Cooler Air, Colorful Leaves, and a Calendar Full of Fall Events!
The long, hot days of summer are coming to an end, but that just means there’s another season to enjoy here in Grand County! I’m reminded every year just what a gift fall in Grand County is – it truly is one of my favorite times of year. Smoke starts to drift out of chimneys, frosty green grass greets us in the mornings, snow settles on the tops of peaks, and aspens burst with vibrant gold, orange, and red. Life seems to slow down a little, making space to take advantage of outdoor adventure in cooler temps and soak in all the fall color. And weekend festivals and events don't stop just because school started! Take advantage of them as you enjoy this peaceful season before the lifts start turning for the winter.
SEPTEMBER 2: LION’S CLUB GOLF TOURNAMENT
The 2025 Lions Club Golf Tournament tees off Tuesday, September 2nd, at world-clas Pole Creek Golf Club in Tabernash. With a 10am shotgun start, teams will enjoy a full day of golf, breakfast, lunch, an afterparty, swag bags, and plenty of on-course challenges, plus awards for top men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions. Beyond a great day on the greens, this tournament makes a big impact - every dollar raised supports local education and nonprofits right here in Grand County. The Lions Club has a long history of giving back, funding student scholarships and vital community programs, so your swing helps strengthen our whole community. Spots are limited to 36 teams and always sell out fast, so register soon! An in-person and online auction will also be part of the event, with details coming this summer. Register online to jump in on a fun dau and give back to our community at the same time!
SEPTEMBER 5 + 9: MUSIC ON THE HILL
Check out the last two shows of the free summer concert series at Colorado Adventure Park in Fraser. Music on the Hill at the base of the tubing hill has been happening every first and third Friday since the 4th of July. Think food trucks, lawn games, and laid-back fall vibes. You can purchase drinks there (no outside alcohol allowed). They have a few picnic tables and some lawn chairs available, but I’d recommended bringing your own blankets and chairs! with limited seating available - bring your blankets and lawn chairs!
Shows run from 6-8pm, featuring The Pamlico Sound on the 5th and Chris Daniels and the Kings on the 19th.
And while they won’t be offering it during the concerts, be sure to check out their new summer tubing hill, open Saturdays and Sundays through 9/14!
SEPTEMBER 5-7: WINTER PARK FILM FESTIVAL
The Winter Park Film Festival was started in 2023 by two of our own, Connor Nelson and Parks Thomson, who both grew up here in Grand County. They’ve taken what they’ve learned out in the world and brought it back home to share with all of us, and now we get to experience world-class cinema right here in our little mountain time.
This year’s festival runs September 5–7, 2025, and it’s happening primarily at The Foundry Cinema & Bowl. For the weekend, The Foundry will turn into a lively hub for film screenings, meet-and-greets, and community events. A pass for the whole festival is $150, and there are a few extra events (like live music and special showings at Devil’s Craft in Cooper Creek Square) you can join in on for around $15–$20.
The festival is more than just sitting in a theater though! There are hikes with filmmakers, live music, food and drinks, and the Alive Film Challenge, which shines a light on stories about mental health, addiction, and resilience. Things wrap up in true Winter Park style with a gondola ride awards ceremony up at the resort - live music, mountain views, and plenty of community spirit.
For a town our size, it feels pretty amazing to see something this big, built from the ground up by local kids who love this valley as much as the rest of us. It’s one of those events that makes you proud to call Grand County home.
SEPTEMBER 6 + 7: WINTER PARK ART FESTIVAL
Head over to Cooper Creek Square in downtown Winter Park (also home to West and Main’s office!) for the Winter Park Art Festival. Stop by Saturday from 11am – 7pm or Sunday 11am – 6pm.
The Winter Park Art Festival is back this year, bringing two full days of art, music, and community fun right here in in downtown Winter Park at Cooper Creek Square (home to our West + Main office!). This annual juried show features an incredible lineup of local and national artists with original works in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, and more.
Best of all, it’s free to attend! Since Cooper Creek Square is zoned as an entertainment district, you can stroll with a drink in hand while browsing over 40 vendors, enjoying live music, and soaking up the lively mountain-town vibe. It’s a perfect weekend to connect with neighbors, support artists, and take advantage of a fall weekend in the mountains. Stop by Saturday from 11am – 7pm or Sunday 11am – 6pm.
SEPTEMBER 13: SNOW MOUNTAIN RANCH TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL
The YMCA of the Rockies’ Snow Mountain Ranch is such vital part of our community, hosting kids camps, cross-country ski clinics, and offering one-of-a-kind experiences for locals and visitors alike. The Snow Mountain Ranch Trail Running Festival returns this year for its 12th annual race day, offering something for every level of runner. With options ranging from a fun 5K or 10K to the Half Marathon, 33K, or the challenging 50K, it’s a great way to take in our fall’s golden aspens and mountain views while enjoying well-marked trails and friendly aid stations. For those looking to go big, the Moosehead and Baby Moose Challenges let you tackle multiple races in a single day. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just soaking up the fall colors, it’s a community event that celebrates running right in the heart of Grand County! Learn more and register online here.
SEPTEMBER 13: UPSLOPE BACKCOUNTRY TAP ROOM
Living the motto "Beer Tastes Better After an Adventure," the team at Upslope Brewing Company is planning its 10th Annual Backcountry Tap Room. It's just like it sounds - a beer hut at the end of a hike. Some say "earn your turns." In this case, you're earning your drinks! Each year, Upslope debuts a new beer at its Backcountry Tap Room. This year is no exception: get a taste of their Hop Boosted IPA that features an in-can widget that releases concentrated hop extracts the moment you crack the can. And they’ll also be debuting the seasonal release of their Spruce Tip IPA. Your ticket to the event will get you a ride up and down The Gondola at Winter Park Resort, a well-marked trail leading you about two miles to the tap room, and drink tickets to try some old favorites as well as the Hop-Boosted IPA. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can opt to hike the Ute Trail that starts at the base of Winter Park Resort instead of the gondola, adding over 3 miles to the hike. (Note: all event participants will take the gondola down.) You can even add on a lunch when you purchase your ticket, so you can pick up your sandwich and chips (gluten-free options available) at the top!
Fifty percent of the profits directly benefit the Leave No Trace Annual Hot Spot Program (a program from which Berthoud Pass has directly benefitted), which identifies areas suffering from severe human-related impacts that can thrive again with Leave No Trace solutions. So you can know you're giving back while hiking up and kicking back!
SEPTEMBER 13: GRAND KIDS LEARNING CENTER FALL FESTIVAL
Grand Kids Learning Center is hosting its 24th Annual Fall Festival at the Rendezvous Event Center in downtown Winter Park. Always a community favorite, the festival brings fun for the whole family, with games and activities for all ages. I’m loving this year’s lumberjack theme that brings the adventure with axe throwing (for kids and adults) and archery (soft-tipped!). Live music, bounce houses, face painting, and more make this a fun fall afternoon you’ll want to take advantage of. And even better – it benefits our community! Adults can also enjoy a beer tent, and there will be a variety of food trucks. Swing by for an hour or stay for the afternoon. The event runs from 1-6pm – entry is free, and tickets may be purchased for activities.
SEPTEMBER 14: GRAND KIDS BERT AND ERNIE GOLF TOURNAMENT
Back this year for its 49th (you heard that right) Annual Golf Tournament, Grand Kids Learning Center couples the Bert and Ernie Golf Tournament with the Fall Festival for a “Fall Weekend” of fun right in the heart of the majestic fall season. A local favorite, the golf tournament brings a day of competition with teams of four and a shotgun start at world-class Pole Creek Golf Club – complete with panoramic mountain views and surrounding fall colors. They pull out all the stops with fun, lighthearted events at various holes; an on-course lunch; and a post-party with appetizers, awards and prizes at the clubhouse! The team ensemble and stein hold contests add to the fun – you can register for your team of four here.
SEPTEMBER 14: BAGS FOR BRAMMER
The 5th Annual Bags for Brammer Cornhole Tournament is a testament to the way our community comes together to support each other. A fundraiser for the Brammer Family Fund (a fund of the Grand Foundation). Established in memory of Traci Brammer - a longtime Winter Park employee, softball player, wife, mother, and friend who passed away in 2014 after a long battle with cancer, the fund provides financial assistance to Grand County residents and their families affected by cancer.
Held at the Fraser Sports Complex, the two-person team, double-elimination event can have up to 64 teams, so find a partner and bring your cornhole A-game! Get the registration form here.
SEPTEMBER 15 -21: GRAND LAKE CONSTITUTION WEEK
Grand Lake doesn’t just bring a day or weekend of fun – it fills an entire week worth of celebration every fall. The 14th Annual Constitution Week in Grand Lake runs all week long and brings the community together to celebrate American history and civic life. Events are free and open to the public, with weekday activities at the Grand Lake Center and fun youth-focused activities like go-karts, bumper cars, pedal boats, and miniature golf. Concerts, speakers, flyovers, and more make this an event the whole town is proud to put on! The event is capped off with fireworks over the lake on Saturday, September 20th.
SEPTEMBER 19 -22: OKTOBERFEST HOP CRAWLER
The 6th Annual Oktoberfest is back this fall! Gather a crew, buy your tickets, and walk, ride, or take The Lift to Fraser and Winter Park's five breweries: Big Trout Brewing, Camber Brewing Company, Fraser River Beer CO, Hideaway Park Brewery, and Vicious Cycle Brewing. Grab your Hop Crawler ticket for just $32.50 and enjoy a free 10 oz pour at each participating brewery, plus an official medal and souvenir pint glass to take home. Each brewery will feature a special Oktoberfest-style beer, and while you have the whole weekend to make your rounds, Saturday, September 20th comes with extra fun like stein relays, keg rodeos, pretzel eating, and more at each stop along the crawl. Snag your tickets here.
SEPTEMBER 20 – 22: ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINE FEST
Are you a wine aficionado? Or simply looking for a fun way to enjoy the mountains in the majestic fall season? Either way, Rocky Mountain Wine Fest hosted by Winter Park Resort has it all. Head up to the resort to enjoy the fall colors while sipping unlimited samples from over 50 pro-selected wines. The two-day festival has it all: a gondola ride, wine glass tasting seminar, views for days, and an opportunity to try a variety of reds, whites, and rosés from all over the country. The event will benefit the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD).
The weekend of food, wine, and mountain views kicks off on Friday evening with intimate wine dinners hosted by Vertical Bistro & Tap at the Village and Volario’s in downtown Winter Park, each offering chef-inspired menus paired with hand-selected wines. On Saturday, start the day with a Riedel Wine Tasting Seminar at Hill House, where a sommelier guides you through how glass shape impacts flavor (plus, you take home a four-glass Riedel kit). The highlight is Saturday’s Grand Tasting in the Village at Winter Park, featuring unlimited samples of wines and spirits from around the globe, small plates, and live music by Jackopierce and The Great North Special. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or just here for the fun, it’s a perfect blend of mountain air, good food, and great pours. Book your tickets online to be ready to take advantage of this fun opportunity right here in Winter Park!
SEPTEMBER 27: NATIONAL PUBLIC LAND’S DAY
Headwaters Trails Alliance is once again leading the charge for National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27, 2025 - the largest and most impactful volunteer event of the year. Grand County is proud to host the longest-running annual NPLD celebration in the nation, now in its 31st year! Volunteers can choose from a variety of projects across public lands in the county, with opportunities suited for every skill level. After a day of giving back (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.), everyone is invited to the Party in the Park at Rendezvous Event Center in Winter Park from 4:30–7:00 p.m., featuring live music, food, and beverages for volunteers and all public lands enthusiasts. Project details and registration will be available soon – check the Headwaters Trail Alliance Volunteer Projects and Events page for more information and register as soon as it becomes available.
LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE?
If events aren’t your style, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy Grand County this fall! You can check out the Top 10 Fall Activities, explore some of my favorite fall hikes and rides, listen to the elk bugle at Rocky Mountain National Park, take advantage of prime fall fishing in one of our mountain lakes or rivers, or check out some of the best leaf peeping spots! And if you’re out and about in Grand County this fall and realize you’re ready to settle into the mountain life and invest in a mountain property, I’d love to connect and help you learn more about local real estate opportunities!
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