We’ve got your plans for the next few weeks

By the Thirst Team

Get Out of Town is our roundup of the best events across Colorado for the next few weeks. For more happenings, check out our events calendar.

Indy film fest in Ridgway Thursday to Sunday

The 11th annual Ridgway Independent Film Festival spotlights short films “with a focus on fresh voices and innovative approaches to storytelling.” A volunteer-led grassroots effort created the festival shortly after Ridgway became one of Colorado’s first Certified Creative Districts. It has grown to include interactive panels, parties, filmmaker Q&As and more in and around the historic Sherbino Theater.

Balloon rally in Durango Friday to Sunday

The Animas Valley Balloon Rally opens Friday evening with the Downtown Balloon Glow, followed by mass ascensions early Saturday and Sunday in the Animas Valley. Free tethered balloon rides also will be available.

Fundraising gala in Grand Junction Friday

Mafia Princess Wines hosts the Velvet Vine Gala, a speakeasy-themed evening of wine, live jazz and community. The event is a fundraiser to help the winery rebuild its vineyard after a devastating hail storm. Money also will be donated to Father to the Fatherless, a nonprofit school and orphanage in Uganda.

PB&J Jazz will perform, and there also will be a raffle and a silent auction, as well as Mafia Princess Wines and Underdog Cheese small bites.

Latin American festival in Breckenridge Friday and Saturday

Día de Muertos + Latin Festival is a two-day celebration of Latin American culture, ancestry and diversity. The event includes a new exhibition by Denver artist Juan Fuentes, a candlelight vigil and Aztec dance with Grupo Huitzilopochtli, family crafts and activities, a Latin market, Latin dance night and more.

Women’s film fest in Colorado Springs Friday to Sunday

The 38th Annual Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival comes to Colorado College this weekend. It is the longest running women’s film festival in North America. It includes documentaries, narrative films, shorts and animated films. The festival also includes social events, filmmaker forums and more.

Horror movie fest in Colorado Springs Friday to Sunday

The Independent Film Society of Colorado presents the Three Nights of Horror film festival at the Ivywild School. Highlights include the 1922 “Nosferatu” with live piano score, and a screening of “Terrifier 2” is next, followed by a live Q&A session with one of the producers, Steve “Uncle Creepy” Barton. Click here for the full schedule and to buy tickets.

‘Sleepy Hollow’ opens in Golden Saturday

Just in time for Halloween, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” opens Saturday at the Miner’s Alley Performing Arts Center in Golden. The classic story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman plays on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, through Nov. 8.

Halloween bike ride in Colorado Springs Saturday

The third annual Witches, Warlocks, and Ghouls Bike Ride starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in downtown Colorado Springs. Participants are encouraged to dress up themselves and their bikes. The event is a fundraiser for the Circle of Hope fund at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Foundation, which provides grants to cancer patients.

PLAN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS

Coffin races in Manitou Springs Oct. 25

Entry is open through Oct. 17 to build and race a coffin in Manitou Springs. The Emma Crawford Coffin Races are on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The original coffin races in the nation commemorate Crawford, who wished to be buried atop Red Mountain. Colorado weather had different plans, and a series of freeze-thaw cycles and some heavy spring rains sent her coffin racing down the mountainside in 1929.

Spooky spirits fest in Denver Oct. 25

Four Mile Historic Park in southeast Denver hosts the Spirits and Spirits festival. In addition to craft cocktails and sampling, the event includes drag performances, a costume contest, haunted tractor rides, flash tattoos, tarot readings and a metaphysical marketplace with crystals, curios and such. The Four Mile House also hosts a séance, a Victorian mourning ceremony and ghost stories.

Ballet in Boulder Oct. 25 and 26

Boulder Ballet’s Dancer’s Choice showcase is coming to the Dairy Arts Center. Saturday’s performance has reserved seating sold in advance. Sunday’s performance is “pay what you can” and first come, first served.

Boulder Ballet says to “expect bold choices, fresh voices, and the unexpected” from this program, which is choreographed and shaped by Boulder Ballet’s dancers.

Drinks festival in Estes Park Nov. 1

The Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival comes to the Estes Park Events Complex. The speakeasy-themed festival includes sampling from more than 40 distilleries, as well as tin type vintage portraits, food trucks, vendors and more.

Quirky theater in Denver Nov. 1

Buntport Theater in central Denver continues its 25th season of quirky theater with a revival of the 2017 show “Edgar Allan Poe Is Dead and So Is My Cat.” The Buntport crew promises nothing spooky, “unless you think podcasts and Boston Market are spooky.”

The Buntport team also is buying their building and expanding their space, which also provides performance and rehearsal space for many other regional creatives. Click here for more details about the Buntport capital campaign.

Night of the Dead in Manitou Springs Nov. 7

The 13th annual Noche de Los Muertos festival is coming to the Rockledge Inn on the final night of Mexico’s traditional Day of the Dead week. The event includes Latin dance performances, a symbolic skeleton burning ceremony to honor the dearly departed, face painting, fortune tellers and more. Attendees are invited to bring a memento of a departed loved one to add to the Ofrenda, and dress up in Day of the Dead costumes and make up.

As always, please send us your events and announcements. We’re happy to share them. If they don’t fit in the Get Out of Town column, we will add them to our events calendar.