Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday for the first time since 2020 and the last time until 2037, and Colorado Springs is going all out. From costumed bar crawls along the Tejon Street corridor to coffin races in neighboring Manitou Springs, this year’s lineup packs more variety into a single weekend than most cities manage across all of October. Whether you want to bar-hop downtown in costume, trick-or-treat with the family at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, or catch a cult-classic film screening inside a converted 1916 schoolhouse in Ivywild, this guide covers the 10 best Halloween events happening across Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region.
Colorado Springs sits at 6,035 feet elevation, home to more than 480,000 residents, a strong military community, students from Colorado College and UCCS, and a growing downtown nightlife scene that fully comes alive on Halloween night. The Tejon Street bar district, the arts-driven storefronts of Old Colorado City, and the food-and-drink hub at Ivywild School anchor different pockets of Halloween energy across the city. Below is a neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown of the top events, with ticket details, timing, and practical tips for planning your Halloween weekend.
10 Downtown Colorado Springs Picks
Downtown is the beating heart of Colorado Springs nightlife, and on Halloween Saturday, the streets around Tejon and Pikes Peak Avenue transform into costume-filled, bar-hopping territory.
Colorado Springs Official Halloween Bar Crawl (PubCrawls.com)
When: Sat, October 24, 2026 and Sat, October 31, 2026, 3 to 10 PM
Where: Phantom Canyon Brewing, 2 E. Pikes Peak Ave.
The Official Halloween Bar Crawl by PubCrawls.com is Colorado Springs’ most anticipated Halloween nightlife event. Check in at Phantom Canyon Brewing, the city’s oldest brewpub inside the historic 1901 Cheyenne Building on the National Register of Historic Places. Your branded wristband unlocks 2 to 3 complimentary drinks, free cover at every stop, Halloween drink specials, food deals, a professional photographer, and a free after-party. A costume contest at the final bar awards prizes. Rideshare beats driving since downtown parking fills fast and October nights at elevation get cold.
Boos Fest Halloween Bar Crawl (Bar Crawl Nation)
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 6 PM to 11 PM.
Where: La Burla Bee, downtown Colorado Springs
Boos Fest runs the weekend before Halloween, so you can stack it with an October 31 crawl for a full two-weekend party. It kicks off at La Burla Bee, and after 8 PM the party moves through a curated set of bars and nightclubs within walking distance. The signature twist is the trick-or-treat spin-to-win mechanic in the Bar Crawl Nation app. Scan a QR code at each venue to reveal an instant-prize wheel with Halloween goodies, sips, or bites. Finish every stop for a credit toward future events. VIP adds expedited entry, a multi-venue cocktail tasting, and upgraded swag.
Zombie Crawl (Nasstive Entertainment)
When: Friday, October 30, 2026, in the evening (check Eventbrite)
Where: Downtown Colorado Springs
The Zombie Crawl runs on Friday night, giving you a full two-night Halloween weekend when paired with a Saturday event. The format follows the classic pub crawl model with a Halloween bar crawl packet, exclusive drink specials, and a map of participating venues scattered across the downtown bar district around Tejon Street. Most stops offer Halloween-themed specials late into the evening, and the night winds down with an after-party at a highlighted venue. Come in costume, bring your crew, and expect a costume-heavy crowd throughout downtown from dusk onward.
Dead Man’s Brewfest at Weidner Field
When: Friday, September 25, 2026 at 7 to 10 PM (VIP 6 PM)
Where: Weidner Field, 111 W. Cimarron St.
Now in its 8th year, Dead Man’s Brewfest is Colorado Springs’ unofficial kickoff to Halloween season. The Switchbacks Entertainment festival takes over the entire 8,000-seat Weidner Field stadium, offering unlimited sampling of beer, wine, and spirits from local Colorado breweries and wineries. VIP holders enter an hour early, hit an exclusive tasting area, and get unlimited pub food all evening. Themed neighborhoods throughout the stadium bring the Halloween atmosphere, and proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado. Buy tickets early, both tiers sell out.
The Official Halloween Bar Crawl (Crawl With Us)
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 4 PM to 10 PM
Where: Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub, downtown
A second major bar crawl running on Halloween night, this one checks in at Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub, one of the most popular stops on the Tejon Street corridor. The format includes exclusive food and drink specials, two complimentary drinks, free cover at every venue, and a costume contest with prizes. Past participating venues have included Chiba Bar, Tony’s, Shivers Taphouse, Bar K, and La Burla Bee for the after-party. Groups of four or more get $5 off each ticket, a solid pick for larger costumed crews. Rideshare is recommended given the Halloween crowds along Tejon Street.
Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs Picks
West of downtown, Old Colorado City (OCC) and the neighboring mountain town of Manitou Springs host Halloween events with a distinctly different personality. Expect artisan markets, local folklore, and one of the most uniquely Colorado traditions you will find anywhere in the state.
Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Festival
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Where: Manitou Avenue, downtown Manitou Springs (Free spectator entry)
Now in its 32nd year, the Emma Crawford Coffin Races are one of the most beloved Halloween traditions in Colorado. The event honors Emma Crawford, a young woman who moved to Manitou Springs in 1889 hoping the mineral springs would cure her tuberculosis and was buried atop Red Mountain. Each racing team includes one Emma inside a coffin and four costumed runners pushing it along a 195-yard Manitou Avenue track. A parade opens the day, music and food vendors fill Soda Springs Park, and thousands of spectators pack the streets. Free to watch, arrive early.
Pumpkins in the Park
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 12 PM to 6 PM
Where: Bancroft Park, Old Colorado City | Free admission
Old Colorado City presents a fall celebration that blends Halloween spirit with the neighborhood’s creative, arts-driven identity. The festival features free live music at Bancroft Park, local fashion, art vendors, autumn cuisine like cider and hot chocolate, a pumpkin patch with pumpkin painting, a book sale, and fall crafts all afternoon. It pairs well with a stroll through the independent galleries and boutiques along West Colorado Avenue, one of the oldest commercial districts in the city. Come for a low-key community vibe before heading downtown for the evening bar crawls.
Rocky Horror Picture Show Anniversary Screening
When: Mid to late October 2026 (check IFSOC calendar).
Where: Ivywild School Gym, 1604 S. Cascade Ave.
The Independent Film Society of Colorado (IFSOC) hosts cult classic screenings at Ivywild, and Rocky Horror Picture Show holds a special place on the Halloween calendar. The 2025 edition marked the film’s 50th anniversary and was emceed by Jonathan Eberhardt, longest-running Frank-N-Furter in shadowcast history. Expect a similar celebration in 2026 with full audience participation, elaborate costumes, prop bags, and the complete Rocky Horror experience inside the historic gym. Grab food and cocktails from Bristol Brewing or The Principal’s Office and carry them in for showtime.
Three Nights of Horror Film Festival (IFSOC)
When: Mid to late October 2026 (three-night weekend run).
Where: Ivywild School Gym, 1604 S. Cascade Ave.
IFSOC’s annual Three Nights of Horror Film Festival screens a curated lineup of classics, slashers, zombie flicks, and B-movies across a full weekend at Ivywild School. The format includes talk-back screenings where the audience is encouraged to yell and interact during the film, similar to Rocky Horror but applied to different horror titles. Past lineups featured Nosferatu, Terrifier 2, Horrors of Spider Island, Demons, The Lost Boys, and live Q&A sessions with horror filmmakers. A perfect pick for horror film fans looking for something beyond the bar crawl scene.
Halloween Bash at The Principal’s Office
When: Late October 2026 (check The Principal’s Office socials)
Where: The Principal’s Office, Ivywild School
The Principal’s Office cocktail bar inside Ivywild School has hosted Halloween costume parties in past years, often in partnership with local DJ collectives like Discreet Beats. Past editions featured a live DJ set, unlimited themed punch, a costume contest with prizes, and the kind of intimate, neighborhood-bar atmosphere that makes Ivywild feel completely different from the downtown bar crawl scene. This is the pick for anyone who prefers a single-venue Halloween party with a curated crowd over a multi-stop crawl. Follow the venue on Instagram for the 2026 date.
Bonus Family-Friendly Pick
Boo at the Zoo at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Dates: October 16, 17, 23-25, 30 & 31, 2026 at 4 to 8:30 PM
Where: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd.
Boo at the Zoo is the single most popular family Halloween event in the Colorado Springs area. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sets up candy stations, costumed characters, select animal exhibits, a haunted house, and a costume contest across seven nights in October. All candy distributed is made with sustainable palm oil to help protect wild orangutan habitats, a conservation mission that sets this apart from typical trick-or-treat alternatives. Advance timed e-tickets are required; popular slots sell out, and your ticket indicates the earliest entry time with a 30-minute arrival window. Rideshare tickets are also available.
Honorable Mention for Scare Seekers
HellScream Haunted House
Season: Opens Friday, September 25, 2026
Where: 3021 N. Hancock Ave., Colorado Springs
HellScream has been terrifying Colorado Springs since 2012 and holds a 9.18 out of 10 rating from The Scare Factor. The multi-story attraction sends visitors through the abandoned estate of Dr. Stewart VonHellton, featuring live actors, cinematic sets, and relentless scares across three floors. The haunt operates on select nights only, so check their calendar before you go. In previous years, special “Lights Off” nights gave groups a single glowstick to navigate the entire attraction. HellScream also operates escape rooms, laser tag, and murder mystery experiences year-round at the same location.
Tickets, Timing, and Route Planning
When to Buy Tickets
For bar crawls, early-bird pricing is almost always the best deal. Prices increase as the event date approaches, and some events cap attendance. The PubCrawls.com Official Halloween Bar Crawl, Boos Fest, Zombie Crawl, and Crawl With Us all follow tiered pricing that rewards early purchases. Boo at the Zoo and HellScream sell out popular dates, so advance tickets are essential.
Building Your Halloween Weekend
Because Halloween 2026 lands on Saturday, you can stack multiple events across the full weekend.
Friday, October 30: Hit the Zombie Crawl downtown for a full Friday night of costumed bar hopping.
Saturday, October 31 (Daytime): Take the family to Boo at the Zoo before the evening crawls begin.
Saturday, October 31 (Evening): Join the PubCrawls Official Halloween Bar Crawl at 3 PM at Phantom Canyon Brewing Company. Bar-hop the Tejon Street corridor, hit the costume contest, and stay for the after-party.
Weekend Before (October 24): Catch the Emma Crawford Coffin Races in Manitou Springs in the morning, spend the afternoon at Pumpkins in the Park in Old Colorado City, then hit the evening crawls.
Getting Around
The Tejon Street corridor is walkable for all downtown bar crawl events. Phantom Canyon, Jack Quinn’s, Blondies, La Burla Bee, and Bar K are all within a few blocks of each other. Rideshare is strongly recommended for getting to and from downtown on Halloween Saturday, when parking is scarce, and you want to enjoy the festivities responsibly.
Old Colorado City is about a 10-minute drive west of downtown along West Colorado Avenue. Manitou Springs sits just beyond OCC, roughly 15 minutes from downtown. Ivywild School is a quick 5-minute drive south on Cascade Avenue. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo requires a drive up Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road, and the mountain route can be slow during busy event nights.
What to Wear
Colorado Springs sits above 6,000 feet and late October nights can get cold, sometimes dropping into the 30s after sunset. Plan your costume with layers underneath or keep a warm jacket in your bag. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for bar crawls since you will be on your feet for several hours covering multiple blocks.
