When it comes to celebrating Halloween, Boulder is brimming with spooktacular events and rad locally-owned shops and farms for the best costumes, festive decor, and pumpkin carving needs.
From the tiniest ghoul to the oldest soul, here’s a guide to Halloween—Boulder-style.
For the Whole Family
Pumpkin Patch, Hay Rides, and Corn Mazes at Munson Farms
Munson Farms is the place to go to get ready for Halloween this year. The farm stand and pumpkin patch are open every day from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pumpkin prices range from $5 for the tiny ones all the way up to $15 for the massive pumpkins from this year’s crop.
Boulder High School Haunted House | Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 | 7 to 10 p.m. | $5 Students/ $10 Adults
If you’re trying to find a Haunted House in Boulder, looking no further. The Boulder High Theater presents “The Legendary Haunted House” taking place in the Boulder High Theater that dates back 80 years!
City of Boulder’s Halloween Carnival | Oct. 24 | 3 to 5 p.m. | South Boulder Recreation Center | $5 entry
This party is for kids ages 3 to 8 only, but features a bouncy castle, carnival games, crafts, face painting, prizes, snack and more!
Halloween Havoc Skateboard Contest | Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Scott Carpenter Park
This is a skate competition/Halloween extravaganza with prizes for the best trick and the best costume.
“Scarecrow Painting” @ Posh Splat | Oct. 26 | 2 to 4:30 p.m. | $30 Adults/$10 Kids
Bring the family and paint your own scarecrow— just in time for Halloween.
Haunted Library Party | Oct. 26 | 2 p.m. | Boulder Public Library – George Reynolds Branch
A Halloween party for the whole family. Slightly spooky but plenty of fun!
Frequent Flyers® Theatre of the Vampires | Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | Macky Auditorium
A wild aerial, dance, theatre, and music show taking places on one of the spookiest nights of the year at one of the spookiest venues in Boulder. For one night only, this dark, provocative, and funny show promises plenty of chills and thrills!
Munchkin Masquerade | Friday, Oct 31 | 3 to 6 p.m. | Pearl Street
Do you have real life munchkins? Take ‘em to the Pearl Street Mall for some good ol’fashioned trick or treating at participating businesses located in downtown Boulder. Click here for a full list of businesses handing out treats.
For the Grown Ups
The Motet Presents: Mixtape 1975 | Thursday, Oct. 30 & Friday, Oct. 31 | 8:30 p.m.
The Motet is bringing the funk once again to Boulder for their two-night run at the Boulder Theater this Halloween Eve and Halloween night. Tickets are sold out for Friday night, but catch them in all of their funkiness on Thursday night!
Reincarnation Celebration: A Two Night Special Event | Friday, Oct. 31 & Sat. Nov. 1 | 5 p.m. to Midnight | License #1
License #1 is throwing a 2-day Halloween/Day of the Dead celebration at their new digs underneath the Hotel Boulderado featuring a costume contest, drink specials, giveaways— and best of all— no cover. A DJ is getting the party started on Friday and tunes by a live band on Saturday.
Costume/Dance Party at Tahona Tequila Bistro | Oct. 31 | 10 p.m.
DJ’s, crazy costumes, fun atmosphere, and you must try an apple-infused tequila margarita. It’s like fall, in your mouth.
Boulders Best Halloween Dance Party with DJ Jahsonic | Oct. 31 | 9 p.m. | Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place
The best thing about partying at Shine is you can order a healthy Shine Potion, mixed in with all of the alcoholic beverages from the night, to keep you from waking up as a zombie the next day. No cover charge, but be sure to show up in costume for a chance to win prizes.
Halloween with Jababa at Conor O’neils | Oct. 31st | 10 p.m.
Drink some whiskey and get down this Halloween to tunes by local funk and fusion band, Jabba Jabba.
Annual Halloween Party | Oct. 31 | 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. | Oak at Fourteenth | $10 cover
Oak at Fourteenth is throwing their annual Halloween party this year, and the theme is “Dexter”. Come in costume. Cover charge gets you entry and one free drink.
Boulder Thriller Dancers/ Flash Mob | Oct. 31 | 8 to 9 p.m. | Pearl Street Mall
This longtime Halloween tradition pretty much encapsulates everything that is great and weird about the city of Boulder. Local zombies are hard at work learning all of the steps to Thriller which this group of zany Boulderites will perform at 8 p.m. in front of the Courthouse, 8:30 p.m. in front of Hapa Sushi, and 9:00 p.m. in front of the St. Julien Hotel. This is a must-see! Check this group’s Facebook page for more info on how to be more than a spectator to the show.
For The Lovers of Ghost Stories
Meet the Spirits at Columbia Cemetery | Oct. 19 | noon to 5 p.m. | Columbia Cemetery
Join the folks at Historic Boulder for a stroll to meet some of Boulder’s most infamous spirits!
Ghosts of Boulder Speaker Series | Oct. 29 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. | Casey Middle School
Local authors and ghost stories enthusiasts, Ann Alexander Leggett and Jordan Alexander Leggett, wrote a book all about the ghosts of Boulder. Join them on Oct. 29th to learn all about the ghosts among us, and where you’re most likely to bump into them…
Banjo Billy’s Ghost Tours | Thursdays through Sundays during the month of October | Boulder
You’ve seen the quirky Banjo Billy Bus cruising around Boulder during the summer months, but did you know this tour service also runs special ghost tours during the month of October? Tickets sell out fast, so click here to reserve a spot on the bus today.
For the Best Costume Finds
Conveniently located in downtown Boulder, the display windows at the Ritz are filled with colorful and funky pieces to add the perfect unique touch to your Halloween costume this year. From tutus to top hats, if you can think it up, chances are the Ritz has it.
Candy’s Vintage Clothing & Costumes
A little off the beaten path, but totally worth a visit. Need some costume jewelry to complete your costume? They have it. Thinking about picking up a pair of bell bottoms? They probably have it. If a hat is the cornerstone of your costume, look no further. Just a trip to Candy’s will give you the inspiration you need to help you win best costume this Halloween!
