Sara Evans at the Avalon, trick-or-treating on a closed-off Main Street in Grand Junction, a free home expo in Montrose, the Wild and Scenic Film Fest in Rifle, and Dia de los Muertos in Carbondale. Here is what is happening in Mesa, Montrose and Garfield counties this weekend.
Halloween season is in full swing on the Western Slope, and this weekend proves it. Downtown Grand Junction closes Main Street for trick-or-treating, country star Sara Evans takes the Avalon stage, and Rifle hosts the Wild and Scenic Film Fest. Add a free home show in Montrose, a Dia de los Muertos afternoon in Carbondale and spooky screenings in Basalt, and you have plenty of reasons to get out of the house.
The big one is Saturday afternoon, when Main Street closes to traffic for the Downtown Spooktacular. Trick-or-treating, activities and performances run from 4 to 6 p.m., presented by Credit Union of Colorado. Parking downtown is free on weekends.
Sara Evans brings her We Got The Beat show to the Avalon Theatre (645 Main St.) at 7:30 p.m. Call the box office at 970-263-5757 for tickets.
At the Mesa Theater (538 Main St.), What The Dance presents Crimewave, a goth, post-punk and darkwave party, at 8 p.m. It is for ages 18 and up.
Also at 8 p.m., LUX Event Center hosts Legado 7 and Ekipo Inicial for a night of regional Mexican music. Ages 18 and up, $65 plus fees.
For families, Health Solutions West holds its Glow Through What You Go Through trunk-or-treat at 515 28 3/4 Road starting at 5 p.m.
Triple Play Records' Saturday Morning Music Sessions run downtown from 10 a.m. to noon, ahead of the Spooktacular at 4.
West Winds Gallery hosts its Quiet Turnings Full Moon Exhibition from 5 to 8 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m., Demon Hunter plays the Mesa Theater on its Storm the Gates of Hell 20th anniversary tour, with Bloodlines and Wolves At The Gate.
Central Library is the only Mesa County branch open, 1 to 5 p.m.
Friday at 7 p.m., Sauvage Spectrum Winery (676 38 1/4 Rd.) hosts a night on the Winery Comedy Tour. General admission is $20.
Saturday, Carboy Winery at Mt. Garfield Estate has free Backyard Beats live music from 4 to 7 p.m.
Also Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m., An Evening at the Orchard at Mosher-Talley Orchard (3416 C 1/2 Rd.) offers a fall centerpiece to design and take home, plus food and drinks, a raffle and views. Tickets are $95 plus fees and must be bought in advance.
Earlier that day, the Western Slope Restorative Workshop runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bella Bolettino Organic Farms, with practical self-regulation tools and trauma-informed education. It is pay what you can, with listed contributions of $55, $75 or $100 that include lunch and sessions.
The Montrose Home Expo at Friendship Hall (1001 N. 2nd St.) anchors the weekend. It is free, with demonstrations, expert advice, show-only deals and giveaways. Hours are noon on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Kids can stop by Star Wars Reads at the Montrose Regional Library (320 S. 2nd St.) from 3:30 to 5 p.m. There are activities for all ages, possible special guests for photos, and a free book for kids under 12 while supplies last.
At 6 p.m., the Montrose County Historical Museum (21 N. Rio Grande) starts its Haunting of Downtown Ghost Tour, a family-friendly walk through downtown's haunted history. It is $10 per person, and sign-up is required at 970-249-2085 or info@montrosehistory.org.
At 7:30 p.m., the CO150 Film Festival shows the documentary The American Southwest at The Association's Cellar (39 W. Main St.). It is free.
The Montrose Farmers' Market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Centennial Plaza and accepts SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks.
At 7:30 p.m., the CO150 Film Festival wraps up with True Grit at Shelter Distilling (947 Mayfly Dr.), presented by Valley Food Partnership. It is free.
Saturday night, the Ute Theater and Events Center (132 E. 4th St.) hosts the 2026 Wild and Scenic Film Fest, the flagship fundraiser for the Middle Colorado Watershed Council. Doors open at 6 p.m. for social time, snacks and drinks, with the short-film program to follow. Tickets are $20 in advance.
Saturday is the busy day here. The Backcountry Ski Swap and Demo Sale fills Cripple Creek Backcountry (571 Highway 133) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Built for the Barn, where teams of three race through running, synchronized burpees and kettlebell throws, runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1038 County Road 102.
The Halloween Boo Bash for ages 0 to 9 runs at Mountain Sprouts Play Cafe, with entry at 2, 3 or 4 p.m. and games, goodie bags, crafts and a raffle. At 4 p.m., Thrill the World returns to 4th and Main Street, the annual synchronized dance that also raises money for SANA.
Sunday at 2 p.m., the Carbondale Clay Center invites you to paint a calavera for Dia de los Muertos.
The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue stages the Queer VOICES Project's original piece "There is ______ here!" Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Glenwood Springs Branch Library hosts an AI grocery shopping workshop Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is open Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Hotel Colorado's Halloween Costume Ball on Saturday night is sold out.
TACAW (400 Robinson St.) has the Girl Winter Film Tour Friday at 7 p.m. and the Silkroad Ensemble, with Kinan Azmeh, Kaoru Watanabe and Maeve Gilchrist, Saturday at 8 p.m.
Sunday is Spooky Screens, with The Corpse Bride at 4 p.m. and Aliens at 7 p.m.
Friday evening, the Basalt Library runs A Mythical Laser Hunt for teens from 6 to 7 p.m.
Saturday's John Denver tribute, Flying Again, at the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center in Cedaredge is sold out. Next up there is Trout Fishing in America on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Mesa County library hours this weekend:
Everything except Central is closed Sunday. The main Montrose library branch is open Friday 10 to 6, closed Saturday and open Sunday 1 to 5.
Looking ahead, Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, and Montrose's Candy Crawl runs 3 to 5 p.m. that day, with Main Street closed from Townsend to Park from 1 to 6 p.m. Details are on the city's Candy Crawl page.
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