Tag Archives: Halloween

Family-Friendly Halloween Events – In and Around Boulder

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Halloween is around the corner! Can’t wait? Don’t know what kids do on Halloween around Boulder? Take a look at what’s brewing…

  • Munchkin Masquerade: Head to the Pearl Street Mall for safe & fun trick or treating! Each year, Downtown Boulder is invaded by thousands of tiny ghosts & goblins, dinosaurs & dragons, fairies & princes, super heroes and animals of every size trick-or-treating along Pearl Street.  Recommended for children ages 12 and under. More info here
  • Halloween Journey: Truly a magical, one-of-a-kind, halloween experience for kids! The Boulder Valley Waldorf School campus is transformed into a magical world through which children and parents may travel. The individual presentations touch hearts with messages of wisdom and humor, and images of light that will live on through the cold and dark season of the year. This enchanting experience is lovely alternative to the popular and often gory Halloween experience of modern culture. Purchase tickets ahead of time – they sell out! More info here
  • Longmont Halloween Parade and Trick or Treat Street: Fun parade for all ages! Dress up in your Halloween Costume, march on Main Street and visit Downtown participating merchants for Trick or Treat Street immediately following the parade. Kids of all ages can be a part of this costume foot parade. No registration is required!  Strollers or wagons are recommended for tiny feet. Dogs must be leashed. 9:30 am Line-up in front of the St. Vrain Memorial Building, 700 Longs Peak Ave. 10:00 am Foot Parade Start!  Come in costume! More info here
  • Louisville’s Monster Dash: A kids fun run, 5k and 10k
    Come enjoy 2 fast, trail courses out on the Coal Creek Trails of Louisville. The 5k Fun Run will have just a 175 foot elevation gain out East on the trail, and the 10k Trail Race will head West on the trail through 3 parks, a small pond and some single-track…..look out for the Witches. More info here
  • Louisville Halloween Festival and Trick-or-Treat: Trick or treating & activities for the whole family! The 6th Annual Halloween Festival will feature over 25 vendors, arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, Witch “Crafts” and games inside the Pinball Shoppe. Post event activities will include BBQ Hot Dogs, costume contests and post Party at Pinball Shoppe. Kids Trick-or-Treating is in Old Town from 5pm-6pm with more stores providing activities and treats this year. More info here

What else is out there for kids and families on Halloween? Where are you going? What are you doing? Let me know and I’ll make sure to help get the word out about all the great family-friendly Halloween events around town.

2014 Pumpkin Patches AND Halloween Events In and Around Boulder

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PUMPKIN PATCHES IN & AROUND BOULDER

Cottonwood Farm. Pumpkin patch, hay maze, animals, antique farm equipment. Plenty of fall produce, including decorative gourds and corn bundles. Free admission. (Wagon rides cost extra). Open daily 10:00 to 6:00pm  cottonwoodfarms.com.

Munson Farm. Pumpkins, fall fruits, vegetable. Hayrides, corn maze, pumpkins. Free kids pumpkin with purchase if you print out the first page of their website. Free admission. Open daily 9:00 to 6:30pm. Valmont Road and 75th Street, Boulder, CO. munsonfarms.com.

Red Wagon Farm. Pumpkins, winter squash, apples, and more produce! See farm animals (alpacas, llamas, goats, chickens, geese!) and enjoy the Straw Bale Maze! Free admission. Open 10:00 to 6:00 daily through Halloween. Red Wagon Farm Website.

South Boulder Pumpkin Patch. Grand Opening October 11 & 12 noon with food trucks and lots of fun for all. Saturdays & Sundays noon to 6 and weekdays 10/20 through 10/31 from 4 to 7pm. 3485 Stanford Court, Boulder, CO 80305. SoBo Pumpkin Patch Facebook Page.

 

HALLOWEEN EVENTS FOR FAMILIES

Munchkin Masquerade – October 31, 2014 Bring your younger kids down to trick or treat amongst their peers along the shops on Pearl Street Mall. Always a family favorite! The kids are adorable in their costumes. The treats are everywhere. It could not be more fun. October 31, 2012 from 3:00 to 6:00pm rain or shine. For more information visit DBI Website.

Colorado Railroad Museum Trick or Treat Train – October 25 & 26
Family-friendly Halloween event features rides in the vintage passenger cars with conductors and engineers in full costume; a “silly” graveyard; and a pumpkin patch. 10am-4pm at the Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden. October 25 & 26. Colorado Railroad Museum Website.

The Great Pumpkin Race & Halloween Carnival – October 27, 2014
Purchase a pumpkin and watch it race down the lazy river with the rest. Winners receive prizes like free rec-center passes. Carnival games begin at 4 to 5:30pm; pumpkins launch at 5pm sharp; the pumpkin-carving contest is at 1:30pm. Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, 111 W. Baseline Road in Lafayette. 303-665-0469 City of Lafayette Website.

Too Much Candy? Here Are A Few Ideas Of What To Do With That Loot!

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Too much candy? Not sure what to do with it? Here are 2 alternatives if you just have too much of a good thing…
The Candy Fairy
Your child can put out a bag of candy by the side of her bed and in the morning it is magically gone and the Candy Fairy has left something in its place — a book, a nerf football, a new paint set….
The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program:
Your child can take in candy to one of the two local dentists below in change for cold, hard cash– call for details
Dental Horizons–Tues Nov. 5, 4-6pm
600 S. Airport Rd., Suite 200-A
Longmont, CO, 80503
Phone: (303) 776-3320
Email: kathleenb@dental-horizons.com
www.dental-horizons.com
Colorado Healthy Smiles–Fri. Nov. 1, 4-5pm
380 Empire Rd., Suite 140
LAFAYETTE, CO, 80026
Phone: 303-469-3344
Email: molly@coloradohealthysmiles.com
www.coloradohealthysmiles.com

Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections & Supporting Children

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halloween old imageHalloween is a perfect time to build connections in your community! Let’s make Halloween an asset-building experience for children by helping them feel more connected to their community. The Search Institute does it again in helping to frame this fun holiday as a way to support children! It’s easy and just these few ideas will make BIG difference for our kids!

11 Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections

  • If you don’t know the kids who come to your door, ask their names and grades in school.
  • Compliment (or get scared by) their costumes.
  • Ask the child a question or talk to them briefly before you give a treat.
  • Turn on a light so children will be safe.
  • Intervene if trick-or-treaters become disrespectful or damage property.
  • Invite kids with parents you know to come in for a short visit. (Don’t invite kids you don’t know inside.)
  • Offer to take a busy parent’s child or children out along with yours.
  • Share treats that reflect your culture or values.
  • Get together with neighbors to decorate together. (Make it more fun for kids and get to know neighbors at the same time.)
  • Remember to greet kids the next day–when they don’t have costumes on!
  • Consider making a special treat bag (with extra treats or extra surprises) for the children who live nearest to you. When these children arrive, make a fuss about them coming and say you have something extra special for them.

Want to share this with your neighbors and friends? Here is a handout: 11 Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections

Do you have other ideas for creating a safe, welcoming, community-building experience for kids? Please share!

Yummiest Pumpkin Muffins!

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Photo credit: Elana’s Pantry

 

A quick shout out for the yummiest pumpkin muffins ever! My kids cannot get enough of these easy to make muffins from local author and foodie, Elana’s Pantry. These are slated to be gluten free, but I make them with regular flour and they are delicious! I guess you could say these are super versatile muffins suited for everyone.

For a simple and incredibly delicious pumpkin muffin head to Elana’s Pantry! Enjoy!!!!

Fun Halloween Ideas for Families

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Halloween can be so much fun with kids! I will never forget my son’s first Halloween. He went up to the doors in the neighborhood and was in total disbelief that everyone would give him candy. How could this possibly be? How lucky was he? Just walk up and you get pockets full of candy. The look on his face the entire evening [maybe an hour] was pure exhilaration!

Here are some fun kid-friendly Halloween ideas:

What ideas do you want to share with Boulder Families?

Family Friendly Halloween Happenings Around Boulder

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Halloween is right around the corner. Here is a list of family-friendly Halloween events going on around town. Please feel free to email me if you have additions to make to this list. I hope everyone has a safe, fun, fantastic Halloween!!!!

This post replaces the usual Boulder Families Weekly Events Listing.

2013 Family Friendly Halloween Events
Event  Date[s] Location Notes
South Boulder Pumpkin Patch 10/19 3845 Sanford Ave, Boulder, CO 80303 Pumpkin decorating, activities, etc.

11:00am to 2:00pm

Event Website
Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk 10/26 & 10/27 Call 303.444.5192 or click here to purchase tickets A tour of distinctive, ghostly homes with spooky tales to tell. Family friendly, so you can bring the kids.

5:30 to 9:00pm

Event Website
8th Annual Kappa Halloween House 10/27 1134 University Ave, Boulder, CO 80302

 

 Great event for Kids under 10

More details here

Noon to 4pm
Boulder High School Kid Friendly Haunted House 10/26 Boulder High School
Boulder, CO

 

 

 The lights will be on, the actors will tone down their scare factor. There will be a chance to meet the actors & the kids can chat with them, & opportunities for trick or treating. 7:00 to 10:00pm
Munchkin Masquerade 10/31 Pearl Street Mall

Downtown Boulder

 Pearl Street Mall transforms into a kid-friendly mecca with candy for all the kiddos.

3:00 to 6:00pm

Event Website
Halloween at the Y 10/28 Arapahoe Y

Lafayette, CO

 Join the Lafayette Y for Halloween Hullabaloo. Venture into the haunted house (not for the timid), enjoy carnival games, explore the cookie forest and light up the night in our new glow-in-the-dark room. Oh, and don’t forget the bone-chilling fun on the ice rink! Free for members and non-members.

5:30 to 7:30pm

YMCA Website
WOW! Museum Family Halloween Party 10/27 WOW! Museum

Lafayette, CO

 Pumpkin painting, Halloween crafts, face painting, an ooey gooey science demonstration and giveaways.

10 to Noon

WOW! Website
Bug-a-Boo at the Butterfly Pavillion 10/19 & 10/20 Westminster, CO Costumes, Candy, Crawlies!

9:00am to 5:00pm both days

Event Website
Boulder Parks and Recreation’s Halloween Carnival 10/25 South Boulder Recreation Center Kids ages 3 to 8

3:00 to 5:00pm

Event Website

 

Boulder Family Events: October 19 to October 25, 2012

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Thinking Halloween? Info on Halloween Events & Pumpkin Patches around Boulder click here. 

Special Events This Week: Archaeology Family Day, McGuckin’s Apprentice Series: Halloween Decor, Hanging Out with Bats, Family Dance Planet, + Nature for Kids and Parents: Family Scavenger Hunt

Friday, October 19

Saturday, October 20

  • Archaeology Family Day at CU’s Museum of Natural History. Join the museum staff to learn more about how archaeology is everywhere. Interactive activities for the whole family. Free. All ages. 10:00 to 4:00pm.
  • French/English Storytime with Marie. Enjoy bilingual storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. All ages. 10:15 to 11:00am.
  • McGuckin’s Apprentice Series – Halloween Décor. Young and old come in to carve and decorate pumpkins (while supplies last), see creative decoration ideas, and be inspired to make your own festive décor! Free. All ages. 1:00 to 4:00pm.
  • Hanging Out With Bats. Join Boulder County Open Space to learn more about these mysterious flying mammals. Ages pre-school through elementary school. Free. 1:00 to 2:30pm. Register ahead of time to get location.
  • Saturday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Free. 10:15am.
  • Family Dance Planet. Fun, family event and dancing for everyone. The third Saturday of the month. Cost: $17 for the whole family. All ages. 10:00 to Noon.
  • Homedepot Builder’s Club for Kids. Stop into the Boulder store and your child can make something. Free. All ages. 9:00am to Noon.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market.  8:00 to 2:00pm. 13th Street between Arapahoe & Canyon Blvd. Great opportunity for families to purchase locally grown produce, eat delicious food, listen to live music and so much more! A Boulder kids’ favorite.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts [BMOCA] Check out Art Stop which provides FREE guided art activities for kids on Saturdays during the Farmer’s Market. I have heard that they have a space where you can throw a cup at the wall. Kids love it! 8:00am to 2:00pm. All ages
  • Teen Reads Week Author Extravaganza at the Boulder Bookstore. This special evening is held to celebrate Teen Reads Week and includes teen authors Emily Hainsworth (Through to You), Donna Cooner (Skinny), Tiffany Schmidt (Send Me a Sign), and Brenna Yovanoff (The Space Between).

Sunday, October 21

  • Nature for Kids & Parents: Fall Scavenger Hunt with City of Boulder’s Open Space & Mountain Parks crew. Take a hike in the woods with Debora Martin, Early Childhood Educator/volunteer naturalist. You will color-hunt through the meadow and into the ponderosa pines, play games and use our senses for a scavenger hunt!  Meet at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage.  Ages 6 and up. 1:00 to 3:00pm.
  • Go Club for Kids & Teens at the Main Boulder Library. 2:00 to 5:30pm. Ages 5 and up. Free. “Learn to play the ancient and mysterious game of Go.”

Monday, October 22

Tuesday, October 23

  • What’s a family to do on Tuesday? Take your kids to the pumpkin patch! Pumpkin Patch Info here.

Wednesday, October 24

Thursday, October 25

Upcoming Family Events:
October 26:
October 27:
October 28:
October 31:

Please let me know of any upcoming events that should be listed here. I am happy to include your free, low cost or unusual event in Boulder Family listing of weekly events. You can reach me at Boulder4Families@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook.

#families #free #Boulder #events #boulderfamilies #getoutside #October

Pumpkin Patches & Halloween Events In and Around Boulder

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PUMPKIN PATCHES IN & AROUND BOULDER

Cottonwood Farm. Pumpkin patch, hay maze, animals, antique farm equipment. Plenty of fall produce, including decorative gourds and corn bundles. Free admission. (Wagon rides cost extra). Open daily 10:00 to 6:00pm  cottonwoodfarms.com.

Munson Farm. Pumpkins, fall fruits, vegetable. Hayrides, corn maze, pumpkins. Free kids pumpkin with purchase if you print out the first page of their website. Free admission. Open daily 9:00 to 6:30pm. Valmont Road and 75th Street, Boulder, CO. munsonfarms.com.

Ollin Farms. Pumpkins, western slope fruits, tamales, tortillas, salsas, at food stand. M to Sat., open Noon to 6:00 pm, Sun. Noon to 4:00pm. Located between Niwot & Longmont, CO. ollinfarms.com.

Osborn Farm. Historic farm dating to 1861. Pick your own pumpkins. Free admission. Open daily 10:00 to 6:00 pm Longmont, CO. osbornfarms.com

Red Wagon Farm. Pumpkins, winter squash, apples, and more produce! See farm animals (alpacas, llamas, goats, chickens, geese!) and enjoy the Straw Bale Maze! Free admission. Open 10:00 to 6:00 daily through Halloween. Red Wagon Farm Website.

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch. Pumpkin picking, open door market, observation honey bee hive. Fall Festival Saturdays and Sundays in October featuring straw maze, pumpkin painting, petting zoo, and much more! Store with fresh, organic, produce and cider. 9:00 to 6:00pm daily in October. Free admission. Longmont, CO. rockymtnpumkinranch.com.

Anderson Farms. Farm tours, handicapped accessible pumpkin fields, wagon rides, corn maze, farm animals. Very extensive activities, but it does cost: $12 for adults, $10 for kids and seniors. Open at 10:00 to daily through October. Erie, CO. andersonfarms.com.

HALLOWEEN EVENTS FOR FAMILIES

Munchkin Masquerade. Bring your younger kids down to trick or treat amongst their peers along the shops on Pearl Street Mall. Always a family favorite! The kids are adorable in their costumes. The treats are everywhere. It could not be more fun. October 31, 2012 from 2:00 to 5:00pm rain or shine. For more information visit DBI.

Colorado Railroad Museum’s Trick or Treat Train. The Colorado Railroad Museum’s Railroad Halloween Town is a safe and fun place for younger kids to enjoy Halloween. Catch a ride behind the historic locomotive & vintage passenger cars hosted by conductors and engineers in full costume. Fill your treat bag and tickle your funny bones. Visit the “not so spooky” haunted railcar or the Olde Railroaders Silly Graveyard & the Pumpkin Patch. It’s full steam ahead for tricks, treats and trains. October 27. More info on times and tickets here.

7th Annual Kappa Halloween House. This is a family friendly Halloween event with face painting, crafts, cupcake walk, storytelling, trick-or-treating, and much more. October 28 from Noon to 4:00pm. 1134 University, Boulder. $5/child. For more information click here.