FRIDAY-OCT. 3
Opening weekend for the spectacular Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns with its trail lined with 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins and a light show at Hudson Gardens. An awesome family event open on different nights through Halloween. These pumpkins are works of art. Food trucks and beverage stations along the way. A special low-sensory night is planned for Oct. 8. Tickets start at $19.99 for adults, $14.99 for children at magicofthejackolanterns.com. 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
An autumn treat, the three-day Downtown Boulder Fall Fest. And no in-person competition because the Colorado Buffs and Coach Prime are away, playing at Oregon. The Fall Fest highlight, a Firefly Handmade Market along the Pearl Street Mall, along with family entertainment and activities, much music and a huge beer/wine/margarita garden and food features. Hours 5-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. boulderdowntown.com/fall-fest
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
The amazing smells emanating from the Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival this weekend are heavenly, giant spinning roasters filled with Mira Sol Pueblo chilies and garlic. The perfect time to stock up for a year. It’s the 29th year for this tribute to Southern Colorado agriculture. Four entertainment tents line the streets filled with 200 vendors, farmers markets, chihuahuas, craft brew and kids’ activities. Admission $6, military with a valid ID and children under 12 free. 3 p.m.to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday until 5 p.m. Balloon Fest Glow two nights, hot air balloons two mornings. Shuttles from parking at Midtown to Downtown. pueblochilefestival.com
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
So much ink art by 300 of the top tattoo artists, local, regional and national, at the 8th Annual Colorado Tattoo Convention & Expo, all weekend at National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St. Live tattooing and body modification, competitions, Rize and Shine Custom Car and Motorcycle Show, pin-ups and burlesque, the first Sneaker event, barber battle, fashion shows, beards and mustaches, Tattoo Rodeo and more. Tickets $30-$100. coloradotattooconvention.com
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Grab your stein and head for beer halls along Larimer to yell “Prost” during the 53rd annual Denver Oktoberfest, weekends through Oct. 1. Beer and wine, Jägermeister shots, German meals, Weiner Dog races, keg bowling and TVs with sports coverage. Tickets and times: thedenveroktoberfest.com
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
Denver’s annual Beer Week ends Saturday as part of the popular Great American Beer Festival. The week continues its plethora of activities throughout the metro area and there’s a beer trail map: denver.org/denver-beer-week. GABF, also through Saturday, continues filling Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St.,with beer lovers from around the country there for top beers and the newest: greatamericanbeerfestival.com. An unusual treat Thursday inside GABF is a sweet part of the Russell Stover 100th anniversary tour of the country featuring the World’s Largest Box of Chocolates and bunches of free chocolate, 5:30-10 p.m.
FRIDAY-OCT. 3
Breathtaking. Prepare to find so much street art to inspire during the 10-day International Mural Festival throughout the RiNo Art District. It will take several days to see it all as 15-18 artists paint across 12-15 walls in the district. Painting begins Friday, with public events the weekend of Sept. 29-31.The inaugural event by RiNo Art District, the nonprofit Denver Walls and World Side Walls. rinoartdistrict.org and denverwalls.com.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
It’s billed as Colorado’s best multi-sport festival and it’s in and around Buena Vista all weekend. The 14er Fest is an outdoors feast of mountain biking, fishing, hiking, 4X4 and trail running. Check it all out: 14erfest.org
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
The name says it all: the Martha Graham Dance Company. And her legacy lives on in a performance at Newman Center for the Performing Arts. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. $26-$80 tinyurl.com/4pjbe8wk
SATURDAY
A day of culture and tradition at Feed Your Seoul: Colorado Korean Culture Festival, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday on Auraria Campus, Tivoli Quad, 1000 Larimer St. Not surprising that amazing food tops the list of must-trys: Galbi Beef Tacos and Nachos, Bulgogi, Kimbap, Tteokboki, Hotteok and much more. Music runs the gamut from traditional to contemporary K-Pop style hits. coloradokoreanfestival.com
SATURDAY
Here’s an opportunity to donate new or gently used sports equipment to youngsters at the 12th annual giveSPORTS Equipment Drive, a project of Colorado Honda Dealers and Kroenke Sports Charities. Drop off donations at Ball Arena, RAV4 Parking Lot between 9th and 11th streets between Chopper Circle and Auraria Parkway. Representatives from the Nuggets, Avalanche, Mammoth and Rapids will be there, 9-11 a.m. nba.com/nuggets/givesports-equipment-drive
SATURDAY
Denver International Festival fills Civic Center Park on Saturday with the music, food and art of the world, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. Live performances, food, beer, art, a kids’ village and more. civiccenterpark.org/event/denver-international-festival
SUNDAY
Enjoy music by nine singers from the Central City Opera with student choral and orchestral musicians with the Performing Arts Academy (PAA) and Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO) performing a Fountain of Youth concert, 2:30 p.m. at Boettcher Concert Hall. Doors at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $30, $10 for students and teachers. Buy online at coloradosymphony.org or call 303-623-7876.