Celebrate the season with these local fall festivals

Oct. 7—Southeast Wyoming may not have the climate allowing for a fall foliage tour, but residents do have ample opportunity to visit local ranches and venues for their fall festivals.

The seasons have changed here in Laramie County, and it's time to gather the family, don your thickest flannel shirt and head out to the local pumpkin patch for a day on the farm.

Here are some of the best options in fall activities in the region, with some added Halloween attractions to cap off the month.

Laramie County

Whitt's End Fall FestivalOne of the newest fall festivals to be offered in Laramie County is the Whitt's End Fall Festival, hosted by the Whitt family at Whitt's End Cattle Depot.

The locally owned ranch at 1249 Happy Jack Road is hosting a pumpkin patch with family friendly events like bounce houses, a petting zoo, corn hole, tug 'o war, a hay maze, mutton bustin' competition, goat roping competition, ribbon pull competition and more. There will also be a local vendors in addition to the Whitt's End farm stand, stocked with their own meat and dairy products.

This fall festival is open Fridays, 2-7 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. through Oct. 29. Entry is $10 per person, or $40 per family.

Windy Creek Farm Autumn FestAnother new festival is found at Windy Creek Farm and Nursery on 3700 Campstool Road.

With similar attractions to the Whitt's End Fall Festival, the folks at Windy Creek are hosting their event on Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, noon-5 p.m. until Oct. 22. Attractions include a pumpkin patch, scarecrow dressing contest, a kids zone — featuring a kiddy train, hay pyramid and hay maze — pumpkin sling and pumpkin smash on the final day.

There will also be food trucks and local vendors on site. Entry is donation based, with each weekend supporting a local organization. Pumpkins are sold by the pound, and entry into the hay maze has an added charge. Cash only.

Fall on the FarmIf you're looking to support a local school, the second Fall on the Farm event in Laramie County is held at the Event Center at Archer.

Hosted in part by the local FFA chapter and SkillsUSA to benefit Cheyenne's East High School, this event features a pumpkin patch, horse rides, tractor rides, petting zoo, farm games, local vendors and food and drink. The event is held on Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 22.

Entry is $5 per person.

Pine Bluffs Fall FestivalUnlike the other fall festivals in Laramie County, the town of Pine Bluffs is dedicating just one day to the season with its own celebration.

Despite being a brief celebration, there will be plenty to do during the festival hours on Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., held at the Pine Bluffs Community Center on 708 Lawson Street. During the festival, families have access to a pumpkin patch, hay rides, petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting and a truck and tractor show. The first 125 kids in attendance have the opportunity to pick a free pumpkin.

In addition to these events, there will be an air link helicopter at 11:30 a.m. and a Cheyenne Police Department and Laramie County Sheriffs Office working dogs demonstration at 1 p.m. A local vendor fair will be open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Albany County

Laramie Fall Fest

The largest fall fest in Albany County is a one day event held Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Albany County Fair Grounds.

The trip to Laramie is worth the effort for Cheyenne residents, as the Laramie Fall Fest features more than 50 games and activities for families, along with baking competitions, pumpkin chucking, a costume contest (and dog costume contest), pie eating competitions, chili cook-off and more.

The festival is free and open to the public.

Northern Colorado

The Bartels Farm

Just across the Wyoming-Colorado border is one of the premier pumpkin patches in the region.

One benefit of visiting The Bartels Farm, established in 1905, is that it's open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. everyday until Oct. 31. This is a particularly good option for visitors of all ages, with a pick-your-own-vegetables garden, a pumpkin patch, farm animals, green chili roast, local vendors and concessions, photography sessions, corn maze ($5) and hay rides ($2).

Admission is free. Visit the farm at 3424 E. Douglas Road, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Something from the Farm

Travel a little farther south of Fort Collins to visit Something from the Farm, a four generation, family owned pumpkin patch.

Like The Bartels Farm, this pumpkin patch is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (10 a.m. opening on Sundays) through Oct. 31. They offer hay rides, a hay maze, a pumpkin trebuchet ($7), gourd cannon ($4) and plenty of vendors.

The farm is located at 8020 S. Timberline Road.

Oh, the horror!

Knights of Pythias "Nightmare on 17th Street"

What about Halloween events? The go-to attraction in Cheyenne is still "Nightmare on 17th Street," a three-story, 14-room haunted house run by the local Knights of Pythias organization for more than 30 years.

The haunted house is run entirely through volunteer efforts, with proceeds from ticket sales donated to different local charities and organizations throughout the years. Volunteers are serious about this annual event, beginning preparations in spring and outfitting their home-base at 312 1/2 E. 17th Street for optimal scaring.

Hours of operation are 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with an additional "Blackout Night" on Halloween. Tickets are $17.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadow Cast

Finally, there's the alternative-cultural staple of the Halloween season.

This annual tradition, hosted by Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, brings people together under one flag — the cult classic musical, Rocky Horror Picture Show. Actors take the stage in the Historic Atlas Theatre and perform as the film is screened behind them, leading callouts, prop-gags and more.

If you've yet to experience a live screening of Rocky Horror, this is a good place to do it, just make sure you have thick skin.

Shows are held on Oct. 27-28, 7 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Will Carpenter is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's Arts and Entertainment/Features Reporter. He can be reached by email at wcarpenter@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3135. Follow him on Twitter @will_carp_.