1. Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Farms

Dates: Oct. 6–8
Address: 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton
Tickets: $16 Adults, $14 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 wildflowers

This annual pumpkin festival runs one weekend only, and the main attraction is the 10-acre pumpkin patch brimming with 40 varieties of gourds—plus wildflower picking to round out your autumnal decor. There will also be a corn maze, carnival games, barrel train rides, kid’s activities such as face painting and a mini maze, live music, and food and drink vendors. As an added perk, any Pumpkin Festival ticket also includes admission to the entire 700-acre Chatfield Farms, which is a working farm operated by Denver Botanic Gardens. Chatfield Farms has 2.5 miles of trails through its native plant refuge, plus wildflower gardens and A+ bird-watching. The folks at Chatfield Farms were even thoughtful enough to offer free “pumpkin day care,” so you can leave your pumpkins safely under their watch while you enjoy your day. It is BYOW (bring your own wagon), however.

2. Fritzler Farm Park Fall Festival

Dates: Select dates Sept. 17–Oct. 29
Address: 20861 CR 33, LaSalle
Tickets: Ages 3+ Peak Day Pass $36.95 (online) and $39.95 (gate), Peak Day Full-Access Pass $52.95 (online) and $55.95 (gate), free entry for pumpkin patch only
Pumpkin price: By pound
Hours: Varies
Why we love it: Endless activities for everyone

With nearly 75 acres to roam, Fritzler Farms has plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained. There’s paintball and go-karts—and a 14-acre pumpkin patch, where folks can choose from more than 20 varieties and pick their faves off the vine. Owner Trevor Fritzler’s pride and joy is the farm’s famous, elaborately designed 15-acre corn maze that, in past years, has featured a tribute to his parents, the Seal of the President of the United States, and the logo of the Denver Broncos, which is how this earned our number-two spot. This year’s maze design is inspired by “Queen” Reba McEntire. Fritzler Farm also partners with Hero Expeditions, a Colorado–based nonprofit that organizes hunting and fishing expeditions for veterans and first responders. First responders and vets will get free admission with an ID on October 7–8. Feeling brave? Visit the farm after sunset for “Scream Acres,” where the entire festival transforms into a spooky, macabre affair, complete with a haunted house.

3. Miller Farms Annual Fall Harvest Festival

Photo courtesy of Miller Farms

Dates: Labor Day through mid-November
Address: 13912 County Road 19, Platteville
Tickets: Tickets are $15–25 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 harvesting isn’t your thing, visit the customer-favorite “Wagon Sale,” where you can fill a red Radio Flyer with all the pre-picked veggies that 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. Other kid favorites include a 20-foot-tall dirt hill that kids can slide and sled down, as well as the “Croc-pit”—a play pit full of thousands of cut-up Crocs shoes (given to the farm by the Broomfield–based company when it nearly went out of business in 2018) that give the pit a trampoline-like bouncing experience. (You must complete a waiver before exploring the farm.) All this affordable fall fun tempted us to give Miller Farms the top spot, but you will have to commit to a 40-minute drive to partake in this pumpkin party.

4. Hankins Farm

Dates: Weekends, Oct. 1–29
Address:
26745 Weld County Road 17, Johnstown
Tickets:
$14 ages 3+, free for kids 2 and under
Pumpkin price:
Mini $2, small $8, medium $12, giant $16, blue pumpkins $12, specialty pumpkins $10
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 that sits 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. The farm offers something for everyone, from corn cannons that fight off zombies to peddle car races to foam ball archery. This year’s festivities include two different themed corn mazes: “Farm Scene Investigation” and “Monster Mystery.”

5. Nick’s Fall Fest

Dates: Sept. 30–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

If you’re excited about a long drive , Nick’s Garden Center and Farm Market in Aurora throws an annual Nick’s Fall Fest for all the Denverites who don’t want to top off their gas tank, 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 offer pedal karts, an inflatable obstacle course, putt-putt 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: Sept 23–Oct. 31
Address:
10600 Isabelle Road, Lafayette
Tickets:
$5 (online) and $7 (gate), free for kids 5 and under and seniors 65+
Pumpkin price:
By size
Hours:
10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Cottonwood Farms is a small-but-beloved operation that offers a 10-acre pumpkin patch with straw bale and corn mazes, wagon rides, and yard games. But what earns this patch the number-six spot on our roundup are the multiple photo stand opportunities—a favorite is the “How Tall This Fall?” ruler board—which many families make sure to take a photo in front of every year. 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

Photo courtesy of Mile High Farms

Dates: Weekends, Sept. 30–Oct. 29
Address:
11 Cavanaugh Road, Bennett
Tickets:
$18 adults (ages 13–59), $15 seniors (60+), $13 children (ages 5–12), free for kids 4 and under plus first responders and military
Pumpkin price:
85 cents per pound (up to 40 pounds), then 60 cents every pound after
Hours:
10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Mile High Farms is abundant with cozy autumn photo-ops, as the owners have constructed an entire village on the working farm made up of buildings, life-size characters, and antique farming equipment. This fall festival is in its 13th year running, and the antique tractor ride to Mile High Farms’ 12-acre pumpkin patch earned this charming outpost our last-but-not-least spot. Once you’re among the gourds, workers abound to help you cut your seasonal selection right off the vine.