KUSA — The season of fright is upon us.
Halloween candy has hit the grocery store shelves, spooky decorations are popping up in neighborhoods and the time for watching your favorite scary movie has arrived.
And for those of us who enjoy the thrill of being scared, Colorado is home to some scary haunted houses and other spooky events.
Check out our roundup of some of the best:
13th Floor Haunted House - Denver
The 13th Floor is giving guests a whole lot of fresh frights to enjoy this year. A haunted carnival, a super creepy orphanage, and a mini escape game are some of the highlights. This is one of Denver's most popular haunted houses, so buying tickets in advance is recommended. In previous years, the 13th Floor has been listed among the nation's best haunted houses.
Dead Zone Scream Park - Littleton
The Denver Botanic Gardens location at Chatfield Farms will be a place for all things spooky for 13 nights in October - especially if you love a dark, creepy corn maze. Guests can try out the Corn Stalkers Haunted Maze or try their chances at the After Dark Corn Maze, where the only guiding light is a flashlight or glow stick. Masks and costumes are not permitted.
City of the Dead & Asylum - Henderson
Two terrifying haunted houses are joining forces at the Mile High Flee Market this Halloween season. Guests can wander with the lost souls in the City of the Dead before exploring the sure-to-be creepy Asylum.
The Frightmare Compound - Westminster
The Frightmare Compound in Westminster has been scaring haunted house enthusiasts around the metro since 1986, but each new year offers a fresh array of horrors to witness.
Fright Fest at Elitch Gardens – Denver
Elitch Gardens is turning spooky for five weekends this Halloween season. Guestscan enjoy family activities by day before the amusement park transforms into a place where monsters, stalkers and mayhem are lurking around every corner. Fright Fest opens September 28 and runs Fridays, Saturday and Sundays through October 28.
Hellscream Haunted House - Colorado Springs
Hellscream Haunted House in Colorado Springs has a bunch of sinister offerings this Halloween season. In addition to a haunted house, guests can also try their luck at two different escape rooms – The Elevator or The Manor. If neither of those pique your interest, perhaps Zombie laser tag will.
Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion - Littleton
After a three year break, the Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion is back and ready to scare! To celebrate, there will be a grand opening event on September 29 featuring music, food trucks and food vendors.
Jack Lantern’s Northern Colorado Corn Maze - Fort Collins
You can make a day out of visiting this Halloween hot spot in Fort Collins. Younger kids can enjoy a pumpkin patch, corn maze, farm animals and bounce houses during the daylight hours. But at night, the corn maze transforms into a haunted place made of nightmares. Take a haunted hay ride to the maze for even more scares.
Telluride Horror Show – Telluride
Horror junkies are sure to love this spooky sounding festival taking place in Telluride October 12 through 14. Back for a 9th year, the festival will feature an eclectic mix of more than 20 feature films and 50 short films – many of which will be showing for the first time in the United States.
Creepy Walk in the Woods - Loveland
This one doesn’t exactly fit the category of a haunted house, but some would argue taking a walk through woods filled with hideous creatures is just about as creepy as it gets. Savage Woods is a haunted walk through the woods west of Loveland where you will never know what you might encounter. This adventure is not suitable for children under 11.
Haunted Field of Screams - Thornton
There's a lot going on this year at the Haunted Field of Screams near Riverdale Road (which has its own haunted history). The 30-acre corn field will be transformed into a scream park featuring four frightening attractions - Condemned, Zombie Paintball Massacre, Dead Man's Zone and CarnEvil.
The Molly Brown House in Cap Hill is getting in on the Halloween action with a spooky yet educational event of their own. The 25th annual Victorian Horrors features a theater set where each room is occupied by actors portraying spooky tales by Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and others. This popular event sells out quick, so get your tickets early!
Reaper’s Hollow - Parker
Just the thought of entering an old, dilapidated shack in the middle of a cornfield can send shivers down the spine. That's the haunted backdrop for Reaper's Hollow in Parker. Aside from that, they've added a new Goblins Grove attraction this year featuring a slew of grotesque creatures.
RELATED | A list of corn mazes in Colorado
Hell’s Trail - Avondale
Make your way through nearly a mile of haunted happenings at this attraction east of Pueblo. Throughout the journey, you’ll run into stuff scary enough to make you scream.
Haunted Forest - Highlands Ranch
The gates of the Backcountry Wilderness Area are turning sinister for two nights of haunted happenings in October. Discover what’s lurking behind every tree and bush in this three-quarter-mile journey. Those too scared to make the trek can enjoy an outdoor movie, hot chocolate and beer from Living the Dream Brewing Co. Tickets are sold in 30-minute increments to avoid a long wait.