COS Fall Family Events: Bark at Briargate, CMZoo's Last Centennial Days, Free Movies, and More

The calendar is filling up fast this week in Colorado Springs, and a few of the best family events are free or already included in things you might already have planned. Here's what's happening — and why this particular weekend is worth marking.

CMZoo Centennial — Last Days Through September 20

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's centennial celebration wraps up this Sunday, September 20. If you've been meaning to catch the vintage car showcase and live music programming that's been part of the Centennial week and haven't made it out yet, this weekend is your last opportunity. The Centennial programming is included with regular zoo admission — there's no separate ticket needed. The new International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe (which opened just this past Monday) is worth the visit on its own, with 11 feeding zones and a dramatically expanded outdoor yard for the giraffe herd.

Free Outdoor Movies — Every Saturday This Month and Next

The Schoolyard's free outdoor movie series runs every Saturday evening through September and into October. The format is simple and beloved: bring your own lawn chairs, dogs are welcome on leash, and there are concessions available on site. The screenings happen under the Colorado night sky, which in late September means a chill in the air that makes it feel appropriately cinematic. It's one of those free family activities that's easy to undervalue until you're actually sitting there with your kids watching a movie outdoors — and then you wonder why you don't do it every week.

North Slope Recreation Area — Make Fall Fishing Plans Now

Crystal Reservoir and the North Slope Recreation Area close for the fishing season on October 18. That's about five weeks away, which feels like enough time but tends to sneak up fast once school and fall activities take over the schedule. If fishing is something your family enjoys, this is a good moment to put a North Slope trip on the calendar for early October before the window closes. The mountain reservoir setting in autumn, when the aspens are turning, is hard to beat.

What's Next

It's a dense week for Colorado Springs families. The airshow on Saturday and Sunday, Bark at Briargate on Saturday, CMZoo's final Centennial days — and all of it sitting alongside the regular fall rhythm of school, sports, and activities. For more on what's coming up in Colorado Springs, the full events calendar is at visitcos.com and coloradosprings.macaronikid.com for family-specific programming.