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1. Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms
Dates: Oct. 11–13
Address: 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton
Tickets: $18 adults; $16 seniors (65+); $12 children (ages 3-15); free for kids 2 and under
Pumpkin price: By size, $8 average
Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Why we love it: You can pick pumpkins and peep wildflowers.
This annual pumpkin festival runs one weekend only, and the main attraction is the 10-acre pumpkin patch brimming with a smorgasbord of gourds, from white pumpkins to tiny squash. There will also be a corn maze (this year’s theme is wildlife), carnival games, barrel train rides, face painting, a mini maze, live music, and food and drink vendors serving up bites like funnel cake and corndogs. As an added perk, all Pumpkin Festival tickets also include admission to the entire Chatfield Farms, which is a working farm operated by Denver Botanic Gardens. The property has 2.5 miles of trails through its native plant refuge, plus wildflower gardens and A+ bird-watching. The folks at the festival were even thoughtful enough to offer free “pumpkin day care,” so you can leave your precious picks safely under their watch while you explore all 700 acres. Don’t forget to BYOW (bring your own wagon) if you plan on picking several squashes.
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2. Fritzler Farm Park Fall Festival
Dates: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays now through Oct. 27
Address: 20861 CR 33, LaSalle
Tickets: Fun pass for ages 3 and up starting at $25 (online) and $35 (gate); all-access fun pass starting at $42 (online) and $52 (gate); free entry for pumpkin patch only; Scream Acres experience sold separately
Pumpkin price: By pound
Hours: Varies
Why we love it: You can explore the most elaborate corn maze in Colorado.
With nearly 75 acres to roam, you’re guaranteed to hit your step goal at Fritzler Farms. There’s a pumpkin cannon, go-karts, a giant slide, mini golf, human foosball, and a 14-acre pumpkin patch, where folks can choose from more than 20 varieties. Owner Trevor Fritzler’s pride and joy, though, is the farm’s famous (and elaborate) 15-acre corn maze. In past years, the design has featured a tribute to his parents, the seal of the president of the United States, and the Denver Broncos logo, which is how this patch earned the number-two spot. This year’s design celebrates the farm’s 25th anniversary and features a special shoutout to Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy, a Greeley nonprofit that supports children who’ve experienced abuse and neglect. Stick around after sunset for fireworks on select Fridays, and if you’re feeling brave, for “Scream Acres,” where Fritzler puts a terrifying twist on the corn maze. First responders and vets should mark October 5 and 6 on their calendars: They’ll get free admission with an ID.
3. Miller Farms Annual Fall Harvest Festival
Dates: Now through mid-November
Address: 13912 County Road 19, Platteville
Tickets: $18–$28 at the gate, which includes four bags to fill per person; Pumpkins included in the four-bag limit
Pumpkin price: Included in ticket price
Hours: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Why we love it: You’ll leave with all kinds of fresh fall produce.
At Miller Farms, visitors are treated to a hayride through 180 acres of fields, where you can pick organic, pesticide-free pumpkins, as well as potatoes, carrots, onions, beets, corn, squash, peppers, and more. The price of admission includes up to four bags of vegetables per person—including the big-ticket gourds—so choose wisely. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, visit the customer-favorite “Wagon Sale,” where you can fill a red Radio Flyer with all the pre-picked produce you can fit for only $50. The festival also features classic attractions like corn mazes, an antique tractor alley, a hay bale pyramid, and lawn games. Don’t miss out on the “Croc-pit”—a play pit filled with thousands of cut-up Crocs given to the farm by the Broomfield-based company when it nearly went out of business in 2018. All this affordable (and unconventional) fall fun earned Miller Farms the number-three spot on our list. Don’t forget to fill out the farm’s waiver while you’re making the roughly 40-minute drive to this pumpkin party.
4. Hankins Farm
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 5–27
Address: 26745 Weld County Road 17, Johnstown
Tickets: $15 for ages 3 and up; $12 for military & seniors (with ID); free for kids 2 and under
Pumpkin price: Mini $2, small $8, medium $12, blue/specialty pumpkins $14, giant $20
Hours: Saturdays 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Why we love it: Budget-friendly pumpkin prices
Score specialty gourds at, ahem, killer prices at Hankins Farms, a family-owned operation since 1910 located less than an hour outside of Denver. This haunt’s wallet-friendly pumpkin prices earned it the number-four spot on our list, but there’s so much more to do than peruse the patch. Fight off zombies with corn cannons, race pedal cars, and try your hand at foam ball archery. The festivities also include two themed corn mazes: Farm Scene Investigation and Monster Mystery.
5. Nick’s Fall Fest
Dates: Sept. 28–Oct. 31
Address: 2001 S Chambers Road, Aurora
Tickets: Free admission with additional pricing for activities
Pumpkin price: By size
Hours: Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Why we love it: The short commute and free admission
Save money on gas and put it toward gourds at this close-to-home patch in Aurora. Nick’s Garden Center and Farm Market throws an annual Fall Fest for all the Denverites who hate driving, earning it the number-five spot on our list. Here, you’ll find a variety of pumpkins to choose from, plus activities for every kind of kiddo. There are no tickets required to enter, and it’s free to enjoy the straw maze, Professor Pumpkin story time, kid’s play area, and tons of games. The fest also offers pedal karts, an inflatable obstacle course, mini golf, rubber ducky races, and train rides through a haunted tunnel for an additional charge. Pro tip: Stop by this daily fall festival on a weekday to avoid the crowds and get your garden shopping done at the same time with help from their friendly and knowledgeable staff.
6. Cottonwood Farm Pumpkin Patch
Dates: Now–Oct. 31
Address: 10600 Isabelle Road, Lafayette
Tickets: $8; free for seniors and kids under 6
Pumpkin price: By size
Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Why we love it: All the fall family photo-ops
Cottonwood Farms is a small-but-spirited operation that offers a 10-acre pumpkin patch with straw bale and corn mazes, wagon rides, vintage farm equipment displays, and yard games. But what earns this patch the number-six spot on our roundup are all the whimsical photo-ops. Make it a tradition to snap an annual pic of your kiddos beside the “How Tall This Fall?” ruler board for an adorable holiday card. Then, borrow a wagon from the farm, and wander the petite patch in search of the perfect canvas for your next jack-o’-lantern.
7. Mile High Farms Fall Festival
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 28–Oct. 27
Address: 11 Cavanaugh Road, Bennett
Tickets: $19 for adults (ages 13–59); $16 for military/first responders and seniors (60+); $14 children (ages 5–12); free for kids 4 and under
Pumpkin price: 85 cents per pound (up to 40 pounds), then 60 cents every pound after
Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Why we love it: It’s the perfect playground for little ones.
A day at Mile High Farms sort of feels like a trip to Halloweentown thanks to the owners who constructed an entire village on the working farm made up of buildings, life-size characters, and antique farming equipment. Climb aboard an antique tractor to tour this 11-acre pumpkin patch, where helpful staffers can snip your selected pumpkin straight from the vine. Channel your inner Targaryen and see if you can escape the dragon’s lair—this year’s theme for the corn maze—or simply let your lively little ones burn their energy on the playground. Don’t leave before saying hello to the farm’s newest resident: August, a one-month-old alpaca. Mile High Farms may not have all the bells and whistles of other patches, but its charming vibes and family-friendly feel earned it our last-but-not-least spot.