Looking for things to do in Denver this Halloween? October is full of family-friendly Halloween fun all over the mile high city. Explore a seven-acre corn maze. Go for a spooky run. Or enjoy haunting Halloween movies on outdoor screens. We’ve got it all for your family this spooky season thanks to a little help from denver.com‘s Mile High Haunts list for Halloween this year.
Corn Maze at Chatfield Farms
WHEN: Sept. 16–Oct. 29, 2022
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms
Get lost in Chatfield Farms’ seven-acre Corn Maze, or simply watch the fun from one of two 15-foot tall illuminated bridges. Smaller visitors (age 10 and under) can explore the corn mini-maze.
Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms
WHEN: Oct. 7–9, 2022
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms, Littleton
Celebrate fall with a treasured October tradition for the entire family. Ticket price includes access to the 10-acre pumpkin patch and family and children’s activities, food, music and fun. Free pumpkin daycare is available while you enjoy the rest of the festival!
Choctoberfest
WHEN: Oct. 8, 2022
WHERE: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center, Aurora
Choctoberfest offers the ultimate triple-whammy of fun, combining Oktoberfest (think: beer garden), Halloween and thousands of chocolate samples!
Pumpkin Harvest Festival
WHEN: Oct. 8–9, 2022
WHERE: Four Mile Historic Park
This annual gourd gala is the perfect way to kick off the fall season! Select your perfect pumpkin from the patch and dine on seasonal favorites, including apple cider donuts. Activities included with general admission include prairie games; fall-themed crafts and activities; live demonstrations of blacksmithing and fiber pulling; performances from local dance troupes, bands and cultural organizations; an artisan farmers’ market featuring a curated list of locally sourced vendors; face painting and decorations along the festival trail; tractor rides and gold panning! An upgrade option is also available, which will include the Dry Dock VIP Lounge with dedicated face painter, craft stations for kids and a private bar for adults.
Candy Crawl
WHEN: Oct. 9, 2022
WHERE: The Shops at Northfield
Join The Shops at Northfield for this free annual family-friendly Halloween event. Enjoy trick or treating at participating retailers, hay rides, crafts, thriller dancers, giveaways, contests and more! Learn about the farm animals from The Urban Farm and meet and greet the DPD and Fire Department.
Westy Half & 5k
WHEN: Oct. 16, 2022
WHERE: Westminster Promenade Terrace, Westminster
Get out to enjoy the crisp autumn air at the Westy Half & 5k. Wear your favorite Halloween costume and dress your pup in a costume too! Stick around after your run/walk for finisher food, free photos, age group awards, expo shopping and to cheer on fellow runners at the finish line.
Glow at the Gardens
WHEN: Oct. 18–23, 2022
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Wind your way down luminaria-lined pathways decked with spooky lighting displays and hundreds of carved, glowing gourds. Pumpkin artists use all local pumpkins to the boundaries of traditional pumpkin carving and create larger-than-life sculptures, dense displays of jack-o’-lanterns and ornately detailed showpiece pumpkins. You’ll also enjoy a wide array of activities and entertainment, as well as seasonal food and beverages.
Spooky Streets
WHEN: Oct. 21, 2022
WHERE: The Streets at SouthGlenn, Centennial
This is free fall fun for the entire family! Enjoy an entertainment stage, face painting, balloon artists, dance party, parade of costumes and more.
‘The Old Man and The Old Moon’
WHEN: Oct. 21–23 and 28–30, Nov. 4–6 and 11–13, 2022
WHERE: Center Stage Theatre, Evergreen
The Old Man has kept his post as the sole caretaker of the moon for as long as he can remember, but when she is drawn away by a mysterious melody sparking memories of their shared past, the Old Man must decide between duty (and routine) and love (and adventure). Luckily for audiences everywhere, he chooses the latter, and what follows is an imaginative sea-faring epic, encompassing apocalyptic storms, civil wars, leviathans of the deep and cantankerous ghosts, as well as the fiercest obstacle of all: change.
Treat Street at the Arapahoe County Scaregrounds
WHEN: Oct. 22, 2022
WHERE: Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center, Aurora
Come out to the Arapahoe County Scaregrounds for a safe day of trick-or-treating and spooktacular family fun. In addition to trick or treating, there will be games and activities, a petting farm, bounce houses, face painting, pumpkin painting, live entertainment, Thriller dance performances, a costume contest, food trucks, an adult beer garden and more! Tickets are $10 per person, but entry is free for anyone wearing a Halloween costume! (Kids under 2 years old are also free.)
Seedlings: Pumpkins, Gourds and More!
WHEN: Oct. 26–28, 2022
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Join the experts at Denver Botanic Gardens to explore pumpkins and their close relatives. Seedlings classes offer a fun, hands-on way for young children to explore the plant world while developing an understanding and appreciation for plants and their importance. Programs include stories, nature walks and art projects. Ages 3–6 years on October 26, ages 24–36 months on October 27 and ages 18–24 months on October 28.
Disney In Concert: Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’
WHEN: Oct. 28–29, 2022
WHERE: Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
Back by popular demand, see one of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films like never before! The full-feature film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” will be projected on the big screen with dialogue, singing and effects, accompanied by Danny Elfman’s darkly charming score played live by your Colorado Symphony . Families are welcome and costumes are encouraged. After all, “this is Halloween!”
Halloween Spooktacular!
WHEN: Oct. 30, 2022
WHERE: Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex
It’s a spooktacular event for all boys and ghouls! This family-favorite concert features music from films, television and more, played by your Colorado Symphony ! Costumes are encouraged, and the best of the bunch will be invited to show off their creations on stage for the whole crowd. It’s a ghostly-good time for every little monster and their mummy!
Halloween is a fun time for kids and adults alike, but it’s also crucial to make sure everyone enjoys the holiday safely – including avoiding the (almost) inevitable candy-induced bellyache. Between pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and spooky house parties, candy is in abundance. From your friends at Partners in Pediatrics, below are a few tips to keep the kiddos healthy and make sure you’re keeping the family happy, healthy, and having a great time this Halloween.
- Give your child a good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating; this will discourage filling up on Halloween treats.
- Consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters. Halloween is one of the trickiest days of the year for children with food allergies. Items such as glow sticks, spider rings, vampire fangs, bubbles, bouncy balls, whistles, bookmarks, stickers and stencils are all great non-food options.
- Keep an eye on what your child eats while on the trick-or-treat trail. Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, it can happen. A responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items.
- Babies and toddlers should not have certain Halloween treats. Hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, small candies, gummy candy, or anything with whole nuts should not be given to little ones. Candy wrappers, stickers, small toys or temporary tattoos can also be a chocking hazard.
- Try to ration treats for the days and weeks following Halloween. If you keep candy guidelines realistic, consistent, and positive, your Halloween can be a great opportunity to teach your kids about moderation, balance, and healthful indulging.
Have a safe and happy spooky season from all of us at Partners in Pediatrics — Denver’s first and best integrative pediatric medical practice.
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