Psst… What to do with Kids in Denver this Weekend September 23 – 25, 2016

Celebrate the official beginning of the fall season this weekend with more events from our ‘Fall, Pumpkin and Harvest Festivals‘ guide, as well as some event from our ‘Oktoberfest‘ guide!

This weekend also includes the opening day of many ‘Pumpkin Patches‘ and Denver Zoo‘s new exhibit, Washed Ashore.

With all these new openings, there are some that are ending as well. It’s the final weekend of events such as Day Out with Thomas and Butterflies at Chatfield.

These and many more are just some of the things you can do with kids in and around Denver this weekend!

What to do with Kids in Denver this Weekend September 23 – 25, 2016

Events listed in chronological order

Butterflies at Chafield Closing Weekend

When: Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 25th, 2016

Where: Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Rd, Littleton, CO 80128

Time: Daily 10am – 4pm

Cost: Admission + Adults & Seniors (65+) Members $2 / Non-Members and Children (3-15) $2. Kids 2 and Under – Free

Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/ButterfliesChatfieldClosing

Visit the closing weekend of Butterflies at Chatfield this weekend! Butterflies at Chatfield, presented to you through a partnership with Butterfly Pavilion and Denver Botanic Gardens, allows you to encounter native Colorado butterflies and plants in the one-­of­-a­-kind butterfly house at Chatfield Farms.

This seasonal habitat is home to hundreds of native butterflies, such as two-­tailed swallowtails, monarchs, silver­spotted skippers and painted ladies.

Handmade in Colorado Expo

When: Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 25th, 2016

Where: Skyline Park, 16th St, Denver, CO 80202

Time: Sept. 23rd & 24th: 11am – 7pm; Sept. 25th: 11am – 6pm

Cost: Free

Ages: All Ages

Handmade in Colorado Expo is a juried event showcasing some of Colorado’s best fine art and contemporary craft.

The expo features a vast array of independent designers producing original handcrafted goods. All work sold will be created from both emerging and experienced artisans from Colorado. This event will also include live art and music from Colorado bands and musicians.

Longmont Oktoberfest

When: September 23rd & 24th, 2016

Where: Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave, Longmont, CO 80501

Time: Sept. 23rd 4pm – 10pm; Sept. 24th: 12pm – 10pm

Cost: General Admission $5, VIP $50, Two-Day VIP Pass $90

Purchase Friday Tickets at: bit.ly/LongmontOktoberfestFri; Saturday Tickets and Two Day Pass at: bit.ly/LongmontOktoberfestSaturday

Longmont Oktoberfest 2016, Presented by Left Hand Brewing Company, is a family-friendly event for all ages and will feature fresh fare, live music, German themed fun & festivities, 10 local breweries, 12 live bands with headliner The Wailers – the world’s legendary reggae band and much more!

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka – The Musical| Vintage Theatre Productions

When: Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, September 25th, 2016

Where: Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton St, Aurora, CO 80010

Time: Sept. 23rd & 24th: 7:30pm; Sept. 25th: 2:30pm

Cost: $22 – $34

Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/WillyWonkaVintageTheatre

Ages: All Ages

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka – the Musical is a stage production presented by Vintage Theatre Productions. Enter “a world of pure imagination” in this hilarious, family-friendly musical version of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory!

Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine

When: Saturday, September 24th & Sunday, September 25th, 2016

Where: Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W 44th Ave, Golden, CO 80403

Time: 8:30am – 5pm

Cost: $20-25 plus tax for ages 2 and up. Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/DayOutWithThomasCO

Ages: All Ages

Enjoy the final weekend of Day Out with Thomas this weekend! Thomas the Tank Engine will be chugging into the Colorado Railroad Museum and invites little engineers to team up with him for a day of family fun at Day Out with Thomas: The Ready, Set, Go Tour 2016.

This fun-filled event offers children and their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series. In addition, they will meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway and enjoy a day of Thomas-themed activities.

Psst… Read our featured article for this event!

Jared’s Giant Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-Off

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: Jared’s Nursery Gift & Garden Center, 10500 W Bowles Ave, Littleton, CO 80127

Time: 9am – 4pm

Cost: Free

Ages: All Ages

The 11th Annual Jared’s Giant Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-Off is the largest pumpkin weigh off in the state of Colorado. The festival will include a 100′ pumpkin drop off, a half ton pumpkin weigh off, live music, beer, food vendors, a straw maze, inflatable games for kids and adults, and over $5,000 of prizes awarded to attendees.

Sheridan Celebrates The Wild West Parade and Festival

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: 4101 S Federal Blvd, Englewood, CO 80110

Time: 9am – 3pm

Cost: Free

Ages: All Ages

Sheridan Celebrates The Wild West Parade and Festival as an exciting community parade and festival that includes a free petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, arts & crafts, over 90 exhibitor booths, food trucks and cold beer.

Flat Acres Farm Fall Festival Opening Day

When: From Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: Flat Acres Farm, 11321 Dransfeldt Rd, Parker, CO 80134

Time: 10am – 6pm

Cost: $11 Adults; $9 Seniors (65+); $14 Children (3-12); Children (0-2) Free

Flat Acres Farm is opening for the fall season with their annual Fall Festival this Saturday! Flat Acres Farm includes a pumpkin patch, a giant bale maze, a haunted maze, petting zoo, and family-friendly activities such as a giant jenga games, cornhole boards, duck races, bounce houses, giant swing set and much more.

Psst… Flat Acres Farm was recently included in our ‘Pumpkin Patches in and Around Denver 2016 Guide‘!

Morrison Ciderfest

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: Bear Creek Center, 150 Spring St, Morrison, CO 80465

Time: 10am – Dark

Cost: Free

Ages: All Ages

Morrison Ciderfest is a cider festival that has been around since 1989. This festival encourages families to sip from steaming mugs together and partake in fun and family-friendly activities.

At the festival you can expect to enjoy cider presses, a custom car show, kids area with a bouncy castle, arts and crafts exhibits, a silent auction, a horseshoe tournament, live music, food vendors and more!

Denver American Indian Festival

When: Saturday, September 24th & Sunday, September 25th, 2016

Where: 3960 E 128th Ave, Thornton, CO 80241

Time: Sept. 24th: 10am – 6pm; Sept. 25th: 12pm – 6pm

Cost: Free

Ages: All Ages

Denver American Indian Festival is a free family event that will include live entertainment, such as music and dancing, artisan vendors, arts & crafts, such as creating dream catchers, doll-making, corn grinding and more, and various food and drink vendors.

Orchard Arts Festival

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: 3915 W 73rd Ave, Westminster, CO 80030

Time: 10am – 6pm

Cost: Free

Ages: All Ages

Orchard Arts Festival, Presented by the South Westminster Arts Group, features a variety of artist, craft & food vendor booths, live music and entertainment, a beer garden, craft beer tasting, a distilled tasting with Whistling Hare Distillery, a community art wall, and more.

Psst… The first 100 kids to attend will also be able to paint for free at the Whimsy Paint & Sip Booth.

Maize in the City Fall Festival Opening Day

When: From Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: Maize in the City, 10270 Riverdale Rd, Thornton, CO 80229

Time: 10am – 8pm

Cost: Crazed Corn Maze + Mini Maze: Adults $12, Children (5-12) $9, Children (0-4) Free; Pumpkin Field + Kids Attraction: Free

Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/MaizeInTheCity

Ages: All Ages

Maize in the City is hosting over a month-long fall festival which will include the Crazed Corn Maze, a mini maze, a pumpkin field, pony rides, petting zoo, jumping castles, air slides and sand art, among other attractions for the whole family.

The Crazed Corn Maze is a 20-acre maze that is fun for all ages. While visitors navigate their way through the cornfield, they are invited to engage in the one-of-a-kind smart phone trivia game. Choose a category or enter unique questions; each correct answer provides directions to the next checkpoint.

The Mini Maze is a smaller maze perfect for young children. With paper checkpoints, children will collect hole punches as they navigate through the maze. Parents and grandparents are welcome to accompany their children through this maze for free.

Family Fun Day: Express Yourself & Inside Out Screening |  CU South Denver

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: CU South Denver, 10035 S Peoria St, Parker, CO 80134

Time: 10am – 3pm

Cost: Activities – Adults $10; Seniors (60+) $9, Children (3-12) $6; Activities + Movie Combo – Adults $14; Seniors (60+) $13, Children (3-12) $9; Children 2 and Under – Free

Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/FamilyFunExpressYourself

Ages: All Ages

CU South Denver, in participation with the Museum of Natural History at the University of Colorado Boulder, are hosting the Family Fun Day: Express Yourself event.

Explore expression and communication in the animal kingdom. Meet live animals and observe how they express themselves in comparison to humans. Families can experiment with making art, acting, dancing and playing music as we learn healthy and fun ways to creatively express emotions. The movie Inside Out will be screened at 2pm.

HOOTenanny Owl & Bluegrass Festival

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: Audubon Center at Chatfield, 11280 Waterton Rd, Littleton, CO 80125

Time: 10am – 2pm

Cost: Adults $10, Children (3-12) $8, Children 2 and Under – Free

Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/HOOTenanny2016

Ages: All Ages

HOOTenanny Owl & Bluegrass Festival, Presented by Audubon Society of Greater Denver, will feature live owl demonstrations from Wild Wings Environmental Education, local bluegrass music from Coal Town Reunion, owl crafts and activities, owl pellet dissections, an owl gift shop, the Chibby Wibbitz food truck, and more!

Public Lands Palooza

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: Mestizo-Curtis Park, 32nd St, Denver, CO 80205

Time: 3pm – 6pm

Cost: Free

Ages: All Ages

Public Lands Palooza, Presented by Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter and Let’s Move! Outside Denver, is a celebration of natural spaces for National Public Lands Day! Celebrate the outdoors and healthy lifestyles and participate in the largest BioBlitz flash dance to date. This event will also include a DJ, local organizations, and healthy snacks.

Washed Ashore Beach Party | Denver Zoo

When: Saturday, September 24th, 2016

Where: Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St, Denver, CO 80205

Time: 6:30pm – 9pm

Cost: Adults Members: $12 / Non-Members: $17; Seniors (Ages 65+) Members: $9/ Non-Members: $14 Children (Ages 3-11) Members: $7 / Non-Members: $12; Kids 2 and Under – Free

Purchase Tickets at: bit.ly/WashedAshoreBeachParty

Ages: All Ages

Visit the Denver Zoo for their special Grand Opening event of Washed Ashore with a special beach party!

Washed Ashore Beach Party will include a Meet & Greet with the artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi, an opportunity for kids to meet the Wands & Wishes Mermaids, complimentary face painting, a show by the Kalama Polynesian Dancers, Dr. Noize Live!, a special Sea Lion show, and an Elephant Passage Demonstration.

Happy last weekend of September and first official weekend of the fall season Denver kids and adults!