City Cast Denver
🚫 No more sneaking into the toll lane
October 2, 2023
Good morning, Denver! Could you go a week without your car? Denver Streets Partnership is encouraging you to give it a shot. Beginning today, you can pledge yourself to a week of walking, biking, busing, or carpooling as part of National Week Without Driving, a campaign to raise awareness about the experiences of people without access to a vehicle.
What's CITY Talking About?
🚗 Your Free Ride in the Toll Lane is Over
Last year, state lawmakers boosted CDOT’s authority to penalize drivers who illegally cross the solid white lines to sneak into the express lanes for free. A month-long grace period saw a whopping 40,000 warnings issued to delinquent drivers on I-25 and C-470. Toll lane transgressors will now face fines starting at $75. [Denver Post 🔒]
- Bad news for ski traffic: Officials also buckled down on I-70’s mountain express lanes earlier this summer. So if you can’t beat the I-70 traffic — learn to love it. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
🚽 The Right to Dignified, Reliable Toilet Access
Homeless advocacy organization the Housekeys Action Network (HAND) is pressuring the city to increase access to safe, sanitary, functioning bathrooms and water fountains after a new study analyzing the city’s public amenities revealed dismal results. Last summer, 38% of park facilities were closed or broken during normal hours; all park toilets were closed overnight; more than half lacked soap or hand sanitizer; and about a quarter lacked functioning locks. [Denverite]
🚍 Bustang Suffers from Staffing Shortage
Over the past two weeks, Bustang — the Colorado bus service connecting widespread Front Range towns — canceled 51 rides due to staffing shortages. The Denver Post reports that’s a rate of roughly 1 in every 13 scheduled buses being called off. CDOT officials say they hope to have more drivers by mid-November. [Denver Post 🔒]
The Best Things to Do This October
‘Tis the season for pumpkin picking, cider sipping, coffin racing (yes, you read that right), and so much more for the quintessential Denver fall experience. Where to start? The City Cast Denver crew came together to share the events that we’re most looking forward to this month.
🎃 Pumpkin Festival | Oct. 6-8 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Stop by the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms for the ultimate slice of Colorado fall — perfect for the whole family, complete with pumpkins, tractors, hayrides, corn mazes, and live entertainment. [Littleton; Free-$16]
💀 Denver Oddities & Curiosities Expo | Oct. 7 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Vendors of the strange and unusual will be selling odd clothing, unique jewelry, preserved specimens, antique medical equipment, and other items of a creepy, crawly nature. You can even sign up for a day-long taxidermy class. [Downtown; Free-$15]
🎨 Sober Pumpkin Painting | Oct. 7 | 5-7 p.m.
It’s a pumpkin painting party in the park! Tickets include delicious mocktails and all the art materials you’ll need, including your gourd. [City Park; $14]
🍎 Lakewood Cider Days | Oct. 7-8 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
At this celebration, cider flows freely and tasty apple treats abound! Plus, you can look forward to a ton of other seasonal fun: line dancing, burro riding, pie eating, and tractor pulling. [Lakewood; Free-$12]
🎤 Dyketopia Halloween Show | Oct. 20-21 | 8 p.m.
Celebrate the funny folks of Denver’s queer comedy community with hosts Kate McLachlan and Lee Robinson at this halloween-themed two-night extravaganza. Costumes are highly encouraged! [Highland; $25]
🦇 The Learned Lemur Graveyard Market | Oct. 22 | Noon-5
Shop spell kits, handmade jewelry, unusual antiques, and other dark delights while enjoying beer, cookies, and ice cream with fellow witches, wizards, and wayward souls. [Cheesman Park; Free]
⚰️ Emma Crawford Coffin Races | Oct. 28 | 8 a.m.
Build your own DIY coffin, gather a group of “pallbearers,” and race as a team across the tiny town of Manitou Springs. Awards for best costumes and best coffins will be handed out at the after party in Soda Springs Park. [Manitou Springs; Free to attend, $100 to race]
🕯️ Muertos en Westwood | Nov. 3-5 | Various
Kick off a month of Dia de los Muertos events in Westwood with a weekend street fest featuring cultural performances, local vendors and food trucks, Day of the Dead workshops, and so much more. [Westwood; Free]
Psst! Get the deets on all of these events in today’s episode of the City Cast Denver podcast 🎧
Today on City Cast
Your Guide to October in Denver
Want to have an epic October? Today on the City Cast Denver podcast, we’ve got deets on eight awesome local events to check out that will give you all the autumn vibes and fill up your social calendar for the month.
That’s all for today! Let’s do this again tomorrow.
— Peyton Garcia
Free · Daily