photo: Telluride Horror Show website
Admittedly, Telluride is more of a weekend getaway from Denver rather than a day trip. It’s about six hours from the city, but so worth the drive — especially for the annual Telluride Horror Show, which occurs Oct. 11 – 13.
It’s the largest horror film festival in Colorado, featuring dozens of events and productions within the horror, thriller, and sci-fi genres. Several films are screened for the first time and are created by top-talent authors and filmmakers.