This article is being republished by Yellow Scene Magazine from the author’s blog: Poplitix, by Ann Tinkham

I have a pit in my stomach and an unshakeable nauseated feeling that I’ve come to know as grief. I grieve for the families who lost their homes and precious things in Colorado’s Marshall Fire. I grieve for the people who lost beloved pets in the blaze. I grieve for our community that lost its sense of safety. I grieve for our planet that is dying while greed and the profit motive blaze uncontrollably.

I also have survivor’s guilt. Guilt that I still have a home. Guilt that I’m surrounded by my treasured belongings accumulated over six decades of life. Guilt that because of the direction of the wind, others’ homes were destroyed while mine was spared. I was just a mile from the pre-evacuation zone.

But I’m no fool. I know that if the wind had shifted to the north, my home could have been in the path of the raging inferno. I could have been fleeing for my life in a thick cloud of smoke, flames spreading all around me, stuck in a line of traffic with panicked drivers steering away from the hell blaze, glancing at my home of 20 years for the last time.

Last year, as the summer days grew shorter and tapered into fall, I thought with a huge sense of relief, that we had made it through without a massive wildfire near Boulder. Sure, we had poor quality air from the hundreds of fires that burned in the West, but at least we had made it through mostly unscathed.

Little did we know that in six months, hurricane-force winds would ignite, act as flame throwers, and torch two towns in the most destructive wildfire in state history. In the winter. Thanks to climate change, the fire threat is now year-round. And it’s not just in the foothills and the mountains. It has come to your town. It has come to my town. It’s not a matter of if but when.

As I quickly thought about what I would pack if we had to evacuate, I realized my list was short—irreplaceable things like family keepsakes and art. But I also realized that what’s irreplaceable is a home you’ve built from dreams and hard work. Sure, it’s just a structure. And sure, permanence is an illusion. But home is where you rest your head and heal your heart. It is your temple, your refuge. It’s where you learn, where you create, and where you love. It is the foundation from which you soar into your life. When it is taken from you in an instant, reduced to ash, you lose your bearings and forget who you are.

Just ask Dorothy, who thought she lost hers in a cyclone. There’s no place like home.

The post There’s No Place Like Home appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Imagine this: you’ve met the love of your life. Congrats on that. You’re elated to tie the knot and can’t wait to celebrate your nuptials with friends and family over a fancy multi-tiered Swarovski and rhinestone crystal chandelier separated wedding cake. Pretty standard stuff. Together, you and your loved one will plunge a knife into the luscious layers to feed each other sweet morsels. You might even playfully smash a piece into his or her face. The wedding photographer will capture the smashed-cake-face moment and you will relive it until you’re wrinkly and jowly.

As you’re meeting with the cake designer, describing your vision for the wedding cake — pink champagne topped with raspberry mousse and vanilla buttercream — he gets stoned-faced and uncomfortably quiet. At first you think, is our cake idea that terrible? And you second-guess your cake design skills. But then the cake designer shakes his head and says he can’t make you a cake because he doesn’t approve of your union.

Say what?

No one asked for his opinion of your spouse-to-be. Spousal approval duty is reserved for no one but you, and you love your choice. The cake maker/self appointed marriage approver explains that your union clashes with his or her religious beliefs. In other words, your money is no good at the store because it’s tainted by your offensive love. Never in your wildest dreams did you imagine that your choice of a partner would be under scrutiny by a cake maker. You wonder with your partner if such a refusal is even legal. You leave the shop stunned, offended, hurt.

What do a wedding cake, Denver’s PrideFest, and the Supreme Court have in common? The Grand Marshals for the 2018 Denver PrideFest Parade are David Mullins and Charlie Craig, a gay couple who were humiliated when they were denied a custom wedding cake by Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado. The couple, disgraced by Mr. Phillips’s refusal to serve them, filed a complaint with Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission. Colorado state courts ruled in the couple’s favor. Phillips then appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing the state law violated his First Amendment rights by forcing him to express a view that clashed with his religious beliefs. The owner maintains that because making cakes involves creativity, he should be allowed to determine who can receive his services. The Court failed to determine if religious beliefs are legitimate reasons to discriminate against a member of the public or deny service at a business open to the public, instead pivoting on the issue of hostility to religion at the commission level.

But…and this is the important part: This is about so much more than cake. This is about destroying the existing legal protections against discrimination in places of public accommodation. The Supreme Court decision in favor of the bakery undermines equal protection for all Americans by failing to enshrine those protections in its ruling. Those hoping to establish a constitutional right to discriminate will use the decision to undermine nondiscrimination protections in other states, meaning more cases will need to head to the Supreme Court to codify equal protections. As it is now, the court ruling will open the door to mistreatment and discrimination against a broad array of Americans (remember Whites only water fountains?). Some say this ruling sets America back 50 years. As if we need any more setbacks. Some shop owners may feel emboldened to turn away LGBTQ customers. In fact, according to reporting by The Hill, a Tennessee hardware store owner, Jeff Amyx, owner of Amyx Hardware & Roofing Supplies, is celebrating the Supreme Court’s ruling by placing a “No Gays Allowed” sign in front of his store.

It’s no wonder David and Charlie were chosen to be this year’s Grand Marshals for Denver PrideFest. Grand marshals are typically members of the community being recognized for making significant contributions to the LGBTQ community and to society at large. Rex Fuller, VP of Communications for The GLBT Community Center of Colorado (the Center), says that before this case, Charlie and David were not well-known to the LGBTQ community outside their circle of friends. They truly were a couple who wanted to get married and celebrate with a beautiful cake. But when they saw an injustice and realized that others were experiencing the same thing, they stood up and spoke out. Since taking on the burden of this case, they have been very active in the community at large. They have served as national spokespeople, doing interviews with media outlets across the globe. They have helped educate the community about why this case is about fair and equal access — not just about cake. They have worked to highlight other cases of discrimination and they continue to speak out. Fuller says, “I think they bring to PrideFest a great example of two strong men who are speaking up for their own rights and the rights of the community and we’re thrilled to honor them.”

Denver PrideFest is brought to you by the Center, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich, engage, empower and advance the LGBTQ community of Colorado. PrideFest raises funds for the Center that serves 47,000 people annually including LGBTQ families, youth, seniors and the transgender community. According to Fuller, “The goals of Denver PrideFest are to create visibility for our community in all its wonderful diversity. We want everyone to have the chance to be seen and heard and to have access to their own expression — especially community members who may not be able to have that free expression year-round. We want the world to see that the LGBTQ community is made up of people from all walks of life. However people choose to celebrate, we applaud them for being out and proud and for being themselves.”

Denver’s first PrideFest celebration kicked off 44 years ago in June of 1974. The event’s evolution in Denver has mirrored the trends affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer community over time. During PrideFest, the LGBTQ community has the chance to connect, demonstrate gay pride, and show support for gay rights; it also marks a turning point in gay rights history — the Stonewall Riots.

In the 1950s and 1960s, gay Americans had very few places to go in which they could be openly gay. The Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar owned by the mafia, was frequented by members of the LGBTQ community. On June 28, 1969, in the early hours of the morning, the police performed a routine raid that erupted into days of protests, spearheaded by Marsha P. Johnson, an outspoken African American trans rights/gay rights/AIDS activist, sex worker, and drag queen, and Sylvia Rivera, a Venezuelan and Puerto Rican American who worked as a trans rights/gay rights activist and drag queen. The protests were the impetus for Village residents forming activist groups to establish venues where gays and lesbians could openly express their sexual orientation. PrideFest celebrations are typically held at the end of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.

Two themes have characterized PrideFest in Denver: unity and visibility. Each year during PrideFest, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Coloradans can feel accepted and be out and proud; often, Pride is used as a political moment and not simply a celebration. PrideFest demonstrates the LGBTQ community’s reach and shows how it can impact the lives of its members. For people still struggling — or perhaps rightfully afraid — to express their sexual preferences, PrideFest allows them to blend in with kindred spirits and perhaps gives them courage to come out to their friends, family, and the community.

This year’s theme is Say It Loud, Say It Proud, a call to activism for a new generation. This theme encourages all community members to make their voices heard and encourages everyone in the community to be themselves and be proud of their achievements.

Denver PrideFest is offering free admission and took place on June 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and June 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the historic Civic Center Park at the intersection of Colfax and Broadway. The event featured0 live entertainment on three stages, more than 250 vendors, food and beverage, the Coors Light PrideFest Parade near Cheeseman Park on Sunday morning at 9:30, and activities throughout the community. Denver PrideFest is the largest celebration of LGBTQ pride in the Rocky Mountain region. It honors the active and vibrant lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; particularly those in Colorado and the bordering states. For more information, check out
denverpride.org.

Denver PrideFest 2018, like PrideFest 2017, was wildly successful. Attendance at the two-day festival was estimated to be 385,000. The Coors Light PrideFest Parade on Sunday morning was the largest in the organization’s history, with nearly 200 entrants and over 100,000 spectators. A record 37 corporate sponsors participated in the 2017 festival. Don’t just attend, volunteer to be a part of Denver PrideFest 2018. Volunteer applications are available on the website.

If you’re looking for Pride celebrations in other parts of Colorado, there are plenty!

Longmont Pride Week

Out Boulder County’s annual Longmont Pride Week is planned for June 18th to June 23rd. On June 18th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at 630 Main, a panel of transgender community members will share their stories and talk about their varied experiences. This is a great chance to learn about diverse gender identities, life stories, and cultivate compassion and understanding in the community. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about transgender people, this is a great opportunity to ask questions, interact, and be inspired by their journeys to lead authentic lives.

The Longmont Pride Festival is Saturday, June 23rd from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on 4th Street between Main and Emery Street in Longmont. The event organizers invite all to come early and stay all day! The day will be jam-packed with activities, amazing community partners sharing information, Pride merchandise galore from Out Boulder County and other wonderful vendors. Jewelry from talented artists, flash-mobs, photo booths, a dunk-tank, and lots of activities will be available throughout the day. If you’re interested in sponsoring Longmont Pride, contact Juan Moreno at 303-499-5777 or jmoreno@outboulder.org.  

Boulder Pride Fest

Later this summer, on September 11, Out Boulder County will host Boulder Pridefest at Central Park. This event will continue a long history of being  a full day of entertainment and awesome activities for community and allies alike. This is Boulder’s biggest LGBTQ event of the year, featuring vendor booths, musical guests, youth services, food trucks, and more. The Big Gay 5K is back, so strap on your rainbow socks and running shoes.

Vendor sign-ups and sponsorship opportunities are still open for Boulder Pridefest 2018! Spots are limited. Go to outboulder.org and click on the appropriate links. Contact Juan Moreno to discuss sponsoring Pridefest or one of the Pride Week events.

Grand Junction

Colorado West Pride, the largest pride organization on the Western Slope, is producing and hosting Pride Week in Grand Junction in mid-June. Sergio Antillon, the Interim Vice President, helps coordinate volunteers and organize the parties and entertainment. Ten years ago, he was the President of a Bear group, which included fundraising, hosting parties, and attending other Bear events. Bear groups, once small clusters of buddies, playmates, and guys, have become a new expression of gay identity. Antillon has attended and donated to several local Pride events. His friend, Jesse Daniels, the Events Coordinator for 15 years, encouraged Antillon to get involved. For the past two years, he has donated to Western Slope Pride.

Colorado West Pride events will run from June 16th to June 24th. The festival will be held on Saturday, June 23rd from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 24th, 2018, noon to 8:00 p.m. on the 500 block of Colorado Avenue. Antillon says, “This year’s Colorado West Pride has activities planned for almost every day, including a movie night with a rooftop party, a rainbow party, and Monarch’s White party. The festival is taking shape very nicely with lots of booths and entertainers for our two-day festival.” For more information or to buy tickets, go to coloradowestpride.org.

When asked about the significance of Pride, Antillon explains, “Pride is about community, pride in who we are and celebration, so we work hard to do that for our local community. The goal for us as an organization is to continue to build community, celebrate who we are, and promote an atmosphere of acceptance. We want to continue with bigger events, more fundraising, and build our organization.”

LGBTQ Spaces

To revel in the spirit of PrideFest year-round, head to Denver clubs like X Bar, L’il Devil’s Lounge, and Triangle Denver—all offering fabulous entertainment. If you’re into drag shows, Denver Cycle Sluts is a must-see. The troupe raises funds for charities including women’s shelters, crisis funds, and AIDS-related outreach programs. If rough-riding cowboys and calf roping are your thing, check out the Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo in July, hosted by the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association. And Denver is proud to have one of the oldest queer publications in the country, Out Front Magazine, founded in 1976.

Community

Denver tops Expedia’s list for LGBTQ-friendly cities — towns that go the extra mile toward inclusiveness. The city also boasts a Municipal Equality Index score of 100/100 from the Human Rights Campaign. Denver is home to several gayborhoods, and its LGBTQ population is thriving. A recent Gallup poll estimates that almost five percent of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood population identifies as part of the rainbow community. The Colorado House of Representatives just voted to safeguard young people from conversion therapy, countering the popular right-wing opinion that there’s a way to stamp out the gay. Republicans in the Senate are focused on defeating the measure, but the fight continues.

Final Thoughts

Hoping to find a more welcoming community, Charlie Craig moved to Denver from a small town in Wyoming. Being denied services by baker Phillips took Craig back to life in Wyoming where he was bullied for being gay. He attended the University of Wyoming during the time Matthew Shepard was beaten, tortured, and left to die because of his sexual orientation. The day Craig entered the Denver-based cake shop with his partner and mother, excited to share designs for his dream wedding cake, he took the risk of enjoying the liberties heterosexual couples routinely presume. And he was met with the cold, punishing hand of discrimination. The couple has been embroiled in a six-year legal battle since.

Many Americans take their civil liberties for granted, never having to hide their love or life in order to receive equal treatment in the public and private sphere. The fact that Mullins and Craig and millions of LGBTQ Americans feel compelled to hide who they are for fear of being denied services means America still has not achieved liberty and justice for all. It is true that only select Americans enjoy equal protections under the law. And despite the monumental setback in the Supreme Court decision for Masterpiece Cakeshop, towns across Colorado will celebrate their richly diverse communities during Pride week. Let everyone eat cake, no matter who they choose to love.

The post Faces of Summer: Rainbow Scene appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Bug-A-Boo
Oct. 21 – 22 & 28 – 29, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Two weekends of Halloween festivities featuring indoor trick-or-treating, a costume parade, invertebrate exploration, and fun family entertainment! Come for a creepy-crawly adventure! Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 West 104th Ave., Westminster
butterflies.org

Boo at the Zoo
Oct. 25-26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Boo at The Zoo offers more than 25 trick-or-treat stations, creepy-crawly animal demonstrations, and exciting family-friendly entertainment under the canopy of the beautiful fall foliage of the Denver Zoo. Denver Zoo; denverzoo.org

Glow at the Gardens
Oct. 18 &19, 25 & 26, 2017, 5:30-9:30 p.m. (last entry at 9 p.m.)
The Gardens will close at 3 p.m. every day of Glow at the Gardens.
For people who aren’t into spooky or creepy, the Denver Botanic Gardens offers luminaria-lined pathways winding through the gardens, revealing larger-than-life pumpkin displays. Also, live music, free face painting, costume contest, scavenger hunt, crafts, and LED circus performers.
1007 York Street, Denver; 720-865-3500; botanicgardens.org

Longmont Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treat Street
October 28
The line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. in front of St. Vrain Memorial Building, 700 Longs Peak Ave. The foot parade starts at 10 a.m. Come in costume! Enjoy the sounds of local bands during the parade. Downtown Longmont; ci.longmont.co.us/rec/special/halloween.htm#.Uksdprx5Ey4

Monster Dash Run
Berkeley Lake Park, Denver October 28 at 9:00 am
Community Park, Louisville October 29 at 3:00 pm
This year’s MonsterDASH Run is zombie-themed. A 5k/10k Trail Fun Run and Kids Races in Old Town Louisville and Denver (Tennyson District). Fun, costumes, games, and cool prizes are all part of this family event & festival.

Munchkin Masquerade
Oct. 31, 3 – 6 p.m., rain or shine
Downtown Boulder is invaded by thousands of tiny ghosts and goblins, dinosaurs and dragons, fairies and princes, super heroes, and animals trick-or-treating along Pearl Street. Recommended for children ages 12 and under.

Niwot Great Pumpkin Party
October 28, 10 a.m.
Starting around 10 a.m., kids can trick-or-treat through Old Town and Cottonwood Square followed by the kids and animals parade at 11:30 a.m., hayrides through town and a dog costume contest with prizes. Old Town Niwot; niwot.com/niwot-events

Tiny Tot Halloween Downtown
October 31 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Give your kids a safe place to trick-or-treat this Halloween in downtown Ft. Collins at the Tiny Tot Halloween Downtown. Participants gather in Old Town Square Plaza to receive a trick-or-treat bag with a map indicating the designated trick-or-treat area.Downtown Fort Collins; downtownfortcollins.com/events/tiny-tot-halloween

Trick or Treat Street
October 27-29, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The Children’s Museum will host the most boo-tiful fall festival in town! Parade from one treat house to the next and collect goodies, play carnival games, and create Halloween crafts. It’s the ultimate safe and exciting Halloween adventure. Children’s Museum of Denver; 2121 Children’s Museum Dr., Denver; cmdenver.org

Trick or Treat Train
October 28 10 a.m. – October 29 at 4 p.m.
All aboard! The Trick or Treat Train departs every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Trick or Treat Town where you can fill your bag with goodies. Visit the “not so spooky” haunted railcar or the Olde Railroaders silly graveyard and the Pumpkin Patch. Free for museum members; $5 for children 2 and older; $15 for adults; $10 for seniors; and $30 for families. Colorado Railroad Museum, 17155 W. 44th Ave., Golden; coloradorailroadmuseum.org

Coloween
Saturday, October 28th, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Party if you dare in the Curtis Hotel’s twisty-turny haunted hallways with two dozen bars and three spectacularly themed ballroom dance parties. Coloween features Denver’s top-rated DJs, live musical acts, festival-quality sound and light production, sexy theatrical performers, and more. Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis Street, Denver; coloween.com

The Denver Halloween Costume Ball
Saturday, October 28th, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
This Exclusive Halloween Costume Ball offers the best party package in the city of Denver, a $1,000 ‘Best of The Ball’ Halloween costume contest, Live Halloween entertainment and DJs. Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel; denverhalloweenball.com

Naughty Ball Denver
Saturday, October 14th, 7 p.m.-4 a.m.
The Naughty Ball is a full-immersion exotic costume ball. It is a provocative exploration of elegant eroticism in a safe and welcoming environment. Who doesn’t want to be naughty for Halloween? Diamond Cabaret & Diamond After Dark; 1222 Glenarm, Denver

Paranormal Palace
Saturday, October 28th, 8 pm. – 1 a.m.
For one night only, the McNichols Building becomes the Paranormal Palace with three floors of internationally acclaimed artists and performers. This extravaganza is an interactive haunted party with over 30+ ghoulish performers & DJs.McNichols, 144 W. Colfax Ave., Denver; denverhalloween.org

Asylum Haunted House
September 16-November 11
The Asylum is damp, musty, and infected with the screams of tortured souls. Don’t lose your mind or your head, when wandering through the Asylum Haunted House, a frightening hospital for the insane. 6100 E 39th Ave, Denver; 303.355.3327; asylumdenver.com

Banjo Billy’s Halloween Bus Tours
This 90-minute Boulder history tour includes the story of Boulder’s legit haunts. 720.938.8885; banjobilly.com

Capitol Hill Ghost and History Tour
Paranormal investigators guide you on a walking tour of Capitol Hill’s most notoriously haunted homes. Make Reservations by phone (Toll Free) @ 1 877 880-6232. All tours launch and end @ 1340 Pennsylvania St. besttoursofdenver.com

City of the Dead
September 22 – November 11
The City of the Dead Haunted House boasts 30,000 square feet of horror. There are three new attraction themes: the dead rising, dark souls, and the carnival of carnage. Watch out for the zombies in the parking lot! 7007 E. 88th Ave., Henderson; cityofthedeadhaunt.com

Curse of Slaughterhouse Gulch
The Curse of Slaughterhouse Gulch is the place where the evil and tortured souls go after they die. It’s so dark that even your thoughts betray you. Visit the website for more details. 3184 Peoria St., Aurora; 720.261.0570; slaughterhousegulch.com

Dead Zone Scream Park
Where our world crosses over into the spirit world, there is an in-between realm known as “The Dead Zone.” Experience a cursed hayride, corn stalkers, and an after-dark maze. This is Colorado’s one and only Scream Park. Open select nights in October. Check website for details. Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms. 8500 West Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, CO 80128; deadzonescreampark.com

Denver Zombie Crawl
October 7, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Zombify and join the day of the living dead in the largest zombie mob in history at Skyline Park. No bleeding on storefronts, signs, sidewalks. Entry fee is a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Bank of the Rockies. Downtown Denver; eyeheartbrains.com

Firehouse Ghost Hunters
Oct 27 & Oct 28 8-11 p.m.

After paranormal experts who investigate the firehouse give a ghostly talk, ghost hunt with professionals. Just make sure you don’t get separated from the group. You may never return. Denver Firefighters Museum; 1326 Tremont Place, Denver; denverfirefightersmuseum.org

Frightfest Elitch Gardens
Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays from September 29 through October 29, 2017.Fridays: 6-10 p.m. / Saturdays: 12-10 p.m. /Sundays: 12-9 p.m.
Elitch Gardens transforms into Family By Day and Fright By Night. Little ghosts and goblins can enjoy free candy on the Trick-or-Treat Trail during the day. When Fright by Night takes over, you will hear blood-curdling shrieks, as haunted creatures lurk around every corner. 2000 Elitches Cir, Denver; Elitchgardens.com

The Frightmare Compound – Westminster, CO
Open most night from September 29 – November 11
Frightmare consists of two haunted houses at the same location: Frightmare and The House of Darkness. The compound has an abandoned funhouse that was moved here following a carnival massacre. Spirits of the undead have returned with flesh-eating clowns trolling for demented fun. Considered the most horrifying haunted house in Denver, this is not for the weak-hearted. Come if you dare! 108th and Wadsworth Blvd, Westminster; thefrightmarecompound.com

Hauntings at the Hangar
October 29th 12 – 4 p.m.
Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum turns into a fun, spooky, haunted hangar filled with space treats, science experiments, magic tricks, and more. 7711 East Academy Blvd., Denver, 303.360.5360; wingsmuseum.org

Haunted Field of Screams
Open Fri, September 29 and Sat, September 30. October 1-29, Thurs-Sunday, and Tues, October 31.
Chainsaws, cornfields, and no logical way out…What could be more terrifying? The Haunted Field of Screams features three attractions: Dead Man’s Night Maze, Zombie Paintball Massacre, Haunted Field of Screams and 35 acres of haunted cornfield. E. 104th Avenue and Riverdale Road, Thornton; hauntedfieldofscreams.com

Horror Theater Haunted House Denver
October; Monday-Thursday 7pm-9:30pm; Friday-Sunday 7pm-10pm
The Horror Theater started out as a one night only event and quickly turned into a local phenomenon. The haunted house is called a ‘theater,’ because guests are actors in this masterpiece; their role: to act scared! Complete with movie quality effects, the theater is sure to scare the most seasoned of haunted house goers. 4504 S. Independence St., Denver

Paranormal Murder
They Came from Below, Fridays and Saturdays, October 6-November 18
Zombie Murder, Saturdays only, September 16-November 25
Adams Mystery Playhouse presents fantastic mysteries where you solve a crime. Adams Mystery Playhouse, 2406 Federal Blvd., Denver, adamsmysteryplayhouse.com

Terror in the Corn
September 22 – October 29
Terror in the Corn is Colorado’s only haunted hayride and ghost town experience. As the tractor-drawn wagon heads deeper into the night, through the unforgiving cornfield, you will encounter ghoulish creatures giving you spine-tingling chills. Once you enter the rickety wooden walls of a deserted ghost town, there is no turning back. 6728 County Road 3 ¼, Erie; 303.828.5210; andersonfarms.com/terror-in-the-corn

Twin Terror Weekends at the Stanley Hotel
Friday, October 20
The Murder Mystery Dinner features a theatrical presentation of murder and suspense leavened with humor. It explores suspects throughout the room in the context of a gourmet 4-course meal hosted in the Victorian-style MacGregor Ballroom.
Saturday, October 21
The Shining Ball features a live performance by The Gasoline Lollipops. Attendees will compete for prizes with imaginative, macabre, and daring costumes that will be paraded through the hotel. Festive hors d’oeuvres, delightful drink, dancing among the imaginative, The Shining-themed decor will bring new chills to the hottest night of the Halloween season.
Saturday, October 28
The Masquerade Party closes out Twin Terror Weekends. This frightful night will feature live music, dancing, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and imaginative Halloween costumes. The Stanley Hotel, 333 Wonderview Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517; Stanleyhotel.com

Victorian Horrors
October 13th, 7:00 p.m.
Edgar Allan Poe and other Gothic greats return for the Victorian Horrors, an immersive theater experience for literary nerds and fans of the macabre. Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania Street, Denver;mollybrown.org

Anderson Farms Fall Festival
Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sundays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Colorado’s oldest and largest corn maze boasts family friendly activities including hayrides, pumpkin picking, gemstone mining, mine car rides, a kiddie korral playground and more. 6728 County Road 3 1/4, Erie, 303.828.5210
andersonfarms.com

Chatfield’s Corn Maze
Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sundays, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
What is more fun than winding through seven acres of corn, going on a hayride or a barrel train ride, and jumping on a giant pillow? Throw in a pony ride and a hamster ball for an additional fee and your child’s day is complete. 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton; 303.973.3705; botanicgardens.org/corn-maze

Cottonwood Farms
Opens September 29
Cottonwood Farms’ cornfield maze is hand-cut and custom-made for a close fall walk with the family. Pick a pumpkin, snuggle a sheep, hop a hayride, or say hi to Rocco the donkey and Bentley the miniature horse. 1535 N. 75th St., Boulder; 720.890.4766; cottonwoodfarms.com

Crazed Cornfield Maze

Open weekends starting Saturday, September 30 through Sunday, October 29
If you’re navigationally challenged, hit the mini-maze with the little ones and then enjoy the petting zoo. Only the truly crazed venture into the 20-acre Crazed Cornfield Maze. 6101 E. 104th Ave., Thornton; 303.913.5947; crazedcornfieldmaze.com

Harvest Farm
Salute agriculture in Harvest Farm’s cornfield maze or salute the Second Amendment with a little corn cannon target practice. They also offer pig races, roping, an obstacle course, and an eggucation station. 4240 E. County Road 66, Wellington; 970.568.9803; harvestfarm.net

Hill’s Harvest
Breathe in seasonal inspiration at Hill’s Harvest. Here, it’s all fall: pies, pumpkins, decorative gourds and Indian corn, and carving pumpkins ripe for the pickin’. And who doesn’t love a free hayride? 3225 E. 124th Ave., Thornton; 303.451.5637; hillsharvest.com

Munson Farms
October 8 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Snag the last of the summer veggies, start in on the winter squash and pick up your pumpkins. They specialize in sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, and pumpkins. 75th Street and Valmont Road, Boulder; 303.442.5330; munsonfarms.com

Ollin Farm’s Fall Harvest Festival

Early October through Halloween
During the Fall Festival, explore the farm, frolic in the pumpkin patch, and groove to the music. 8627 N. 95th St., Longmont; ollinfarms.com

Red Wagon Organic Farm’s Pumpkin Patch Tours

Go on a tractor-drawn hayride, pet farm animals (including goats, alpacas, llamas, and chickens), and explore a straw-bale maze. 7694 N. 63rd St., Longmont; redwagonorganicfarm.com

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch
Skip the gore and head straight for the gourds during the RMPR’s October Pumpkin Carnival. Make your own apple cider, stroll the maze, take the kiddos for a pony ride and let ‘em paint a pumpkin. 9057 Ute Highway, CO 66, Longmont; 303.684.0087; rockymtnpumpkinranch.com

Sunflower Farm
September and October, Wed – Sunday, 9 – 1 p.m.
A day at Sunflower Farm gives your children the chance to move and explore in ways they don’t very often in our modern, urbanized life. There are sandboxes inside silos, a corn house that kids can play in, tree forts and bridges and animals everywhere. Be creative: play hide-and-seek in the hay bales, have a tea party in the tepee or feed the baby goats. 11150 Prospect Rd., Longmont; 303.774.8001; sunflowerfarminfo.com

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The Dallas Divide
rises above Last Dollar Road near Ouray.

It’s no secret that Colorado is among the most visually stunning places on the planet. Visitors the world over flock here to commune with the jagged snowy peaks, high alpine lakes, golden aspen groves, carved canyons, and rushing rivers. But did you know that Colorado boasts a glitzy legacy as a set for Hollywood’s silver screen? Thousands of films have been shot in the Rocky Mountains, including classics such as True Grit, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Thelma and Louise and more recently, Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Without a doubt, the dramatic scenery has long captured the imaginations of film directors, serving as a backdrop for gritty westerns and road trip dramas. This summer, visit the A-list towns of Ridgway, Durango, Glenwood Springs, and Gateway, and reimagine yourself as a rough and tumble cowboy, an outlaw heisting a train, a fugitive locked in a car chase or a pursued assassin scaling a canyon wall.

In the movie, True Grit (1969), Mattie Ross enlists the help of a crusty U.S. marshal to track down the man who murdered her father. She taps a tough old marshal, “Rooster” Cogburn, played by John Wayne ,because he has grit and a reputation of getting the job done.

Vestiges of the True Grit set remain in Durango. The firehouse survives as an artist studio, and the livery stable became the post office. The Fort Smith Saloon is now a store on Lena Street. You can find the paddy wagon from the movie in Heritage Park on the southwest corner of Highways 550 and 62.

The Ridgway Chamber offers a one-hour True Grit movie walking tour from May through October. For reservations, call 970-626-5181. Or if you’re a hard-core True Grit fan, do a self-guided tour.

While in Ridgway, eat like a cowboy at the John Wayne-themed True Grit Café. Their menu features mouth-watering Tex-Mex, juicy steaks, house-made meatloaf, and the best dang chicken-fried steak this side of the Rockies. They also serve tempura-battered mahi-mahi, which isn’t very cowboy; sounds like the wrangler traded in his steed for a surfboard. If you don’t eat like a cowboy, don’t despair; they offer veggie and gluten-free options. While you’re there, check out the actor and movie memorabilia. To quote the friendly folks at the True Grit Cafe, “Y’all come on in and tie on the feed bag and enjoy the Grit!”

Get your equine fix at Action Adventure Trail Rides ten miles away in Montrose. This outfitter offers rides for every level: the 1-hour Wrangler Ride for novice and youth riders, the Buckaroo Ride—a 2-hour jaunt into the wilderness. Then there’s the 4-hour Ranch Hand Ride, which they say is not for beginners or the faint of heart. In other words, vertigo-inducing sheer drop-offs on rugged, rocky, narrow trails. If you go, you had better hope your horse is sure-footed or sip enough whisky from your flask so you don’t care.

You can book your ride online, even though the folks at Action Adventure admit that computers and the internet are a cowboy’s worst nightmare. But for a busy weekend wrangler like you, booking online will come in handy. For more info, go to http://ride.actionadventures.net/ or call 970-325-3006.

If horses aren’t your thing (because we all know someone who suffers from equinophobia), take in the vistas while driving the Last Dollar Road. The origin of the name is a mystery. Perhaps a gold rusher spent his last dollar to hitch a ride to Cali with a wagoneer. On this drive, you can see the remains of Mattie Ross’ ranch, where John Wayne jumped his horse over the fence at the end of True Grit. The drive takes you from the Dallas Divide, over the west end of the Sneffles (not sniffles) Range, through gorgeous aspen forests with unobstructed views of the Sneffels Mountain Range and Wilson Peak to Telluride. Don’t attempt the drive unless your car has decent clearance. In fact, an SUV is your best bet.

From Ridgway: Take Highway 62 west until you see a sign for Last Dollar Road. Turn left off the highway and continue left when you hit a fork in the road (a right turn will take you to the town of Sawpit).

When you’re plum tuckered out from your carousing, soak your aching bones at Orvis Hot Springs, a clothing optional natural hot springs resort. Orvis offers seven soaking areas that range from 98-112 degrees. They also offer lodging and camping.

If you’re not the naked hot springs camping kind (because there are always a few exuberant nudist colony types who ruin it for everyone), book a room at the Chipeta Sun Lodge and Spa. Fringed by the majestic San Juan Mountain Range, this Southwestern-inspired boutique lodge blends cozy accommodations and wellness touches with bed and breakfast charm. The adobe-style resort and spa provides rustic boutique lodging with private hot tubs, romantic fireplaces & patios, solar heated hot pools, and spa. To make reservations, go to reservations@chipeta.com. If they had a hitching post, the Duke would’ve loved parking his horse and kicking his boots off here after a long day of ramblin’ and wranglin’.

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The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge
Railroad,
which was featured in “Butch Cassidy
and The Sundance Kid.”

Durango was the set for the classic film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a western starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman that chronicles the mostly true tale of the outlaws’ last months. The film features train robbery scenes that were shot on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Redford reportedly wanted to perform his own stunts, including jumping onto the train and running on top of the cars in motion, but Newman wouldn’t have it.
He said, “I don’t want any heroics around here…I don’t want to lose a co-star.”

In the train robbery scene, Butch, Sundance and the Wild Bunch used dynamite to blow up the safe, sending their loot flying everywhere. Reeling from the explosion, Sundance deadpanned, “Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?” Apparently, the intensity of the on-set explosion surprised everyone, even the special-effects guys. You can see the train at the depot at 479 Main Avenue in Durango, or in summer hop aboard for a ride to Silverton and back, but don’t get any crazy ideas. Leave running on top of the train and exploding train cars to the pros.

The legendary Baker’s Bridge was also featured in this classic western film. Redford and Newman jumped off the cliff near Baker’s, but they landed on a mattress-cushioned ledge six feet below (Wimps!). If you’re an adrenaline junkie, cliff jump the ABC’s—Adrenaline Falls, Baker’s Bridge, and Cascade Creek. The ABC’s offer exhilarating (if not insane), cliff jumping ranging from 10 to 50 feet in height. At Baker’s you might just see suspended slacklines and daredevils throwing double backflips.

Float the Animus River with Mild to Wild Rafting. What do they mean by “wild?” According to their website: to raft the Upper Animus, all participants must be strong swimmers, in great physical condition, and able to paddle as the boat bounces, spins, and submerges. Submerges? Seriously? If you’re not up for a possible man overboard experience, calmly float down the Lower Animus. No experience is necessary and there’s no mention of swirling and submerging, so this is an excellent choice for sane people. To reserve your float trip, go to www.mild2wildrafting.com or call 970-427-4789.

Who can say no to a Dirty Girl Scout—a martini like the cookie but with booze? Or an espresso martini—double espresso vodka, Kahlua, Baileys and a splash of cream served in a frosted martini glass with shaved dark chocolate espresso beans? Both are featured drinks at the Derailed Pour House. Quench your thirst at this speakeasy style venue that offers craft beers on tap, creative cocktails, and wine, along with delectable eats like pulled pork tacos, Pour House poppers, Southwest eggrolls, and a Cuban sandwich. You might just want to fast-forward through all the outdoor activities and go straight to the Pour House. To learn more, go to http://www.derailedpourhouse.com/.

If Colorado movie madness takes hold, pick up a copy of Hollywood in the Rockies, by Frederic Wildfang, proprietor of Durango’s Rochester Hotel.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) features an ordinary suburban couple with a lifeless marriage, but they each have a secret: they are legendary assassins working for competing organizations. When the truth comes out, they end up in each other’s crosshairs. Scenes for this action thriller starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were shot at the Hanging Lake tunnels in Glenwood Canyon.

Glenwood Canyon.

Don’t miss the steep 2.4-mile roundtrip hike to Hanging Lake, a designated National Monument. From spring to early fall, water flows in Dead Horse Creek, sometimes cascading along the rocky trail. As you’re cursing the climb, keep your eye on the prize—a clear turquoise lake fringed by Bridal Veil Falls. If you didn’t know better, you’d think you were in the Caribbean, but the absence of umbrella drinks gives it away. After you’ve snapped all the Hanging Lake selfies you can bear, hike above the lake to Spouting Rock Falls, and feel the mist on your face. Hanging Lake is being loved to death, so to beat the crowds, go on a weekday or on the weekend in the early morning or late afternoon.

If defying gravity is your thing, contact Glenwood Climbing Guides at 970-319-0656 for a climbing fix on a safe and proven route on the east side of the Glenwood Springs Tunnels. Known as the Puoux (pronounced “pukes”), this sport crag offers good Colorado rock climbing and is divided into four sections: Roadside Wall, Main Wall, Upper Levels and Fault Wall. Each section has several climbing routes with varying degrees of difficulty.

If you’re more into rolling than rocking, rent bikes at Sunlight Ski and Bike Shop in Glenwood and bike Glenwood Canyon with incredible views of the towering canyon walls and the snaking Colorado River. Keep your eyes peeled for herds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep that sometimes graze along the bike path. In early fall, you might catch a glimpse of a black bear. Don’t worry; they’re so shy you’ll likely only see their posterior as they flee. In other words, no bear selfies. You can bike a max of 12.5 miles each way.

Whether you choose to climb, hike, bike or float Glenwood Canyon, just make sure you’re faster than your assassin spouse!

Even assassins need to eat, and a good place to fuel up is at the Pullman Grill. The Pullman is a refined eatery committed to local product and inspired by the seasons. They serve simple thoughtful food that’s about care in execution and using the best local ingredients. They’re on a mission to make you feel better when you leave than when you arrived. And they mean it. Try the grass-fed burger with caramelized onions or the kale parmesan salad with spiced pine nuts, pickled currants, and champagne vin.

There’s no better way to end the day than soaking at the Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. The expansive pool makes you almost forget that you’re landlocked in the Rockies. Pace yourself in the hot pool; if you overcook yourself, your noodle legs won’t carry you back to your hotel. During peak season, the pool is open from 7:30 am-10:00 pm. www.hotspringspool.com/

For a great night’s sleep, check into the Hotel Denver. It’s quaint and classy, offering old world charm with modern conveniences and is within walking distance of all the best restaurants, the train station and the Glenwood Springs pool. www.thehoteldenver.com Nightly rates in the summer range from $159 to $219.

n Thelma and Louise (1991), an Arkansas waitress and a housewife shoot a rapist and take off in a ‘66 Thunderbird, fleeing their abusive husbands. This film, featuring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, is the ultimate road trip chick flick, only it doesn’t end with: girls get boys. Spoiler alert: as best friends, they have each other, and that’s all they need as they hold hands and drive off the canyon’s edge.

Gateway is a town near John Brown and Unaweep Canyons with access to backcountry adventures in the La Sal Mountains and the Uncompahgre National Forest. If you blink, you’ll miss the town, but the surrounding area is well worth exploring.

Gateway Canyons Resort.

If you’re wanting luxury amidst the ruggedness, Gateway Canyons is a high-end resort that offers mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, climbing, fishing and rafting. Go to www.gatewaycanyons.com or call 866-761-4733 for reservations. If backpacking in rugged canyons isn’t your thing, drive the 133-mile Scenic and Historic Byway, which winds through red sandstone in the stunning Unaweep Canyon. Unaweep knifes through the soft red sandstone of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Treat yourself to cliffs towering a thousand feet overhead, surging streams, and endless blue skies.

In Gateway, get your backcountry adventure on, or just take off in a convertible with your best friend and drive to the edge of the canyon—Thelma and Louise style. Just don’t drive into the abyss. There’s so much more of Colorado left to explore!

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