Things to Do with Kids in Colorado Springs This Weekend (September 11–13)

September is settling in, the back-to-school rush is officially over, and this weekend is an excellent one to get outside with your family. The weather in Colorado Springs this time of year tends to hold — sunny days, cooler mornings, and that fall light that makes everything look a little warmer than it actually is. Here's what's worth putting on your calendar for September 11 through 13.

Sunday: Pikes Peak Youth Fishing Derby at Crystal Creek Reservoir

If you have a kid between ages 6 and 15, Sunday is a great morning to head out to Crystal Creek Reservoir for the Pikes Peak Youth Fishing Derby. The event is free, the setting is beautiful, and it's exactly the kind of outdoor experience that sits in kids' memories well after the weekend is over.

Crystal Creek Reservoir is southwest of Colorado Springs, at the base of Pikes Peak — the views alone are worth the drive. Bring your own equipment if you have it, but check with event organizers about gear lending if you're newer to fishing. Kids don't need to catch anything for the morning to feel like a win.

Free Options All Weekend

The free things to do this weekend in Colorado Springs are plentiful this time of year, and several are as good as any ticketed event on the list.

Monument Valley Park is at its most pleasant in September — cooler than July, but still green, with the fountain running and plenty of room to run. Garden of the Gods remains free, and the visitor center is worth a stop. The Pikes Peak Greenway Trail is a good option if your family has bikes, running strollers, or just wants a flat, easy walk. For younger kids, the Pikes Peak Library District branches have weekend programming and drop-in story times — check the library calendar for your closest location.

For the full list of things to do with kids in Colorado Springs this weekend, Springs Daily keeps an up-to-date guide that covers events across the region. If free is your priority, their free things to do this weekend page is the place to start. For everything happening across the city, their everything happening this weekend roundup covers it. And for the complete full list of things to do with kids in Colorado Springs this weekend, Springs Daily has you covered.

What's Next

The weekends ahead in September and October fill up fast. Next weekend brings the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on September 19 and 20, plus the final Dahlia Days window at Gather Mountain Blooms. October adds Monster Jam, Oktoberfest, the Emma Crawford Coffin Races in Manitou Springs, and pumpkin weekends at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. We'll have a full October preview and a weekly roundup every Thursday. See you out there.