Halloween in Durango is always a blast, but it falls on a Friday this year, and you know what that means — uh, even more of a blast! Head downtown in costume to partake in your own version of a pub crawl or catch a showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show live on stage at the Henry Strater Theatre. Don’t miss out on the pre-Halloween Halloween fun either! There’s plenty of spooky stuff to do leading up to the big night. Starting with…

Skalloween Pumpkin Carving Contest

The Great Pumpkin Chase

Want to test your running skills while in costume? Look no further than the Great Pumpkin Chase this Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants — including kiddos and dogs — can do either the 5K or 1-mile race. Register online, or on-site registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Momentum 24/7 Fitness in Bayfield, Colorado

Halloween Events at Three Springs

The Three Springs neighborhood always does it up during Halloween, and this year is no different. Join in their 8th annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in the Three Springs Plaza, 175 Mercado St. in Durango. The fun includes daytime trick-or-treating for the tinies, face painting, cupcake decorating, a cookie walk, live music, games, a bouncy house and more. For more information, call 970-764-6000 or email info@threespringsdurango.com.

The Three Springs Fall Festival is immediately followed by the 2014 Zombie Challenge. Run (for your lives) during the 1.5-mile obstacle course filled with flesh-eating (technically flag-grabbing) zombies. Registration is $30, and proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado. The race starts at 2:30 p.m. If you survive — either the zombie or the running — you can hit up the Apocalypse After-party at Digs. Psst: You can also volunteer to be a zombie because, FUN. Contact Megan Sanders at megans@bbig.org or 970-247-3720 for more information.

Rocky Horror Picture Show

It’s an annual tradition in Durango: the Rocky Horror Picture Show live on stage at the Henry Strater Theatre at the Strater Hotel.

Don your best Dr. Frank-N-Furter corset or put on Columbia’s glittery top hat and join in the fun. The Strater theater is having two showings on Thursday, Oct. 30; two showings on Halloween night; and one show on Saturday, Nov. 1. Prop bags will be available for $5. Get your tickets soon because these productions (now in their seventh year) always sell out!

Be Safe!

Most importantly, remember to be safe this Halloween. If you plan to have your fill of fun, be sure to appoint a designated driver or reserve a hotel room for the night. Better yet, stay with us at the Durango Quality Inn! Happy Halloween!