Things to Do with Kids in Colorado Springs This Weekend (Oct. 2–4, 2026)

October arrived in Colorado Springs this week, and the first full weekend of the month is packed. From a free science carnival at UCCS to pumpkin picking at a historic farm, there's no shortage of reasons to get outside with the family. Here are five picks worth adding to your calendar.

1. Cool Science Carnival at UCCS

Saturday, Oct. 3 | 10 AM–4 PM | FREE
UCCS campus, Colorado Springs

The Cool Science Festival kicks off its 2026 run with its annual Carnival Day at UCCS, and it's one of the best free events the city offers all fall. Dozens of hands-on stations cover rockets, slime, robots, live animals, and more — all designed with K–8 learners in mind. It runs from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, and admission is completely free.

This is the flagship event of a larger 16-day festival running through Oct. 18. We've got a full rundown of the festival's other events later this week, but if you can only make one stop, Saturday at UCCS is the one to prioritize.

2. Rock Ledge Ranch Harvest Festival

Saturday, Oct. 3 | 10 AM–4 PM
3105 Gateway Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 | (719) 578-6777

Rock Ledge Ranch hosts its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday. Set on a working historic ranch at the base of the Garden of the Gods, it's a genuinely beautiful fall outing. Admission runs $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and military, $6 for youth ages 3–17, and free for children under 2. Pumpkins are available for $6 each.

It's the kind of event that's easy to spend a few hours at — the setting alone makes it worth the trip.

3. Venetucci Farm Pumpkin Festival

Saturday–Sunday | 9:30 AM–4 PM (Fridays: 9:30 AM–2:30 PM)
5210 S US Highway 85, Colorado Springs, CO 80911 | venetuccifarm.org

Venetucci Farm's pumpkin season is running through October, and the weekend hours are generous — 9:30 AM to 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 for ages 8 and up, and pumpkins are $10 each. The farm has been a Colorado Springs tradition for generations, and it holds up year after year as a reliable fall outing for families with kids of any age.

It's worth going early to avoid lines later in the day.

4. Ghost Stories of Old Manitou — Opening Weekend

Thursday–Friday, Oct. 2–3 | 5:30 PM
517 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs | manitouspringsheritagecenter.org

The Manitou Springs Heritage Center launches its annual Ghost Stories of Old Manitou series this weekend. The evening storytelling events run at 5:30 PM on Oct. 2 and 3. Tickets are $18.84 for adults, and children under 10 are free. It's a genuinely atmospheric way to ease into October for older kids and adults — eerie, but not scary in a cheap way.

5. Concrete Couchella

Thursday–Friday, Oct. 2–3 | FREE
Near Downtown Colorado Springs

Concrete Couchella returns this week with two days of live music, art installations, games, activities, and food in an approximately 8-acre park near Downtown Colorado Springs. It's completely free and designed to be family-friendly throughout. Whether you're looking for a low-key evening out or a full afternoon with kids in tow, it's a solid option to close out the weekend on a budget.

Find More This Weekend

For a broader look at what's happening in Colorado Springs this weekend, the full list of things to do with kids in Colorado Springs this weekend on Springs Daily is updated weekly with family-focused picks. If you're watching the budget, the free things to do this weekend roundup is a reliable place to start. And for everything happening this weekend across the city, Springs Daily's full community calendar has you covered.

What's Next

The Cool Science Festival runs through Oct. 18 with events at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, Ivywild School, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. We'll have a full guide to the festival's lineup later today.

Next weekend brings more fall options across Colorado Springs — check back Friday for the Oct. 9–11 family guide.