As the fall colors sweep through Colorado's mountain towns and the air turns crisp, it's the perfect time to embrace the season. Whether you're looking for a family weekend or an adventurous getaway, these fall festivals highlight Colorado's local charm. From Octoberfests and pumpkin patches to film festivals and bulging contests, each event offers a unique way to celebrate autumn. Plan your next weekend trip around these 10 upcoming festivals and enjoy the season!

• Chile & Frijoles Festival (Pueblo, CO) - Coming up this weekend is the perfect opportunity to savor Pueblo's prized green chile, known for its rich, intense flavor unique to the region. Whether roasted on a stick, stuffed in a quesadilla, or mixed into salsa, this chile takes a center stage. The festival also features cooking competitions, live music, dancing, arts and crafts, a jalapeno-eating contest, and a vibrant farmers' market to complete the celebration.

• La Junta Tarantula Fest (La Junta, CO) - September in La Junta offers more than just cooler weather, it's tarantula-mating season, and the La Junta Tarantula Fest is the perfect way to celebrate these fascinating eight-legged creatures. Enjoy face painting, food trucks, handmade gifts, and an arachnid-themed parade. You can also join a tarantula tour to observe them up close or even hold one and feel its gentle, fuzzy legs in your hands.

• Poudre Pour (Windsor, CO) - Each October, Windsor's annual Poudre Pour blends environmental education with plenty of fun. The event highlights the heritage of the Cache la Poudre River and the vital water it provides through engaging presentations. Attendees can also enjoy craft beer and beverage tastings, gourmet appetizers, live music, historical costumes, and activities for kids, making it a great day for all ages.

• Oktoberfest (Denver, CO) - While Oktoberfests are typically beer-centric, Denver's Oktoberfest offers fun for the whole family. Held each September in downtown Denver, the event features food booths, polka dancing, singalongs, and live music, along with quirky contests like beer-keg bowling and stein-hoisting competitions. The last weekend of fun is upcoming Sept 27-29.

• Miners Pumpkin Patch (Colorado Springs, CO) - Visit Colorado Springs in October for a variety of fall activities at Miners Pumpkin Patch, including hayrides, gold panning, cider pressing, and blacksmith demonstrations, all in support of the Western Museum of Mining & Industry. You can also enjoy pumpkin picking, face painting, and a variety of food trucks during this fun-filled event.

• Mountain Harvest Festival (Paonia, CO) - Paonia on Colorado's Western Slope, hosts the Mountain Harvest Festival each September, offering live concerts, farmers' markets, beer and wine tastings, a chili cook-off, arts and crafts, and farm tours. This celebration of local orchards, ranches, and farms draws visitors from across Delta County to enjoy the region's abundant harvest.

• Elk Fest (Estes Park, CO) - Each October, Estes Park hosts Elk Fest, where visitors come to witness the distinctive and haunting bugle of bull elk. In September, these majestic animals gather near Rock Mountain National Park to compete for mates as the running season begins. At Elk Fest, you can learn about their behavior, observe them in the wild, join in a bugling contest, and enjoy performances by Native American artists.

• Apple Fest (Cedaredge, CO) - In October, as you drive into the quaint town of Cedaredge on Colorado's Grand Mesa, you'll be greeted by rows of gleaming red and green apple trees tempting you to take a bite. At Applefest, over 200 vendors showcase the region's agricultural bounty, and visitors can also enjoy a classic car and motorcycle show, live bands, and various other attractions.

• Telluride Horror Show (Telluride, CO) - Known for its film scene, Telluride also gets into the Halloween spirit with Colorado's first and largest horror film festival, the Telluride Horror Show. Join fellow film enthusiasts to watch a diverse array of international films, including horror, suspense, thrillers, dark fantasy, sci-fi, and dark comedy, all showcased in Telluride's distinctive theaters.

• Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival (Breckenridge, CO) - In October, as the weather cools, spicy spirits are the ideal choice. At the Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival, sample top selections from small-batch, artisan distillers and delve into the distilling process in Breckenridge, a town known for its pioneering distillery.

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