Head out across the state for beer, cider, food, bluegrass and haunted bike and foot races

By the Thirst Team

Welcome to our roundup of the best events across Colorado this month. Check out our October performing arts preview here, and read on for other happenings all over the state. For more, check out our events calendar.

THIS WEEK

Steamboat Springs Restaurant Week through Saturday

Steamboat’s walkable, diverse and gourmet dining scene is on full display this week. Participating restaurants will offer two specials: a curated chef’s choice signature dish or a hometown favorite or go‑to dish. One or both options are available at most downtown restaurants.

Big B’s Ciderfest in Hotchkiss Friday to Sunday

Hot Buttered Rum will headline CiderFest on Saturday night at Big B's Delicious Orchards in Hotchkiss. Sway Wild and Floodgate Operators also play on Saturday. Alysha Brilla headlines on Friday, and Boomroots close out the festival on Sunday. The festival brings three days of free live music, cider tastings, vendors and local beer. Camping is available for a fee.

FreeFall Bluegrass Festival in Avon Friday to Sunday

Railroad Earth, Molly Tuttle and the Bluegrass Generals will headline three days of music at the reimagined FreeFall Bluegrass Festival. The event moves from Vail Village to Avon’s larger Harry A. Nottingham Park, and becomes a ticketed event, with additional VIP options. Also, the Nershis will play an afterparty album release show on Friday night at the Agave, where Jon Stickley trio will play after the Saturday festival lineup. Each “After Grass” show is a separately ticketed event.

Great American Beer Festival in Denver Saturday and Sunday

Colorado’s landmark craft beer event moves outside to Levitt Pavilion for two days of tastings of hundreds of beers from around the world, plus ciders, seltzers, RTDs and more. A separately ticketed food pairing showcase is also back. Saturday’s festival and pairing session are sold out, but Sunday tickets and two-day passes are available. Click here for more details about the festival.

Beer showcase at Hops & Pie in Denver Saturday

If you didn’t snag a Saturday ticket for the GABF, you can still sample some of the nation’s best beers at Hops & Pie, a north Denver taphouse and pizzeria that will host a CSA Distribution tap takeover from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Great Mexican Beer Fiesta in Denver Saturday

A third sudsy option for Saturday is Denver Beer Company’s Great Mexican Beer Fiesta, taking over Platte Street in front of the brewery. In addition to plenty of Venga! Mexican Lager and collab beers, there will be lucha libre wrestling, live music, DJs and food trucks.

Haunted races and community festival in Leadville Saturday

Colorado Mountain College in Leadville will host a community fall fest. The Día de los Muertos Pumpkin Patch is open from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with pumpkin painting, sugar skull decorating, face painting, hay rides, magic potions and costume contests.

The Haunted Hills Race follows, starting at 3 p.m. Costumed competitors bike or run through two loops on the CMC trails, with ghouls, goblins and ghosts waiting around each corner.

PLAN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

Standup comedy fundraiser in Lakewood Oct. 15

The 2nd Annual Stand-Up for Hope is coming to the Three Leaches Theater in Lakewood. It is a night of comedy and poetry in support of Art from Ashes creative empowerment programs for youth. The emcee and headliner is Ren Q. Dawe, a nationally recognized comedian, trans activist, and community leader. The event raises money for Art From Ashes, which “exists to empower struggling youth by providing creative programs that facilitate health and hope through expression, connection, and transformation.”

Día de Los Muertos + Latin Festival in Breckenridge Oct. 16 and 17

Breck Create will host a two-day celebration honoring Latin American culture, ancestry and people. The festival begins on Friday evening with an exhibition opening by Denver-based artist Juan Fuentes, including a reception and artist talk. There also will be a candlelight vigil and traditional Aztec dance by Grupo Huitzilopochtli. Colorful calaveras and a community ofrenda will be on display Saturday, with workshops, face painting, live music and an artisan market. Grupo Huitzilopochtli, Dwende Flamenco, Tres Tumbao and Chihuahua-Honduras Folk Dance Group will perform.

Animas Valley Balloon Rally in Durango Oct. 16 to 18

Durango’s annual balloon rally opens with the downtown balloon glow on Friday evening, with opportunities to meet the pilots and see the balloons up close. Mass ascensions begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Hermosa Meadows. Free tethered balloon rides also will be available, and a second balloon glow event begins at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Horror movie festival in Telluride Oct. 16 to 18

The Telluride Horror Show claims to be Colorado’s largest horror film festival, returning for its 17th edition. The festival line-up showcases feature films and short films from new and established talent, including world premieres and Colorado premieres. The festival also includes special programs, guests and other events.

Salida Improv Festival on Oct. 23 to 25

The Salida Improv Movement will host improv teams and trainers from Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Illinois for two nights of comedy and two days of workshops for all skill levels. The improv showcases are ticketed separately, and cost $10 each. Workshops cost $35 each.

Coffin Races in Manitou Springs Oct. 24

The nation’s original coffin races commemorate Emma Crawford, who wished to be buried atop Red Mountain. Colorado weather had different plans, and a series of freeze-thaw cycles and some heavy spring rains sent her coffin racing down the mountainside in 1929. Nearly a century later, teams gather shortly before Halloween to build a coffin and race it through Manitou Springs.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in this events roundup, we will add them to our events calendar.

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