Fall in the foothills is hard to beat. The aspens start changing, the afternoons are still warm enough to be outside, and the local calendar suddenly fills with festivals, films, food, art, theater, and just enough Halloween weirdness to keep things interesting.
If you’re looking for something to do around Evergreen and Conifer between mid-September and the end of October, here are ten local events worth putting on the calendar.
Taste of Evergreen
Tuesday, September 15 | 5:00–7:30 PM | Evergreen Lake House
One of Evergreen’s signature annual events returns to the Lake House with local restaurants, breweries, wineries, cafés, caterers, food trucks, and specialty drink makers serving tastes throughout the evening. Guests can sample their way around the room, vote for favorites, listen to live music, and enjoy one of our best local venues as the sun goes down over Evergreen Lake.
Evergreen Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 19 | Noon–4:00 PM | Buchanan Park Ball Fields
Oktoberfest brings a full afternoon of Bavarian-inspired fun to Buchanan Park, including live polka music, German dance performances, food, stein-hoisting competitions, kids’ activities, a costume contest, and the wonderfully Evergreen addition of a Long-Dog Derby. Free shuttles are scheduled from nearby school parking lots.
Mountain Home Annual Fall Fashion Show
Thursday, September 24 | Mountain Home
Mountain Home’s annual Fall Fashion Show is back with fall and winter looks for both women and men, along with cocktails, appetizers, door prizes, and special shopping offers. If you haven’t wandered through Mountain Home’s historic barn recently, this is a particularly fun excuse to stop in and see what is new for the season.
Mountain Stories Literary Festival
September 25–26 | Center for the Arts Evergreen
Readers and writers have their own fall event with the return of the Mountain Stories Literary Festival, presented by Center for the Arts Evergreen and the Jefferson County Library Foundation. The two-day gathering brings together Colorado authors, poets, readers, and curious minds for author conversations, panels, book signings, and plenty of discussion about the stories that connect us.
Mountain film on Tour: Evergreen
October 2–3 | Evergreen
Mountainfilm on Tour returns to Evergreen for two nights in early October. The traveling version of Telluride’s well-known Mountainfilm Festival brings a curated collection of short films centered around adventure, outdoor culture, people, and the environment. If your idea of a good evening includes big landscapes and people doing things that make the rest of us question our commitment level, this belongs on the list.
The Witches Gathering
Friday, October 2 | 6:00–9:00 PM | Mountain Resource Center, Conifer
Conifer gets into the season with The Witches Gathering, a fundraiser benefiting PeaceWorks and its work supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The evening includes food, a cacao ceremony, dessert and silent auctions, community gathering, and plenty of witch-inspired attire. General admission is currently listed at $49.
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
October 9–25 | Center Stage, Evergreen
Evergreen Players takes on Dracula this October, although this version is considerably more interested in laughs than nightmares. Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors is a fast-moving, 90-minute reimagining of the classic story filled with quick character changes, wordplay, and pop-culture references. Performances run October 9 through October 25 at Center Stage.
Witches & Warlocks on Evergreen Lake
Saturday, October 10 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM | Evergreen Lake
Possibly the most photogenic event on the fall calendar: witches, warlocks, and assorted magical creatures trading broomsticks for paddleboards on Evergreen Lake. Bring your own board or reserve a rental, dress appropriately ridiculously, and join the group float. A drone group photo is planned for 11:30 AM.
Tales Behind the Tombstones
Saturday, October 24 | 2:30–4:00 PM | Conifer
The Conifer Historical Society offers a rare guided visit to the Beaver Ranch Pioneer Cemetery, which is normally restricted from public access. The tour shares stories of early residents, local pioneers, mysteries, murders, and tragedies connected with Conifer’s history. Participants meet near the Big Red Barn at Highway 285 and Foxton Road before taking a shuttle to the cemetery and walking up the hill.
Trick-or-Treat Trail + E.T. Movie in the Park
Friday, October 30 | 4:00–8:00 PM | Buchanan Park Ball Fields
Evergreen Park & Recreation District wraps up October with its annual Trick-or-Treat Trail at Buchanan Park. The evening includes trick-or-treat booths, inflatables, food trucks, and other activities, followed by a free outdoor screening of E.T. beginning around sunset. Tickets are required for children participating in the trick-or-treat trail, while the other ballfield activities and movie are open to the public.
One More for the Brave: Nightmare at 1520
If your October requires something genuinely scarier, EPRD’s Nightmare at 1520 Haunted House runs on select nights throughout October at Buchanan Park, including October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 29, and 30 within this guide’s date range. It is rated PG-13, so this one is decidedly different from pumpkin painting and inflatable bounce houses.
Fall Is One of the Best Times to Live in the Foothills
These are the kinds of events that make September and October such a good time to be in Evergreen and Conifer. We get the color and cooler temperatures that draw people into the mountains, but we also get the local gatherings, arts organizations, small businesses, recreation, and community traditions that make living here very different from simply visiting.
Event details can change, so check with the individual organizers for current ticket availability, schedules, and registration information before heading out.
And as always, it’s about the lifestyle.
