Weekend Picks: Glow at the Gardens, Gorillaz & Tennyson Fall Fest (October 16 – 18)

The third weekend of October is peak Halloween season in Denver. The light shows are open, the zoo is running its evening trick-or-treat, and there is a costumed pet parade on Tennyson Street. Add three nights of shows at Red Rocks and a big arena concert on Sunday, and there is no excuse to stay home. As always, check venue websites before you go, since times and tickets can change.

Glow at the Gardens

Denver Botanic Gardens' Glow at the Gardens runs Thursday through Sunday, October 15 through 18, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the York Street location, 1007 York St. Tickets are about $37 for adults and $29 for kids ages 3 to 15. It is a Halloween-themed evening light walk through the gardens, and it is one of the easier evening outings for families with younger kids. If this weekend does not work, it runs again Wednesday through Saturday, October 21 through 24.

Parking at York Street fills up fast on event nights. Arrive early or use rideshare, and dress warmly. Temperatures drop quickly after sunset this time of year.

Boo at the Zoo

Denver Zoo's evening trick-or-treat event, Boo at the Zoo, continues October 16 through 18, roughly 4:30 to 9 p.m., in City Park. Kids collect treats along a route through the zoo after dark. It sells out most weekends, so book your date in advance rather than counting on tickets at the gate.

Tennyson Fall Fest

On Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tennyson Street in the Berkeley neighborhood of northwest Denver hosts its free Fall Fest: local vendors, food trucks, live music, and a costumed pet parade. Tennyson is one of the best walkable commercial streets in the city, with independent shops, bakeries, and restaurants between 38th and 44th avenues. Make an afternoon of it and walk over to Berkeley Lake Park afterward.

More Than Pink Walk in City Park

Also on Saturday morning, the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk takes over City Park, 2001 Steele St., from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is free to participate, with donations supporting breast cancer research and patient support. Expect heavy traffic and limited parking around the park that morning, which is worth knowing if you are headed to the zoo or the Museum of Nature and Science.

Grown-Ups Only at Meow Wolf

On Friday, October 16, Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station, 1338 First St. near Empower Field, hosts an adults-only Howl-O-Ween night from 6 to 9 p.m. Expect themed cocktails, scary-oke karaoke, an art-making station, and costumes encouraged. Tickets run about $44 to $47.

Concerts: A Big Weekend at Red Rocks

Red Rocks is still going strong in mid-October. On Friday, October 16, UK producer Sammy Virji headlines, with Confidence Man doing a DJ set; doors open early, with the show starting around 6 p.m. On Saturday, October 17, Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy brings his tour to the amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, October 18, comedian Matt Rife plays Red Rocks at 7 p.m.

Bring real winter layers to any of these. Mid-October nights in Morrison can fall into the 30s, and the stone seats get cold. A blanket, a hat, and gloves are not overkill.

The headline indoor show is Gorillaz, bringing their Mountain Tour to Ball Arena on Sunday, October 18, at 7 p.m., with Little Simz and Deltron 3030. It is their first Denver show since 2022. Also on Friday, Afrojack plays the Mission Ballroom in RiNo.

Sports

The weekend starts early with a big one: the Broncos host the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football on October 15, with kickoff at 6:15 p.m. Mountain time on Prime Video. If you are going to Empower Field, plan for heavy traffic on I-25 and Colfax right at the end of rush hour.

On Friday, October 16, the Avalanche host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ball Arena at 7 p.m.

A Mountain Option: Día de Muertos in Breckenridge

If you want a reason to head up I-70, Breckenridge hosts its free Día de Muertos and Latin Festival on Friday evening, October 16, and all day Saturday, October 17, with music, food, and traditional altars. It is an easy pairing with a hike or a late-season drive over Hoosier Pass. Check COtrip before you leave; mid-October can bring the first real snow to the high country.

Still Going: Pumpkins, Corn Mazes, and Fright Fest

The 7-acre corn maze at Chatfield Farms in Littleton continues Fridays through Sundays through November 1. Elitch Gardens' Fright Fest runs every weekend into early November, with a daytime family version and haunted houses at night. Pumpkin patches across the metro, from Brighton to Littleton, are open through the end of the month.

Weather and Logistics

Average mid-October highs in Denver are in the low 60s, with mornings in the 30s, and the first snow of the season in the metro is possible any time now. Most of this weekend's best events happen after dark, so plan your layers accordingly.

The Bottom Line

Light shows, trick-or-treating at the zoo, a street festival with a pet costume parade, three nights at Red Rocks, and Gorillaz at Ball Arena. If you are thinking about where you want to live in the metro, a Saturday on Tennyson Street or an evening walk near City Park is a pretty good way to see what daily life looks like in those neighborhoods. Have a great weekend.