Parties and pumpkins: How to celebrate Halloween in the Vail Valley

Even though Halloween is on Tuesday, there are already events going on to celebrate the spookiest time of the year. Whether you are going to get dressed up to the nines or want to spectate, here’s a partial list of happenings throughout the Vail Valley.

Friday

Pumpkin Carving Party – Alpine Arts Center

The Alpine Arts Center is hosting an all-ages pumpkin carving party from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bring your own pumpkin and they will provide tools and templates to help you create your own jack-o-lantern. Candy and “boo’s” will be on hand. The Art Bar will be open and beer, wine and champagne will be for sale. The cost is $25 and you can register at AlpineArtsCenter.org.

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Glow Flow Yoga – Athletic Club at the Westin Riverfront

This community yoga event will not only celebrates Halloween, but also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Athletic Club will provide the glow bracelets and necklaces and all attendees are encouraged to come dressed in Halloween costumes, so make sure you choose something you can wear while do yoga poses. There is a suggested $20 donation for the class and that goes directly to the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group. Class size is limited so advanced registration is recommended. To sign up, please call 970-790-2051 or book online at AthleticClubWestin.com.

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Kid’s Night Out Halloween Skate Party – Eagle Pool and Ice Rink

Children grades kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to the Eagle Pool and Ice Rink for Skating Club of Vail’s spooktacular skating event from 6 to 8 p.m. Come dressed up in your favorite costume and be ready to skate, play games, do crafts and more. $25 per child also includes dinner, skate fees and skate rentals. For more information, visit SkateClubVail.com.

Halloween and Flamenco Dance – Color Coffee

Head over for some fun in Eagle Ranch at a Halloween Costume Party and a Flamenco show with Dwende Flamenco at Color Roasters Coffee shop. There will be a contest for the best costume, music, the flamenco show and a nice selection of wine and food for purchase. The party will go from 5 to 10 p.m. and the flamenco show is from 7 to 8 p.m.

Southside Alley – Southside Benderz

A costume and pumpkin carving contest will be taking place at Southside Benderz in Avon. Wear your best costume and bring your pumpkin (already carved and ready to present) for your change to win $250 in gift cards for your creativity. Drinks specials include $4 pumpkin beer, $4 skeleton water, $7 orange wine, $7 spooky margs. The party goes from 7 to 10 p.m.

Eagle County Charter Academy’s Halloween Bash – The Hythe Vail  

Dress up for a good cause! Get ready for a spooktacular evening that supports dedicated teachers and staff at Eagle County Charter Academy. The Hythe will serve up some bites and drinks and the silent auction has some great items as well. Tickets are $65 per person. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and for more information, go to ECCA.org.  

Halloween Costume Party – Agave

Get your costumes ready for Friday night when Agave hosts its annual Halloween Costume Party. It pays to be creative when it could earn you $500. Live music will be provided by Schlep n’ Wolf, featuring band members Johnny Schleper, Jake Wolf, Rob Eaton, Jr. and Bob Masters. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the costume contest is at 11 p.m. Get tickets at AgaveAvon.com.

Saturday

Pumpkin Fest – Riverwalk Backyard

Enjoy this family friendly event benefiting the Family Learning Center. Sponsored by Riverwalk and Village Market, Pumpkin Fest will be complete with face painting, fun photos, yard games and a $5 suggested donation for pumpkins. Dress in your costume and do some trick-or-treating at the businesses throughout Riverwalk between 10 a.m. and noon.

Story Hour: “Gustavo the Shy Ghost” – The Bookworm

Bravo! Vail continues to celebrate Music Education Month this weekend with offerings for all ages. Bring the kids to the Bookworm to meet Gustavo, the main character in the book, “Gustavo the Shy Ghost.” This spooktacular bilingual story hour features readings of #1 New York Times bestseller “Gustavo the Shy Ghost” by Flavia Z. Drago, with special musical performances by Bravo! Vail’s Music Makers Haciendo Música students. The event starts at 10 a.m. and admission is free, but reservations are required through BravoVail.org.

Spooky Concerts with Bravo! Vail – Walking Mountains Science Center

If you listen closely, nature can create some pretty eerie sounds. To mimic that, Bravo! Vail Music Makers Haciendo Música students and staff from Walking Mountains Science Center present the sounds of the season with spooky concerts and nature music instruments from 1 to 4 p.m. This family-friendly, interactive event is free and no reservations are required. Visit walkingmountains.org for further information.

Fall fun Fest – 4 Eagle Ranch– Mountain Life Calvary Chapel

Grab your costumes and head out to 4 Eagle Ranch for a fun, festive, fall event for the whole family from 1 to 4 p.m. Games for all ages, inflatables, ax throwing for the older kids and adults and a whole lot of candy await. Family friendly costumes encouraged, no scary costumes please.

Halloween Funfest – Beaver Creek

Head up to Beaver Creek to roam the village and trick-or-treat at area merchants. Stick around for fun and games and a whole lot of pumpkins. Free parking in the garages this time of year but if they do fill up you can take the free shuttle buses to the village. The event is free and goes from 2 to 5 p.m.

Trunk-or-Treat – Edwards Interfaith Chapel

The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration has been hosting this event every year (even during COVID) to bring the community together during this festive time of year. People of all ages are welcome to came out for this creative way of trick-or-treating. Those interested are welcome pop their trunk and hand out candy, too. In addition to the candy, there will be Halloween music and other entertainment. It’s quick – just 4 to 5 p.m., so get there early to hit all the trunks full of candy.

Halloween Party – Ein Prosit

Stop by Ein Prosit for its inaugural Halloween party on Saturday night. There’s no cover charge and if you wear a costume, you get a free shot. There will be live music with Zane Zirkle and the party starts on the early side, going from 6 to 9 p.m., in case you have to get up early the next day or want to party hop.  

Funky Fright Fest – Second Street Bar

Wild Love Tigress will be rocking the new Second Street Bar in Eagle on Saturday night. Dressing up is highly encouraged and prizes will be given to the best ones. The band will play 1970s style funk and soul that they’re bringing into the 21st century, so dress to dance the night away.

Halloween Bash – Mango’s

Wear your costumes and head to Mango’s for a free Halloween Bash with live music with Bill McKay and Friends featuring Rob Eaton, Jr., Mark Levy and Todd Smallie. In addition to prizes for best costume, there will be a raffle for a pair of K2 Mindbender skis. Party starts at 8 p.m.

Minturn Community Fund Party – Minturn Saloon

After a lengthy renovation, the Minturn Saloon is back open and ready to reprise its role as a Halloween headquarters in Minturn. This Saturday, this iconic location will once again host not only a Halloween party but a fundraiser for the Minturn Community Fund’s Neighbors in Need program. Neighbors in Need is designed to assist Minturn residents in times of trouble. Enjoy live music by the Johnny Schleper Band. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door with all door proceeds going to the fund. In addition to prizes from area business for costumes, a Weston Snowboard will be given away. Come early and grab a bite off the regular menu and the party runs from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Halloween Party – El Segundo in Vail

Get your creative juices flowing for a good costume idea because it could win you $1,000 in prize money at El Segundo in Vail. DJ Stennor will spin the tunes. $20 cover at the door, doors open at 8 p.m. and the party goes until midnight.

 Sunday

Cupcakes and Canvas – Alpine Arts Center

‘Tis the season to paint a scarecrow. That will be the subject matter at Cupcakes and Canvas from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. An instructor will guide you through a step-by-step demonstration on how to paint a scarecrow. All supplies and cupcakes are included in the price and wine, beer and champagne can be purchased during the class. Register by going to AlpineArtsCenter.org.

Halloween Dance – United Methodist Church, Eagle

Kids ages 5 to 12 are invited to come to United Methodist Church in Eagle for a dance featuring black lights for an extra eerie feel. In addition of grooving to “Monster Mash” and other tunes, there will be a costume contest, food and games. This free event goes from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Rewind Halloween Party – Route 6 Cafe

Come in costume and ready to dance to the sounds of local favorites Rewind at the second annual Halloween party benefiting the Vail Valley Theatre Company. Best costume will earn a $300 cash prize. A $10 suggested donation will benefit the nonprofit theater group. If you have to work early on Monday, don’t worry, the event goes from 7 to 9 p.m.

Monday

Minturn Halloween – Minturn

Head to Minturn for its traditional Halloween celebration that happens downtown each year on the eve of Halloween. Start at Town Hall located at 302 Pine Street for Trick-or-Treating and photo ops. Candy available until 7:30 p.m. or until the candy runs out. The Bunkhouse will be featuring games, music and will treat those old enough to some adult beverages. Minturn’s Main Street is a great place to go trick-or-treating and many residents go over the top decorating their front yards.  

Tuesday

Trick-or-Treat Trot – Vail

On Halloween, the Trick-or-Treat Trot is a great opportunity for kids from infants up to 10 years old to wear their costumes and roam the streets of Vail and Lionshead from 2 to 5 p.m. Participating merchants will have an orange jack-o-lantern leaf bag outside their front door. Trick-or-treating may begin in Lionshead or Vail Village. The Trick or Treat Trot takes place rain, snow or shine! Participants are asked to bring their own reusable bags.

Halloween at the Vail Public Library
Stop by the Vail Public Library for some fun events like the Halloween-themed story time and puppet show with Sandy Fuller Ferguson at 1 p.m., so head over there before the Trick-or-Treat Trot.

Miller Ranch

Although there’s no organized event in Miller Ranch, a neighborhood near Battle Mountain High School in Edwards, it really is a Halloween scene each year. Kids from up valley and down valley make the trip to this community that is set up perfectly for trick-or-treating with the houses all in a row and close to the street and driveways in the back. The decorations are taken to a whole new level in Miller Ranch, too. If you are new to Miller Ranch, be sure to stock up on candy for this big event.

Resurrection Party – Minturn Saloon

The newly renovated Minturn Saloon is getting back into the Halloween Spirit and is not only hosting the Minturn Community Fund’s party on Saturday, it’s also hosting its Resurrection Party on Halloween night. Come ready to dance to the Evolution band playing from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. There will be a costume contest, drink specials and bar snacks in this historic building that has been around since 1901.