Things to do on Halloween in Colorado Springs that don’t involve getting drunk  

As a non-drinker, finding Halloween activities that don’t involve alcohol can be challenging. Unfortunately, we are now too old to trick or treat, and some of the magic of Halloween feels lost when the only option we feel like we have is dressing up and getting drunk.  

There are, however, plenty of things to do around town and at home that are enjoyable completely sober. 

  1. Boo at the Zoo  

My personal favorite! Put on a costume, see the animals and trick or treat at stations around the zoo on Halloween. All of the candy they choose is “made with sustainable palm oil to help protect wild orangutans,” and I can tell you from experience that all ages are welcome to have some. Certain parts of the zoo are closed for the animals’ sake, but most of it is open to explore. Time slots are at 5, 5:30, 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $24 for members and non-members.  

  1. Haunted Lantern Tour: Director’s Cut at Cave of the Winds  

While Cave of the Winds in Manitou offers Haunted Lantern tours year-round, the Director’s Cut is only offered in October. The website offers an opportunity to take only a lantern as you “wind your way deep inside Cave of the Winds and hear spine-chilling ghost stories, learn about unexplained phenomena and the true raw history of Cave of the Winds.” Unlike the earlier lantern tours, the Director’s Cut is rated PG-13 instead for rated for everyone “due to some disturbing content.” Claustrophobic folks should know that the tour will at times “require you to go through a passage about 250′ feet long and about 48″ inches high, twice, while carrying an open flame candle lantern.” It lasts about two hours. Time slots on Halloween are at 7, 9 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person, in contrast to $34 during the year for lantern tours.    

  1. Escape Rooms  

Escape rooms are an excellent way to enjoy the mystery, intrigue and fear factor of Halloween. To keep your wits sharp, they are best done sober. 21 Keys, Aha! Escapes Rooms and Codebusters all have multiple room options that typically vary in scariness. All of these rooms run at around $40 per person and have time slots open on Halloween.   

  1. Haunted Houses  

Haunted houses are the classic way to immerse yourself in fear on Halloween. Hellscream and The Fear Complex are two options in town with different rooms and lore to accompany the frights. Both are open from 7-10 p.m. on Halloween. Adult general admission to both of these is $27.12 per person. 

  1. Home activities 

The possibilities are endless. Watch a scary movie! Do some Halloween themed crafts! Have a PowerPoint night for which monster is most likely to beat the other one in a fight (or make a hear-me-out cake for scary movie characters)! Bake cookies, buy candy and play games. Nurture your inner theater kid by making your own haunted house with your friends and inviting other people to walk through it. Have your own costume contest. Set up a fire pit and tell spooky stories. None of these require alcohol to be fun.  

Photo by Donna G on Unsplash.