Colorado Parent October 2021

October 2021

Growing Great Families Since 1986

Halloween in the City 60+ Ways To Celebrate the Season Around Denver

Spooky Cute Treats To Make and Share 84 Top Pediatricians in Denver and Beyond Toys To Keep Kids Active This Fall 70 Ideas for Family Fun

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PUBLISHING FAMILY PUBLISHING FAMILY

ColoradoParent.com

Busy fall schedules mean family time can be hard to come by. Gaylord Rockies makes quality time easy with meals to share and fun activities to enjoy,

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2020

2020

CONTENTS October 2021 features

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Looking for an outstanding pediatrician?

Check out the 84 doctors—in 26 specialties—that made our list this year.

Your complete guide to finding the perfect fall festival or Halloween event.

HALLOWEEN & HARVEST HAPPENINGS

TOP PEDIATRICIANS 2021

departments 6

ON THE WEB

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FROM THE EDITORS

The latest tips and news on ColoradoParent.com

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Lessons Learned

GOOD TO KNOW

Denver Art Museum Reimagined

14

LET’S GO

16

READ TO ME

17

SOLUTIONS

GOOD STUFF

20

FUN & ACTIVITIES

22

HEALTH & WELLNESS

24

FAMILY FOOD

46

ROUNDUP

Purgatory Ski Resort

Books about Doctor Visits

Toys to Keep Kids Active This Fall

Sweet as Candy Candles

Clear the Air

Hauntingly Adorable Halloween Treats

Storybook Trails

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Our monthly roundup of local events, featuring virtual and in-person activities around town.

Reviewing Manners That We Let Slide During the Pandemic

on the cover

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18 Toys to Keep Kids Active This Fall | 24 Spooky Cute Treats 26 84 Top Pediatricians in Denver and Beyond | 30 Halloween in the City 39 70 Ideas for Family Fun

Colorado Parent | October 2021

Cover: Alex, photographed at Chatfield Farms

by Heather Smith. fortuitousphotography.com

Corn Maze: Scott Dressel-Martin.

2020

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On the Web

Colorado Parent Online Autumn hikes:: Tyler Stableford/Getty Images. Mocktails: Getty Images. Teen logo: Youth Celebrate Diversity. Halloween: Heather Gaumer.

What Do Colorado Teens Care About?

Leaders from the Youth Celebrate Diversity virtual board are sharing insight into teen perspectives on their new podcast.

Game Day Mocktails for Kids Football is back! Think outside the (juice) box with these tasty drink recipes for little sports fans.

How To Pull Off Four Weeks of Halloween Fun

Family Guide To Fall in Colorado

Treats, crafts, and activities for your family to enjoy this holiday season.

Discover stunning autumn hiking trails, seasonal activities, local events, and more inspiration to kickstart your fall.

CONNECT WITH US

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

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Sign up for our E-NEWSLETTER at ColoradoParent.com

Where

our worlds come together.

WeAreAmazingTogether.com

When parents come together with the doctors, nurses and staff at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC), we can make amazing things happen. RMHC is a leader in providing comprehensive care for your child. With board certified pediatric specialists, we lead the way in: • • • • • •

Minimally invasive surgery Neonatal intensive care Adult congenital heart disease Pediatric cardiology ENT Sleep Medicine

• • • • •

24/7 Pediatric emergency department Cancer care Orthopedics and sports medicine Gastroenterology Neurology

And we’ve been voted Family Favorite by the readers of Colorado Parent Magazine five years in a row!

Need a doctor or have a question for a nurse?

Call our First Call for Children nurse line at 303-563-3300.

From the Editors

What We Learned…

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LO V

EDITORIAL edit@coloradoparent.com Editor Deborah Mock Senior Associate Editor Kara Thompson Editorial Assistant Anna Sutterer Copy Editor Lydia Rueger

Indulge this month with these tasty (and adorably creepy) Halloween desserts.

ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Brigette Swartz brigette@coloradoparent.com Account Manager Hilary Angel hilary@coloradoparent.com

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TRENDING

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PRODUCTION Art Director Heather Gaumer

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Candy corn takes over the spotlight in October. If you’re not a fan of the sugary snack, try making these festive candles instead. Page 20

Denver’s air quality was among the worst this summer. Combat the dust, ash, and smoke outside by following these tips. Page 22

CAN’T WAIT With fall in the air, we are excited to visit the storybook trails around Denver. These interactive paths are lined with displays showing pages from children’s books that you can read as you walk along the trail. Page 46

BRAND SERVICES Brand Services Director Carly Lambert Print Operations Director Megan Skolak Creative Services Manager Chelsea Conrad Digital Advertising Manager Shundra Jackson Graphic Designer Caitlin Brooks Production Coordinator Alyssa Chutka Design Coordinator Mylie Hiraoka Advertising and Marketing Coordinator Tamara Curry Creative Services Intern Dzifah Danso MARKETING Director of Marketing Piniel Simegn ADMINISTRATION Billing and Collections Manager Jessica McHeard circulation@coloradoparent.com Printed by Publication Printers Please recycle this magazine.

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YOU SAID IT Respect everyone’s views and opinions, whether you agree with them or not, and don’t criticize them in comments or DMs. —Michelle Ellis, mom of two from Denver. Read more on page 17.

Share your feedback and ideas! Email us at edit@coloradoparent.com.

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Section icons: Getty Images.

Halloween is just around the corner! To help you celebrate, we’ve put together a list of local fall festivals, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and Halloween parties you won’t want to miss. Rally your family, bundle up, and prepare for some good old seasonal fun. Page 30

E

Things that inspired this issue, and what our editors discovered along the way.

Colorado Parent | October 2021

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COVID-19 CHANGED OUR LIVES. YOU MIGHT BE ...

Juggling work from home with remote school for your children.

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Or you may be experiencing something else. WE’VE ALL BEEN AFFECTED.

GET FREE + ANONYMOUS SUPPORT TODAY! Our crisis counselors are here for you. The Colorado Spirit Crisis Counseling Program is a free and anonymous program with trained crisis counselors who are people from the community, just like you. Our counselors can connect you to community resources, help you develop coping strategies to manage and reduce your stress, and teach you how to recognize and support the reactions your children may be having.

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October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Good to Know HELPFUL NEWS, IDEAS, AND TIPS FOR COLORADO PARENTS

Denver Art Museum: Eric Stephenson.

Denver Art Museum Expanded and Reimagined After a four year closure, Denver Art Museum’s Sie Welcome Center and Lanny and Sharon Martin Building reopens this month with a stylish renovation.

The new elliptical glass welcome space offers more than 12,000 square feet of classrooms and multi-use space for events and programs for all ages, plus two new dining options; Café Gio for casual fare ($5 to $20) and indoor/outdoor seating, or The Ponti for a locally sourced and seasonally inspired menu ($10 to $35). History buffs and art nerds big and small can also enjoy windows that allow a peek into the art conservation laboratory, where museum conservators preserve works and prepare them for exhibition. The sensory garden outside offers seating with a view of plants chosen for their beauty, tactile elements, and aromatic appeal.

Don’t miss the Ellen Bruss Design Studio, where guests can design and create their own button to wear and engage in other design programming throughout the year. Ascend to level three to see the reinstalled Latin American Art gallery featuring animations that bring origin stories of the Americas to life, plus opportunities to create your own symbols and add them to a collective work inspired by textiles. The Textile Art and Fashion galleries on level six exhibit rotating presentations, and guests can visit the adjacent Nancy Lake Benson Thread Studio for activities that teach about the role of textiles in daily life across time and around the world.

The north building reopens to the public on October 24, with a free general admission day and creative activities for visitors of all ages. Kids under age 18 are free everyday throughout the DAM campus. denverartmuseum.org/en/martin-building-project —Anna Sutterer

October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

11

Good to Know

Child in costume: Vladimir Vladimirov/Getty Images. Drawing: Layla Stark. Project AIRE: Cultivando.

The 2019 winning design from Layla Stark of Broomfield.

Hey, Junior Costume Designers!

Here’s your child’s opportunity to win a Cirque Dreams Holidaze prize package.

As part of the 2021 holiday lineup at Gaylord Rockies Resort, the destination hotel is hosting Cirque Dreams Holidaze, a performance filled with elaborate sets, spectacular acts, and dazzling costumes.

The Gaylord is giving Colorado kids a chance to design a costume inspired by the show. The child who submits the winning entry will receive four tickets to the Cirque Dreams Holidaze performance on December 2, and an overnight stay at the Gaylord Resort.

Open to Colorado kids ages five to 12, the deadline for entry is 5 p.m. on October 29, 2021. Visit updates.gaylordhotels.com/ CostumeContest to download the contest entry form and official rules.

What Do You Know About Denver’s Haunted History?

Looking for some spooky stories in time for Halloween? The Ghostly Tales of Denver by Shelli Timmons takes young readers on an eerie journey through the city’s haunted streets. Here are two popular spots that have gruesome vibes.

THE CAPITOL’S FLOATING HEAD Beware! At least one ghost calls the capitol building his home, and to make things even more chilling, he gets around with only his head. That’s right, the ghost’s haunted head floats through the hallways.

The noggin supposedly belongs to one of the famous Espinosa brothers, who were known for committing frightful crimes in the 1800s. Some startled visitors claim you can see both of their heads bobbing through the hallways.

HAUNTINGS AT THE OXFORD HOTEL The Oxford was built in 1891, making it the oldest

hotel in Denver, and one thing that we know for sure is that ghosts love old buildings. Head to the ladies’ room in the basement and you just might cross paths with one filthy ghost who has a scraggly beard and tangled hair. As soon as you scream, he’ll disappear!

Even spookier: You can sometimes detect a ghost’s presence by smell. The Oxford is a non-smoking property, but if you stop by the ballroom, you might catch a whiff of cigar smoke when no one else is around. Legends claim that the aroma comes from lingering ghosts who break the rules.

Read more creepy stories in The Ghostly Tales of Denver.

Ideal for kids ages 8-12. $13, barnesandnoble.com —Kara Thompson

Call to Residents: Help Air Pollution Monitoring Families in Commerce City, Globeville, and ElyriaSwansea are concerned about toxic air pollution from their neighbor, Suncor Energy, a Canadian oil refinery. The company violated multiple regulations, and as a result had to pay $9 million in a March 2020 settlement with Colorado regulators.

Project AIRE (Air Quality Investigation and Research for Equity) is a research program funded by the settlement. Cultivando, the project’s leading organization, invites community members to get involved, with compensation.

Participants will receive a home-based air monitor that would test for 50-plus pollutants that could be linked to Suncor emissions. Colorado universities and health professionals will also provide folks in the area with surveys to gather information about health impacts. Starting next semester, high school students in Adams County will have an internship opportunity in which they will aid data collection, engage in workshops, and learn from guest speakers in environmental justice. cultivando.org —Anna Sutterer

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

Unplug and connect this winter.

Estes Park Center Snow Mountain Ranch

ymcarockies.org LODGING | ACTIVITIES | PET-FRIENDLY

October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

13

Good to Know | Let’s Go

Ski Purgatory Resort Discover affordable family time on the slopes.

By Courtney Holden VIBE: Low-key, fun-focused opportunity for kids to catch the skiing and snowboarding bug TRAVEL TIME: Just over 7 hours from Denver (including bathroom breaks); you’ll want to plan your trips ahead of time.

TIP: If you regularly ski Purgatory and you have a tiny tot who will need supervision at the lodge, opt for the Parent Share Pass. The season pass allows two parents with a child age three or younger to hand off one single pass rather than buy two separate ones.

Kids ski free at Purgatory resort throughout the 2021-22 season

Offering a bit of adventure, a whole lot of outdoor time, and options for novices and experts alike, ski trips have long been considered a quintessential family vacation. Yet after factoring in the expense of gear, lessons, and lift tickets, a family outing to the slopes might be fun in theory, but cost-prohibitive in reality. Purgatory Ski Resort offers the Power Kids Pass to change that.

The updated season pass grants free, unlimited skiing and riding to all kids age 12 and under, with no blackout days and no deadline for purchase—it’s the only season pass in North America like it. For adults, Purgatory does demand-based pricing with discounts during the slower days, and for buying your tickets in advance online, starting at $49. “At the end of the day, we want to remove barriers for families to make sure that kids can get on the slopes,” says Amanda Anderson, Purgatory’s director of marketing.

LAY OF THE LAND Situated just over 30 minutes north of Durango, Purgatory Resort features 12 lifts and 105 trails across 1,635 skiable acres—more than half of it beginner- and intermediate-friendly terrain.

Given the ski destination’s off-the-beaten-path location, lift lines are rarely an issue.

PLAY ALL DAY Purgatory’s centrally located base area makes it easy for families to collect their tickets, pick up the kids’ rental equipment, hit the bathroom, and then jump on a lift. The Twilight, Columbine, or Graduate lifts take you to a bevy of beginner-friendly options. When the family is ready for après-ski, grab a beverage from the Bear Bar & Grill and enjoy some afternoon rays in one of the Adirondack chairs on Purgatory Beach, the expanse between Purgatory Express and Twilight lifts. purgatory.ski

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

Convenient resort dining on the Village Plaza or in the lodge includes anything from pizza and burgers to tacos and salads. A variety of kids meals are available for under $10.

For a mid-morning treat, hit the Waffle Cabin for warm waffles (with or without the chocolate drizzle), hot cocoa, hot cider, coffee, and tea.

with the Power Kids Pass.

Resort: Eric Berry. Family on mountain: Scott D. W. Smith. Children on slope: Niki Bryant. Waffle sign: Purgatory Resort.

LET’S GO

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www.gvaschools.org

Good to Know | Read to Me

by Laura Driscoll; illustrated by Catalina Echeverri (HarperCollins, 2018)

When a little boy’s brother falls off the top bunk and breaks his foot, the family visits the emergency room. The boy learns that there are doctors just for bones, but also many other types. “This title looks at specific positions in the field as opposed to the general look often represented in this genre,” says Warren Shanks, children’s librarian at Denver Public Library.

“A glossary rounds out the book offering additional explanations about various careers.”

Peppa Loves Doctors and Nurses

by Lauren Holowaty; illustrated by EOne (Scholastic Inc., 2020)

Based on the Nick Jr! television show, Dr. Brown Bear and Nurse Fox visit Peppa Pig’s classrooms and teach the children all the ways they can stay healthy. The book comes with a handwashing poster you can hang up at home.

Open Wide, Tooth School Inside READ TO ME

Books about Doctor Visits

By Lydia Rueger

by Laurie Keller (Square Fish, 2003)

Dr. Flossman starts “class” by taking attendance of all his “students”: All eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, and 12 molars are present. The school day continues and Flossman teaches readers about care and components of teeth, with plenty of humorous details woven throughout.

Visits to the doctor can sometimes cause stress and anxiety for kids. Check out these books to ease your child’s fears, laugh in the waiting room, and help them discover what they might want to become someday.

Calling Dr. Zaza

by Mylo Freeman (Clavis Publishing, 2018)

Dr. Fauci

by Kate Messner; illustrated by Alexandra Bye (Simon and Schuster, 2021)

Before Dr. Anthony Fauci became the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he was a curious boy from Brooklyn who delivered prescriptions for his father’s pharmacy. This true story documents Dr. Fauci’s childhood, education, and medical career marked by the values of curiosity, perseverance, and learning to get along with different kinds of people.

Find more books about doctor visits at ColoradoParent.com

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

Recommended by the Denver Public Library, this story follows Zaza, who gives her stuffed animal friends check-ups when they aren’t feeling up to playing. Young readers will get an idea of what to expect during a doctor’s visit, while getting inspiration for imaginary play at home.

You’re in Good Paws

by Maureen Fergus; illustrated by Kathryn Durst (Tundra Books, 2019)

Leo arrives at the hospital to get his tonsils taken out and finds it run by animals, in this story suggested by Boulder Public Library librarians. Kids will laugh at a variety of animals taking on human jobs, while learning that going to the hospital can be a positive experience.

I Want to Be a Doctor: HarperCollins. Open Wide, Tooth School Inside: Macmillan. Calling Dr. Zaza: Clavis Publishing. You’re in Good Paws: Penguin Random House. Dr. Fauci: Simon and Schuster. Peppa Loves Doctors and Nurses: Scholastic Inc.

I Want to Be a Doctor

Good to Know | Solutions

How Do We Review Manners That We Let Slide?

Three moms weigh in on how to get kids’ manners back on track or better, as they re-enter the social scene.

Highlight, child eating, children on fence, phone: Getty Images.

Edited by Courtney Drake-McDonough

THE AUTHOR OF A BOOK ON MANNERS FOR KIDS SAYS… THE MOM WHO IS FOCUSING ON ONLINE MANNERS SAYS… “Increased screen time did not help with manners. Seeing the way people engage and speak to one another on social media doesn’t set the greatest example, either. We are trying very hard to instill manners when using digital channels. Here are a few ways: 1. If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t say it online.

2. Don’t engage in online arguments.

3. Don’t post things to make fun of something or someone.

4. Respect everyone’s views and opinions, whether you agree with them or not, and don’t criticize them in comments or DMs. 5. Be media literate. Don’t believe and share everything you see. Be a critical thinker and verify your facts and sources before sharing posts or making comments. “ —Michelle Ellis, Denver, mom of two boys, ages 13 and 16; stepmom to a son, 23

THE MOM RE-INSTILLING MANNERS IN CONVERSATION SAYS… “Now that my son’s been attending camp and going to school, we’re practicing being more mindful of not interrupting during conversations.

Sometimes I might raise a finger so he acknowledges adults are still speaking and he needs to wait his turn. Or, I’ll go silent and wait for him to recognize what just happened. Occasionally, I’ll say, “I’m still speaking, please wait,” until he gets the picture. I’ve also let some rude remarks slide but am calling more attention to them now. Often I’ll call it out immediately saying, “Hey, buddy, that’s not a kind thing to say. I know it might not be your intention, but this might come off as rude.” If it’s something I notice a pattern of, I’ll role play with him later so he can find better words to explain what he meant, in a kinder, more polite manner.”

—Priscilla B., Denver, mom of a 7-year-old son

“During the stress and uncertainty of the lockdown, parents might have let up on enforcing manners.

When a family isn’t socializing, manners become more casual.

Get the basics down first: saying “please” and “thank you,” using eye contact, answering a question when asked, not chewing with their mouth open, using a napkin (not a sleeve), and saying “excuse me” when they burp or make another bodily noise. After those basics, focus on the next level of manners.

My favorite way to teach manners is through a “dress rehearsal.” Act out things like where to place the napkin, how to pass the food, etc. Or, pretend to greet each other with eye contact, smiles, and pleasant phrases.

Make it lighthearted and fun, and children will be drawn to it. “ —Jennifer L. Scott, author of Connoisseur Kids: Etiquette, Manners, and Living Well for Parents and Their Little Ones

October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Good to Know | Good Stuff

Get Outside!

Fun finds to keep your kids active this fall.

By Kara Thompson Budding football stars can practice their field goals with this Kick ’n Toss Set. The easyto-assemble frame is lightweight for toting to the park or football field.

You can also switch the goals back and forth so kids can practice a variety of challenging plays. $73, target.com

Encourage your kid to burn off some afterschool energy by jump roping. This LED Flashing Jump Rope adds a bright and exciting element to the activity and is ideal for darker fall nights. $20, wayfair.com

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

Play soccer, tennis, or hockey with this convenient 3-in-1 Combo Set. The corner pieces rotate 90 degrees to easily convert the net for three different sports. The set comes with a goal/tennis net, soccer and tennis balls, hockey puck, two rackets and sticks, and an inflation pump. $50, maisonette.com

Background: Andriy Prokopenko /Getty Images.

For kids who aren’t as interested in traditional sports, spark their interest in active play with the Wacky Race Set. Team up with your family members and complete six goofy challenges like sack racing and ball balancing. $60, b4adventure.com

Raising the next Tiger Woods? Help your child develop good skills on the green with the 9-piece Mini Golf Set. Made from sustainable rubber wood and non-toxic vegetable dye finishes, the little clubs are suitable for kids three years and older. $40, thetot.com

EDUCATION EXPO When it comes to finding the best schools for your child, Colorado Parent has you covered.

Discover the best schools and programs in our all-new Education Expo.

Discover more at coloradoparent.com/educationexpo

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Fun & Activities

Photo: Heather Gaumer.

Sweet as Candy Candles

Love it or leave it, one Halloween candy has everyone divided— candy corn. Whether your family is in the eat-it-happily or just-useit-for-decoration camp, everyone will enjoy making these melty wax versions of the quintessential fall treat.

YOU WILL NEED

(Makes 2 votive size candles)

· 3 10- or 12-inch white taper candles · 1 yellow and 1 orange crayon · 2 3.5-inch candle wicks with wick tab · Adhesive dots (such as Zots by Therm O Web) · Wooden chopsticks, pencils, or craft sticks · 2 empty and clean pudding or fruit cups, approx. 4 oz size

DIRECTIONS 1. Stick an adhesive dot on the bottom of each wick’s metal tab. Stick one metal tab to the bottom of each empty pudding cup. Wrap the top end of the wicks around a chop stick or pencil and rest it on the rim of the pudding cups. This will hold the wicks in place and upright as you pour melted wax into the cup.

2. Break one candle into 2-inch or smaller pieces (smaller pieces will melt faster). Be sure to remove any pieces of the old wick, which can contain metal. Place the candle pieces in a microwaveable bowl.

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

3. Remove the paper label from the yellow crayon and place the crayon in the bowl.

4. Heat the candle and crayon pieces in the microwave in 30-second intervals until they are mostly melted. They will continue to melt if you remove the bowl from the microwave and let it stand a couple minutes. Caution: Melted wax and microwaved containers are hot and can burn, they should be handled by adults (or with adult supervision) using potholders.

5. Gently stir the melted candle and crayon wax with a wooden chopstick or craft stick, to blend in the color.

6. Carefully pour half of the melted wax into each of the pudding cups. Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes to harden.

7. After the yellow layer has hardened, repeat the melting process with one candle and orange crayon. Pour the melted wax into the cups and let it harden.

8. Repeat the melting process with the last white candle and pour the wax into the cups. Let the candles harden completely for a few hours or overnight.

9. Remove the candles from the cups; they may need a little tug on the wick and push from the bottom. Trim the wicks to ½ inch.

TIPS

• Old candles and leftover crayon bits laying around the house? Use them in place of the new candles and crayons.

• Visit the dollar store for inexpensive white candles and crayons.

• To save your good kitchen tools from wax build-up, hit the secondhand store to look for a used 2-cup glass measuring cup. It will also make melting and pouring the wax a breeze.

• Kids who are too young to melt and pour wax can help set up the project by breaking up old candles and crayons, placing the wicks, and setting the timer.

W H E N Y O U W A N T T O PA R E N T

Smarter

Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Now Avail able Call Toda y

PA R E N T L I K E A P R O

ColoradoParent.com Search out the best parenting hacks. Plus, online learning resources for every age, new ways to use imagination, creative ways to get your kiddo up and moving—and a whole lot more!

DON’T MISS THIS! YOU CAN NOW READ THE FULL ISSUE OF COLORADO PARENT ONLINE.

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Let’s Work Together to Protect Our Children in Every Way We Can Life still looks very different these days. One thing that remains the same is the importance of the health and safety of our children.

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October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

21

Health & Wellness

Family and purifier: Getty Images.

Clear the Air

SIMPLE WAYS TO CLEAN INDOOR AIR

Learn strategies to keep your family breathing better air

By Kelly Smith

A

nyone who stepped outside this past summer to a glowing orange sunset or hazy gray sunrise can attest that the air quality looks bad—and they’re right. In our case, wildfire smoke from California and Oregon inundated Colorado with tiny particles of ash, dust, and soot, while ozone levels from cars (among other things) have spiked to create those familiar whitesky days.

According to the air quality tracking website IQAir, Denver’s air quality on August 9, 2021, trailed only Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the worst air quality among any major city on Earth.

“The air quality has been in the moderate to very unhealthy range for much of the summer,” says Dr. Anthony Gerber, director of research, pulmonary division at National Jewish Health. Poor air quality can affect children in multiple ways,

22

Colorado Parent | October 2021

such as causing shortness of breath, coughing, and worsening symptoms of any lung-related diseases such as asthma. “Children breathe more, relative to their body weight. Also, their lungs are developing, so we do list children in the more sensitive population group.”

Though we can’t control many of the air pollution factors, there are ways to ensure that your family breathes better air, both indoors and out.

IMPROVING AIR QUALITY AT HOME While conditioning your air inside does not change the air conditions outside, using an air purifier in the home may offer some relief from the smoke, as well as other known indoor air pollutants like volatile organic compounds, allergens, pet dander, and mold. Gerber says it’s important to note that the amount of smoke getting into your home varies

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recommends these simple ways to keep the air inside your home as clean and particulate-free as possible: · Avoid smoking cigarettes, pipes, and cigars indoors. · Dust or mop surfaces in the home often to keep settled particles from getting back into the air. · Minimize the use of gas, propane, or wood-burning stoves and furnaces. · Refrain from spraying aerosol products such as air freshener. · House dust mites, pollen, animal dander and other allergy-causing agents can be reduced, although not eliminated, through regular cleaning. · Reduce frying or broiling food, as the smoke and steam add particles into the air. · Don’t burn candles or incense. · Ensure that your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter.

Also, the NASA Clean Air Study researched ways to clean the air in space stations, and its results suggested that certain common indoor plants may provide a natural way of removing pathogenic viruses, bacteria, and organic chemicals. Look for spider plants, peace lilies, and bamboo palms, which don’t require a green thumb to keep alive.

Health & Wellness

drastically depending on how your house is built, as well as your heating/cooling system.

If you choose a free-standing air purifier, Gerber advises that it needs to be able to circulate and clean the air in the whole room or whole space, at least two or three times an hour. As a helpful guide, most air purifiers identify the size of room they are best for in terms of square feet and the number of times, under normal conditions, it would clean the air in that space. To some extent, it is also a function of the air exchange coming into the house; if a lot of air gets in from the outside, the purifier will have to work harder, if it is a tight house, less. “You can’t get a tiny little filter and expect it to clean a 1,500-square-foot house,” he says. Guidelines and technical specifications should be readily available on the air purifier unit.

Gerber also recommends looking for a purifier that uses a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. As defined by the U.S. Department of Energy, a HEPA filter should remove at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (one-millionth of a meter).

“You need something that will filter out down to a pretty small particle size,” Gerber says.

“Otherwise, many of the most toxic particles, which we think are the smallest ones, are still going to get into your house.”

Some purifiers also have a pre-filter that gets out the largest particles before they get to the HEPA filter, thus extending the life of the latter, he explains.

To keep the air purifier running most efficiently, the filters will need to be changed regularly.

Each purifier’s instruction manual offers a recommended schedule for filter replacement, under typical conditions, and some have an indicator light to tell you when a filter needs replacing.

Families should also consider the noise level of the air purifier. While the noise output doesn’t reflect the unit’s ability to clean the air, it may affect healthy sleep. If there is a light sleeper in the house, look for an air purifier with a night mode which reduces the unit’s noise and turns off any light from the control display.

MONITORING OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY Gerber notes that while outdoor ozone levels may register high, ozone (a naturally occurring and man-made gas that can be harmful to humans) doesn’t accumulate to high levels in the home, but might be a concern when choosing when to play outdoors with your kids.

Ozone levels can vary by location in the metro area and throughout the day. Levels are typically higher in the afternoon, so if you are going to the park with your kids and can choose the time, the air will generally be better in the morning.

Several air-quality monitoring sites (see below) at the state and city level can provide real-time information, so parents can make decisions about when and where it’s best to be outside.

“There are common sense strategies that will help you minimize the risk and still allow kids to have that good outdoor exercise time,” says Gerber.

Kelly Smith is a Denver-based freelance writer.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR AIR QUALITY Colorado’s Department of Public Health & Environment reports continuously on air quality. colorado.gov/airquality The City of Denver’s Love My Air program monitors air quality at Denver Public Schools across the city. The network uses cutting-edge air pollution sensor technology to provide real-time data. denvergov.org UCAR Center for Science Education provides answers to many air quality questions, as well as learning tools for kids in their Learning Zone and K-12 at Home sections. scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone

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October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

23

Family Food

Hauntingly Adorable Halloween Treats Get festive this fall by whipping up these simple and fun recipes.

By Makayla Shartle

Come, We Fly Caramel Apples

Autumn wouldn’t be complete without indulging in some caramel apples. Spruce up your creations by adding these spooky witch cutouts.

YOU WILL NEED: · 8 apples (Honeycrisp have a nice sweet-tart flavor) · 3 bags caramels · 2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream (plus more for added creaminess) · Toppings of your choice · Twigs for the witch silhouette

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Clean and prep your apples, placing them on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

2. Unwrap the caramels and place them in a microwaveable bowl.

3. Add 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to the bowl.

4. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat for 30second intervals, stirring in between. Make sure to mix the caramels and whipping cream well so they will melt evenly. Don’t be afraid to add more whipping cream to make the caramel even creamier.

5. Once the caramels are melted, insert a metal or wood skewer into an apple and dip it into the caramel. Note: Caramel dries fast, so make sure to move efficiently to avoid a sticky mess.

6. Once you have dipped your apple and covered it well, immediately place it on parchment paper and add your topping of choice.

Repeat with each apple.

7. Place your apples in the fridge for the caramel to harden.

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

Family Food

Add flying witches to your apples: 1. Visit ColoradoParent.com to download the witch silhouette.

2. Save the file to your computer and print it out.

3. Once printed, cut out the number of witches you need.

4. Go outside and find small twigs. Make sure to clean them well after you bring them in.

5. Once you have your twig and witch silhouette cut out, use a hot glue gun to attach the witches to the twigs for a flying effect.

6. Lastly, insert the twigs in the apples using the hole from dipping skewer.

The hole should be big enough for the twig to slide right in. Once the twig is placed in the hole, the witches can go riding!

Get more time with your doctor Direct Primary Care is a different way of accessing primary care services.

Spooktacular Sheet Cake

Looking for a recipe that isn’t overly time-consuming? This eerie sheet cake is quick to whip up with some help from your kids—and it just happens to be delicious!

YOU WILL NEED: · 1 package chocolate pudding · 1 box chocolate cake mix · 1 package chocolate chips · 1 can chocolate icing · 1 package of candy eyes

Apples, cake: Makayla Shartle.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cook the pudding as instructed on the box; let cool.

2. Once the pudding is cool, mix it with dry cake mix in a mixing bowl.

3. After the two are completely mixed, grease an 11-by-17-inch jelly roll pan. Pour the batter in the pan and spread to the edges.

4. Sprinkle the bag of chocolate chips over the top of the batter.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 12 to 15 minutes.

6. Let the cake cool, then frost it with chocolate icing. Place candy eyes on top for a Halloween touch.

Makayla Shartle loves to share recipes, crafts, and all things holiday on her blog, ​​makaylaandco.com.

Dr. Susie Damon is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and has been a board certified pediatrician for over 25 years.

LEARN MORE AT:

www.platypuspeds.com October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

25

TOP PEDIATRICIANS 2021

Colorado Parent asked physicians in the Denver area whom they would trust to treat themselves or a loved one. The following 84 pediatricians and doctors—in 26 specialties—were nominated by their peers this year.

Opener: Russell Creative/Getty Images.

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

DENVER METRO-AREA HOSPITALS Because of space restrictions, we abbreviate the names of some area hospitals in the listings.

Below are our abbreviations and the official names as well as their health care systems.

If applicable, we provide the names of some surgical centers in the listings; however, they are not included below.

CASTLE ROCK – Castle Rock Adventist Hospital— Centura Health CHILDREN’S – Children’s Hospital Colorado

Ann Reynolds CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6630

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGY David Barclay

ST. JOSEPH, PRESBYTERIAN/ ST. LUKE’S, RMHC

2045 Franklin St. Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Alan Bielsky

UNIVERSITY, CHILDREN’S, ST. JOSEPH

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-1234

DENVER HEALTH – Denver Health Medical Center

Benjamin Lippert

GOOD SAMARITAN – Good Samaritan Medical Center— SCL Health

777 Bannock St. Denver 80204 303-436-4949

NATIONAL JEWISH – National Jewish Health PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S – Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center—HealthOne RMHC – Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at Presbyterian/ St. Luke’s Medical Center—HealthOne ROSE – Rose Medical Center—HealthOne SKY RIDGE – Sky Ridge Medical Center—HealthOne ST. JOSEPH – St. Joseph Hospital—SCL Health SWEDISH – Swedish Medical Center—HealthOne UNIVERSITY – UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital— UCHealth

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S

Kimberly Ngo 8000 E. Maplewood Ave. Suite 200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-785-4700

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY Kathryn Chatfield CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6820 CHILDREN’S

CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY Austin Butterfield CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6200

Beau Carubia CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6200

Kristie M. Ladegard DENVER HEALTH

301 W. Sixth Ave. Pavilion G Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Walter Lee ST. JOSEPH

9139 S. Ridgeline Blvd.

Highlands Ranch 80129 303-338-4545

Brian Wise

11245 Huron St. Westminster 80234 303-338-4545

COMPLEX PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY John Bangiyev RMHC

2055 N. High St. Suite 110 Denver 80205 303-301-9019

Jeremy D. Prager

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-8501

Tammy Wang

DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S

660 N. Bannock St. Pavilion L Denver 80204 303-436-4949

6053 S. Quebec St. Suite 203 Centennial 80111 720-708-4287

CHILD ABUSE PEDIATRICS Antonia Chiesa CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6919

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6820

David J. Miller

RMHC, SKY RIDGE, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

DEVELOPMENTALBEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICS Sandra L. Friedman CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6630

Robyn Nolan

7701 Sheridan Blvd.

Westminster 80003 303-338-4545

2045 Franklin St. Denver 80205 303-338-4545 CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-8445

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE Joseph A. Grubenhoff CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6888 DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S

777 Bannock St. Pavilion A Denver 80204 303-436-4949

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY Stephanie Hsu CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6128

SWEDISH, RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

2055 High St., Suite 250 Denver 80205 303-839-7440 DENVER HEALTH, CHILDREN’S

790 Delaware St. Pavilion C Denver 80204 303-436-6000

Katie Walsh CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-1234

2055 N. High St. Suite 340 Denver 80205 303-832-2344

PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL MEDICINE Lee Engelbreth GOOD SAMARITAN

280 Exempla Circle Lafayette 80026 303-689-4000 GOOD SAMARITAN, CHILDREN’S, ST. JOSEPH

280 Exempla Circle Lafayette 80026 303-338-4545

PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE James T. Gaensbauer

CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6981

Kevin B. Messacar

Aristides K. Maniatis

RMHC, SWEDISH, SKY RIDGE

7376 S.Yosemite St. Centennial 80112 720-420-3636

CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6072

Suchitra Rao CHILDREN’S

Natalie Nokoff

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6072

CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6128

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE Tracy Butler

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6672

Sarah Morse

Genie Roosevelt

Marco Pinder

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6820

CHILDREN’S

RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

Anna Bruckner

PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY David Brumbaugh

CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH

Brian S. Greffe

Julie Zimbelman

2055 N. High St. Suite 255 Denver 80205 303-860-9933

Claudia Kunrath

NATIONAL JEWISH

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, CHILDREN’S

CHILDREN’S

Jeff Darst Jennifer Kelloff

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY Harvey A. Arbuckle

CHILDREN’S

PEDIATRIC NEPHROLOGY Mindy Banks

RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

2055 N. High St. Suite 270 Denver 80205 303-301-9010

Melissa Cadnapaphornchai

RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

Jason S. Soden

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

2055 N. High St. Suite 270 Denver 80205 303-301-9010

Theodore Stathos

Danielle E. Soranno

10465 Park Meadows Dr. Lone Tree 80124 303-790-1515

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6263

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY Carrye Cost

NOTE: Each listing includes the physician’s name, the hospitals at which the physician has privileges, the doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital address, and the best phone number to call for an appointment. Full listings, including information about how many years each physician has been on the Top Doctors list, are available at directory.coloradoparent.com/doctors/

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY

CASTLE ROCK, RMHC, SKY RIDGE

CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6672

Lia Gore

CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6672

CHILDREN’S

October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

27

PEDIATRIC PATHOLOGY Jennifer Black CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6714

Mark A. Lovell CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6714

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY Robin Deterding CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6181

Oren Kupfer CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6181

Jennifer Taylor-Cousar NATIONAL JEWISH

1400 Jackson St. Denver 80206 303-398-1355

PEDIATRIC RADIOLOGY Matthew Alfano DENVER HEALTH

660 N. Bannock St. Pavilion L Denver 80204 303-436-4949

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CONTAC T U S T ODAY T O LEAR N MO R E S A L ES@ CO LO RAD OPARENT.C OM 303.832.5280

28

Colorado Parent | October 2021

Margaret Tomcho

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6132

1100 Federal Blvd.

Denver 80204 303-436-4202

CHILDREN’S

CHILDREN’S

David Partrick CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Denver 80220 720-777-6571

Steven Rothenberg RMHC, SKY RIDGE

2055 N. High St. Suite 370 Denver 80205 303-839-6001

PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANT HEPATOLOGY Dania Brigham CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION MEDICINE Susan Apkon

CHILDREN’S

860 Potomac Circle Aurora 80011 720-777-6131

Nicholas C. Kyriazi

CHILDREN’S, SKY RIDGE

206 W. County Line Road Suite 110 Highlands Ranch 80129 303-791-9999

Amy E. Sass CHILDREN’S

860 Potomac Circle Aurora 80011 720-777-6131

CHILDREN’S

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6669

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6571

1746 Cole Blvd.

Suite 150 Lakewood 80401 303-914-8800

ADOLESCENT MEDICINE David W. Kaplan

Amy G. Feldman

2045 Franklin St. Denver 80205 303-338-4545 RMHC, PRESBYTERIAN/ST. LUKE’S

16290 E. Quincy Ave. Aurora 80015 303-699-6000

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6571

Fritz Karrer

Lisa A. Niebergall

DENVER HEALTH

Kelsey Watt

PEDIATRIC SURGERY Ann Kulungowski

Brian M. Bagrosky CHILDREN’S

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR DOCTOR DIRECTORIES?

Jennifer S. Soep

CHILDREN’S, DENVER HEALTH

PEDIATRIC UROLOGY Job Chacko RMHC

1601 E. 19th Ave. Suite 6400 Denver 80218 303-839-7200

FAMILY MEDICINE Ryan Evans 1375 E. 20th Ave. Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Trevor Harrington

ST. ANTHONY NORTH

14300 Orchard Parkway Westminster 80023 303-430-5560

Rachel Hills

1030 Johnson Road Suite 200 Golden 80401 303-278-4600

Peter Furness III

Shannon Jantz

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-2806

1601 E. 19th Ave. Suite 6400 Denver 80218 303-839-7200

1375 E. 20th Ave. Denver 80205 303-338-4545

Amy Kanallakan

Duncan T. Wilcox

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-1234

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-3926

CHILDREN’S

CHILDREN’S

Pamela Wilson

CHILDREN’S, UNIVERSITY

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-2806

RMHC

CHILDREN’S

PEDIATRICS Amber Bisgard

5555 E. Arapahoe Rd. Centennial 80122 855-208-7221

PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY Katherine Moore

Danna Gunderson

13123 E. 16th Ave. Aurora 80045 720-777-6132

11245 Huron St. Westminster 80234 303-451-9494

CHILDREN’S

GOOD SAMARITAN, CHILDREN’S, ST. JOSEPH

Amy Pierce

RMHC, SWEDISH, ROSE

4900 E. Kentucky Ave. Denver 80246 303-756-0101

ST. JOSEPH, GOOD SAMARITAN, LUTHERAN

Stacey King

7600 Shaffer Parkway Littleton 80127 303-338-4545

Lara Penny

DENVER HEALTH

12600 E. Albrook Drive Denver 80239 303-436-4949

Stuart Prins

4318 Trail Boss Drive Suite 100 Castle Rock 80104 303-338-4545

Sarah Wear

11245 Huron St. Westminster 80234 303-338-4545

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN P E D I AT R I C E N D O C R I N O L O G Y Dr. Aristides K. Maniatis is honored to have been selected as a Top Doc for the 6th consecutive year (2016-2021). He leads an outstanding team at RMPE, including Dr. Michaela Koontz and Mako Sather, CPNP. Dr. Maniatis is a national key opinion leader on growth disorders and has been the national spokesperson for Growth Awareness Week for the past 4 years (2018-2021). RMPE is also involved in clinical research including a type 1 diabetes epidemiology study, multiple phase 3 trials in long-acting growth hormone, and a phase 4 trial in hypophosphatasia bone disease.

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A: If poor growth is suspected, then parents should take their child to their primary care provider’s office for an evaluation. That evaluation should include a detailed physical examination and review of the past medical history, medical conditions, and medications. Most importantly, there should be a careful review of the growth chart. A child’s growth chart tracks their height and weight over time, and that’s the best indicator to see how a child’s growth is progressing.

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Halloween and Harvest Happenings Find the perfect fall festival or Halloween haunt for your family, in this guide.

With the turn of a calendar page our surroundings have changed. There’s cider, kettle corn, and campfire scents in the air. There’s a strange collective urge to hug bulbous gourds and take selfies. There are fields of corn, or the remembrance of loved ones passed on, to get lost in. Follow the signs to one of these celebrations of fall, Halloween, and Día de los Muertos.

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Chatfield Corn Maze: Scott Dressel-Martin. Background, illustrations: Getty Images.

bin, hay slide, climbing rope, duck races, and one pumpkin are included with admission. Take home decorative harvest items (for purchase) to remember your visit. $13, free age 5 and under; $33 season pass.

Diana’s Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze, Cañon City. dianaspumpkinpatch.com Fall Festival and Maze at Flat Acres Farm Through Oct. 31; Thu through Sun, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Go beyond the hay bale and corn maze and jump into bounce houses, giant Jenga games, petting zoos, and tractor rides. Many activities are geared to kids ages 10 and under. Older youth and adults might extend their stays for the Fright Acres or airsoft attractions (at an extra cost). $16, $5 age 65 and older, free age 2 and under. Flat Acres Farm, Parker. flatacresfarm.com

Chatfield Corn Maze

Farm Fests Anderson Farms Fall Festival Through Oct 31; Hours vary by day Make a private campfire station (by reservation) your home base for snacking on s’mores and concessions, then venture out to conquer the 25-acre corn maze, pick up a squash or gourd, or ride the pedal karts. Terror in the Corn and Zombie Paintball Hunt are available after dark, if you dare.

Purchase tickets online. $15 age 4 and up (MonThu), $23 (Fri-Sun); free age 3 and under. Anderson Farms, Erie. andersonfarms.com The Bartels Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pick a pumpkin from the field, pet a farm animal, get the wiggles out on the playground, and enjoy a relaxing hayride at this patch. Free parking and entry, $1-$5 produce and activities. The Bartels Farm, Fort Collins. thebartelsfarm.com Colorado Pumpkin Patch Through Oct. 31; Mon and Tue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wed through Sun, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit this 41-acre farm just 25 minutes from Denver where you’ll find pony rides, gourd launchers, tube swings, and a hay maze. Concessions, including hot dogs, BBQ, fries, and fried desserts, are available on the weekends. $12, free age 3 and under. Colorado Pumpkin Patch, Monument. coloradopumpkinpatch.net

Corn Maze at Chatfield Farms Through Oct. 31; Fri through Sun, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Take on the big maze, or send a little one through the kiddie size maze. Try a barrel train ride, or an escape room (additional fee). Picnic tables are available on a first-come first-served basis; bring your own food or purchase from vendors onsite. The pumpkin patch is accessible during the Pumpkin Festival October 8, 9, and 10. Purchase tickets online. Halloween masks and costumes are not permitted. $15 adult, $13 adult member; $10 child member; free age 2 and under. Chatfield Farms, Littleton. botanicgardens.org Cottonwood Farms Fall Festival Through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In need of a gourd time? Take the family to this farm offering wagon rides on October weekends, a corn and straw bale maze, farm animal visits, and family activities. Prepaid admissions are strongly recommended, especially on weekends. $5, free age 5 and under. Cottonwood Farm, Lafayette. cottonwoodfarms.com Diana’s Pumpkin Patch Corn Maze Through Oct. 17; Fri and Sat, 10 a.m to 9 p.m.; Sun, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m This family-owned patch is celebrating 20 years of corn maze and pumpkin patch fun. For 2021, the maze is cut in the shape of the farm’s logo. The corn

Fritzler Farm Park Fall Days Through Oct. 31; Fri, 4 to 10 p.m.; Sat, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sun, noon to 5 p.m.; Wed and Thu (Oct. 20 and 21), 6 to 9 p.m.

Ever played human foosball, got caught in a big spider web, shot a pumpkin from a cannon, or watched pigs race? You can do all of that and a dozen more fall fun activities at this fall festival.

Purchase tickets online. $22.95 entry includes most activities, free age 2 and under. Fritzler Farm Park, La Salle. fritzlerfarmpark.com Happy Apple Farm Through Oct. 31; Thu through Sun, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Pick apples (light this year due to spring weather) and pumpkins at this orchard/patch combination experience. Peruse the little shop’s sweet treats and don’t miss the apple cider donuts. Pets are welcome.

Free admission. Happy Apple Farm, Penrose. happy-apple-farm.business.site Littleton Museum Harvest Festival Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Play games and win prizes at this 1890’s farm festival. Pick a prime pumpkin and hop on a hayride.

Some activities and refreshments require tickets, purchased onsite. Littleton Museum. littletongov.org Lone Creek Farms Fall Festival Through Oct. 31; Fri and Sun, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hours of fun await with the numerous attractions dotting these festival grounds. Pan for gold in a creek after taking a hay wagon ride, find your way out of a large corn maze, race on pedal karts, and jump on a giant inflated pumpkin. Refresh your energy with lemonade, kettle corn, and apple cider donuts made

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on site. Purchase tickets online. $19.95, free age 3 and under. Entry includes most activities. Lone Creek Farms, Franktown. lonecreekfarms.com Maize in the City Through Oct. 31; Thu through Sun until Oct. 18, then open daily; see online for details This family-favorite rural fall event features a 20acre corn maze, mini maze, corn launcher, sand art, and barrel ride. Farmer-owned, the site also offers a variety of locally grown pumpkins, gourds, and other fall decor for purchase. Free entry; $12 adult, $9 youth corn maze; $4 youth mini maze; free-$20 all other attractions. Maize in the City, Thornton. maizeinthecity.com Mazzotti Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch Oct. 2 to 24; Sat and Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Try your hand at fashioning a scarecrow ($40, materials provided), wind through a corn maze, and visit with some animals on site. One pumpkin included per paid admission; fall decorating items including gourds, straw bales, and corn are also available. $12, free under age 2. Mazzotti Farms, Hudson. mazzottifarms.com Miller Farms Fall Harvest Festival Through Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pick your own veggies, go through the corn maze, climb the dirt hill, and celebrate harvest season on an ample farm. Visit “Antique Alley,” dive into the “Croc-pit” (chopped-up Croc shoes), then enjoy a picnic lunch. $25 (harvest ride) age 14 and up, $15 ages 4-14, free under age 4. Miller Farms, Plateville. millerfarms.net

Reynolds Ranch House Harvest Festival Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Oct. 3, noon to 4 p.m.

Level up the Miners’ pumpkin patch with additional live music, petting zoo, and food trucks. $10 admission, $5 per pumpkin. Western Museum of Mining & Industry, Colorado Springs. minerspumpkinpatch.com Rock Ledge Ranch Harvest Festival Oct. 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ranch is filled with activities in the crisp autumn air. Take a wagon ride with the family, listen to old-time music, pick a pumpkin to take home, scramble for candy, kick back on the lawn with a slice of pie, and take a tour of the historic homes. Credit cards accepted for admission and the general store, plan to have small bills on hand for concessions. $8.50 adult, $5.50 senior, $4.50 youth ages 6-17, free age 5 and under; $5 per pumpkin.

Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site at Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs. rockledgeranch.com Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch Pumpkin Carnival Through Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Mon through Fri patch and limited activities, Sat and Sun patch and full carnival open Come for the certified organic pumpkins and winter squash; stay for the hay maze, petting

zoo, and carnival rides geared toward young kids and adults who like to play. Snag a snack from food trucks and vendors selling funnel cakes, cotton candy, brats, and pretzels on weekends. Free admission, $1-$8 per activity.

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch, Longmont. rockymtnpumpkinranch.com Schweiger Ranch Fall Festival Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Explore the historic Ranch while taking part in s’more roasting, horse carriage rides, and pumpkin picking. Pumpkins $5 each. Schweiger Ranch, Lone Tree. cityoflonetree.com U-Pick-Em Pumpkins Through Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Choose the perfect pumpkin at this 120-acre patch. Grab cornstalks, crisp straw bales, goofy gourds, and bright Indian corn to keep the pumpkin company. Then, take a tour through the corn and hay bale mazes and visit with farm animals. See online for details and safety updates. Free admission, pumpkin and vendor prices vary. Rock Creek Farm, Broomfield. rockcreekfarm.com Wishing Star Farm Pumpkin Patch Through Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Spin in tire swings, race through a straw maze, climb a wall, jump on a giant pillow, and make a baby goat your pal. It’s all possible at this fall playground. After working up an appetite, settle in for a picnic of your own creation or sourced from concessions. No reservations required. $10 admission includes activities, $5 per pumpkin, $5 pony ride. Wishing Star Farm, Ellicott. wishingstarfarm.com Pumpkin Festival: Scott Dressel-Martin.

Miners’ Pumpkin Patch Oct. 9 through 30; Sat., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Head to the Miners’ patch and enjoy pumpkin picking, hay rides, spooky stories, lawn games, and apple cider press concessions. $10 admission (online purchase), $12 admission (in person), includes all activities and a pumpkin. Western Museum of Mining & Industry, Colorado Springs. minerspumpkinpatch.com

Pumpkin Festival Oct. 8 to 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy a day of fall activities including the chance to pick a pumpkin from a 10-acre patch and do family activities while listening to live entertainment and munching on local foods. $12 adult; $10 adult member, youth ages 3-15; $7 youth member.

Chatfield Farms, Littleton. botanicgardens.org

Osborn Farm Pumpkin Patch Through Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This family-run farm offers heaps of pumpkins, gourds, corn, and straw bales, all available for picking and purchasing. Hay rides are offered on Saturdays and Sundays. Free parking and admission; on-leash dogs are allowed. Free entry, produce prices vary. Osborn Farm, Loveland. osborn.farm

Pumpkin Festival

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Fridays – Sundays

SEPT. 17 – OCT. 31

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Navigate tricky twists and turns in the 7-acre maze! Kids 10 & under can explore the mini maze.

New this year! Pirate-themed escape rooms. It’s fall fun for the whole family.

C-470 & WADSWORTH BLVD. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Get them today.

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

botanicgardens.org

www.andersonfarms.com

Over 8 miles of corn maze!

6728 County Road 3-1/4 • Erie, CO 80516 • 303-828-5210

September 22 - October 31, 2021

Colorado’s Largest Fall Family Entertainment Destination

October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Four Mile Historic Park Pumpkin Harvest Festival Oct. 1, 5 to 8 p.m.; Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The usual prairie fall-themed games, art depot, artisan demonstrations, live music, and marketplace are back at Four Mile’s festival. Build Your Own Scarecrow is back by popular demand; kids can stuff, dress, and decorate their own pal.

Don’t miss out on new attractions including ax throwing, s’mores, and an Inventing Room where you can order hot cider with exploding whipped cream or pumpkin-spice space foam treats.

Purchase tickets online. $8-$16 general admission, $35-$50 VIP admission. Four Mile Historic Park, Denver. fourmilepark.org

Fall Flannel Fest

Enchanting Events Boo at the Bridge Oct. 23, 4 to 7:30 p.m.

Take your trick-or-treaters to the thousand-foot plunging Royal Gorge and America’s Bridge.

Local businesses and non-profits will fill bags and buckets with tasty treats. The Seven Falls Indian Dancers will entertain guests with exhibition and social dances. Visitors with inventive costumes are invited to enter a contest by snapping a picture at a photo-op location and posting to Instagram. $11 online, $13 at the door, $8 season pass holder, free age 3 and under. Royal Gorge Bridge, Cañon City. royalgorgebridge.com Boos and Clues Oct. 30, 6 to 10 p.m.

Mark your calendar for this annual Museum of Boulder fundraiser. Groove through a silent disco, enjoy live music, a silent auction, and scavenger hunt with prizes. Plus, experience the latest in technology, music, art, and lights in a new exhibit B.E.A.T. (Boulder Experiments in Art and Technology). Age 21 and up. $88-$100. Museum of Boulder, Boulder. museumofboulder.org Cider Days Oct. 2 and 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Celebrate Lakewood’s agricultural heritage with a mix of live performances, activities, and harvest treats. Enjoy wagon and barrel train rides, historic

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demonstrations, and other children’s attractions.

Go on an “everything apple” food adventure through apple pressing, cider by the glass or gallon, and Apple Annie’s Baking Challenge on Sunday.

Purchase tickets online. $6-$10. Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, Lakewood. lakewood.org Cosmic Costume Skate Oct. 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Glide around the ice rink as your most graceful goblin, alien, or movie character. This event features a costume contest with a variety of categories, plus skating to Halloween themed music. $6 admission, $3 skate rental. Greeley Ice Haus, Greeley. greeleyrec.com Glow at the Gardens Oct. 19 to 24, 6 to 8:30 p.m. timed entry Check out the Botanic Gardens’ Halloween costume—a luminous landscape filled with pumpkins. Purchase timed tickets online. $17-$23, free age 2 and under (no ticket required).

Denver Botanic Gardens York Street, Denver. botanicgardens.org Fall Flannel Festival Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gather at the Dairy Block Alley for a festive lineup of events for all ages including live music, a balloon artist, photo booth, and scarecrow installations.

Halloween at the Denver Firefighters Museum Oct 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kids in costume get in free to the Museum.

Denver Firefighters Museum, Denver. denverfireifghtersmuseum.org Halloween Spooktacular Oct. 30, 2:30 p.m.

This family-favorite concert features music from films and television. Costumes are encouraged (even the musicians get in on the festivities).

Find tickets online. $27 adult, $10 child. Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver. tickets.coloradosymphony.org Harvest Haunt Oct. 23 and 24; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. museum, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rides and attractions All aboard the Trick or Treat Train—a 1899 vintage Rio Grande Southern steam locomotive—at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Tickle your funny bones at the “not so spooky” Haunted Railcar and the Olde Railroaders Silly Graveyard. Enjoy live musical entertainment, grab a tasty snack, and snap photos with the family in front of harvest-decorated locomotives and railcars.

Purchase tickets online. $10 adult, $5 youth ages 2-17, free Museum members and children under age 2. Free$4 train rides. Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden. coloradorailroadmuseum.org

Fall Flannel Fest: Dairy Block.

Denver Milk Market and other Dairy Block establishments will serve seasonal food and drink specials, and each child will receive a bag full of individually wrapped candy to enjoy at home.

Dairy Block Alley, Denver. dairyblock.com

Harvest Haunt: Colorado Railroad Museum

Haunted Hayrides Oct. 29 and 30, 6 to 9 p.m., rides every 30 minutes Start your journey inside a barn to play games, pet animals, and snag refreshments. Hop on a wagon to hear a professional storyteller narrate spooky tales as you rumble through graveyards. Funds help 4H kids pay for animal projects they will take to the county fair. Reserve online. $14, free age 2 and under. Stockton's Plum Creek Stables, Littleton. hrcaonline.org The Magic of the Jack O’Lanterns Oct.1 through 31; Thu-Sun; 6:15-7pm open, Fri and Sat 9:30pm close, Thu and Sun 9pm close The glow of 5,000 hand-carved pumpkins will delight adults and children alike; themed displays include a carnival, sea-scape, dinosaurs, and dragons. Find tickets online. $15 and up adult, $11 and up child. Hudson Gardens, Littleton. hudsongardens.org A Nightmare on Grant Street Oct. 23; 3 to 4:30 p.m. matinee, 7 to 9 p.m. adult only Join Draculotta, her Bride, and their trusty butler Pennydreadful as they host a Halloween party you’ll never forget. Get in on the fun and show off your own Halloween costume. Snacks and drinks will be available at both shows for donation.

The matinee is great for all ages, the evening show is adults only.

Purchase tickets online. $16.50 adult, $6.50 child. Historic Grant Avenue Sanctuary, Denver. mhfb.org The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Oct. 9 to 30; Sat, 1 p.m.; Oct. 23 and 30, additional 11 a.m. showing Get your goosebumps going by viewing this spooky gothic tale featuring a character known as the Headless Horseman. The play is about an hour long. Masks will be worn in the theatre during the show. Purchase tickets online. Pay it forward pricing allows patrons to choose what they wish to pay per ticket: free, $6, $12 (regular price), $24, or $50. Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden. minersalley.com

Pumpkin Nights Oct. 17 to Nov. 3; 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Venture to this magical land of pumpkin art, featuring over 3,000 handcarved real and synthetic gourds shaped into a pirate’s cove, a large dragon, and other whimsical shapes. The celebration continues with entertainment and games in Pumpkin Central, the festival area. Purchase tickets online. $17-$20 adult, $14-26 ages 4-12, free age 3 and under; $60-$65 family pack (two adults, two kids). Adams County Fairgrounds, Brighton. pumpkinnights.com/denver Pumpkins on Parade Oct 21. to 24, 6 to 9 p.m.

Enter a community carving contest, and meander through hundreds of pumpkins and gourds arranged artistically across the gardens. Costumes are encouraged.

Purchase tickets online. $10 age 12 and up, $5 ages 5-11, free age 4 and under. The Gardens on Spring Creek, Fort Collins. fcgov.com STAR Halloween Dance Oct. 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Dress up in your best costume and dance with friends to the latest tunes.

South Suburban Therapeutic Adaptive Recreation (STAR) programs are designed for individuals with disabilities. Register online. $8. Buck Recreation Center, Littleton. register.ssprd.org Victorian Horrors Oct. 14 to 30, Thu through Sat, 6 to 9 p.m. entry times Listen to scary tales, creep from room to room, and commune with spirits from the Victorian past. Age 12 and up. $20. Molly Brown House, Denver. mollybrown.org WOW!'s Halloween Party Oct. 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Come dressed in costume for family friendly Halloween fun including a build-a-monster craft, spooky science experiments, games, and giveaways.

Ages 11 and under. Purchase tickets online. $6 adult, $11 youth, $7 member youth. WOW! Children's Museum, Lafayette. wowchildrensmuseum.org

Spooky Screenings The Addams Family Movie Night Oct. 29, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Watch a classic film to ring in Hallows Eve. The Addams Family is set in an eccentric household that includes Gomez and Morticia, their diabolical offspring Wednesday and Pugsley, manservant Lurch, and Thing, a disembodied hand that serves as the family pet. In this tale, two strangers try to dupe the family out of their fortune. Enjoy a movie night at the park with concessions and lawn games. No outside food or beverages are permitted. Register online. $10 general admission, free age 2 and under and Museum of Outdoor Art members. Marjorie Park, Greenwood Village. museumofoutdoorarts.app.neoncrm.com Beetlejuice Movie Night Oct. 16, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Enjoy a Halloween themed movie within Marjorie Park featuring carnival fare from Wyly Coyote Concessions, hot drinks, and yard games. Beetlejuice features a happy couple who die in a car accident and must haunt their old home while waiting to be processed into heaven. Too nice to be scary, they befriend the new tenant’s daughter.

No outside food or beverages are permitted. $10 general admission, free age 2 and under and Museum of Outdoor Art members. Marjorie Park, Greenwood Village. museumofoutdoorarts.app.neoncrm.com Flick or Treat Oct. 30, 2:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Kick off the evening with trick-or-treating through the historic buildings of Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park followed by a costume party at The Beer Garden and a special Halloween viewing of the movie, Hocus Pocus, under the moonlight. An inclusive trick-ortreating area with sensorimotor adaptations will be available. Reserve tickets online. Free entry. Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, Lakewood. lakewood.org Hocus Pocus Movie Night Oct. 28, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Settle in for a spooky movie under the stars. Hocus Pocus follows 17th-century witches, who are resurrected on Halloween in modern-day Salem by an unsuspecting boy, who must now figure out how to get them back in the ground. Don’t forget to snag hot drinks and carnival concessions, and play some yard games on site. No outside food or beverages are permitted. Register online. $10 general admission, free age 2 and under and Museum of Outdoor Art members. Marjorie Park, Greenwood Village. museumofoutdoorarts.app.neoncrm.com Scary Stories Book Talk with Christian McKay Heidiker Oct. 28, 6 p.m.

Time to set a spooky scene with Christian McKay Heidicker, author of Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City. Snuggle up with some popcorn and your family to watch him read on the big screen. Ages 6-14. Free, books available for purchase. Second Star to the Right Bookstore, Denver. secondstartotherightbooks.com

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Dia de los Muertos Bilingual Stories: Day of the Dead Oct. 14, 5 to 6 p.m.

Hear tales from Mexico, including The Hungry Goddess, What the Dogs Saw, and Calaveras.

This interactive show will be presented in English and Spanish. Register online. // Escuche cuentos de México, como La diosa hambrienta, Lo que vieron los perros, y Calaveras. Este espectáculo interactivo será presentado en inglés y español. Registro en línea. // Virtual. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com Day of the Dead 5K/10K Run/Walk Oct. 24; 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. 5K starts, 9 a.m. 10K Get moving with the family in honor of Día de los Muertos, and benefit Denver's Latino Leadership Institute. Participants will receive a race shirt, finishers medal, photo downloads, and access to an assortment of goodies at the finish. Register online $32-$50. City Park, Denver. coloradorunnerevents.com Day of the Dead Family Celebration Oct. 9, 2 to 10:30 p.m.

This street festival will include music and dance performances, arts and craft activities, cultural education, food, altars, the Gigantes Procession, and the Firehouse Art Center’s Catrina Ball.

Día de los Muertos exhibitions at the Longmont Museum and Firehouse will also be open and free. Free fiesta, $15 general admission to Catrina Ball. Downtown Longmont, Longmont. longmontcolorado.gov Día de los Muertos Exhibition Oct. 9 to Nov. 7, Mon through Sat, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thu, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sun, 1 to 5 p.m.

Longmont artist Mario Olvera’s work will anchor this year’s Día de los Muertos display, also featuring ofrendas (altars) built by community members. Longmont Museum, Longmont. longmontcolorado.gov Seedlings: Dia de Muertos Storytelling and Butterfly Activity Nov. 2, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Join the Mexican Cultural Center for a family storytime, featuring I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story by Janice Levy, followed by an interactive butterfly craft activity. Purchase tickets online. $3, free age 1 and under. Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree. lonetreeartscenter.org 10th Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration Nov. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with altars, entertainment, and related programs. Find timed tickets online. $15 adult, $11.50 seniors and military, free age 15 and under. Denver Botanic Gardens York Street, Denver. botanicgardens.org

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Colorado Parent | October 2021

Neigh-boo-hood Haunts Boo! on Briggs Street Oct. 23, 4 to 7 p.m.

Enjoy a spook-tacular time with the entire family at this trick-or-treat event. Briggs Street, Downtown Erie. erieco.gov BOO-rific Bash & Splash Oct. 29, 5 to 7 p.m.

Bring the whole family to this fun and safe indoor trick-or-treating event. Children can dress in full costume, trick-or-treat among community business tables, and change into their swimsuit for a dip in the pool. $5 youth, free adult; pay at the door. Ridge Recreation Center, Littleton. ifoothills.org Boos Cruise Oct. 29, 3 to 7 p.m.

Don your best costume and prepare for spooks and sweets at this family-friendly trunk-or-treat event. Register online. Aurora Sports Park, Aurora. auroragov.org Downtown Boulder’s Munchkin Masquerade Oct. 31, 3 to 6 p.m.

Invade Downtown Boulder with your crew of ghosts, dinosaurs, fairies, princes, and superheroes, and trick-or-treat along Pearl Street. Recommended for children ages 12 and under; masks are strongly recommended. Pearl Street Mall, Boulder. boulderdowntown.com Halloween Hoopla Oct. 30 and 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Enjoy open play, a costume parade every two hours, entertainment, treats, pizza, and snacks at this creative play space. Reserve online. $16 youth, free for two adults, $5 additional adult. Kids Wonder, Centennial. kidswonder.net Last Stop at the Highlands Ranch Mansion Oct. 31, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Trick-or-treat at this mansion’s grand door, then enter the outdoor party where a cash bar, music, dancing, and spooky effects add to the fun. All

ages. Highlands Ranch Mansion, Highlands Ranch. highlandsranchmansion.com NoCo’s Greatest Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat Experience Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Drive slowly through a series of Halloween scenes decorated by local businesses, schools, and nonprofits. Help raise funds for Thompson Education Foundation. Register online. $5 per vehicle.

Thompson School District Administration Office, Loveland. thompsontef.org Olde Town Arvada’s Trick or Treat Street Oct. 29, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Bring your little monsters, goblins, and ghouls to Olde Town Arvada for this sweet annual event.

No reservations needed. All JeffCo Public Health Guidelines will be followed, anyone unvaccinated (adult or child) should wear a mask. Olde Town Square, Arvada. oldetownarvada.org Parker Fall Fest Through Oct. 2, see online for details.

Usher in fall with the Town of Parker. Visit a selfie station, search for a live scarecrow, and find hidden pumpkins in a town scavenger hunt. Downtown Parker, Parker. parkeronline.org Parker Porch Parade Oct. 23 to 31.

Spook up Parker’s streets by decorating your house exterior for Halloween, and get the chance to win a prize. The Town of Parker will produce a virtual map with locations of registered porches so you can plan a walk or drive around the community to share in the celebration. Town of Parker, Parker. parkeronline.org Trunk-or-Treat Oct. 23, 3 to 6 p.m.

Strut your stuff (in costume) to the tune of festive music and move through a maze of trunks handing out treats. Vote on your favorite trunk. Reserve online. Englewood Civic Center, Englewood. englewoodco.gov

BOO-rific Bash & Splash

Boo at the Zoo: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Illustrations: Getty Images.

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Friday thru Sunday • October 15th – 17th • 10am – 8pm (Saturday and Sunday with

Boo at the Zoo Oct. 16 to 31; Sat and Sun, 4 to 8:30 p.m.

Prowl around the zoo and see the creatures of the night with special animal exhibits open late. Come in costume, and don’t forget a treat bag; all the candy given here is made with sustainable palm oil to help protect wild orangutans.

The haunted house is appropriate for ages 6 and up, with parental discretion.

The chairlift-style, open-air Sky Ride helps visitors see spectacular views of the Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, and the Eastern Plains. Purchase tickets online. Activities included with general zoo admission: $19.75-$29.75 adult, $14.75-$25.75 child, free age 2 and under. $3 sky ride. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs. cmzoo.org

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Estes Park Events Complex 1125BALLET Rooftop Way, Estes Park ARIEL PRESENTS

Bug-A-Boo Oct. 22 and 23, 29 and 30; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

JOIN Put on your best Halloween costume and join Butterfly Pavilion for a socially distanced trick-or-treating experience. Enjoy candy stations, prizes, and exhibit access. Age 5 and up. Purchase tickets online. $13 adult, $9 youth ages 2-12, SNAP and EBT will be accepted. Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster. butterflies.org Halloween Kids Fest Oct. 29 and 30, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Join Sharkey and his friends for not-so-haunted train rides, pumpkin painting, monster mural coloring, science experiments, and shows. Kids in costume get a 50 percent off exhibit entry with adult ticket purchase. $24 adult, $9 youth ages 3-11 in costume, with adult entry, free age 2 and under. Downtown Aquarium, Denver. aquariumrestaurants.com Howl-O-Ween Oct. 31, 4 to 6 p.m.

Watch as meat-filled pumpkins are passed to the wolves to eat. Enjoy a bonfire and refreshments. Reservations required. $40, $20 ages 6-11. Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center, Divide. wolfeducation.org Wild Fall Oct. 1 through 31. Daily; 8:30am open for members, 10am open to the public; closing hours vary by day.

Explore the Zoo to find convincing evidence that mythical beasts walk among us. Wear costumes and enjoy creature-carved pumpkins, festive food and drink, and special animal demos that connect supernatural beings to the real-life natural world. Included with admission: $20 adult, seniors; $14 child ages 3-11; free age 2 and under and members. Denver Zoo, Denver. denverzoo.org

Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre OUR EMAIL LIST TO RECEIVE EVENT UPDATES Parsons Theatre | Schoolhouse Theater VENDOR APPLICATIONS AT oll WWW.JUNKINMARKETDAYS.COM ker’s D

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Nutcracker

Ti c k e t s a n d m or e i n f or m a t i on at b a l l e t ar iel.or g

Free Parking • Free Admission • Free Picnic Area

Pick-a-Pumpkin Pumpkin Patch 7 Days a week!

Certified Organic Pumpkins, Squash, and more!

Kiddie Carnival Rides and Activities, Sweets and Treats!

RockyMtnPumpkinPatch.com 9059 Ute Highway (Hwy 66), Longmont October 1–31 | 9am-6pm Daily Activities from $1 to $10

Visit our organic produce market and pumpkin patch October 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

37

FOX31’s

ERIKA GONZALEZ

“Being a working mom

comes with its challenges...

And it is also a privilege. I recognize I’m blessed to be able to do what I love and be a mom to a sweet baby boy.”

– Erika

Watch Erika Gonzalez and Jeremy Hubbard Weeknights at 5, 9, & 10P.

C

Calendar OCTOBER

Our Picks For Little Ones

READ ALOUD AND Q&A WITH AUTHOR SIGAL SAMUEL October 10 See page 42

For Kiddos

VOYAGERS October 22-31 See page 45

For Tweens

Opener: Westernaires.

BOLD WOMEN CHANGE HISTORY: GITANJALI RAO October 11 See page 42

OCT.

23-24

For Teens

Alina Edgett performs a side backbend over her horse at the Westernaires’ annual show.

Horsecapades Annual Show

Oct. 23, 10am, 2pm, 7pm showtimes. Oct. 24, 2pm. The Westernaires group showcases the hardwon skills in precision drill riding. Take in their high speed, rope tricks, flaming batons, and dazzling array of costumes. All are performed by young people. Find tickets online. $10. National Western Stock Show Event Center, Denver. westernaires.org

15TH DENVER COLFAX MARATHON October 16-17 See page 43

October 2021 | Colorado Parent

39

Calendar | October

Just Between Friends: Shannan Hays. Book: Sigal Samuel. Illustration: Getty Images.

2 SATURDAY

Friends Craft Fair 9am-4pm. Browse

Calendar What’s Inside ON STAGE

41

SPECIAL FAMILIES

42 WHERE THE KIDS ARE

43

ONGOING EVENTS

44

HEADS UP! All events were correct as of press time, however, please phone ahead to confirm event details.

Get listed!

Items to be considered for the monthly printed calendar must be received at least six weeks before the month of publication.

Email event information to calendar@coloradoparent.com.

Information cannot be accepted by phone. See our calendar online at ColoradoParent.com

over 250 booths of hand-crafted items, and purchase breakfast and lunch items from local nonprofit organizations who run the food concession stands. Proceeds are used by the Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum organization to sponsor programs at the Littleton Museum and Bemis Public Library. Free entry.

Ketring Park, Littleton. littletongov.org

3 SUNDAY

Autumn Fest 11am-4pm. Head to the History Museum for an afternoon of family activities, chalk art, puppet shows, petting zoo, and Westernaires horse riding ($3 extra). Golden History Museum, Golden. goldenhistory.org

5 TUESDAY

VIRTUAL Book Queeries: How To Be You 4:30-5:30pm. Attend

this online book club and receive a free copy of this month’s book, How To Be You

by Jeffrey Marsh, while supplies last. Teens across the gender and sexuality spectrum are welcome to engage in fun, respectful dialogue, and activities. Allies welcome.

Grades 6-12. calendar.boulderlibrary.org

Hispanic Heritage Month: Tamales from México 4:30-5:30.

Join in a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with food and conversation.

Practice your Spanish with Denver Public Library staff as they discuss tamales, a dish made of corn-based dough filled with meats, vegetables, and cheeses, from México. Sample the real thing as Nadia demonstrates how to make her family recipe. // Únase a la celebración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana con comida y conversación. Practique su español con el personal de la Biblioteca Pública de Denver mientras conversan sobre los tamales, un platillo hecho con masa a base de maíz relleno de carnes, verduras y quesos, de México. Pruebe lo real: Nadia le mostrará cómo hacer su receta familiar. // This is a bilingual Spanish/ English program. Food will be available while supplies last. Register online. Sam Gary Library, Denver. denverlibrary.org

Looking for a Halloween or harvest event? Turn to page 30 for our guide to pumpkin patches, spooktacular parties, and more thrills of the season.

40

Colorado Parent | October 2021

Browse the Just Between Friends racks of gently used clothing to find your kid’s perfect fall outfit, at a bargain price, Oct. 7.

6 WEDNESDAY

Munchkin Market Oct. 7,

bestselling Young Adult author, Brigid Kemmerer to celebrate her new fantasy series, Defy the Night, along with young adult authors, Lilliam Rivera and Phil Stamper. Masks required. Virtual option available. Age 12 and up. Free, book purchase required for signing line ($11 and up). Second Star to the Right Bookstore, Denver. secondstartotherightbooks.com

8 FRIDAY

Brigid Kemmerer in Conversation with Lilliam Rivera & Phil Stamper + Book Signing 6pm. Join New York Times

7 THURSDAY

Barnyard Buddies 10:30-11:30am.

Read a book, make a craft, and participate in an activity at the Ranch. Age 6 and under. Register online. $3. Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site at Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs. rockledgeranch.com

Just Between Friends Broomfield/Brighton Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale Oct. 7, 9am-7pm; Oct. 8, 9am-5pm; Oct. 9, 9am-4pm; Oct. 10, 9am-3pm. Shop for everything you need for your kiddos, from birth through teens. Check out clothes, toys, shoes, gear, and sports equipment.

Walk-ins are welcome, but the number of shoppers at one time is limited to promote social distancing resulting in a wait. Free passes online, $2 at the door. Adams County Fairgrounds, Brighton. broomfield.jbfsale.com

5-8pm; Oct. 8, noon-7pm; Oct. 9, 9am-1pm (Half Price Day). Find gently used children’s items including clothing (sizes 0-junior 15-17), shoes (infant to juniors), all types of baby gear, outdoor play equipment, toys, media, maternity, and bedding. A portion of the proceeds help fund the MOPS program in Woodland Park. Woodland Park Community Church, Woodland Park. utepassmops.org

Just Between Friends Broomfield/Brighton Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale See Oct. 7.

Munchkin Market See Oct. 7.

Four Mile Free Day 10am-4pm. Travel back to 1859 for free.

HOT TIP IT'S NATIONAL DESSERT MONTH. Take your sweet tooth to a new level with local dessert decorating classes.

The Makery in Centennial offers kits with virtual instructions. themakery.com. My Make Studio in Edgewater has regular in-person workshops, including a Spooky Haunted House cake for October. mymakestudio.com. Or, shop for all the at-home decorating supplies you’ll need at Cake Crafts in Englewood and let your own vision come to life. cakecrafts.net

Coppelia: Ballet Ariel

Calendar | October

Enjoy historic demonstrations, a tour of the Four Mile House Museum, and meet farm animals. House Museum Tours can accommodate up to 10 guests and are offered first-come, first-served. Four Mile Historic Park. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

On Stage

9 SATURDAY

Just Between Friends Broomfield/Brighton Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale See Oct. 7.

Munchkin Market See Oct. 7.

Marine Biologist for a Day 9am-2pm. See if you have what it takes to be a marine biologist. Help prepare food, feed some exhibits, and learn how the aquarium’s biologists take care of the animals. Grades 9-12. Preregistration is required at least two weeks in advance. $65 per child. Downtown Aquarium. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Fire Prevention Safety Week 10am-4pm. Play and learn with hands-on activities throughout the Museum exhibits and Little Squirts Square, and talk to past firefighters about their experiences. All ages. Denver Firefighters Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Storytime Celebration with Julie Hedlund and Michael Slack 2pm. Join author-illustrator duo Julie Hedlund and Michael Slack for a special storytime to celebrate the release of Over Bear, Under Where.

Come in person to enjoy popcorn and a movie-style setup with the event live streamed to the bookstore. A virtual viewing is also available. Ages 3-8. Free, book available for purchase. Second Star to the Right Bookstore, Denver. secondstartotherightbooks.com

Poetry & Prana 3-4:30pm.

Stretch and bend your body while expanding your mind with this poetry and yoga workshop in the park. Water and snacks, plus a poetry pack for the event and take home items will be provided.

Limited mats available. All ages. Donations benefit Art from Ashes and Courageous Yoga. Register online. Free, donations suggested. Cheesman Park Pavilion, Denver. secure.givelively.org/event/art-from-ashesinc/poetry-prana

The toymaker tries to woo his own doll creation in The Toymaker’s Doll Coppelia.

Balloonacy Oct. 23-Nov. 21; Sat, 10am and 1pm; Sun, 1pm and 4pm. Imagine a single balloon changing one person’s life forever. The play explores the power of friendship and shows how, with a little imagination and acceptance, companionship is everywhere. Find tickets online. $20 nonmember, $18 FAC member, $10 youth. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs. fac.coloradocollege.edu

under). Center Stage, Evergreen. ovationwest.org Giselle Oct. 8-17. Fri, 7:30pm; Sat, 2pm and 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm.

Experience this romantic tragedy (with themes of unrequited love and casualty) performed by the athletes of Colorado Ballet. $40 and up.

Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver. tickets.coloradoballet.org

El Corrido del Barrio Oct. 7-24. Thu-Sat, 7:30pm; Oct. 24, 2pm. Players of Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center take the stage in a moving and comic tribute to community, family, and life in Denver’s Westside. The corrido (ballad) laments the heart of the land and brown-skinned people stolen in the name of progress.

Written by Anthony J. Garcia and directed by Hugo E. Carbajal. $20; $17 student, seniors. Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center, Denver. suteatro.org

Guadalupe in the Guest Room Through Oct. 24. Wed, 7pm; Thu-Fri, 7:30pm; Sat, 5pm and 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. Guadalupe is living in the guest room of her sonin-law, Steve, while she works to translate, from English to Spanish, the children’s books her deceased daughter has written. Overcome with grief and separated by a language barrier, the housemates struggle to communicate, until a telenovela makes them bond in unexpected ways. $20 and up. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs. fac.coloradocollege.edu

Fiddler on the Roof Through Oct. 10. Fri and Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2:30pm. The iconic musical tells the story of milkman Tevye and his daughters whose lives are overshadowed by anti-semitism in the early 20th century. All ages.

Find tickets online. $30 adult, $26 senior, $20 student (age 21 and

Hundred Days Through Oct. 10, Thu-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. What would you do if you only had 100 days left to live? That’s the question this folk-punk musical seeks to answer.

Shaun and Abigail remember the story of how they fell in love, unleashing a musical dreamscape about embracing uncertainty, taking a leap, and loving

as if you had everything to lose, or gain. $30-$40 adult; $28 senior, student; $15 child (age 12 and under). Aurora Fox Arts Center, Aurora. aurorafoxartscenter.org I Do! I Do! Through Oct. 10, Tue-Sun; 1pm, 2:30pm, and 7:30pm showings (times vary, check each date online).

Enjoy an intimate and nostalgic twoperson musical about a couple’s 50-year story of love by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones. Find tickets online. $53 and up.

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada. arvadacenter.org The Crucible Fri and Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. Settle in for a dramatic rendition of the classic, The Crucible, set during the Salem witch trials of the 1690s. Parental discretion advised. $22-$40. Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden. minersalley.com The Toymaker’s Doll Coppelia Oct. 9 and 10, 3pm (Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre, Denver); Nov. 7, 3pm (D.L. Parsons Theatre, Northglenn); Nov. 27, 6:30pm (The Schoolhouse Theatre, Parker) Laugh along with this comic ballet about a dancing doll, a mischievous girl, and a toymaker who has fallen in love with his own creation.

Enjoy a Little Ballerina Tea Party with cast members in costume after matinee performances. All ages. Find tickets online. $26 adult, $23 student/ seniors, $20 youth. Locations in Denver, Northglenn, and Parker. balletariel.org

October 2021 | Colorado Parent

41

Calendar | October

pan con chumpe, un sándwich de pavo llevado a un nivel completamente nuevo, mientras practica español con el personal de DPL y celebra el Mes de la Herencia Hispana. // Sam Gary Library, Denver. denverlibrary.org

Just Between Friends Broomfield/Brighton Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale See Oct. 7.

VIRTUAL Read Aloud and Q&A with Author Sigal Samuel

1pm. Join the JCC Denver as Sigal Samuel reads her book Osnat And Her Dove. Then, families can participate in activities at home inspired by the book’s messages of reaching your dreams, and inspiring others to be the best version of themselves. Activity boxes will be available for prepurchase at the JCC Denver. Ages 2-8.

Find tickets online. $18. jccdenver.org

Sunday Swing Supper Club 7:30pm. Join in an afternoon featuring the swingin’ music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and more. Festivities begin with free beginner dance lessons followed by two sets of live big band music.

Food is available to order and there is a fully stocked cash bar. Singles and beginners of all ages welcome (under 18 with guardian). $20 at the door, $15 online. Buffalo Rose Event Center, Golden. buffalorosegolden.com

11 MONDAY

Bold Women Change History: Gitanjali Rao 7-8pm. Meet innovator, change-maker, author, and STEM education promoter Gitanjali Rao, from Lone Tree. At age 15, she was named TIME magazine’s first-ever “Kid of the Year.” Her bold thinking has resulted in a device that detects lead in water,

Special

VIRTUAL

Families First Friday Yoga Oct. 1, 8-9am. Join Special Olympics Colorado for yoga with Office Manager and Yoga Instructor, Jenn Dormann.

Contact Jenn with questions at: jdormann@specialolympicsco.org. specialolympicsco.org Sensory Friendly Passport to Culture: Seven Falls Indian Dancers Oct 17, 4pm. The Seven Falls Indian Dancers is a family dance troupe representing four generations of dancers from the

42

14 THURSDAY

VIRTUAL Courageous Conversations 9:30-10:30am.

Gitanjali Rao shares how to make a difference with STEM projects. an AI-based anti-cyberbullying service called Kindly, and an opioid addiction detection device called Epione. Hear Rao share her journey and discuss the role of science as a catalyst for social change.

Find tickets online. $5-$25 in person, $0-$25 virtual. History Colorado Center.

See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

12 TUESDAY

Aspen Academy school counselors, Jessie Skipwith and Cindy Hewatt share how to have courageous conversations with middle school students that equip and empower children, parents, and caregivers in their relationships. Register online. aspenacademy.org

Conscious Candles Workshop 5:30-7pm. Support a health cause you feel strongly about, and increase awareness through customized products. The month of October

focuses on several health awareness causes including breast cancer, lupus, and healthy lungs. Create your own scented candles and learn how to market your product to make a difference for your cause. Ages 10-18.

Register online. $10. Young Americans Center for Financial Education and Young Americans Bank—Denver, Denver. yacenter.org

15 FRIDAY

Junkin’ Market Days Oct. 15-17, 10am-4pm. Scour this market for your favorite repurposed, rustic, shabby chic, farmhouse, or vintage finds.

The event features local vendors and some from different states. Purchase boutique clothes, jewelry, home decor, furniture, candles, and gourmet foods. $10-15, free age 12 and under.

Estes Park Event Complex, Estes Park. junkinmarketdays.com

Book Launch with Claudia Mills 4:30-5:30pm. Join in-person or virtually to celebrate the launch of The Lost Language with local author, Claudia Mills. Ages 6-12. Free, book available for purchase. Harrington Gallery of Contemporary Art, Denver.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Pan Con Chumpe from El Salvador 4:30-5:30pm. Sample pan con chumpe, a Salvadoran turkey sandwich stuffed with toppings, while practicing Spanish with DPL staff and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

This is a bilingual Spanish/English program. Food will be available while supplies last. Register online. // Pruebe

Pawnee, Flandreau Santee Sioux, and Crow Creek Sioux tribes. The troupe performs traditional dances including the Hoop Dance, Eagle Dance, Grass Dance, explaining the origin of each dance with a story. The show is modified to ensure there are no startling noises or visually overstimulating components. Sound levels are lower than normal and lights in the audience are higher than normal.

Audience members are free to come and go (there is always a “safe room” available) and are asked to wave hands rather than clapping. Face coverings are strongly recommended, regardless of vaccination status.

Colorado Parent | October 2021

Learn from Aspen Academy counselors how to talk with middle school students in deep, empowering ways, Oct. 14.

Lone Tree Arts Center, Lone Tree. lonetreeartscenter.org Sibling Clubhouse Oct. 2, 4-5pm. First Saturdays. Hang out with other kids who have siblings with autism and understand the dynamic. Autism Community Store creates space for this peer moderated group. Participants should be old enough to have a meaningful conversation about being a sibling of someone with autism. Email connect@ autismcommunitystore.com to get on the sibling clubhouse email list, or see the Autism Community Store Facebook page to find the event link. $5 Autism Community Store, Aurora. autismcommunitystore.com

Special Olympics Colorado 2021 Hall of Fame Oct. 13, 11:30am-1pm. Celebrate the inductees, meet other athlete, and hear about what Special Olympics Colorado has accomplished this year plus its plans for the future.

Funds benefit the organization’s programs. Masks will be required, tables will be socially distanced.

There will also be a livestream option. See online for registration and health and safety details.

Free, donations and fundraising suggested. Hyatt Regency Center, Denver. specialolympicsco.org

Bold Women: Gitanjali Rao. Courageous conversations: Jen Harris.

10 SUNDAY

Mime: Frank Veronsky.

Calendar | October

Where the Kids Are

The following locations are referred to frequently in the calendar. Discounted annual passes are available at many venues. Note: Check websites for the latest health and safety information. Reserved Tickets Required Timed entry

Aurora History Museum Tue-Fri, 9am-4pm (closed noon-1pm); Sat and Sun, 11am-4pm. 15051 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora. 303-7396660. auroragov.org/things_to_do/aurora_history_ museum Butterfly Pavilion Daily, 9am-6pm. $13 adult, $11 seniors, $9 ages 2-12, free under age 2 and members. 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster.

303-469-5441. butterflies.org

Bill Bowers performs distinctively imaginative mime scenes to the wonder of a kid audience, Oct. 21 and 26.

Veggie Viernes 5-9pm. Enjoy vegan food from Latinx/BIPOC/woman-owned businesses, an art show, Aztec dancing, live music, lowriders, and youth activities at this community gathering. Free entry, vendor prices vary. RISE Westwood Collective, Denver. risewestwoodcollective.com

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus Wed-Sun, 8:30am-4pm. Two, 3 ½-hour play sessions each day. $15 ages 2-59, $13 ages 1 and 60+, $1 Explorer Pass, free under age 1 and members 2121 Children's Museum Dr., Denver.

303-433-7444. mychildsmuseum.org Denver Art Museum Daily, 10am-5pm; $10-$13 adult, $8-$10 seniors, military, and college student, free age 18 and under.

100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver. 720-913-0130. denverartmuseum.org

16 SATURDAY

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms Daily, 9am-4pm. $10 adults; $7 seniors, military, students, and ages 3-12; free age 2 and under and members. 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton.

720-865-3500. botanicgardens.org

1-5pm. Visit the historic property and explore the ranch with a self-guided tour. Face masks are required inside house. Schweiger Ranch, Lone Tree. schweigerranch.org

Denver Botanic Gardens York Street Daily, 9am-7pm. $15 adult, $11.50 seniors and military, $11 ages 3-15 and student, free age 2 and under. 1007 York St., Denver. 720-865-3500. botanicgardens.org

15th Denver Colfax Marathon Schedules

Denver Firefighters Museum Tue-Sat, 10am-4pm. $9 adult; $8 seniors, military, firefighters, and students; $7 ages 3-12; free age 2 and under and members. 1326 Tremont Pl., Denver. 303-8921436. denverfirefightersmuseum.org

Schweiger Ranch Open Day

vary by race, see online for details. Take part in the largest running weekend in the city. The Colfax races include a Marathon, Half Marathon, Urban 10 Miler, Marathon Relay, Mile High Women’s 10K, and a 5K (separate stroller-friendly start wave for families and walkers). Get a team or individuals together and run for a local charity. Register online. $29 and up. Various Locations on Colfax Avenue, Denver. runcolfax.org

International Archaeology Day

Expo 9am-3pm. Learn about Colorado archaeology and the unwritten history of the Roxborough Park and Front Range areas. Enjoy professional archaeology lectures from noted scholars in the field, demonstrations on ancient crafts, and handson activities. Sign up for a guided tour. Roxborough Intermediate School, Littleton. historycolorado.org

19 TUESDAY

VIRTUAL Parenting Strategies: Music Together 4-5pm. Join in a music and

movement class. Sing, move, dance, and play some

Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys Fri-Sat, 10am-4:30pm; Sun, 1-4pm. $5 adult, $4 child (ages 4-16) and seniors, free age 3 and under and members. 830 Kipling St., Lakewood.

303-322-1053. dmmdt.org Denver Museum of Nature & Science Daily, 9am-5pm, open until 9 p.m. on Fridays. $18.95$19.95 adult, $15.95-$16.95 seniors, $13.95-$14.95 ages 3-18, free age 2 and under and members. 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver. 303-370-6000. dmns.org Denver Zoo Daily; 8:30am open for members, 10am open to the public; closing hours vary by day. $20 adult, seniors; $14 child ages 3-11; free age 2 and under and members. 2300 Steele St., Denver.

720-337-1400. denverzoo.org Downtown Aquarium Mon-Thu, 10am-9pm; Fri and Sat, 9am-10pm; Sun,9am-8pm. $23.50

ages 12-64, $22.50 seniors, $17.50 ages 3-11, free age 2 and under. 700 Water St., Denver. 303-561-4450. downtownaquarium.com Four Mile Historic Park Wed-Sun, 10am-4pm. $5 adult; $4 seniors, military; $3 ages 7-17, free age 6 and under and members. 715 S. Forest St. Denver.

720-865-0800. fourmilepark.org History Colorado Center Daily, 10am-5pm. Thu, 10am-8pm. $14 adult, $12 seniors, $10 ages 16-22 with student ID, $8 ages 5-15, free age 4 and under and members. 1200 Broadway, Denver. 303-447-8679. historycolorado.org/history-colorado-center Littleton Museum Tues-Sat, 9am-5pm.

6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. 303-795-3950. littletongov.org/museum Longmont Museum Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm; Thu, 9am-9pm; Sun, 1-5pm. $8 adults; $5 students, seniors; free age 3 and under and members. 400 Quail Rd., Longmont. 303-651-8374. longmontcolorado.gov/ departments/departments-e-m/museum Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center Fri, noon-4pm; Sat and Sun, 11am-4pm. 910 Colorow Road Golden. 720-497-7600. jeffco.us/1281/Lookout-Mountain-Preserve-andNature-Cen Majestic View Nature Center Tue-Sat, 10am-3pm. 7030 Garrison St., Arvada. 720-898-7405. majesticviewnaturecenter.arvada.org Museum of Boulder Sun and Mon, Thu-Sat, 9am-5pm; Wed, 9am-8pm. $10 adult; $8 seniors, youth, students; free children under 5 and members. 2205 Broadway, Boulder. 303-449-3464. museumofboulder.org Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Grounds open daily sunrisesunset. Archery range open Wed-Sun, 9am-4pm.

6550 Gateway Rd., Commerce City. 303-289-0930. fws.gov/refuge/rocky_mountain_arsenal University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (closed) Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, noon-5pm. $16.95 ages 17-64; $12.95 seniors, military; $9.95 ages 4-16, free age 3 and under and members. 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver. 303-360-5360. wingsmuseum.org WOW! Children’s Museum Tue-Sat, 9am-4:30pm (closed noon-1pm). $5 adult, $10 child (age 1-11), free under age 1 and members.110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette. 303-604-2424. wowchildrensmuseum.org

October 2021 | Colorado Parent

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Calendar | October

21 THURSDAY

VIRTUAL Mime Over Matter Oct. 21, 10-11am; Oct.

26, 4-5pm. Bill Bowers, Broadway actor and former student of famed mime Marcel Marceau, will demonstrate how the world of mime is much larger than being stuck in a box. Bowers will perform short mime scenes and empower children to use their imaginations to build their mime skills. Ages 5-12.

Register online. arapahoelibraries. bibliocommons.com

23 SATURDAY

Great Businesses Doing Good, with Good Business Colorado 10:15-11:45am. Join in a social enterprise-themed workshop, featuring three socially minded businesses in the Denver community.

Learn why running a social enterprise is good for your community, your customers, and your bottom line.

Participants will earn perks from Good Business Colorado to help jumpstart their own social mission. Ages 8-21.

Register online. Young Americans Center for Financial Education and Young Americans Bank—Denver, Denver. yacenter.org

26 TUESAY

VIRTUAL Mime Over Matter See Oct. 21.

Untitled: Creative Fusions 6-10pm. The Spirit Survives is this collaboration’s theme, featuring a mix of contemporary art from Alejandro Abad and music from Felix Ayodele.

Celebrate resiliency and empathy in a night to connect with local creatives.

Find tickets online. Denver Art Museum.

See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

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Ongoing Events SEASONAL OFFERINGS

Farmers market: Layland Masuda/Getty Images.

“instruments” gathered from around your house. Led by Music Together director Leah Creek Biesterfeld, this energetic class is interspersed with information about your child’s musical growth and includes tips on incorporating music into your family’s daily life. Ages 0-5 and caregivers. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

A Paris Street Market Oct. 2; 8am-2pm (Aspen Grove); Oct. 16; 9am-3pm (Park Meadows). Attend an open-air, vintage, antique, and artisan market complete with home goods, clothing, and delicious food. Find the market outside the Aspen Grove shopping center and Park Meadows mall. Free entry, vendor prices vary.

Littleton and Lone Tree locations. aparisstreetmarket.com

City Park Farmers Market Through Oct. 30. Sat, 8am-1pm. Enjoy the city’s great outdoors and connect with a line-up of more than 60 Coloradobased food startups, established brands, and artisans. Support long-standing local producers as well as startups that just launched in the past year. Check out a schedule of entertainment, including yoga and music, online.

Dogs welcome. Free entry, vendor prices vary. City Park Denver, Denver. cityparkfarmersmarket.com

the studio for an art experience while you enjoy a relaxing evening out.

Grades Pre-K-5. Reservation required. $35. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com

Music for Sanity’s Sake NATURE PROGRAMS AND CLASSES

Drop-in Discoveries Ongoing. Third Tue, 10-11am. Experience nature’s surprises with hands-on programming featuring a range of nature topics. All ages. Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

CLASSES, CLUBS, AND PROGRAMS

Discovery Days Ongoing. Wed-Fri; 9-10:15am, 10:30-11:45am, 12:301:45pm. Learn together through monthly hands-on activities that build language development, fine motor skills, emotional regulation, and social abilities.

Scholarships are available. Ages 2-6 and caregivers. $4.50 per child (nonmember), $4 member child. Longmont Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

VIRTUAL First Friday Youth Phoenix Rising Workshop Fri, 6-6:30pm. Hear from

Ongoing. Thu, 4-5pm. Connect with other creatives in a safe space where you can talk about music that helps you make sense of the world, try out free tools to build your artistry, and practice stress management. Join Youth On Record’s Bianca Mikahn in this workshop for youth ages 14-20.

Register online. Youth on Record, Denver. youthonrecord.org

Music Together Demo

Class Ongoing by appointment. Plant the seeds for musical growth through singing, movement, and instrument play.

Mixed age classes; sibling welcome. For infants-age 8. Reservations required.

Free for first class. Boulder and Northern Colorado. mountainsongmusic.com

Open Studio Ongoing. Second

youth poets who are part of the Art from Ashes programs. Participants ages 12-24 can sign up and get paid to perform on the organization’s Instagram Live (@afaphoenix). artfromashes.org

and fourth Sat, first and third Sun; 10-11:30am. Experiment, play, tinker, invent, and create with or without the kids at artSPARK studio.

All ages. Reservation required. $18. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com

Kids Art Nite Oct. 1 and 16,

Pee Wee Art Ongoing. Wed,

6-8pm (grades 1-5); Oct. 9 and 23, 4-6pm (PK-K). Leave your kiddos at

4:30-5:30pm. Parents, introduce your preschooler to the arts and assist with

Colorado Parent | October 2021

their creative process. At each program, your little artist will be introduced to a new art medium and technique, such as drawing, painting, and sculpture. They’ll come home with their own works of art. $25. Curtis Center for the Arts, Greenwood Village. greenwoodvillage.com

Tales for Tots Ongoing. Second and fourth Tue, 9am. Join in on storytime complete with finger plays and a selfguided tour of the Denver Firefighters Museum. Ages 2-5. Free with admission.

Denver Firefighters Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Wee Wednesdays Oct. 6-Nov. 17.

Wed, 9am. Take part in a six-week fire safety series. The play dates teach fire safety concepts: My Friend the Firefighter, Crawl Low Under Smoke, Get Low and Go, Stop! Drop! and Roll!, Safe For Play!

Keep Away!, and Meet a Real Firefighter.

Reservations are required. Ages 3-5. $7 per child, per session. Denver Firefighters Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Youth On Record Open Lab Ongoing. Fri, 3:30-5:30pm; Sat, 11:30am-2:30pm. Interested in creating music, learning about the business/ marketing side, hearing from guest speakers, and being part of a community of like-minded individuals? Participate in music seminars and workshops for youth, led by local professionals. Ages 14-20.

Register online. Youth on Record, Denver. youthonrecord.org

Calendar | October

MUSEUM MEANDERINGS

B.E.A.T. | Boulder Experiments in Art and Technology Oct. 30Jan. 30. Sun-Mon, Thu-Sat, 9am-5pm; Wed, 9am-8pm. A gathering of artists, biologists, and technologists collaborated to create this exhibit showing the benefits and negative impacts of technology. Visitors will collaborate with each other and connect with person-made and natural tools. Museum of Boulder. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Birdly Virtual Reality Experience Ongoing. Daily, 9am-5pm; Fri, 9am-9pm. Hop on the Birdly simulation flyer with head-mounted VR display to get a pterodactyl’s-eye view of a prehistoric landscape. Riders will experience multi-sensory elements such as headwind simulation, 3D audio, and visual impact. Guests must have a 48-inch wingspan to fly, face coverings must be worn, and guests using wheelchairs must transfer to ride. $9 adult, $8 youth and senior plus DMNS admission. Denver Museum of Nature and Science. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Borderlands of Southern Colorado Ongoing. History Colorado’s exhibit centers Chicano, Indigenous, and Mestizo perspectives on the shifting geopolitical history of southern Colorado. It’s rich in oral histories and first-person accounts, and will be a core, ongoing exhibition.

History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Voyagers: :Fiske Planetarium.

Five Points Plus: Neighborhood Memory Project Through Nov. 1. Daily, 10am-5pm. Take in the collective memory of an important Denver neighborhood: Five Points. Enjoy a mural by artist Adri Norris, artifacts from Five Points eras, a sound installation featuring community storytellers, photos, and a soundtrack

by KUVO radio. History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Great Bear Rainforest Through Feb 23. Daily showings between 9am and 5pm; see online for

details. Enjoy a great IMAX production that takes viewers on a journey to a land of grizzlies, coastal wolves, sea otters, and the all-white spirit bear— the rarest bear on Earth. The Great Bear Rainforest is a place protected by the region's indigenous people for millennia. Admission plus IMAX ticket: $27 adult, $21 youth, free under age 3.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

people, and place by linking ancient and contemporary artworks that address political and social issues at the heart of the region’s cultural heritages. Denver Art Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker

People of all ages can explore historybased questions through creative, hands-on opportunities in the History Colorado Center’s makerspace.

Develop a better understanding of Denver’s built environment through designing and creating your own cardboard building and add it to an imagined, communal city. History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Through Feb 23. Daily showings between 9am and 5pm; see online for details. Immerse yourself in an IMAX coming-of-age tale guided by one of Australia’s most unique, intelligent, and playful animals: the rare Australian Sea Lion. Join Otto, the Australian Sea Lion pup, who shows his life of great intimacy, tenderness, and clumsiness must often give way to a life of great sacrifice and bravery. Dive in with Otto, the Australian sea lion pup world and meet the people who are trying to save her species. Admission plus IMAX ticket: $27 adult, $21 youth, free under age 3.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Memory Mirror Ongoing.

Survival of the Slowest Oct.

Step into this immersive installation and explore your relationship with memory through animation, dioramas, and interactive storytelling.

Designed to evoke the memory of a relative’s living room, Memory Mirror will transform the museum’s Precourt Family Discovery Hall into a surreal domestic den. Denver Art Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

22-Jan. 9. Explore dozens of habitats and meet live animals such as a two-toed sloth, green iguana, spurthighed tortoise, hedgehog, and other species that manage to thrive in a world where large, strong, and fast

Makerspace: Build! Ongoing.

animals are often at the top of the food chain. Denver Museum of Nature and Science. See Where the Kids Are, page 43.

Voyagers Oct. 22-Oct. 31. Oct. 22 and 29, 7:30pm; Oct. 23 and 30, 3pm and 7:30pm; Oct. 24 and 31, 3pm.

Take a musical grand tour of the solar system. Voyagers is a live, interactive musical with actors telling the story of NASA’s Voyager spacecraft. The show weaves earth sciences, anthropology, and a touching exploration of the human condition into an educational adventure. $25 adult; $20 seniors, veteran, military; $18.75 Fiske Space Buff member; $15 youth. Fiske Planetarium, Boulder. colorado.edu

Word Play Daily, 10am-8pm. Text, language, and symbols make statements and express emotion. Celebrate the written word alongside 15 participating artists who’ve created paintings, video games, and neon sculptures to show the versatility of language. Reservation required.

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada. arvadacenter.org

More Than Street Art: De La Gente Through Oct. 31. MonFri, 10am-6pm; Sat, noon-7:30pm; Sun, noon-5:30pm. More Than Street Art: De La Gente brings together eight Colorado-based street artists who bring their personal journey to represent a different viewpoint of the state, including themes of feminism, mysticism, activism, beauty, collaboration, and struggle. $5 requested donation. The Dairy Arts Center, Boulder. thedairy.org

ReVisión: Art in the Americas Oct. 24-Jul 17. The first exhibition to open in the revamped Martin Building, this selection of nearly 180 objects from the museum’s ancient American and Latin American art collections will tell a visual narrative about the formation of the Americas from 100 B.C. to today. Themes will explore land,

Voyagers the musical throws things back to 1977 where time, space, and anthropology intersect.

October 2021 | Colorado Parent

45

Roundup

Storywalk: Jamie Siebrase.

Storybook Trails

Read together as you walk one of Denver's storybook trails.

Get outdoors while reading a story with your kids.

By Jamie Siebrase

W

ith the big kids back in school, now’s the perfect time to embrace shorter weekday hiking routes with your toddlers or preschoolers.

A storybook trail—or StoryWalk—is an outdoor path featuring a children’s book posted in segments at a kid friendly height. These adorable trails hit on two important aspects of healthy living at once: early literacy and physical fitness.

there’s ample street parking. Part of the way through the story, your kids will notice the Broncos-themed playground.

Restrooms are available nearby, along with benches for snacking and resting. broomfield.org/2622/StoryWalk

AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY STORYWALK This 0.75-mile paved, flat, and accessible route takes families on an oval loop around Side Creek Park, just south of Buckley Air Force Base.

Parallel parking is available on the southeast side of the park, where you’ll find a trailhead leading to the story. For October, librarians selected a seasonal story, Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales. Bring sunscreen and hats; the walkway is fully exposed, but you’ll get some relief from the sun at the end when you reach a simple playground with slides, swings, and picnic tables. Don’t miss the beautiful

PARKER STORY WALK TRAIL Tucked inside McCabe Meadows Park, and coordinated by local Girl Scout, Avery Hendrick, Parker’s Story Walk consists of 16 signs displaying pages from We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. Each stop offers interactive opportunities for readers or questions to ponder about the story, which develops reading comprehension. Listen to the sound of flowing water from nearby Cherry Creek on this 0.3-mile out-and-back crushed gravel path.

Park near the pavilion, in the large lot servicing McCabe Meadows Park, and look for the trailhead immediately past the parking area.

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bird sculptures displayed on the park’s northeast side. auroragov.org/ things_to_do/aurora_public_library/ community_connections/story_walk BROOMFIELD STORYWALK Created by the Broomfield Public Library, Broomfield Parks, Recreation and Senior Services, and the Senior Center Woodshop, this paved storybook trail puts families on a 0.3-mile loop around the softball fields at Bronco Park. The current title is How to Find a Fox by Nilah Magruder, in which a child shows creativity and determination to track down a sneaky fox. Begin at the trailhead off Westlake Drive, where

Colorado Parent | October 2021

If you want a longer hike, it’s possible to access the Cherry Creek Trail via a footbridge. Restrooms are available near the trailhead. parkerrec.com/253/McCabe-Meadows ASPEN GROVE STORYWALK For a suburban StoryWalk experience, visit Aspen Grove, the outdoor shopping center south of downtown Littleton. Start at Rice Bistro & Sushi and follow the sidewalk as it curves north around Aspen Grove’s large parking lot. Stops are laid out over a 0.2-mile trail with picture book pages from Alan's Big, Scary Teeth by Jarvis, posted inside store windows for October. Not all stores participate in the walk, so it can feel a bit like a treasure hunt, ending just past the Tattered Cover Book Store. Each month, children can enter a drawing to win prizes from local vendors using a QR code. aspengrovecenter.com/ event/storywalk-2/

IN-DEPTH REPORTING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES

We help kids get back to being kids.

For children with asthma, allergies, respiratory and pulmonary illness, and those suffering from persistent symptoms of COVID-19, hope is right here in Denver.

At National Jewish Health, the nation’s leading respiratory hospital, our pediatric specialists incorporate the latest research and treatments to help kids of any age get back to being kids.

We breathe science, so you can breathe life.

To book an appointment for your child, call 800.621.0505 or visit njhealth.org.