Events & What’s Happening
One of Colorado's largest street festivals held over Memorial Day weekend in Old Colorado City, celebrating the area's frontier heritage with arts, crafts, food, and live entertainment along Colorado Avenue.
💡Arrive early on Saturday morning for the best parking and to let kids explore the craft booths before the afternoon crowds build.
The legendary 'Race to the Clouds' up Pikes Peak, one of the most famous motorsports events in the world, drawing international competitors and thousands of spectators.
💡Claim a viewing spot along the lower course early — upper sections require hiking and thin air can be tough on young kids.
Free outdoor jazz concert series held on Sunday evenings at America the Beautiful Park, featuring local and regional jazz musicians against a backdrop of Pikes Peak.
💡Bring a picnic blanket and dinner — the grassy lawn is very kid-friendly and the mountain views make for a stunning backdrop.
A beloved Colorado Springs tradition held at the Norris-Penrose Event Center featuring professional rodeo competitions, a parade through downtown, and a Western street festival.
💡The free downtown parade is a great low-cost family experience; the kids' mutton bustin' event inside the rodeo is a crowd favorite.
One of the largest hot air balloon festivals in the Rocky Mountain region, held at Memorial Park with mass ascensions, night glows, and live music over Labor Day weekend.
💡The Friday night glow is magical for kids and less crowded than the weekend — bring blankets for the cool evening air.
A month-long holiday celebration featuring light displays, carriage rides, visits with Santa, and holiday markets throughout Colorado Springs, centered around Acacia Park and Tejon Street.
💡The Santa visits at Acacia Park tend to have shorter lines on weekday evenings; bundle up as temperatures drop sharply after sunset.
A seasonal holiday train experience departing from the Manitou Springs depot, featuring festive storytelling, hot chocolate, and winter mountain scenery inspired by the classic holiday story.
💡Book tickets weeks in advance as this sells out quickly; dress kids in pajamas for the full Polar Express experience.
Free weekly story time for toddlers and preschoolers held at multiple Pikes Peak Library District branches, featuring books, songs, and simple crafts led by children's librarians.
💡Arrive 10 minutes early to snag a good floor spot; the Penrose Library branch has a large children's area to explore before and after.
Monthly first-Friday evening art walk along Colorado Avenue in Old Colorado City, with galleries, studios, and shops opening their doors for free public viewing and artist meet-and-greets.
💡Older kids who enjoy art thrive here; pair it with dinner at one of the nearby restaurants on Colorado Avenue for a fun family evening out.
A popular Saturday morning market in the parking lot near downtown featuring local produce, honey, baked goods, plants, and prepared foods from regional vendors.
💡Hit the fresh donut and tamale vendors first — they sell out early — and let kids pick one item of their own choosing to get them engaged.
Free weekend ranger-led nature programs at Garden of the Gods Visitor Center covering geology, wildlife, and Native American history of the iconic red rock park.
💡Programs fill up fast on summer weekends — check in at the visitor center as soon as it opens at 8am to reserve a spot for the family.
Summer Wednesday programming at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo featuring special keeper talks, animal encounters, and themed activities for children throughout the day.
💡The zoo sits at 6,800 feet elevation — bring sunscreen, water, and layers as afternoons can bring quick mountain thunderstorms.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sells discounted tickets through the Colorado Zoo Membership program and also participates in the AZA reciprocal program — if you hold a membership at an accredited zoo or aquarium back home, you may receive free or half-price admission, so bring your membership card.
- 💡Pikes Peak Highway (the toll road to the summit) enforces vehicle brake checks before descending — your car must pass a brake temperature inspection at the 12-mile house or rangers will make you wait. Diesel vehicles and those with questionable brakes are sometimes turned back entirely; research before driving a rental or older vehicle to the top.
- 💡The Garden of the Gods free trolley runs daily in summer from Memorial Park on Pikes Peak Avenue to the Visitor Center — it's the easiest way to avoid the notorious summer parking crunch at the park and kids genuinely enjoy the narrated ride.
- 💡Helen Hunt Falls in North Cheyenne Cañon Park is a free waterfall hike with a 1.3-mile round trip that works for kids as young as 4 — the falls are at their most dramatic in late May through June from snowmelt. The adjacent Silver Cascade Falls (a 5-minute spur off the main path) is almost always uncrowded even when the main falls are busy.
- 💡Josh and John's Ice Cream on Tejon Street makes their flavors with milk from Colorado dairies and is a Colorado Springs institution since 1986 — the Pikes Peak Peanut Butter Cup and the Salted Caramel are the local favorites to order with kids.
- 💡The Cave of the Winds sells significantly cheaper tickets online than at the gate — buy at least one day ahead on their website to save $5–8 per person, and choose the morning Lantern Tour on weekdays when groups are smallest and guides have more time for kid questions.
- 💡Colorado Springs gets intense UV radiation year-round because of its 6,000-foot elevation — sunscreen and sun hats are non-negotiable even on overcast days, and altitude sickness is real for families flying in from sea level. Spend your first day at low-elevation activities (downtown, Garden of the Gods visitor center) before attempting Pikes Peak or strenuous hikes.
- 💡The U.S. Air Force Academy grounds are open to the public and free — the Cadet Chapel is architecturally striking and takes about 45 minutes to tour with kids. The visitor center has junior officer activity books for children and a small flight simulator exhibit. Security check-in at the north gate requires a photo ID for all adults but is straightforward for tourist families.
- 💡The Broadmoor Seven Falls attraction, located in a private canyon south of the Broadmoor hotel, charges admission but is owned by the Broadmoor and includes a shuttle from the hotel — families staying at the Broadmoor get complimentary access, making it a meaningful perk if you're already splurging on the resort stay.
- 💡Afternoon thunderstorms above treeline are predictable enough that locals use a hard rule: be at or heading below treeline on Pikes Peak, Barr Trail, or any summit by noon at latest from July through mid-August. The Pikes Peak Highway closes the upper portion without warning when lightning is detected, and hikers on Barr Trail have been struck — this is not a soft suggestion.