Fall Break Starts Monday: Your COS Family Guide for Oct 19–23

Fall break starts Monday for D11 and D49 families — five days off school, and depending on your kids' ages and your schedule, that could mean anything from a well-timed vacation to a week of trying to keep everyone occupied at home. Either way, Colorado Springs has more going on than you might expect.

Here's what to know heading into fall break week.

What's Happening During Fall Break

Boo at the Zoo — Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Boo at the Zoo runs October 23–24, which lands right at the end of fall break. This is one of the most popular family events of the season in Colorado Springs, and tickets are advance-only — they sell out. If you haven't already bought yours, check the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo website now.

The zoo transforms for the event with Halloween-themed activities, trick-or-treating stations, and character appearances. It's appropriate for all ages but especially strong for kids in the elementary range who are into Halloween without being scared of it.

Camp Creepy Crawlies — KOA Fountain

The KOA campground in Fountain is running Camp Creepy Crawlies October 23–25 — a Halloween-themed camping event that overlaps with the end of fall break and the weekend. If your family camps, or if you've been looking for a reason to try it, this is a fun low-stakes way to do it: organized activities, a festive setup, and a shorter drive than going into the mountains.

Bear Creek Nature Center

For a quieter, free option during the week, Bear Creek Nature Center is open for self-guided exploration. The trails are accessible and well-maintained, and fall is genuinely one of the better seasons to be out there — the foliage is past peak but still worth seeing, and the crowds are lighter than summer.

It's a good pick for families who need to fill a weekday without spending anything, especially for kids who do well with some unstructured outdoor time.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

The state park is open throughout fall break for hiking, picnicking, and nature exploration. There's a day-use fee, but Colorado state parks annual passes are available if you don't already have one. The Lower Talon Loop and Zook Loop trails are both accessible for families with kids of varying ages and fitness levels.

Indoor and Rainy-Day Options

Colorado Springs has solid indoor options for days when the weather or the mood doesn't cooperate:

• The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College has family-friendly programming
• The Western Museum of Mining and Industry (note: the Miners' Pumpkin Patch ran October 17, but the museum itself remains open)
• The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, which is free
• Rock climbing gyms offer day passes if your kids are into it

A Note on Planning

The events at the end of the week — Boo at the Zoo and Camp Creepy Crawlies — both benefit from advance planning. Boo at the Zoo requires tickets purchased in advance, and KOA events fill up quickly for the Halloween weekend. If those are on your list, handle the reservations before Monday.

For the middle of the week (Tuesday through Thursday), the city's free and low-cost outdoor options are your most flexible bet: no tickets, no reservations, just go.

What's Next

Fall break runs October 19–23 for D11 and D49 families. Boo at the Zoo runs October 23–24 (advance tickets required at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo website). Camp Creepy Crawlies at KOA Fountain runs October 23–25. Bear Creek Nature Center and Cheyenne Mountain State Park are open throughout the week for self-guided outdoor time.

Check individual venue websites for hours, pricing, and any updates before heading out.