things to do near you

Things to do in Colorado this fall and Christmas

Colorado in the fall is the aspens turning gold in the mountains and then the pumpkin patches down on the Front Range, and at Christmas you get real snow and light shows everywhere. The hard part is finding it all, because the festivals are on one site and the town stuff is buried on a city calendar and the good light shows sell out. So I'm putting it all in one place, area by area and town by town, with the dates and the prices and the links. Pick your area below, tap the things you want to do, and they go straight onto a bucket list.

Denver is up first and the rest are coming in order. Last updated September 29, 2026.

pick your area

Colorado, by area

LiveDenverChatfield Farms, Glow at the Gardens, Blossoms of Light, Zoo Lights and the Parade of Lights.Denver · Littleton · Golden · Morrison · Erie · Cherry Creek
Coming nextColorado SpringsColorado Springs and Manitou Springs, fall and Christmas.Colorado Springs · Manitou Springs · Monument
ComingBoulder and Northern ColoradoBoulder and the towns up north toward Fort Collins.Boulder · Longmont · Loveland · Fort Collins · Greeley
ComingThe mountain townsThe aspens in the fall and the little mountain towns at Christmas.Estes Park · Georgetown · Breckenridge · Vail
ComingWestern SlopeGrand Junction and Glenwood Springs.Grand Junction · Glenwood Springs · Palisade
ComingSouthern ColoradoPueblo down to Durango.Pueblo · Durango
people ask me

Colorado fall and Christmas questions

When do the leaves change in Colorado?

The aspens in the mountains usually peak from mid September into early October, and the cottonwoods down in Denver and along the Front Range turn a few weeks later.

What are the best Christmas lights in Colorado?

Around Denver it's Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens, Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo, Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms and Hudson Holidays in Littleton.

Where is the best pumpkin patch near Denver?

The Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms in Littleton, which is one weekend in mid October, or Anderson Farms in Erie.

put it on the wall

Turn your picks into a real bucket list

Tap the events you want on any area page and they land in the slots of whichever fall design you pick. Add your own stuff, then it prints big and hangs on the wall all season.

See the fall designs