MOD Moms runs events almost every day of year, weekdays, weeknights, weekends! In addition, we provide a lot of great information for families living around Denver! In this post, MOD Mom Welcome Co-Chair Christy Watson and her Sponsoring Firm, Christy Watson Homes, Keller Williams Preferred Realty provides this fantastic resource of FREE DAYS around Denver throughout the year!
Be sure to check out Christy’s Partnership with MOD Moms here:
Has it ever happened to you? A rare date night (or morning or afternoon) rolls around, you grab your partner, kiss your kiddos, head out the door and then … you scramble for something to do?
“So, what do you want to do?”
“Not sure, what do you want to do?”
“Mmmm…”
…
Enter the Date Box.
Filled with 52 cards of interesting, fun, adventurous and/or romantic things to do, a few gift cards and a handful of great “babysitting coupons”, the Date Box is a springboard for quality time.
I created this for my busy husband for Christmas (thanks for the idea, fellow MOD Mom, Lisa!). And so far, when we’ve been able to find the time, we’ve enjoyed the way that it encourages us to try new things.
Some of the cards are simple (bowling, mini golf, hikes, and trail runs). Some require advanced planning and a few mouse clicks or phone calls (lectures and exhibits at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Fiske Planetarium shows, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival). Some are more active (rock climbing, scuba session, Unser Go Kart Racing). Some are free (sunset picnic at Chautauqua, walk around Harper Lake, stargazing). And some include our favorite standbys (Por Winehouse, Bittersweet, the Tattered Cover, and Barnes and Noble).
I’m a bit nerdy, so, my definition of interesting and romantic might not be your cup of tea, but that’s just it … a box like this can be tailor made for you and your loved one.
In fact, I like the concept so much, I’m making one for the kiddo.
What are some ideas for your date box?
Last week’s 90-degree days may have disguised it a bit, but Fall is officially here! Personally, it’s my favorite time of year: brilliantly colored crunchy leaves, pumpkins to carve, apples to pick and corn mazes to navigate. When the weather chills a bit, I’ll grab some butternut squashes from local farm stand and whip up some soup, bake some apple turnovers and I might even try my uncrafty hand at a few fall crafts with the little guy.
Best of all, we’ll get out and enjoy some of the many area autumnal happenings. Check them out and feel free to add some of your own ideas in the comments section!
Cottonwood Farms
Open daily September 26 – October 31, 10am – 6pm
Cost: Free admission, pumpkins, squash, corn, etc. available for purchase. Hayrides available on the weekends for $3/ person.
This small farm is fun, free and really great for little ones. It features a small hay bale maze, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, farm animals and a pumpkin patch.
Rock Creek Farms
Open:September 26 – October 31
Cost: Free admission, parking, and family fun area (bounce houses, farm animal viewing, straw bale maze). Fees for pumpkins, fall decorations, food/beverages, corn maze, and hayride (kids under 4 – FREE, ages 4 – 11, $6, ages 12 & up, $9) (CASH OR LOCAL CHECKS ONLY! No credit cards).
Anderson Farms
Open September 23 – November 1
Cost: Children 3 & under: FREE, Monday – Thursday: $10, Friday – Sunday: $13
Includes: Corn maze, hayride, pumpkin cannon/launching, kids’ pedal carts, mine cars, barrel train, rainbow maze, farm animals, tire mountain and play fort. Pumpkins are not included, but can be purchased at an additional price. Other activities available for additional fees: Gem mining, gourd launching, s’mores, pony rides, face painting, general store, Ducktona halfpipe duck races, campfire site rentals, and the concession stand.
Miller Farm
Open Labor Day – Mid-November
Cost: Children 3 & under: FREE, ages 4-12 – $15.00 per person, ages 13 and up – $20.00 per person or a family of four is $65.00. Each additional person over the first four is $15.00 per person. *Special rates for groups of 10 or more, homeschool and school groups. ** Special WAGON SALE: Load a wagon full of pumpkins, gourds and winter squash plus whatever other goodies available that day for only $30.00.
Includes: admission price includes 5 bags of picked produce per person. Also included: kiddie play area, a giant jumping pillow, trains, planes, space ships, tractors, a fire truck, a monster truck, peddle tractors, a petting zoo, a corn maze, a dirt hill, a hay pyramid, and the “cars” from the movie Cars.
Sunflower Farm
Open: September – December, Monday -Friday 9am-1pm; Closed Saturday & Sunday
Cost: $10/person; Babies under 12 months free
This wonderful 50-acre home is open to the public on a limited basis. You will find baby animals, pony rides, huge shade trees with incredible tire swings, an old abandoned airplane, sandboxes, sidewalk chalk, bicycles, tractors to explore, hammocks, free-roaming chickens, giant tree houses, and a zipline, among many other things to explore. In addition, there are plenty of private hidden spaces for you and your family to reconnect and enjoy each other. Please purchase your tickets online in advance. No on-site ticket sales will be offered.
7th Generation Farm
October Hours and Activities
You Pick Pumpkins: Monday – Thursday 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Fall Festival: Saturday – Sunday 9:00am – 6:00 pm
Corn Maze, Hay Bale Maze, Farm Animals, Tractor Rides, Face Painting and so much more!
Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Branch
Pumpkin Festival
Cost: Children 2 and under are free, $5 Child (ages 3-12)/ $4 Member Child, $7 Adult, $6 Member Adult. *Corn Maze tickets can be added for an additional $6 per adult or child.
Includes: All activities within the festival and entrance to the pumpkin patch (pumpkins available for extra fee): antique tractor exhibit, tractor hay rides shuttle to the parking lot, pony rides, mini maze, jumping pillow, bouncers and obstacle courses, carnival games, express face painting, monster hand craft, giant Jenga games, carving demonstrations, photo opportunity with live bull.
Other activities available for additional fees: corn maze, mechanical bull ride, hamster balls, corn stalks, food or other purchases from vendors, and pumpkins (prices vary by size – average price is $8).
Denver Botanic Gardens Corn Maze
Open: Fridays (4pm – 9pm), Saturdays (10am – 9pm), and Sundays (10am – 5pm), September 18 – November 1.
Includes: Corn maze entry, one hayride, barrel train ride (for children 12 and under) and unlimited jumping on a giant pillow. Pony rides and hamster balls are available for an additional fee. An array of food vendors sell favorite fall foods such as funnel cakes, hot dogs, freshly squeezed lemonade and kettle corn.
Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch (and farm stand)
Longmont
Pumpkin Festival: Saturdays and Sundays in October 9am – 6pm
Free admission and parking. Guests PAY PER ACTIVITY on weekends. (Activities require between 1-5 tickets per activity, per child. Tickets cost $1/each)
Pony Rides, Mini Airplane Rides, Carousel Car Ride, Painting Pumpkins, Petting Zoo, Hay Maze, Corn Stalk Tunnel, Balloon Typhoon, Bouncy Castle, Inflatable Obstacle Course, and Fire Truck Slide. Food Vendors are also present on weekends: Fresh spun cotton candy, hand-dipped caramel apples, hot dogs, corn dogs, brats, snow cones, big hot pretzels, pop corn, and so much more!
Self-Guided Fun and Tours, Weekdays ($8/ person).
Includes: Paint-A-Pumpkin (guests get one pie-pumpkin per child to paint), Inflated Jumping Obstacle Course, Balloon Typhoon (inflatable giant pumpkin with balloons floating around inside. See how many balloons you can grasp before the pumpkin’s typhoon steals them away!), Uncle Oscar’s Hay Maze, Viewing Zoo (guests receive a small baggie of feed for the animals in the Petting Zoo.While the Petting Zoo is not open during the week, during the weekdays, guests may feed the animals by hand through the big wire fence).
Mile High Farms
(East of Aurora)
Open Saturdays and Sundays in October, 10am – 6pm
Cost: Children 3 & under, FREE; ages 4 – 12 yrs, $10; 13 yrs and older, $13; Senior Citizens and military personnel with ID, $10.
Includes: Corn mazes, tractor hay ride to pumpkin patch, play castle & jumpy castle, Grover’s Garden (Farm Animals), barrel cart rides, IMAGINE stage performances, and Farmer’s Playground.
The Fritzler Corn Maze
(south of Greeley)
Wednesday & Thursday 5pm – 9pm (beginning October 14th)
Fridays, 5pm – 10pm (September 19 – October 31), Saturdays, 11am – 10pm, Sundays 12pm – 5pm (No haunted corn maze)
Cost: Varies by activity – http://www.fritzlermaze.com/admissions
Amazing corn maze (and haunted corn maze). Additional activities available: ATV mini rollercoaster barrel train, go-cart pedal carts, pillow jump, pumpkin/corn cannon launcher, corn box, hay bale climb, ball zone, slide mountain, spider’s web. For the bigger kids, check out the Alcorntraz / Zombie Paintball Slayer and the Verti-Scope.
May Farms
Byers (east of Denver)
Weekends in October, 10am – 5pm
Cost: Children 5 and under, FREE; 5 yrs and older, $10; all proceeds benefit The Country Kids Foundation. Many activities and concessions require tickets. Tickets are $1 each, required ticket amount varies by activity.
Free activities: corn maze, hay rides, barnyard, and tricycle rides.
Ticketed activities: barrel train rides (2 Tickets), pumpkin patch (1-10 tickets), pumpkin cannon (6 pumpkins for 5 tickets), corn cannon (2 ears for 1 ticket), feed the fish (fish food 2 tickets), face painting ($7-12; cash or credit only). Food and beverages available for purchase.
Berry Patch Farm
Brighton, CO
Open for picking: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 8am – 1pm (or until ripe berries / produce is picked).
Pick your own: raspberries, herbs, flowers, some produce.
Whimsy Farm
Poor weather devastated berry crop. No fruit currently available. Hosting some fun events, including yoga and a tree climbing clinic (see below).
Isabelle Farm (farm stand)
Lafayette
Munson Farm (farm stand)
Boulder
Poor weather has impacted crops. Consider calling ahead to check produce availability.
Dress Up for Tickets: Chuck E Cheese (Superior)
Kiddos wearing costumes throughout October can come in for 50 FREE tickets at Chuck E Cheese!
Erie Miners Blast
Saturday, October 3, 2015, 11am – 5pm
Cost: Children under 3 yrs old, FREE, $10/ child ages 3 yrs and up
Includes: haunted house, gourd launcher, hayride, maze, inflatable slide, pedal cars, crafts and more! Each child receives a complimentary pumpkin. Also featuring food vendors, root beer garden, vintage cars, tractor pulls and a petting zoo.
Berry Patch Farms Harvest Festival 2015
Saturday October 10 & Saturday October 17, 10am – 3pm
Cost: Children 2 & under, FREE, ages 3 and up, $8/person. Senior citizens and military personnel with ID: $6.00.
Includes: music, piñatas, hay ride, straw maze, craft, and mural coloring. For an additional fee, guests can purchase pumpkins, and face painting.
Featuring: Musical guests: Paris Swing Band: 11-2 pm (10/10); Almost There: 11-2 pm (10/17), Pinatas: 11, 1 & 3 pm (both dates), Absorka Alpacas (both dates), Bee Hive/honey demo (both dates), Kraut Burgers from Laurels & Sandwiches from Great Harvest of Arvada.
Thorne Nature Experience Fall Festival and FREE JEFF AND PAIGE CONCERT!
(must pre-register)
Monday, October 12, 10am-2pm
Ongoing activities including bird watching, face painting, dip netting in the mini wetland, and nature explorations. 12pm: Concert by Jeff & Paige. This event will mostly be outdoors, rain or shine. Please plan for the weather.
Scream Scram 5K Fun Run/Walk
Denver, Wash Park
October 16, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Spooky Kids Night Out – Color Me Mine
Boulder, Saturday, October 17, 5pm-8pm
Kids 6 – 12 yrs old (drop off)
Cost: $40 per child (plus tax).
Includes a ceramic piece, pizza dinner, a craft and face painting. (Wear costumes if you want!)
*Parents get a 2-for-1 drink special at Aji (www.ajirestaurant.com/) and ZEAL (www.zealfood.com) (limit 2 rounds).
Bug a Boo
Butterfly Pavillion
Saturday October 17 and Sunday October 18th, 9am – 5pm
Costume Parade, Indoor Trick-or-Treating, Cockroach Races, Face Painting, Kids Crafts, and more.
Trick-or-Treat Street
Denver Children’s Museum
Friday, October 23; Saturday, October 24; & Sunday, October 25, 9am – 7pm
Trick-or-Treat fun and festivities included with admission (no scary costumes, please).
Monster Dash
Louisville
October 24
5K and 10K 3:00pm start, Kids’ Fun Run 4:15 pm start. Festival 1:00pm – 6:00pm.
“Dances with Branches” Tree Climbing Clinic
Whimsy Farm
Boulder, Saturday, October 24 12:30 – 3:00pm
Ages: 7 & up
Cost: $35 / person (family rates available). Registration required.
Boo at the Zoo
Saturday October 24 and Sunday October 25; Saturday October 31 and November 31
*Included in price of regular admission/membership
More than 25 trick-or-treat stations, many animal displaces and family-friendly entertainment.
Boo After Dark
Denver Zoo
Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31
$17 for adults; $12 for children (2 and under are free). *Purchase your tickets online before October 23rd and receive $5 off. (Membership does not cover admission to this after-hours event.)
More than 25 trick-or-treat stations, many animal displaces and family-friendly entertainment.
Kids Night Paint “Full Moon”
POSHsplat. Boulder
Monday, October 26, 5:30-8:00 pm
Cost: $24/kiddo, pizza available for additional $6 (plus tax)/kid
Ages: 4yrs old and up (drop off)
Overnight at the Museum – Denver Museum of Nature and Science
October 30-31, 6 p.m.–10 a.m.
Ages: Families with K–8th Graders
Cost: $65 adult member, $80 adult nonmember, $55 junior/child member, $70 junior/child nonmember
An enchanting evening awaits your whole family at this spook-tacular sleepover. Ooey-gooey activities, ghostly good times, and trick-or-treat trivia are followed by camping out in the diorama halls. Wake up to breakfast, an IMAX film, and time to explore the temporary exhibition The Power of Poison.Includes pizza dinner, evening snack, and hot breakfast.
Halloween Kids’ Fest
Denver Aquarium
Friday, October 30, 10am – 2pm, Saturday, October 31, 10am – 3pm
Activities included with admission fee (kids in costume get 1/2 price off ticket price with paying adult): games, crafts, trick-or-treating, and more!
Munchkin Mascarade (Trick or Treating on Pearl Street Mall)
Saturday, October 31, 2015 2pm-4pm
Boulder
Kids can dress up in their favorite costumes and travel store-to-store along Pearl Street’s pedestrian mall to trick or treat.
This year’s frequent bad weather got you down? Tired of stomping puddles? Here are a few fun indoor ideas for keeping the kids busy and yourself sane!
Our take: We filled a tupperware dish a little less than halfway with blue colored water and a handful of dinosaurs. After a couple of hours, we added some red colored water and another batch of dinosaurs. We flipped the “glacier” out on a big cookie sheet, and my little guy had a blast using a variety of “tools” to free his dinosaurs from the ice. We tried table salt, rock salt, water (cold and hot), spoons … so much fun!
Our Take: We filled our tent with pillows, books and games … had breakfast and lunch and even an iTunes-fueled movie night.
Local museums are always fun when it’s rainy, and the Boulder/Denver area has quite a few: the nearby Butterfly Pavillion, the WOW Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Art Museum (kids under 18 are FREE everyday!), the Children’s Museum, the Aquarium, the Colorado History Museum, the Longmont Museum, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Little museums like the Weather Station/ Visitor Center at NCAR, or the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum or the Natural History Museum on the CU-Boulder campus can be a fun, quick diversion if you’re near campus (both have a small area for kids on the bottom floors).
Tired of the museum route? Here are a few other ideas around town
Have any other great tips? Leave your ideas in the comments! Thanks for stopping by!