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11 essential Colorado fall festivals to go to as we brace for the upcoming winter

11 essential Colorado fall festivals to go to as we brace for the upcoming winter
Posted at 3:57 PM, Sep 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-14 18:36:36-04

DENVER – Fall season is well and truly upon us and you'll soon be reaching for your scarf as temperatures begin to drop. 

Luckily for all us living in this beautiful state, fall season is pretty much an extension of summer, and there are a bunch of things happening across Colorado to keep you busy before the first snow flurries start to drop.

Here are eleven essential fall festivals to check out in the coming weeks.

1. Downtown Boulder’s Fall Festival
September 14-16, 2018 - Pearl Street Mall 

Boulder’s fall festival has everything you could ask for: a great music line-up, a beer garden, food vendors, a kid’s carnival and more along the iconic Pearl Street Mall.

2. Chile and Frijoles Festival
September 21-23, 2018 - Union Avenue Historic District, Pueblo

Pueblo gets a bad rap, but that all goes away during the Chile and Frijoles Festival. Experience the taste of green chile in its many forms – smoking on a stick, chopped into a tortilla, or served as green salsa. Partake in cooking competitions, dancing, live music, arts and crafts and a farmers’ markets.

3. Oktoberfest Denver
September 21-23 and 28-30, 2018 - Larimer Street between 22nd and 20th; for Google Maps purposes: 2100 Larimer Street

While Oktoberfest is mainly about beer, Denver’s festivities is a family-friend event that showcases a dachshund derby, costume contests, food tastings, polka dancing and, of course, live music.

4. Mountain Harvest Festival
September 27-30, 2018 - Paonia Park in Paonia, Colorado 

The western slope Town of Paonia celebrates fall accordingly with live music, farmers’ markets, beer, wine tasting, a chili cook-off, arts and crafts as well as farm tours.

5. Elk Fest 
September 29-30, 2018 - Bond Park, 170 MacGregor Ave. in Estes Park, Colo. 

You’ve heard of rutting season, but have you gotten close enough to experience the majestic bugle of a bull elk? Head on out to Estes Park to get a front-row seat as the elk show off their best attributes at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. At the fest, you can learn about rutting season, as well as participate in a bugling contest and see traditional performances from Native Americans in the region.  For safe & respectful elk viewing tips, click here

7. Cedaredge Applefest 
Oct. 6-7, 2018 - 245 W Main Street in Cedaredge, Colo. 

If you’ve never been to Cedaredge on Colorado’s Grand Mesa and want to discover new places, then head to the town to check out Applefest. More than 150 vendors will share the area’s wealth with locals and tourists alike. You can also check out the classic car and antique tractor show, live music and much more.

8. Punkin Chunkin
Oct. 6-7, 2018 - 26000 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, Colo. 

This fall festival has it all: a pumpkin patch, fall crafts, live music and performances, pony rides, a corvette car show, plus food vendors and yes, a beer garden. Enjoy the Carve War’s chainsaw carving competition for a unique and fun fall experience (this is a whole attraction this year). 

9. Telluride Horror Show
October 12-14, 2018 - Telluride, Colo. 

Telluride, already known its film festival, is back it again for its nineth annual horror, fantasy, and sci-fi film festival in the town’s historic Sheridan Open House.

10. Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival
October 19-21, 2018 - Breckenridge, Colo. 

Head to Breckenridge to sip on a variety of different spirits from small-batch, artisan distillers and more about the distilling process in Breckenridge.

11. Frontier Historical Museum Ghost Walk
October – TBA

The historical society at Glenwood Springs hosts tours through the town’s oldest cemetery for ghost stories and more! Bring a flashlight or lantern so you’re not left out in the dark. 

RELATED HEADLINES -- 

There are a bunch of things happening in September across the Mile High City