Autumn in Northern Colorado brings craft beer celebrations, harvest celebrations, cultural celebrations and so much more. Scheduled in between your pumpkin patch visits and corn maze explorations, we recommend making time for these beloved annual events taking place this season in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Estes Park, Greeley, Wellington and Timnath.
To track down those seasonal pumpkin patches, check out our other guide The Best Pumpkin Patches in Northern Colorado. And to find even more events happening in our communities, go to NoCo Happenings, our curated event calendar.
Jump ahead:
September | October | November
September
Loveland Oktoberfest | Loveland
September 13 – 14 | Fairgrounds Park
Photo courtesy of Grimm Brothers Brewhouse
Loveland Oktoberfest has grown into one of the year’s biggest events. Presented by Grimm Brothers Brewhouse and Loveland, Big Thompson, Kiwanis, attractions include games, live music from local bands, local food vendors, tons of local beer and cider, and the must-attend Barbarian Dinner. The event also brings giant foosball and a giant collaboration from Grimm and all of Loveland’s breweries! For full details, click here.
Fortoberfest | Fort Collins
September 21 | Old Town Square
Photo courtesy of Downtown Fort Collins Business Association
Held every September in Downtown Fort Collins, Fortoberfest is the last outdoor music festival of the year. The free and family-friendly Fort Collins-style Oktoberfest celebration features a full day of live music, seasonal microbrews from Odell and High Country Beverage, wine from Wilbur’s Total Beverage, and regional German-themed cuisine. To get the details and see the lineup, click here.
Oktoberfest | Windsor
September 21 | Boardwalk Park
Windsor celebrates Oktoberfest and German heritage with live music, great food and, of course, great beer! Held in Boardwalk Park, the event will feature attractions for the whole family, including yard games for adults and kids, local food trucks, face painting and more.
Autumn Gold Festival | Estes Park
September 21 – 22 | Bond Park
Estes Park’s Autumn Gold Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019! Everyone is invited to this admission-free event complete with a classic car show, face painting, yard games, mustard-smothered bratwursts and cold brews, and performances from six local artists and bands. For full details on the lineup, click here.
Fall Equinox Marathon, Half Marathon & 5 Mile | Fort Collins
September 22 | Poudre Canyon
This famous running event offers a marathon, a half marathon and a 5-mile route. The shorter race begins at Gateway Natural Area, the half marathon takes off from Mishawaka Amphitheater, and the marathon travels through the Buckhorn and Poudre Canyons! All racers will finish at the bottom of the canyon where everyone can enjoy post-race food and beverages at the base of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain foothills. For online registration, click here.
Hot Metal Cold Brews | Loveland
September 27 | Loveland Museum
Free to attend, this annual Loveland Museum event combines Loveland’s history of artistic expression with our love for craft beer. Complete with live metalwork demonstrations, the evening festival is a great way to welcome the fall season with local food and local craft beer from Loveland breweries like Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project.
OktoBREWfest | Greeley
September 27 – 28 | Lincoln Park
A beloved tradition in Greeley, OktoBREWfest is returning to the historic Lincoln Park in Downtown Greeley this September. The kick-off on Friday evening will include local beer, bratwursts, games and a free concert. Then the full day of fun comes on Saturday with live music, craft beer from Northern Colorado breweries, food from more than a dozen vendors, a huge children’s area with face painting and rides, pie-eating contests, stein lifting contests, life-size beer pong and more.
Tour de Corgi | Fort Collins
September 28 | Civic Center Park
Photo courtesy of Mike Barry at Fort Collins Photo Works via Tour de Corgi
Tour de Corgi is a must-see annual event even if you don’t have a corgi in the family. Occurring each fall for the past five years, this carnival and parade invites costumed pets and their sometimes costumed parents to register and participate in one of our favorite parade processions of the year. Proceeds benefit 4 Paws Pet Pantry, Low Riders of the West and Wyoming Dachshund and Corgi Rescue. You can find more information and get your $5 wristband online here.
Taste in Timnath Fall Festival & 5K 2019 | Timnath
September 28 | Old Town Timnath
This fall festival kicks off with the Scarecrow 5K Fun Run, a scenic trail run through the rolling hills of the Timnath countryside. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. you can join the fun on Main Street, including live music, wagon rides, authentic German cuisine and beverages, children’s activities, a petting zoo, pumpkin crafts and more. For full details, click here.
Elk Fest | Estes Park
September 28 – 29 | Bond Park
Estes Park’s beloved Elf Fest kicks off Elktober in Northern Colorado. The free festival features bugling contests, elk exhibits, displays from the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, elk seminars, elk-inspired arts and crafts, Native American music, dancing and storytelling, a children’s area with elk-themed activities, a craft beer garden and even more.
October
Long View Marathon & Half Marathon | Fort Collins + Loveland
October 5 | City Park or Fossil Creek Park
Video courtesy of Long View Marathon & Half Marathon
In celebration of Northern Colorado’s newest trail, this marathon and half marathon takes off along the Long View Trail connecting Fort Collins and Loveland. Marathoners will start in City Park while half marathoners will begin at Fossil Creek Park. Then, both will come together to finish at the Foote Lagoon Amphitheater in Downtown Loveland for a finish line celebration with Verboten Brewing, Zwei Brewing and New Belgium Brewing. To register, click here.
Pumpkins & Pilsners Festival | Estes Park
October 12 | Bond Park
Benefitting local non-profit, Families for Estes, this free, family-friendly festival provides activities and entertainment for all ages. Attractions include a pumpkin patch, local food trucks, a beer tent, free face painting, free pony rides, lawn games and more.
FoCo Book Fest | Fort Collins
October 18 – 19 | Various locations
Free and open to the public, FoCo Book Fest is a program hosted by the Poudre River Public Library District. The event celebrates local libraries, books and the literary arts community of Fort Collins as well as the rest of Northern Colorado. You can join the fun on October 18th and 19th to hear panel discussions, participate in writing workshops, enjoy author readings, attend book signings and classes, and engage with a variety of fantastic writers over the course of two days. This year’s theme is Food for Thought and will provide a literary feast for the foodie in all of us!
Greeley Multicultural Festival | Greeley
October 19 | Campus Commons
Established in 2017, this Greeley festival is quickly becoming an annual tradition. Celebrating our community’s diverse cultures, you can enjoy live music, taste authentic foods, see demonstrations and dances, make crafts and more.
Howl-O-Ween Trick or Treat | Greeley
October 19 – 20 | Centennial Village Museum
A Halloween tradition in Greeley, Centennial Village Museum welcomes costumed kids and adults over this fall weekend for tricks and treats through historic buildings. Admission is just $3 and attractions include carnival games, a not-so-scary haunted house, and a costume contest. For October 19th event information, click here, and for October 20th event information click here.
Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival | Estes Park
October 26 | Estes Park Events Complex
This ticketed event is presented by Estes Park’s own Elkins Distilling Co. In celebration of the Rocky Mountain region’s thriving craft spirits industry, admission to this tasting festival includes a souvenir tasting glass, complimentary pours from a variety of distillers, bar games and live music. For tickets, click here.
Halloween Family Fun Festival | Loveland
October 27 | Peters Park
This annual event, hosted by Loveland Museum for nearly two decades, brings tons of free, family-friendly fun to Peters Park every Halloween. Highlights include trick-or-treating at local businesses, activity booths, local food, a costume contest and more.
Tiny Tot Halloween | Fort Collins
October 31 | Downtown Fort Collins
Every Halloween, Downtown Fort Collins, local families and participating businesses celebrate the holiday with a free trick-or-treating event. Starting in Old Town Square, participants get goodie bags and maps of participating stores and locations where you can collect treats. Then, everyone can embark on an adventure filled with treats, tricks and local business. For details, click here.
November
Fall Back Beer Fest | Estes Park
November 2 | Estes Park Events Complex
Photo courtesy of Fall Back Beer Fest
This fall beer festival will invite brewers from more than 30 Colorado craft breweries. Guests can purchase general admission or VIP tickets with various bonuses, but both include unlimited tastings and a commemorative Fall Back Beer Fest glass. In addition to tastings, you can take part in live brewing demos, chat with hop farmers and yeast laboratories and more. For tickets and event updates, check out the Facebook event here.
BellRinger | Loveland
November 9 | North Lake Park
In partnership with Loveland Housing Authority, Sweetheart City Racing is bringing the BellRinger 4 Miler back for 2019. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Edge. Specifically, 10 of its 70 apartments are being developed as permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless veterans. For more information and online registration, click here.
Winter Wonderlights | Loveland
November 15 – January 1 | Chapungu Sculpture Park
Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra will transform into Winter Wonderlights on November 15th. From mid-November through New Year’s Day, the 26-acre park will be illuminated by holiday string lights, twinkling bulbs, LED mappable snowflakes, illuminated stone sculptures as well as a music and light show every single night. Completely free and open to the public, Winter Wonderlights features special weekend programming November 15th through 16th, November 29th through 30th and December 13th through 14th.
Looking for more?
For even more events happening in all our Northern Colorado communities, check out our event calendar NoCo Happenings.
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