Halloween Events to Delight and Fright

This time of year makes way for the ghostly, the bizarre, the sweet, the silly, and the creepy-crawly. The Denver metro area’s laundry list of ghoulishly fun community events for kids and adults alike this October is sure to make your spooky season a fa-boo-lous one! Check out our list of hidden Halloween treasures below. 

Spooktacular Family Fun 

Spiders Around the World–This kid-friendly, limited-time educational October exhibition held by the Westminster Butterfly Pavilion features over 20 free-roaming, live tarantula species from around the globe, including just-hatched babies from the spider nursery and the appropriately named Colombian Pumpkin Patch tarantula! The Bug-A-Boo indoor trick-or-treating trail is included with the price of admission on Oct. 21, 22, 28, and 29. Jennifer Quermann, director of communications and marketing at the Butterfly Pavillion, said they’ve turned it into a captivating spider wonderland for Halloween. “When have you ever been able to walk among hundreds of spiders with no barrier? Or witnessed baby tarantulas up close?” she said. The interactive exhibit runs through Oct. 31. 

Woof-o-Ween–Calling all dog parents! Aspen Grove’s Woof-O-Ween is the best way to bring a little Halloween cheer to all the canine “kids” out there. The event runs Oct. 14 from 12 to 3 p.m. so you can get your Halloween festivities started early. Attendees will experience a dog trick-or-treating trail around Aspen Grove, a furry friend costume contest with five judging categories, food trucks for all, and activities like Bobbing for Bones and caricature art. As the website says, it’s sure to be “a tail-wagging event with tricks, treats, and doggone fun!”

Broadway Halloween Parade–The 6th annual parade is back on Oct. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. Parade organizer Laura said the display will include more than a dozen hearses, 20 hot rods, horses, ghostbusters, zombies and giant skeletons. “All attendees, including dogs, are encouraged to join in the fun by wearing a Halloween costume!” she said. Don your duds and watch the spooky procession with your friends and neighbors!

Family Workshop: Miniature Nichos–Join Denver Botanic Gardens on Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. for a magical morning of family crafts honoring the traditions of Día de los Muertos. The event is part of the Yo Soy series, a year-long celebration to showcase Latino cultures. Partake in crafting with the Mexican folk art of cartonería, or papier-mâché, an essential part of celebrating Mexican festivals and holidays. Delight in decorating a nicho—a three-dimensional display box that often holds skeletons or skulls—to honor a departed loved one. These display boxes will feature a handcrafted papier-mâché calavera created by contemporary Mexican artists Ruben Mica and Óscar Becerra-Mora. This colorful event honoring the culture of Día de los Muertos will leave you full of appreciation for all this rich holiday represents.  

Halloween Goat Yoga–Yoga Six’s special Halloween goat yoga session is a unique way to get into the October spirit. Join Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Northfield location wearing your best comfy costume, and spend time stretching your brain and body with goats all dressed up for the spooky season! General Manager Amanda DeCarlo said readers can use the promo code Y6NORTHFIELDGOATYOGA at registration for 15% off on tickets!

Eerie-sistible October Events for Adults (18+ or 21+)

The Talking Dead! Immersive Haunted Scavenger Hunt–This event running every Saturday through Nov. 4 blends history and fiction for an immersive, self-guided treasure hunt for the lost gold of Thomas Golden and George Jackson. Discounted drinks and colorful characters can be found along the way to aid in the hunt, and prizes await those who complete the scavenger hunt! The tour starts at Old Capitol Grill in Golden and sends you out into the dark searching for clues to solve the mystery. Chris Albrecht, Golden History Tours proprietor, said real ghosts may even be lurking in the shadows to help you along. “The whole downtown Golden becomes your haunted playground!”

Opera Colorado’s Spirits and Songs–Enjoy a boo-tiful Halloween-themed performance by Opera Colorado’s 2023-24 Artists in Residence on Oct. 26 starting at 6:30 p.m. The performance is followed by a theater tour of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and a few decadent drinks. Rumor has it there may even be a few ghost sightings during the evening’s festivities! 

Historic Denver’s Victorian Horrors– Find yourself immersed in theatrical, spooky stories told by acclaimed local actors portraying well-known Victorian authors of the past for the 30th year of Victorian Horrors! From Oct. 13-28, storytellers will be situated throughout the historic Molly Brown House Museum, and tarot readings and tintype old-timey photos will be available for an additional cost. Historic Denver’s Victorian Horrors is sure to have you under its spell! As the website says, “The spirits look forward to your presence.”

NIGHTMARE: Aerial & Burlesque Tribute to the Works of Tim Burton –The 5th annual magical burlesque aerial performance set to the gothic works of Tim Burton is showing Oct.13-15 at The Clocktower Cabaret. The show is hosted by Denver Dance and Selena “Bone’Em” Harder. Featuring world-class aerialists, burlesque artists, draglesque and comedy, it’s sure to keep the adults of Denver entertained this spooky season. Marguerite Endsley from Denver Dance said, “This show is a visual treat of creative performing artists who have taken Burton’s beloved characters and made them their own.” It’s not witch-ful thinking to expect some cheeky tricks at this performance! 

Dancing in the Dark: A Haunted House Experience–Rocky Mountain Rhythm and Life Art Dance Ensemble have partnered to bring a unique haunted house experience to the Denver community. From Oct. 27-29 at The People’s Building in Aurora, folks will experience an immersive dance performance, encountering a range of spooky characters and ghostly ghouls. Jessica Riggs, artistic director and founder of Life Art Dance said if you’re not a fan of scary, those elements will be removed for the Oct. 29 performance.

Whether it be through soaking up all things spooky at Historic Denver’s Victorian Horrors and the Talking Dead scavenger hunt, or lifting your spirits with a little family fun at the Broadway Halloween parade and Woof-o-Ween, Denver has some tricks and treats to hand out this October that’ll give the community “pumpkin” to talk about!