Tomorrow marks the first day of October, which means SpooOOooky season is officially upon us. From haunted houses and paranormal picnics to green chile so spicy it’s frightening, we’ve rounded up our favorite ways to participate in the local festivities.
🧟 Celebrate Halloweekend
Serious Halloween fanatics know that Halloweekend (the weekend preceding the holiday) is prime time to show off your spirit for the season. There will be spooky specials and costumed bar crawls aplenty, so get in your most ghoulish gear and head to your favorite local haunt.
- Our pick: The South Broadway Halloween Bar Crawl on Oct. 26.
🎃 Take a Halloween Decoration Drive
Denverites know how to decorate this time of year. If you’re looking for 12-foot skeletons, front yard cemeteries, and jump-scare animatronics, Harvey Park and Montclair are two Denver neighborhoods that have a history of going all out.
- Can’t miss: The famed Monster Mash Bash puppet house on 1491 S. Newton Street.
🌶️ Eat All the Green Chiles
More than Halloween, Coloradans love October because it’s peak Pueblo green chile season! Stands have popped up on street corners all across the city and the air is thick with the mouth-watering scent of chiles roasting over an open flame.
- Deep dive: Go behind the scenes of one local, family-run operation that’s been supplying hungry Denverites with fresh Pueblo green chiles for more than three decades. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
Is it even fall in Denver if you didn’t buy a bushel of Pueblo green chiles? (Craig F. Walker / The Denver Post / Getty Images)
🪦 Plan a Cemetery Picnic
Autumn afternoons bring the perfect picnic weather — crisp, clear, and not too hot. If you want to add a spirited twist to the outing, set up supper at one of Denver’s historic cemeteries and (respectfully) enjoy the peaceful vibes and shady green surroundings. We recommend Denver’s Fairmount or Riverside cemeteries.
- Set the mood: Learn what secrets live beneath Riverside, Denver’s oldest operating cemetery. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
🎶 Enjoy Some Opera on Tap
On Oct. 5, Opera on Tap brings its immersive theater experience to Brewability with “Ooos, Brews, and Boos.” Costumes are encouraged for this darkly magical evening of theatrical moments, where you’ll come in contact with frightful and fascinating classic opera characters.
😱 Brave Denver’s Most Haunted Junkyard
A can’t-miss for haunted house fanatics, the Haunted Junkyard is not for the faint of heart. This locally operated frightful DIY experience sends those who dare on a truly terrifying quest to find their way out of a maze of crushed cars and mangled metal.
🕯️ Listen to Some Dark Victorian Tales
Set within the foyer of the Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, you can enjoy this after-hours trip through famous haunted literary tales by the likes of Mary Shelley and Edgar Allen Poe. The live spooky reading event on Oct. 26 is selling fast, so get your tickets now … or else! 👻
