October 2026 Events in Highlands Ranch | HRCA Fall Guide

The Fall Season Across Highlands Ranch

October in Highlands Ranch brings highs in the 60s and crisp mountain evenings across our four HRCA recreation centers in Northridge, Southridge, Eastridge, and Westridge, plus Backcountry Wilderness Area and Backcountry.

At-a-Glance: October 2026 Highlands Ranch Master Event Schedule

Complete October 2026 HRCA Events & Programs Directory

1. Signature Festivals, Car Shows & Spooky Season Adventures

• HRCA Classic Car Show (Sat, Oct 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.): At Cherry Hills Community Church (3900 Grace Blvd.) featuring vintage hot rods, muscle cars, food trucks, and free spectator admission.
• Highlands Ranch Farmers' Market (Sundays, Oct 4, 11, 18 & 25, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.): At Town Center South (9288 Dorchester St.) with Colorado produce, roasted green chiles, and baked goods.
• Holiday Banner Art Contest (Oct 1 – Oct 31, 2026): Youth divisions (ages 3–6, 7–10, and 11–12) answer "What do the holidays in Highlands Ranch mean to you?" One winner per age group is printed on winter street banners in Town Center.
• Halloween House Decorating Map (Oct 2 – Oct 30, 2026): Homeowners submit decorated house addresses for the official community sightseeing map.
• Mountainfilm on Tour (Wed, Oct 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): At Southridge Rec Center (4800 McArthur Ranch Rd.) showcasing adventure and conservation documentary films ($17/person, ages 16+).
• Craft Show Express (Sat, Oct 17, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.): At Eastridge Rec Center (9568 University Blvd.) with handmade jewelry, seasonal decor, and artisan gifts (free admission).
• Dueling Pianos (Wed, Oct 21, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): At Southridge Rec Center featuring interactive musical comedy and audience song requests ($15/person, ages 18+).
• Haunted Forest in Backcountry (Fri, Oct 23 & Sat, Oct 24, 2026, 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.): Inside Backcountry Wilderness Area along the 3/4-mile outdoor Rocky Cliff Trail with live actors and jump scares; Saturday daytime also features family-friendly Fall Fest & Fright Lite.
• Haunted Hayrides (Fri, Oct 23 & Sat, Oct 24, 2026, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.): Departing every 30 minutes at Stockton's Plum Creek Stables (7479 W. Titan Rd.) with storytellers, barn petting zoo, games, and 4-H food benefiting Cowboy 4-H Club ($16/person; under 2 free on lap; arrive 15–20 minutes early).
• Oaked & Smoked Whiskey & BBQ (Sat, Oct 24, 2026, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.): At Eastridge Rec Center (9568 University Blvd.) with unlimited 1 oz. whiskey tastings and BBQ bites ($45/ticket, ages 21+; Eastridge basketball courts close for the event).
• Coffee with a Cop (Wed, Oct 28, 2026, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.): At Northridge Rec Center (8800 Broadway) with Douglas County Sheriff's deputies, free coffee, and kids' Halloween crafts (free).
• Therapeutic Recreation Spooktacular Halloween Dance (Fri, Oct 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.): At Southridge Wildcat Auditorium for individuals with disabilities ages 16+ featuring a DJ, costumes, refreshments, and photo booth ($18 member / $22 guest; ISP required).

2. Trail Races, USTA Tennis, Pickleball & Fitness Programs

• Wildcat Mountain Trail Races (Sat, Oct 3, 2026): Dirt singletrack trail races inside Backcountry for youth and adult runners.
• Backcountry Wilderness Half Marathon (Sat, Oct 31, 2026, 9:00 a.m. start): Departing Rocky Heights Middle School (11033 Monarch Blvd.) for 13.1 miles through Backcountry and the Douglas County East/West Trail.
• Free Group Fitness Day (Tue, Oct 13, 2026): Free drop-in strength, yoga, indoor cycling, aqua fitness, cardio, and dance classes at all four HRCA rec centers (The Zone/specialty excluded; advance online registration required).
• Paranormal Pedal (Sat, Oct 31, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.): Halloween indoor spin ride at Westridge Cycle Studio (9650 Foothills Canyon Blvd., $20 member / $25 guest).
• USTA National Award for Northridge Tennis Pavilion: Honored among 41 national winners at the US Open in New York under Head Tennis Pro Frank Adams; youth/adult tennis drills and Friday Indoor Instructional Pickleball Leagues run all October 2026.
• J.W. Kim Taekwondo & Rocky Mountain Fencing Academy: Weekday Taekwondo classes (plus Fall Break camps) and fencing coached by Olympic champion Maciej Czyzowicz run throughout October 2026.

3. Aquatics, Swim Meets & Indoor Pool Schedules

• Swim Lessons & PEAKS Challenge: StarTots (9 mos–2 yrs), Pre-K Swim I & II (ages 3–5), and Youth Swim/Stroke School (ages 6–12) run all month; Eastridge Saturday lessons run Oct 3–24, 2026; PEAKS Swim Challenge starts Mon, Oct 5 at Eastridge; Adult Masters workouts run weekday mornings/evenings at Northridge and Eastridge.
• Seahawks, Scuba & High School Swim Dates: Seahawks practices run Oct 5–30 at Westridge; Swim Clinics are Sat, Oct 10 at Westridge; Seahawks Swim Meet is Sun, Oct 18 (7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) at Northridge; Scuba & Snorkel is Sun, Oct 18 (12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) at Eastridge; HRA Swim Event is Fri, Oct 23 (3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) at Northridge; High School Swim Season starts Mon, Oct 26 at Westridge, Northridge, and Eastridge.

4. DCSD Fall Break Camps & Youth Workshops (October 12 – 16, 2026)

• Monsters, Creatures & Creeps Cartooning (Ages 5–7): By Young Rembrandts, Oct 12–16, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) at Northridge Crestone Room ($250 member / $287 guest).
• Squishmallows, Pokemon & Animation Art Camp (Ages 5–12): By Art for Life, Oct 12–16, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) at Southridge Arapahoe Dry Crafts Room ($250 member / $287 guest).
• Youthflixs Mock Netflix Production Camp (Ages 7–13): By Talk to the Camera, Oct 12–16, 2026 (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) at Northridge Crestone Room ($265 member / $305 guest).
• Camp Backcountry & Kidstage Theater: Nature and Horse Fall Break Camps run Oct 12–16 at Backcountry Base Camp (6005 Ron King Trail) alongside Astronomy Night Kids, Little Acorns, and Basic Horsemanship (ages 7+). Kidstage "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (ages 6–12) rehearses Tuesdays (Oct 20–Dec 15) and Thursdays (Oct 22–Dec 17, 4:30–6:00 p.m.) at Southridge ($260 member / $299 guest).

5. Adult Seminars, Flu Clinic & Therapeutic Recreation (TR)

• HRCA Flu Shot Clinic (Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.): At Northridge Wetterhorn Room (8800 Broadway); free with most insurance or $45 out-of-pocket.
• Downsizing Roadmap & Financial Seminars: Downsizing Roadmap runs Tue, Oct 13, 2026 (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) at Northridge Crestone Room ($15 member / $20 guest), plus October retirement and budgeting seminars.
• Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Sports: At Southridge Gym: TR Basketball (ages 8+) runs Wednesdays, Oct 7–28 (5:30–6:30 p.m., $104/$125); TR Unified Basketball (ages 15+) runs Wednesdays, Nov 4–18 and Dec 2–16 (6:00–7:00 p.m., $72/$86); TR Pickleball (ages 8+) runs Wednesdays (5:00–6:00 p.m., Nov 4–18 for $45/$54 and Dec 2–23 for $60/$72).

6. Governance, OSCA Plan, Versapay & Critical Facility Hours

• Delegate & Board Meeting & OSCA Plan Deadline: Board meets Tue, Oct 20, 2026, at Eastridge. Public comments on the 25-year Open Space Conservation Agreement (OSCA) for the 8,200-acre Backcountry Wilderness Area are open Sept 23 through Fri, Oct 30, 2026, at HRCAonline.org.
• Digital Newsletter & Versapay Dues: Starting January 2027, the monthly newsletter moves online at HRCAonline.org (printed copies at rec centers; Activity Guide still mailed). Pay quarterly assessments via Versapay (Assessments: 303-471-8815 | Covenant/CIS: 303-471-8821).
• Rec Center Hours & Halloween Early Closure: Northridge (8800 Broadway): M–F 5am–9pm, Sat–Sun 7am–6pm. Southridge (4800 McArthur Ranch Rd.), Eastridge (9568 University Blvd., Admin M–F 8am–5pm), and Westridge (9650 Foothills Canyon Blvd.): M–F 5am–9pm, Sat 7am–8pm, Sun 7am–6pm. All four recreation centers close early at 5:00 p.m. on Halloween (Saturday, October 31, 2026).
• November 2026 Previews: Holiday Gift Fair at Eastridge (Sat, Nov 7, 2026); Veterans Concert with Denver Pops Orchestra near Mansion Hills and Historic Park at the Highlands Ranch Mansion (Mon, Nov 9, 2026, 6:30–8:00 p.m., $30); and 5th Annual Fitness Expo at Westridge (Sat, Nov 14, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., $25/$30).