Remember how good ol’ Charlie Brown, Linus, and friends used to spend the night in the Pumpkin Patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin?  Autumn without Pumpkins is like a day without sunshine!  Fortunately, there are pumpkin festivals and fun things to do around the whole pumpkin theme all over Colorado.  Here are a few we dug up:

 

Aurora – Historic DeLaney Farm – Jack-O-Launch at Pumpkinfest 
October 14    9 AM to 4 PM
Watch pumpkins hurtled hundreds of feet through the air as ingenious architects of gourd-launching devices compete for prizes at the City of Aurora’s annual Jack-O-Launch at PumpkinFest.  Plus, enjoy a fall festival featuring hay rides, scarecrow making, a pumpkin patch, music and more.

Kind of reminds us of the Great Fruitcake Toss in Manitou Springs in early January!

Boulder – Cottonwood Farms – Halloween Fun at Cottonwood Farms
September 24 to October 31    10 AM to 6 PM
Lose yourself in the straw bale maze or in our 1 1/2 acre corn field maze.  See the 1906 Case steam tractor and other farm equipment, and watch the calves, sheep, goats, chickens and Jackson, the farm dog.

Colorado Springs - Great Pumpkin Commonwealth – Old Colorado City Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off
October 7    unloading from 9 AM to 10:30 AM; Weighing begins at Noon
Cheer for the Big Dogs of the Pumpkin world as their proud owners (growers) unload immense pumpkins for the weigh-in.

Denver – Four Mile Historic Park – The Great Pumpkin Harvest Festival
October 7 & 8   10 AM to 4 PM
Join us for a day of old-fashioned autumn fun with pumpkins, scarecrows, music and much more!

Fort Collins – The Bartels Farm – The Pumpkin Patch
September 23 to October 31    10 AM to 6 PM
Contact:  (970) 493-3853
Free admission, petting zoo, mini straw bale maze for children.

Golden – Fairmount Park – Pumpkin Fest
October 7   10 AM to 2 PM
Free Pumpkins, Pancakes, Air Castle, Live Music, Pony Rides, and Hay Rides

Littleton – Littleton Historical Museum – Harvest Fest & Pumpkin Sale
October 14    10 AM to 3 PM
Historic site interpreters and volunteers will be pressing apples for cider, and children’s games in the schoolhouse field will add to the festivities. Historic site interpreters and volunteers will be harvest cooking on the 1860s farm.  Live music.

Pueblo - Pantaleo Farms - The Great Pumpkin Patch by Moonlight
October 6    4 PM to 11 PM
October 7 & 8, 14 & 15    11 AM to 11 PM
October 9    11 AM to 10 PM
Free hayrides, free admission, giant maze (5 and under free), NEW Haunted House (scare factor 10 and under), giant inflatable amusements for children, pumpkin picking, costume contests, ghosts & ghoulies, pony rides, face painting, petting zoo, bouncing pit, craft vendors, chile ristras, and Bonfire!

Silverthorne – Fall Festival / Pumpkin Fest
October 9   10 AM to 2 PM
The Silverthorne Pavilion will be transformed into a Pumpkin Patch where families are invited to choose a pumpkin from the lawn and then warm up inside while participating in carving, painting, costume and cookie decorating contests. Live music & halloween treats!

Did we miss the pumpkin / fall festival in your town?  Tell us about it using the comment area of this Blog!

September 23 – 24, 2006

History comes to life on the grounds of El Pueblo History Museum as you watch demonstrations of adobe-making, blacksmithing, quilting, and weaving.  Native American dancers will perform, cooks will demonstrate historic techniques and the use of herbs, while the tantalizing smell of roasting chiles from the Chile & Frijoles Festival in the surrounding streets entice you to make an entire day of it! 

Also as part of the Chile & Frijoles Festival, there will be live music at 3 entertainment tents throughout the event.

P.S.  Mercado in Spanish means Market; Frijoles are Beans.

 

September 23, 2006

Come celebrate 50 years of recreational activities in Montrose!  From 1 to – 3 PM at McNeil Youth Sports Complex, there will be music and demonstrations, a free BBQ lunch, watermelon, and cake.  Reflect back on programs and accomplishments of the Montrose Recreation District over the last 50 years as you browse the history display, and find out about this year’s aquatics, youth sports, cultural activities, 50+ activities, leagues, and special events.

There will also be prize giveaways for adults and for kids.  Be there!

September 18, 2006

Early next year, the Aurora Public Library will be displaying a fascinating historical exhibit, “Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation“.  

As part of the pre-exhibit functions in advance of the arrival on January 4 of this traveling exhibit, Geoff Hunt, chair of the Community College of Aurora’s Social Sciences Department, will present a talk titled “Strange Path to Emancipation” at Noon at the Student Rotunda, Community College of Aurora, located at 16000 E. CentreTech Parkway.  Click here for a map.

Call 303-739-6617 for more information.

September 16, 2006

Eldorado Canyon State Park offers numerous free events and activities throughout the day as part of “Celebrate Eldorado“.  Here’s the catch:  if you don’t have a State Parks Pass, you’ll pay $5 per vehicle to enter the park.  However, after that, lots of events are free!

If you’re a rock climber, consider “giving something back” by participating in the Trail Work and Chalk Clean-up from 10 AM to 2 PM.  Pre-register by calling (303) 494-3943.

Also for you experienced climbers out there, from 10 AM to Noon there will be a Self-Rescue Clinic.  Pre-register by calling (303) 494-3943 (limit of 12 participants).

You’re not a rock climber yet, but might want to be?  Have we got a great deal for you!  From 1 PM to 3 PM, the first 12 lucky participants can be part of an Introduction to Rock Climbing Clinic.  Sign up right away — this will probably fill up fast!  (303) 494-3943

HawkQuest will be offering Raptor programs for Junior Rangers from 11:30 AM to Noon, and for the public from Noon to 1 PM.  From 1 PM to 1:30 PM, you can also drop by the North Picnic Area to see the birds.

Finish off your day by attending the Eldorado Resort Era Slideshow from 3 PM to 4 PM at the Visitor Center Conference Room.

Whew — that wore me out … what a fun day!

September 9, 2006
6 PM – Cedaredge Park

Would you like to Teach the World to Sing?  How about spending an evening listening to the Valley Symphony Orchestra perform movie & musical themes (The Empire Strikes Back, Porgy and Bess, 007 themes) or getting mellow with the Girl from Ipanema and Scarborough Fair?  There will be singers for some of the numbers, plus a jazz combo will play during intermission.  Something for everyone!

So pack up a picnic dinner, bring along a blanket or lawn chairs, and enjoy the show.

For additional information, call (970) 249-4712.  The park is located on West Main Street in Cedaredge.

 

In Munich, Germany, where they’ve been celebrating the real Oktoberfest since 1810, unless interrupted by war, Oktoberfest draws about 6 million people — the vast majority from surrounding Bavaria.  The huge festival starts around September 16 and traditionally ends on the first Sunday of October (unless they decide to party for an extra day or two).  According to an article in Wikipedia, people consume 88 roasted oxen, 219,443 pairs of sausages, and 459,279 roasted chickens, in addition to — of course — 6 million mugs of beer.

Here in Colorado, cities and towns hold Oktoberfest celebrations all over the state, and don’t worry much about the traditional festival dates.  We doubt any will be giving away the beer, but admission to the party is free, and we’re sure you’ll find lots to entertain you.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the 2006 Oktoberfest events here at home, and list them here by date:

September 8 – 10  AND  September 15 – 17  Denver - Oktoberfest
Includes the Sea of Accordions Concert on September 10 at 1:30 PM
More than 100 accordion players will oom-pah their way into your dancing feet.

September 8 – 10  AND  September 15 – 17  Vail - Oktoberfest
“An Oom Pah Celebration – Vail Style”.  Live Bands, dancing.

September 9  Snowmass Village – Oktoberfest Presented by Grolsch
German music & dance, children/family fun.

September 9  Frisco Oktoberfest
Oompah band, traditional dancing, concert band.

September 15 – 17  Breckenridge Oktoberfest
Oompah till the oxen come home!

September 23  Brush Oktoberfest
Live entertainment, Dog show, Large Car show, and Polka dance.  

September 29 – October 1 Downtown Boulder Fall Festival 
Oktoberfest plus children’s carnival rides (probably not free), local musicians (probably not all accordianists), non-profit booths, and artisans.

September 30  Greeley’s Oktoberfest
UNC Jazz Band, folk music, Polka music, dancing, childrens’ area, and contests.

October 7  Grand Junction Oktoberfest
Colorado West Invitational Marching Band Parade, live entertainment, children’s activities, German sing-alongs, Swiss Alphorns, folkdancing, Bavarian Brass performances and an evening street dance.

October 7  Telluride Oktoberfest
“Not just beer, brats and oompah music… but definitely that too.”

October 7  Erie Oktoberfest
Live performances, magician.

October 7  La Veta Oktoberfest
Car show, street dancing, German band, Rock and Roll.

October 14  Carbondale – Oktoberfest Celebration
Polka dancing, antique show, and yodeling.  Yo-de-lay-de-hooo!

 

 

 

I know we missed Winter Park’s Oktoberfest, which for some reason was held in August.  (Zu spät!)  Did we miss your town?  Post a comment below telling everyone about more Oktoberfest celebrations!

Every Thursday at 8 AM
(other dates & times by prior arrangement)

One of our state’s premier scenic areas is Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs / Manitou Springs, but did you know there is a new scenic open space just south of it called Red Rock Canyon?  Come to the entrance at Hwy 24 and High Street by 8 AM and you can join a guided walk lasting 1½ to 2 hours among 300 million year old rock formations, the Kenmuir Quarry, and ending at the lakes at the Bock Compound.

For more information on Red Rock Canyon, including trail maps, rock climbing rules, bicycle free riding, and a map, visit the Friends of Red Rock Canyon website.  The City of Colorado Springs website also includes some useful information, and a PDF map. 

In addition, you can click here for a slideshow of Red Rock Canyon. 

For reservations and additional information, call the Manitou Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau at 719-685-5089.