October 2023 Events in Estes Park

Here's a complete list of the best events in Estes Park this October.

You can't hike the entire time you're in town, although no one here will blame you for trying. Instead, fill out your trip with local events that will give you a taste of the sights, sounds and flavors of this vibrant little mountain town. Check out what's going on in October:
 

Elk Fest

September 30 - October 1

Celebrate Estes Park's resident elk at this family-friendly festival in downtown Bond Park. Enjoy vendors, live music, food trucks, bugling contests, performances and more at this year's Estes Park Elk Fest®!
 

A Haunting in Venice

October 2, 3 & 5

Celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot, now retired and living in self-imposed exile in Venice, reluctantly attends a Halloween séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets. Catch one of the screenings of A Haunting in Venice at the Historic Park Theatre.
 

Isabella Bird: The Hawai'i Sojourn

October 4

Jackie Pulani Johnson of Hilo, Hawai'i presents this free one-woman show for audiences of all ages, based on the travels of the intrepid Isabella Bird who defied convention in 1872. Miss Bird's visit to the largest island in the Hawai'i chain was etched with in-person encounters with the verdancy and volatility of rainforests and volcanoes long before Hawai'i became a territory of the United States. Reception and performance to take place at the Historic Park Theatre starting at 6 p.m. on October 4.
 

First Friday Art Groove

October 6

Take a free tour of local art galleries! Various locations will be serving food & refreshments and hosting artist meet & greets, demonstrations, show opening and live music. Ride the free Estes Park Trolley to keep you warm between galleries. Check it out.
 

Pumpkins & Pilsners

October 7

Immerse yourself in fall magic at the Pumpkins & Pilsners Festival, a free and lively autumn celebration for all ages in Estes Park. From live music and craft beer to pumpkin picking and family activities like pony rides and games, this event promises a fantastic time. Discover the joy of local flavors, entertainment and community support, as proceeds benefit the Estes Park Education Foundation.
 

Ghosts of the West

October 7-8, 19

Lost mines, abandoned diggings, ghost towns. Today, the old hotels and saloons stand in mute testimony to a fabled past when prospectors came to gamble, find and lose a fortune, or die without revealing the location of a rich and elusive mine. Their tales continue to fascinate and intrigue, and even haunt us. Best Documentary Award-winning "Ghosts of the West: The End of the Bonanza Trail" relates stories of towns from mineral strike to boom to bust, revealing their ultimate fates and legacies. A Q&A with writer-director E. S. Knightchilde follows each presentation.
 

A Haunting in Blue Hill World Premiere

October 13

This October, on Friday the 13th, join Twisted Tree Films for the ultimate paranormal event at the haunted Historic Park Theater. Be the first to watch the new documentary, A Haunting in Blue Hill, with the filmmakers, and view the haunted items featured in the film in person! Enjoy presentations from paranormal investigators, vendors and tarot readings. Stay afterward to investigate the ghosts of the Park Theater with the filmmakers.
 

Psychic Readings, Haunted Tours & Ghost Hunts at the Historic Park Theatre

October 13, 21, 27-8

Visit the Historic Park Theatre and get a psychic reading by Psychic Medium Rebekah Blackburn. Bekah's Distracted Raven shop will also be available, featuring items like spooky dolls, health and wellness products, crystals and stones, and spirit-hunting merchandise.

Then, take a special Haunted Historic Tour of the theatre! Allow the owners to guide you through a journey back in time to 1913, where you'll learn about the history of the theatre, including ghost stories!

Finish out the night with a Ghost Hunt. The Historic Park Theatre is known to be one of the most haunted but friendly places you will ever go. Visit with the ghosts and get them to answer questions and play with you from the other side.  
 

Rocky's Backyard Ultra Race

October 14

Rocky's Backyard Ultra is a 4.167 mile trail loop consisting of a small section of gravel road and single track trails. The race runs on the YMCA of the Rockies campus bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. Take part in one of the most scenic, challenging and inclusive Backyard Ultra races in the world!
 

Haunted Objects Live at The Stanley

October 15

Are you ready to uncover the chilling true stories behind the world’s most haunted objects? Join Greg and Dana Newkirk (Travel Channel’s Kindred Spirits, Amazon Prime’s Hellier) for an interactive presentation that will leave you on the edge of your seat. As two of the world’s only full-time paranormal investigators, the Newkirks have spent their lives collecting and caring for cursed artifacts, possessed dolls, and other creepy artifacts said to exhibit supernatural activity. Now you can experience their spine-tingling true tales yourself!
 

Uncle Acid Live at The Stanley

October 18-20

The greatest bands exist out of necessity. Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats fit that description to a cobwebbed tee. Led by singer/guitarist Kevin Starrs, the Cambridge-born masters of occult doom and psychedelic brutality have carved their own singular furrow since 2009. If they didn’t exist, we would have to invent them.​​
 

Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival

October 21

The Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival, presented by Elkins Whisky, returns to the Estes Park Event Center Saturday, Oct. 21 from 1–4 p.m. This festival showcases the finest spirits the Colorado Rockies have to offer. Festival goers will receive a commemorative tasting glass to sample spirits from over 25 different craft distilleries, listen to live music, hear talks featuring industry experts, play bar games and much more.
 

The Shining Ball

October 21

Prepare to be mesmerized by an unforgettable evening of music, entertainment, and Halloween festivities in the enchanting ambiance of The Famous Stanley Concert Hall. Dance the night away and immerse yourself in the eerie world of 'The Shining' with their annual costume contest! Learn more.
 

The Shining 1980 Movie at Historic Park Theatre

Showings between October 22-31

Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren't prepared for the madness that lurks within. Catch a viewing of this iconic film that was inspired by The Stanley Hotel here in Estes Park.
 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Movie & Live Cast

October 28

Join the Historic Park Theatre for a live casted showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show performed by the No Picnic Northern Colorado cast alongside the movie screening. Sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named 'Rocky'.
 

Halloween Spooktacular Celebration

October 28-29

Join Bear & Bee Maker's Studio & Boutique for a family-friendly ghoulishly good time! This spooktacular event is the perfect Halloween celebration for boys and ghouls of all ages! Attend in costumes and enjoy games, spooky crafts, prizes, and so much more. Select your entry time and order your tickets today!
 

David Koechner Live at The Stanley

October 28

Actor, writer and producer David Koechner is well-known for his roles as Todd Packer on “The Office” and Champ Kind from “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.” Join The Stanley Hotel for this live stand-up comedy show followed by a Todd Packer trivia special!

Recurring Events:
 

Live Music at The Bull Pin

See website for dates

Bowl on into The Bull Pin for live music, games, food & drinks and a good time! 555 S Saint Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517; (970) 591-7771; EstesParkBowl.com
 

Open Mic Night at Avant Garde Aleworks

Every 1st & 3rd Wednesday

Calling all musicians, poets and performers! Come grab a beer before you take the stage and enjoy a night of live music in the taproom, hosted by local musician, Chris Theunissen. 920 Dunraven St, Estes Park, CO 80517; (970) 591-2700; avantgardealeworks.com
 

Latino Night at La Cabaña Mexican Bar & Grill 

Weekly on Saturdays

Join La Cabaña Mexican Bar & Grill every Saturday from 5-9 p.m. for dinner and a dance party. Dance to the tunes of bachata and reggaeton by Sonido Cali. 165 Virginia Dr., Estes Park, CO, 80517; lacabanabarandgrill.com
 

Live Magic at The Stanley

Most nights; Visit the website for details

Hidden beneath The Post Restaurant, upon the historic Stanley Hotel grounds, there is a secret subterranean theatre, where the greatest magicians in the world perform. Master Magician Aiden Sinclair, from the hit series America's Got Talent and Penn and Teller's Fool Us, has invited only the finest prestidigitators to appear in this enchanting new venue. Join them for an unforgettable and immersive experience that will inspire your imagination and kindle the wonder in your soul. 333 E. Wonderview Ave., Estes Park, CO, 80517; 970-290-2361; aidensinclairsunderground.com
 

Live Music at Twin Owls Steakhouse

Every Wednesday - Saturday

Enjoy live music every Wednesday - Saturday at the Twin Owls Steakhouse. Wednesdays starting at 6:30pm, listen to local bluegrass. Thursday - Saturday starting at 5:30pm, stop in for James Davis Spanish & Classical Guitar. For dining guests only, some exceptions apply. Call (970) 586-9344 to make a reservation. 3110 S. Saint Vrain Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517; (970) 586-9344; Taharaa.com/Twin-Owls-Steakhouse
 

Bingo Night at the American Legion Post 119

Weekly on Tuesdays

Enjoy a family-friendly bingo night at the American Legion, and play for cash prizes! Every Tuesday at 6 p.m. 850 N St Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517; (970) 586-6118; esteslegion.org
 

Weekly Classes at Inspired Artisan Market & Studio

Wednesdays - Sundays

From DIY Tie Dye Shirts and Fused Glass Necklaces to Felted Hummingbirds and Acrylic Pour Painting, Inspired Artisan Market & Studio offers no shortage of unique experiences for all ages. See their website for details.138 Moraine Ave., Estes Park, CO 80517; (970) 685-8818; inspiredartexperiences.com
 

Live Music at The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern 

Every week, rotating musicians

Originally a sandwich shop at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park and then evolved into a dance hall, The Rock Inn now boasts weekly live music paired with an ever-evolving food menu & full bar. 1675 State Highway 66, Estes Park, CO 80517; (970) 214 2953; rockinnestes.com
 

Check out our full list of events and book your next trip to Estes Park.
 

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