Why wait until Halloween? You have a whole month of fun (scary and not) to enjoy between now and then. Here’s a roundup of some fall favorites to try—ranging from competitive pumpkin lobbing to tapping your toes to awesome bluegrass on Parker’s MainStreet—close to our very own Stepping Stone neighborhood.
Punkin Chunkin Colorado-Oct. 11, 10am-5pm; Oct. 12, 11am-4pm
(Pictured above.) Just how far will that gourd go? For the past 17 years, the answer to that question has drawn crowds from far and wide. This zany event engages the energy and creativity of youth and adults as they employ ingenious/wacky launching devices to hurl orange orbs hundreds of feet through the air. Besides the competition, the event offers family activities, a pumpkin patch, fall market, food vendors, and a beer garden. Held at the Arapahoe Park Horse Track. Learn more here or contact Jessica Hernandez at 303-326-8659 or jhernand@auroragov.org.
Bluegrass with Jim Hurst at Parker Mainstreet Center– Oct. 18, 7pm
Somehow, soulful bluegrass feels so right this time of year. Settle in for a rollicking performance by Jim Hurst, IBMA Guitar Player of the Year in 2001 & 2002, who serves up masterful guitar picking, impressive vocal range, and musical eclecticism with roots in bluegrass and country music. Influenced by artists like Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed, Hurst has performed and toured with Holly Dunn, Claire Lynch, and Trisha Yearwood. Tickets $18; $14 for seniors and CBMS members; free for youth 12 and under. Learn more.
Trek or Treat Off the Street-Oct. 25, 9am-5pm
Snow in the Halloween forecast? Defuse that crisis at The Wildlife Experience, where spooky surprises abound for children of all ages. They’ll find a Haunted Trek through Ghoul-ology for daring souls, filled with activities including creepy crawly crafts, ghost stories, and much more. At 3pm and 4pm, they can meet three live owl species and watch flight demonstrations. And perhaps most importantly, treat booths will line the museum’s hallways, allowing guests to safely and comfortably fill up their bags with candy and spooky toys. Free for members; included in museum admission for non-members. Learn more.
Adult Halloween Dodgeball Tournament-Oct. 25, 5pm
Unless you’re a mummy or mermaid, playing dodgeball in your Halloween costume sounds like a totally fun idea. In this coed, double-elimination adult dodgeball tournament, teams will be six to eight players and at least one female must be playing at all times. Awards for the most creative costumes, but keep them family-friendly, as this tournament is held in conjunction with the Fieldhouse Fright Night event. Parker Fieldhouse. $40 per team. Learn more here or call Erin Koon at 303.805.6308
Fieldhouse Fright Night-Oct. 25, 5:30pm-9:30pm
Experience enough fiendish fun for everyone in the family at Fieldhouse Fright Night. Celebrate Halloween with the Spook Skate (please bring your own skates), Rock’n Halloween at the Climbing Wall, the Adult Dodgeball Tournament, “scream rooms,” arts and crafts, costume contests (with prizes for cutest, scariest, or most original), and other activities. Parker Fieldhouse. Tickets $6; $1 with canned food donation. Learn more here.
