6 Minute Read
Photo: Bobby Segurola
Fall is calling — and Grand Junction is ready to answer. Spend the season embracing crisp air, golden colors, and the joy of tradition. Navigate corn mazes, visit playful barnyard friends, relax on a hayride, and watch a Food Network-famous artist transform pumpkins into incredible works of art!
Classic Fall Adventures
Peachfork Orchards & Vineyard:
Wednesday – Monday 12:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Varies
While the Palisade Peach season has wrapped up for the year, apple picking is in full swing. Stroll among trees filled with Jonathan, Gala, Fuji and Pink Lady apples at Peachfork Orchards & Vineyard and pick the reddest, crispest apples you can find. Enjoy the sweet crunch of your harvest, then fill a basket to take some home!
Studt Farms:
October 1 – October 31, 2026. Tuesdays – Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Fridays, 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Cost: General Admission Tickets are $22.85 on weekdays (Tuesday - Thursday) and $22.85 on weekends (Friday - Sunday). Children 2 and under are free. Weekend Farm Fun Unlimited is $33.24. Other activities include additional charges.
Ranked as one of the best pumpkin patches in the country by Fox, Studt Farms is a favorite fall experience in Grand Junction for both locals and guests. Beyond the expected classics like a giant pumpkin patch and horse-drawn hayrides, Studt Farms is a playground packed with an abundance of autumn adventures. Hop in and race in the straw bale track on pedal cars, cheer for your favorite pig at the races, or test your direction in the corn maze or your aim with the corn cannons. Walk through the bird aviary, where colorful native and exotic birds are on display to view in a natural environment. Don’t forget the petting zoo where furry friends are looking to be loved on. There's more! They also have pony rides, three giant in-ground bouncy pumpkin inflatables, kiddie horse swings, obstacle course, hay mountain slides, face painting, and an animal barrel train for the kiddos. We are not done yet! Kiddos can be a prospector and pan for gemstones and ride a mechanical bull (age 5+). This is a must-do fall adventure!
Moon Farm:
September 25 – October 31, 2026, Open Every Day, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Admission is a $8 suggested donation per person ages four and older
Moon Farm is another fall favorite and has been around for over 50 years. What started as a family playhouse project has expanded to include over 30 exhibits, from a gingerbread house to a Spanish castle and even a house that’s shaped like a shoe! While many whimsical exhibits are open most of the year (April – October), Moon Farm also creates new fall activities and attractions to keep things fresh and engaging. If you’re looking for a good scare, weave your way through the haunted straw maze, cautiously walk the haunted castle or sneak around the creepy clown house. For those just looking to enjoy a beautiful Grand Junction fall day, Moon Farm also provides hayrides and a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own jack-o-lantern.
Autumn Events
Grand Junction Air Show
October 3 & 4, 2026
Cost: General admission tickets are $34.29 for adults, $13.89 for children ages 5–12 and $18.99 for veterans. Children 4 and under are free with a paid adult.
Photo by Steve Traudt
Fall brings an unforgettable sight to Grand Junction as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels return for the Grand Junction Air Show on October 3 & 4, 2026. Look skyward as the team’s signature blue-and-gold jets fly in tight formations and perform impressive maneuvers above Grand Junction. The weekend also features the U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demo Team, the Navy Leap Frogs parachute team, historic aircraft and experiences on the ground. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or experiencing an air show for the first time, it’s a fall weekend that brings aviation to life in Grand Junction. Be sure to reference the “know before you go” details noted on the official Grand Junction Air Show website.
Water Lights at Night and Stories in the Sky Drone Show
October 10, 2026
Cost: Water lantern kits, which include a lantern, LED tea light and marker, are $8 in advance or six for $42. Individual lantern kits are $10 the day of the event. The drone show is free.
Photo by Shannon Crismon
Gather with family and friends for an evening of reflection, creativity and light at Water Lights at Night at Butterfly Pond in Las Colonias Park. Decorate a water lantern with messages, drawings or memories, then watch as hundreds of lanterns are released onto the Butterfly Pond at sunset, filling the water with a warm glow. Attendance is free, and food trucks will be on-site.
Stay after the lantern release for the Grand Junction America 250 – Colorado 150 Stories in the Sky Drone Show. Hundreds of drones will illuminate the night sky in a choreographed display set to the music of John Denver, celebrating 250 years of the United States and 150 years of Colorado. As part of Colorado’s statewide America 250 – Colorado 150 commemoration, the display adds a once-in-a-generation celebration to an already memorable Grand Junction evening.
Palisade Open Studio Tour
October 10 & 11, 2026
Cost: Free
Photo by Spun Studio and Supply
Step inside the creative process during the Palisade Open Studio Tour. Spend the weekend exploring working studios and creative spaces throughout Palisade, where you can meet artists, see where their work comes to life and discover everything from paintings and pottery to photography and more. Along the way, watch demonstrations, browse artwork available for purchase and experience art in unexpected places, including local wineries, orchards and businesses. The self-guided format lets you choose the artists and locations that interest you and experience the tour at your own pace.
Fall at the Gardens: Harvest Illuminated
October 22 - 24, 2026, Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
Cost: $21.50 for adults 18 years and older, $11.50 for children 6-17 years old & seniors 65+, children five years old and under are FREE
As one of the premier pumpkin carving and lighting events, Fall at the Gardens Harvest Illuminated hosts some of the most renowned food artists and carvers in the country – one of whom continues to compete as a contestant on Food Network’s “Outrageous Pumpkins” – the famous Willy Tuz. Join in on the fun as this Grand Junction local and professional sculptor takes pumpkin carving to the next level. This event includes live carving demonstrations of a jack-o-lantern masterpiece that is carved before your eyes. The Western Colorado Botanical Gardens shine bright with illuminated gardens, giving new life to the beauty of the botanicals that decorate this space. Plan to join and leave with new carving techniques or just capture some great photos of a real-life TV star creating works of art that will blow your mind!
Downtown Spooktacular
October 24, 2026, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Cost: FREE
There’s nothing like seeing how excited the kiddos get when planning their Halloween costume, let alone an actual night of trick or treating. Downtown Grand Junction doubles the fun with the annual Downtown Trick or Treat Spooktacular, where bushels of candy are handed out and little ones beam in their disguises. Main Street is closed off from traffic so kiddos can safely run around filling up their bags while enjoying the live performances that are arranged for this spooky celebration. Create lasting memories your kids will talk about long after the last piece of candy is gone. Arrive a little early and treat yourselves to dinner before the festivities begin!
With so many seasonal events happening throughout September and October, it’s the perfect time to grab your flannel, gather your family, and dive into fall fun while surrounded by the breathtaking views and vibrant colors in the Grand Junction area.
Grand Junction always has an abundance of events, concerts, and festivals throughout the year, so join us for these exciting activities as well!
Check out the Official Grand Junction Adventure Guide for more fall activities, including the best spots to see fall foliage around Grand Junction—found on pages 13 and 30!
