Fun in the Shadows of Pikes Peak by Garrett Koontz

by Garrett Koontz, staff writer

Hallow-e’en and Dia de Muertos Events

The leaves fall away, and the air loses that summery swelter (well, maybe.) Autumn arrives in Colorado, bringing with it a spread of spooky sights: skeletons, spirits, ballot initiatives, and paper skulls begin to appear around every corner.

Some people are content to sit at home drinking warm pumpkin-themed beverages, but that’s not the only option: PPSC itself and Colorado Springs at large are home to an almost frightening number of celebrations, both for Halloween (the modern version of All Hallow’s Eve) and Dia de (los) Muertos (Day of the Dead or All Souls’ Day). Though these two holidays have separated and converged, they both stem from the Catholic holiday All Hallow’s Day, which we now call All Saint’s Day (which itself stems from much older Harvest festivities).

Celebrations at PPSC:

• The Latino Alliance is hosting a Dia de los Muertos Workshop at the Centennial Campus on Thursday, November 2^nd from 11 AM to 1 PM. Bring a small photo of a loved one you’ve lost, and learn how Latino cultures celebrate the Day of the Dead.

Celebrations around town:

• On October 25^th-27^th, the Kreuser Gallery will be hosting a series of photographs capturing the spirit of Dia de Muertos- “A visual journey through Oaxca’s sacred conversation with death.” (https://www.kreusergallery.com/collections/dia-de-muertos)
• October 26^th and 27^th mark the year’s final weekend for Ghost Stories of Old Manitou, a walking tour through the most haunted parts of Manitou Springs. 6 PM – 8:30 PM. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ghost-stories-of-old-manitou-walking-tours-2023-tickets-648342559047)
• The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is once again hosting Boo at the Zoo, where attendees can trick-or-treat across the zoo after sundown and participate in all manner of special events. Boo at the Zoo will be hosted October 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, and 31^st from 4 PM to 8:30 PM. (https://www.cmzoo.org/events-programs/special-events/boo-at-the-zoo/)
• The 29^th annual Emma Crawford Coffin Race and the associated festival return on October 28^th, inspired by the story of the eponymous girl whose coffin washed away several years after her burial. (http://www.emmacrawfordfestival.com/)
• On October 28^th, Voces Unidas for Justice will be hosting the free 7^th Annual Celebracion del Dia de Muertos, featuring local vendors and entertainment, ending in the altar dedication ceremony. (https://www.cpr.org/event/7th-annual-celebracion-del-dia-de-muertos/)
• The Space Foundation is hosting Mad Science Day on October 28^th, with different activities throughout the day. (https://discoverspace.org/event/mad-science-day-halloween/)
• Lulu’s Downstairs is hosting this year’s shadowcast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on October 28^th-31^st, 7 PM- 10:30 PM. (https://jkproco.com/events/)
• The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is hosting their Dia de Muertos Celebration on November 1^st and 2^nd, building a community Ofrenda and creating crafts accompanied by live music and performances. (https://fac.coloradocollege.edu/events/dia-de-muertos/)

And of course, the movies. Most theatres will be showing the new releases, but the Tinseltown theater has also set aside some screens for a few from yesteryear.

Returning movies, at Tinseltown:

• Spirited Away is the 2001 Studio Ghibli film about a girl trapped in a resort for supernatural beings.
• The Nightmare before Christmas is Tim Burton’s 1993 stop-motion film about the Pumpkin King Jack Skellington’s attempt to become as beloved as Santa Claus.
• Hocus Pocus is the 1993 comedy about a group of children and the coven of witches they’ve accidentally unleashed.

New movies, showing at most theatres:

• Five Nights at Freddy’s, a film based on the horror games of the same name featuring animatronic performers that develop unsettling habits, premiers on October 26^th.
• Killers of the Flower Moon is a crime drama following a series of murders on Osage lands after oil is discovered in the region.
• After Death is a documentary exploring concepts of an afterlife with near-death survivors, medical experts, scientists and authors. The film releases on October 27^th.
• The Exorcist: Believer is the sixth film in the series, following a photographer whose daughter becomes possessed by… something.
• Saw X is the tenth installment of the gory Saw series, featuring a man seeking a cure for his condition and inflicting sadistic tortures on a group of scammers who falsely promised him one.