Halloween in Fort Collins: Sweet (and spooky) things to do around Fort Collins in October
How does a candlelit tour of an old Victorian mansion sound this Halloween season?
What about a Harry Potter-inspired cooking class — licorice wands, cockroach clusters, butterbeer and all?
Halloween events abound in Northern Colorado this fall, from the family-friendly events to the spooky and mind bending. Here's your guide to Halloween fun in and around Fort Collins.
Fort Collins Halloween events for kids, teens and families
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.
'Til Death Do Us Party
When: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 28
Where: Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave.
Terror trivia? Check. A haunted house? Check. Mask crafts and a costume contest? Check and check. Have some Halloween fun and dance the night away at this party hosted for middle and high school students. Online registration begins 9 a.m. Oct. 14. For more information, visit poudrelibrary.org.
Harry Potter candy and sorting hat class
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28
Where: Ginger and Baker
Watch Ginger and Baker's teaching kitchen transform into Hogsmeade as it puts on this hands-on Harry Potter-themed class. Learn how to make licorice wands, cockroach clusters, butterbeer and sorting hat dogs. Hogwarts attire is recommend but not required. The class is $75 per person, with tickets available at gingerandbaker.com. Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult to participate.
Spooky Cool Kids Club
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 28
Where: The Lyric, 1209 N. College Ave.
Head to The Lyric for its special Halloween-themed Cool Kids Club, featuring live performances and activities, face painting, a costume contest, spooky tunes and food and drinks. Tickets are $10 per family and can be purchased in advance at lyriccinema.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.
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Trick-or-treating events for the little ones
Treatsylvania
Editor's note: This event is sold out.
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 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.
Trick or treat at the Avery House
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31
Where: The Avery House, 328 W. Mountain Ave.
Bring your kiddos by Old Town's historic Avery House for Halloween treats starting at 5:30 p.m.
Windsor Halloween Carnival
When: 1-4 p.m. Oct. 28
Where: Boardwalk Community Park, 100 N. Fifth St., Windsor
Bring the kiddos over to the Windsor History Museum at Boardwalk Park for some trick-or-treating, festival fall activities, face painting and more. The carnival is free to attend.
Dia de los Muertos events
Dia de las Muertos at the Museo de las Tres Colonias
When: Saturdays and Sundays in October; community event and movie night at 7 p.m. Oct. 28
Where: Museo de las Tres Colonias, 425 10th St.
The Museo de las Tres Colonias will once again open its doors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in October so you can view community ofrendas that honor the migrant workers, veterans and friends and families of Fort Collins' Tres Colonias neighborhoods. The month will cap off with a community movie night on Oct. 28, featuring ofrendas, giveaways, kids activities, refreshments, pan dulce and a showing of "The Book of Life."
Dia de Muertos at the Gardens
When: Oct. 28-Nov. 4
Where: The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave.
Celebrate Dia de Muertos with the city-run botanical garden's array of offerings, including marigolds and mariposas at its Butterfly House from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4, community ofrendas from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4 and a Dia de Muertos story time on Oct. 30 and 31 (in English) and Nov. 3 (en espanol). For more information, or to register for the story time, visit fcgov.com/gardens/dia-de-muertos.
Cook some Mexican dishes for Dia de los Muertos
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 31
Where: The Cooking Studio, 123 N. College Ave.
Treat your senses to the Cooking Studio's Dia de los Muertos class, where you'll learn how to make homemade tortillas and dishes like Oaxacan mole negro, pan de muerto and more. This class is $93 per person. Space is limited, so reserve your spot at the-cooking-studio.com.
Spooky tours (and classes) to take
Fort Collins Ghost Tours
When: Various dates and times in October
Where: Old Town Fort Collins
While Fort Collins Tours conducts tours around — and under — Old Town year round, 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, ghost tour and Fort Collins history tour. Reserve a spot at fortcollinstours.com.
Candlelit tours of The Avery House
When: 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Oct. 28
Where: The Avery House
Experience Old Town's historic Avery House after hours during this candlelit, Halloween-themed tour of the stately Victorian mansion. Tickets are $20 per person and include cider and pie. Register online at poudrelandmarks.org.
Twilight Tours of Lakeview Cemetery
When: 5:30-6:30 and 7-8 p.m. Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 7-8 p.m. Oct. 28.
Where: Lakeview Cemetery, 32815 Colorado Highway 257, Windsor
Tour Windsor's Lakeview Cemetery by flickering lantern light and learn stories about the early Windsor residents buried there. These tours — led by costumed guides from the Town of Windsor museums — are open to anyone 8 years old and older. Tickets are $6. You can sign up at recreationliveshere.com.
Adult Harry Potter magical treats class
When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 21 and 28
Where: Ginger and Baker, 359 Linden St.
Transport yourself to the wizarding world this October with a pair of Harry Potter-inspired cooking classes at Ginger and Baker's teaching kitchen. Learn how to make magical treats, including an alcoholic and nonalcoholic butterbeer. This class is $85 per person. Reserve your spot at gingerandbaker.com. Limited space is available.
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Halloween meets performing arts
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 under 18, $12 for seniors and $14 for adults. For tickets, visit music.colostate.edu.
The All American Haunting: A Theatrical Séance
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1
Where: The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St.
Denver mentalists Anthem and Aria are bringing their macabre, mystical talents and message of cosmic connection to Fort Collins for their show, "The All American Haunting: A Theatrical Séance." Since this show may involve pitch darkness, loud noises, bangs, blood, flashing lights and sensitive topics surrounding death, it is recommended for ages 12 and older. Regular tickets are $25 and tickets for children, seniors, students and groups with 10 or more people are $20. To purchase yours, visit lctix.com.
Canyon Concert Ballet presents 'Dracula'
When: Oct. 27-29
Where: The Lincoln Center
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 to $45 and tickets for seniors, children, students and groups of 10 or more range from $29 to $39. To purchase yours, visit lctix.com.
Halloween Pops Concert: Spellbound
When: 7 p.m. Oct. 18
Where: The Lincoln Center
Join the Fort Collins Symphony for a spooktacular evening of live classical music, including some Halloween favorites. Costumes are encouraged. Regular tickets are $32. Student and children's tickets are $12. Reserve yours at lctix.com.
Halloween trivia nights
Harry Potter Trivia
When: 7-8 p.m. Oct. 3 and 17
Where: Crooked Stave, 225 Pine St.
Test your Harry Potter knowledge at Crooked Stave's free trivia night, featuring six fast-paced rounds of 10 questions each. Each team can have up to six players. Harry Potter book trivia will take place on the first Tuesday in October while movie trivia will follow on the third Tuesday of the month. Prizes are a $50 gift card for first place and a $25 gift card for second place.
Halloween trivia at CopperMuse
When: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31
Where: CopperMuse Distillery, 244 N. College Ave.
CopperMuse's Tuesday night trivia falls on Halloween this year, so head out to the Exchange to test your knowledge on the spooky holiday. Teams are limited to four people and prizes are awarded to the night's first-, second- and third-place winners.
Halloween-themed international trivia
When: 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31
Where: Global Village Museum of Arts & Culture, 200 W. Mountain Ave.
Test your international trivia knowledge — and compete for prizes — at the Global Village Museum's Halloween-themed trivia night. Teams of up to six people are allowed to participate. Admission is $10 per person and advanced registration is required at globalvillagemuseum.org.
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Halloween at The Lyric
All events in this section take place at The Lyric, 1209 N. College Ave.
Brave New Wheel Dance Party
When: Starting at 7 p.m. Oct 28
The dead will ride again at the annual Brave New Wheel Halloween dance party, where you can dance the night away to spooky electronic disco madness. Tickets are $15. For more information, head to lyriccinema.com.
Q-Files: A horror drag show
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 6
Head to The Lyric for the Q-Files, a drag show for horror fans where you'll hear about the strange and spooky sightings around Fort Collins. Presale tickets are $15 and day-of tickets are $20 at the door. To purchase yours, go to lyriccinema.com.
Live Beyond Limit presents 'Major Arcana'
When: 2 p.m. Oct 7
Take a tarot journey through aerial and ground acts that reflect tarot cards themselves. This event will kick off with a sound bath and vendor mart, including live music. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 day-of. For more information, visit lyriccinema.com.
Gothica Halloween Burlesque Ball
When: 8 p.m. Oct. 14
Head to The Lyric for Gothica, a Halloween burlesque ball presented by The Cupcake Cabaret. This is an 18-plus event. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at lyriccinema.com.
The Lyric's Halloween movie lineup
Oct. 5: The Witches of Eastwick
Oct. 7: Hocus Pocus (outdoor movie)
Oct. 8: House of 1,000 Corpses
Oct. 12: The Craft
Oct. 19: The Witch
Oct. 22: The Marshmallow Mystery Tour
Oct. 26: Practical Magic
Oct 26 & 27: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Oct. 28-31 and Nov. 1: Spirited Away
Don't forget about Fido
Dog Halloween costume party
When: 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 29
Where: Ginger and Baker
Dress your pup up in their Halloween best for Ginger and Baker's dog costume party extravaganza. This free party will take place on the bakery's north patio, where a professional photographer will be stationed. RSVP at gingerandbaker.com.
Run Fur Fun Spooktacular
When: 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 28
Where: SweetWater Brewing Co., 1020 E. Lincoln Ave.
Humans and canines alike are invited to SweetWater Brewing Co. for a spooky 5K race to benefit Animal Friends Alliance. The race will include costume contests, race prizes, sponsor booths and post-race beers and pancakes. Register online at savinganimalstoday.org.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins Halloween events for your family in October 2023
