Colorado Springs is preparing for an extraordinary Halloween season in October 2026, transforming Colorado’s Pikes Peak region into a destination for haunted adventures, spectacular costume celebrations, wildlife encounters and autumn festivals. From Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s evening festivities to Manitou Springs’ legendary coffin races, visitors can discover entertainment across Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, Divide and Cañon City. With free community celebrations, ticketed attractions and activities throughout the month, the region offers families, adventure seekers and Halloween enthusiasts numerous opportunities to experience Colorado’s seasonal traditions.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Transforms Halloween into an Extraordinary Wildlife Adventure
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo welcomes families to Boo at the Zoo on 16, 17, 23–25, 30 and 31 October 2026.
Running from 4pm to 8.30pm, the celebration combines Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating and animal encounters in a distinctive mountain setting.
Tickets cost approximately $19.75–$24.75, with advance timed-entry reservations mandatory.
The event also highlights conservation through the distribution of sweets containing sustainably sourced palm oil, encouraging awareness of orangutan habitats.
Located at 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, the attraction provides an alternative to neighbourhood trick-or-treating.
Manitou Springs Prepares for Its Spectacular Emma Crawford Coffin Races
Manitou Springs hosts one of Colorado’s most unusual Halloween traditions on 24 October 2026.
The Emma Crawford Coffin Races feature costumed competitors transporting coffin-shaped racing vehicles along Manitou Avenue.
The free celebration runs from 10am to 5pm, with a parade scheduled for noon and races immediately afterwards.
Visitors can enjoy elaborate costumes, creative racing designs and a festive atmosphere in historic downtown Manitou Springs.
An after-party follows at Soda Springs Park at 5pm.
The event commemorates a distinctive chapter of local folklore while providing an entertaining celebration of the Halloween season.
Cave of the Winds Offers Spine-Chilling Underground Halloween Experiences
Adventure seekers can explore the Haunted Lantern Tour at Cave of the Winds Mountain Park.
Located at 100 Cave of the Winds Road in Manitou Springs, the attraction takes visitors underground with handheld lanterns.
Guides introduce the cave’s history alongside ghost stories and accounts of unexplained phenomena.
Tours are advertised daily between 6pm and 10pm, with adult tickets priced at approximately $45.
The experience combines geological exploration with atmospheric storytelling, making it particularly appealing to visitors seeking an unusual Halloween activity.
Old Colorado City Welcomes Families for Pumpkins in the Park
Bancroft Park becomes a colourful autumn gathering place on Saturday, 24 October.
Pumpkins in the Park runs from noon until 6pm at 2408 West Colorado Avenue.
Visitors can enjoy pumpkin painting, balloon artists, face painting, live music, seasonal refreshments and a harvest market.
Local shops and restaurants add opportunities for shopping and dining around the historic district.
Admission is free, although individual purchases may carry additional charges.
The event combines traditional Halloween entertainment with Old Colorado City’s established arts and retail attractions.
Colorado’s Pumpkin Farms Deliver Memorable Autumn Experiences
Several destinations around Colorado Springs are celebrating the harvest season with family-oriented activities.
Venetucci Farm, at 5210 South Highway 85, hosts Pumpkin Fest on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout October.
General admission costs $8, while pumpkins are priced separately at $10 each.
Visitors can explore the pumpkin patch, enjoy seasonal refreshments and browse farm merchandise.
In Monument, Fall Mountain Farm offers its Autumn Adventure programme until 1 November, featuring hayrides, mazes, a petting zoo and outdoor games.
Meanwhile, the Western Museum of Mining & Industry hosts Miners’ Pumpkin Patch on selected October Saturdays, combining agricultural traditions with mining history.
Halloween 2026 Events Across Colorado Springs and Surrounding Destinations
| Event | Destination | Dates | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boo at the Zoo | Colorado Springs | 16–17, 23–25, 30–31 October | $19.75–$24.75 |
| Emma Crawford Coffin Races | Manitou Springs | 24 October | Free |
| Haunted Lantern Tour | Manitou Springs | Daily | $45 adult |
| Pumpkins in the Park | Old Colorado City | 24 October | Free |
| Pumpkin Fest | Venetucci Farm | Fridays–Sundays in October | $8 |
| Miners’ Pumpkin Patch | Colorado Springs | 3, 10, 17, 24 October | $13 advance; $15 door |
| Howl-O-Ween | Divide | 25 October | $20–$40 |
| Jack-o’-Lantern Trail | Fountain | 24 October | $4–$5 |
| Halloween Laser Light Show | Cañon City | Selected October dates | Varies |
| Halloween Trick-or-Treat Mingle | Colorado Springs | 17 October | Free |
| Boo at Briargate | Colorado Springs | 24 October | Free |
| Halloween at Ivywild | Colorado Springs | 31 October | Free admission |
Royal Gorge Railroad Introduces a Dazzling Halloween Nighttime Experience
Cañon City adds a spectacular attraction through the Royal Gorge Route Railroad’s Halloween Laser Light Show.
Scheduled departures take place on 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 October, alongside earlier October dates.
The 6.30pm twilight departures combine music and colourful lighting effects against the dramatic granite walls of the Royal Gorge.
Passengers can experience the surrounding scenery from designated train carriages, with ticket prices depending on the travel class selected.
The attraction offers visitors an opportunity to extend their Halloween itinerary beyond Colorado Springs.
Divide and Fountain Introduce Wildlife Encounters and Illuminated Pumpkin Trails
The Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center in Divide hosts Howl-O-Ween on 25 October, from 4pm to 6pm.
The celebration features wolves receiving meat-filled pumpkins, alongside refreshments and a bonfire.
Reservations are required, with tickets costing $40 for visitors aged 12 and older and $20 for children aged six to 11.
In Fountain, Fountain Creek Nature Center hosts pumpkin carving and an illuminated Jack-o’-Lantern Trail on 24 October.
The evening trail operates from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, offering seasonal crafts, storytelling and marshmallow roasting.
Free Halloween Celebrations Create Affordable Family Entertainment
Colorado Springs offers several celebrations without general admission charges.
The Citadel Mall hosts its Halloween Trick-or-Treat Mingle on 17 October from 11am to 3pm.
Families can enjoy sweets, games, entertainment and costume-friendly activities.
Boo at Briargate follows on 24 October, from 3pm to 5pm, featuring an Alice in Wonderland theme.
On Halloween itself, a free Trunk or Treat celebration takes place at 1628 West Bijou Street between 6pm and 8pm, featuring decorated vehicles, sweets and family activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Halloween attraction offers wildlife encounters?
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo combines animal viewing with Halloween activities. Divide’s Howl-O-Ween features wolves.
2. Are there free Halloween festivals?
Yes. Emma Crawford Coffin Races, Pumpkins in the Park and Boo at Briargate offer free admission.
3. Where can visitors experience a haunted cave?
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park in Manitou Springs offers guided lantern tours featuring eerie stories.
4. Which event is suitable for pumpkin lovers?
Venetucci Farm, Miners’ Pumpkin Patch and Fountain Creek Nature Center offer seasonal pumpkin activities.
5. Should travellers book tickets early?
Advance reservations are essential for Boo at the Zoo and recommended for popular ticketed experiences. Some attractions have limited capacity.
Colorado Springs Emerges as a Diverse Halloween Tourism Destination
Halloween 2026 brings together Colorado Springs’ mountain scenery, historic communities and distinctive seasonal entertainment.
From underground adventures and unusual coffin races to wildlife celebrations and illuminated pumpkin displays, the Pikes Peak region offers experiences for different ages and interests.
With events extending across Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Monument, Divide and Cañon City, visitors can plan an October itinerary combining autumn landscapes, local traditions and Halloween entertainment.
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