Fall in Fort Collins: 15 things to do in and around Fort Collins

The leaves are changing, the air is getting crisper and pumpkin spice will soon be inescapable. That's right. It's fall.

In Fort Collins, that means pumpkin patches are getting ready, ghost tours are filling up and classic Halloween events are around the corner.

Here's your guide to fall in and around Fort Collins this year.

Get the most out of Colorado's fall colors

Want to take in all the colors fall has to offer in Northern Colorado? Blink and you'll miss them. Fall foliage dates vary by year, but leaves in the northern mountains — from Denver and Glenwood Springs north to the Wyoming state line, including Rocky Mountain National Park and the Upper Poudre Canyon — typically are at their peak around mid- to late-September, according to the Colorado State Forest Service. Peak viewing in Rocky Mountain National Park was anticipated in the last week of September, according to previous Coloradoan reporting. While killer aspen viewing is expected across Colorado due to this year's cool, wet spring, some closer-to-home fall drives include the Buckhorn Canyon and Pingree Park loop, the Upper Poudre Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Park and the Peak to Peak Highway from Estes Park to Central City.

Here's our full fall foliage guide for 2023.

Take your pick at these Northern Colorado pumpkin patches

Northern Colorado farms are gearing up for another fall, with pumpkin patches, apple orchards and quaint country stores getting ready to answer that autumn call. They each offer something a little different, from in-town convenience to the full farm experience — think hay and barrel train rides, U-pick vegetables and farm stands packed with fresh cider, roasted chiles, pies and jams.

For a full rundown of Northern Colorado's most popular pumpkin patches and what they offer, head here.

Adam's Apple Orchard & Country Store, 42135 Weld County Road 43, Ault. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays (pumpkins available starting in late September).

The Bartels Farm, 3424 E. Douglas Road, Fort Collins. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Nov. 1.

Fritzler Farm Park, 20861 County Road 33, La Salle. Hours: 4-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1; 4-10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays from Oct. 6-29.

The Farmstand at Grant Farms, 12155 N. County Road 15, Wellington. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in October.

Jack Lantern's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, 2318 S. County Road 5, Fort Collins. Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October

Osborn Farm, 1230 S. Boise Ave., Loveland. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Something From the Farm, 8020 S. Timberline Road, Fort Collins. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Halloween (weather permitting).

Spooky's Pumpkin Patch, 2601 S. College Ave., Fort Collins. Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. daily

Tigges Farm,12404 Weld County Road 64½, Greeley. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through October (weather permitting).

Go on a Fort Collins ghost tour

While Fort Collins Tours conducts tours around — and under — Old Town all year, October is truly its time to shine. The local tour company offers its popular downtown ghost tour, haunted pub tour and Old Town breweries and distilleries tour as well as a family-friendly ghosts and goodies tour, family-friendly ghost tour and Fort Collins history tour. Reserve a spot at fortcollinstours.com.

What about Gertie? If you've been on a ghost tour, you've likely heard the tale of James and Eva Howe. But what happened to their daughter?

Take in Tour de Corgi, Fort Collins' fluffiest festival and corgi parade

Dog costumes must be flying off the shelves at Fort Collins Halloween stores. While many of you may be thinking ahead to the spooky holiday, area corgi owners are actually gearing up for something far more important: Tour de Corgi. The annual corgi festival and parade is headed back Old Town's Civic Center Park on Oct. 7. There, corgis and their owners will participate in a 10 a.m. costume contest before the costumed corgis set off at noon for the event's parade.

Tour de Corgi in Fort Collins: 4 things to know ahead of annual corgi parade

Raise your steins for these Fort Collins Oktoberfests

While most of Northern Colorado's Oktoberfests took place earlier in September, there are still a few left to enjoy. Fort Collins' Stodgy Brewing Co., Jessup Farm Barrel House and The Lyric all have Oktoberfest events planned for late September or October. Take your pick and raise your steins as Oktoberfest season comes to an end.

Watch the switch flip on Old Town's holiday lights

It's barely fall, but Fort Collins will soon be readying for its winter wonderland. The city's downtown holiday lights are set to switch on at an annual holiday lighting ceremony from 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 3 in Old Town Square. The lights will come on around 6:30 p.m., illuminating 22 downtown blocks.

Get these kid-friendly fall Fort Collins events on your radar

Treatsylvania

When: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 27-29 and 1-3 p.m. Oct. 29

Where: The Farm at Lee Martinez Park, 600 N. Sherwood St.

Trick-or-treat your way through The Farm's not-so-spooky barn at this popular kid-friendly Halloween event. Children will receive treat bags filled with goodies and be able to enjoy hay rides and photo opportunities. This event is for children 10 years old and younger. Space is limited and tickets usually sell out. Registration is $8 per person. You can register starting at 7 a.m. Oct. 3. To secure a space online, go to fcgov.com/recreation/treatsylvania. You can also call 970-221-6655 or visit any city recreation facility during its business hours.

Tiny Tot Halloween

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 31

Where: Old Town Square

The tiniest trick-or-treaters will head to Old Town Fort Collins this Halloween for another year of Tiny Tot Halloween. The annual event allows children age 7 and younger — and their guardians — to trick-or treat at participating downtown businesses. For the most up-to-date list of participating businesses, visit downtownfortcollins.com.

Pumpkins on Parade

When: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 19-22

Where: The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave.

Take a stroll through the gourd-ens this October. The Gardens on Spring Creek is bringing back Pumpkins on Parade — a Halloween-themed, family-friendly event featuring hundreds of pumpkins and gourds arranged in artistic displays around the city-run botanic garden. The event also features nightly live entertainment and kids games. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-11 and free for children age 4 and younger. You can purchase them at fcgov.com/gardens/pumpkins. Note: This is a candy-free event.

The Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 14

Where: Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry St.

Admire some gargantuan gourds at Fort Collins Nursery's giant pumpkin weigh-off and fall jamboree. The annual contest awards cash prizes for the heaviest pumpkin, squash, tomato and watermelon, as well as the prettiest pumpkin, longest gourd and tallest sunflower. Peruse this year's crop of contenders while enjoying the free family-friendly event's food trucks, hot dog cart, pumpkin bowling, face panting, tractor rides and more.

Remember Greta the pumpkin? Now meet the tallest sunflower in Colorado history

Take in some Halloween classics

Dracula

When: Oct. 27-29

Where: The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St.

Transport yourself to Transylvania as Canyon Concert Ballet tops off the Lincoln Center's Halloween season with its production of "Dracula," accompanied by the Fort Collins Symphony. Regular tickets range from $35-$45 and tickets for seniors, children, students and groups of 10 or more range from $29-$39. To purchase yours, visit lctix.com.

CSU's Halloween Organ Extravaganza

When: 6, 8 and 10 p.m. Oct. 31

Where: Organ Recital Hall at the University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St.

It's Halloween season and officially the organ's time to shine. Colorado State University's organ studio, with faculty artist Joel Bacon, will open the doors of its organ recital hall to the masses for its annual Halloween Organ Extravaganza featuring some classic and not-so-classic works. This event is free for CSU students, $4 for youth younger than 18, $12 for seniors and $14 for adults. For tickets, visit music.colostate.edu.

Hocus Pocus at The Lyric

When: 8 p.m. Oct. 7

Where: The Lyric, 1209 N. College Ave.

Do I smell children? No, wait, it's just "Hocus Pocus." The 1993 Halloween classic is back at The Lyric as part of the theater's seasonal outdoor movie lineup. See the Sanderson sisters on the big screen starting at 8 p.m. Oct. 7. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children. Get yours online and check out the rest of The Lyric's Halloween offerings at lyriccinema.com/halloween-events.

Take a fall cooking class in Fort Collins

Fall cooking classes at Ginger & Baker

When: Various dates in October

Where: Ginger & Baker, 359 Linden St.

If you want to get your fill of pumpkin spice this season, look no further than Ginger & Baker's teaching kitchen, which is hosting autumn-inspired cooking classes throughout October. Its offerings start off with a classic fall pies class, where you'll learn how to make apple and pumpkin varieties. Later in the month, try its "Pumpkin Four Ways" or fall Italian, pasta and risotto classes. Classes at Ginger & Baker cost $95 and can be reserved at gingerandbaker.com/the-teaching-kitchen. Space is limited.

Autumn dinner party at The Cooking Studio

When: 6 p.m. Oct 21

Where: The Cooking Studio, 123 N. College Ave., Suite 130

Are you due for an October date night? Old Town cooking school The Cooking Studio is giving its latest date night cooking series the seasonal treatment. The Oct. 21 class is autumn dinner party-themed, with a menu of an autumn harvest salad, pecan-crusted pork tenderloin, bacon Brussel sprouts and pumpkin soufflés. This class is $93 per person. Space is limited. Reservations can be made online at the-cooking-studio.com.

Coloradoan reporter Miles Blumhardt contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 15 fall things to do in and around Fort Collins this year