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Good morning, Highlands Ranch,
Highlands Ranch turns 45 this year! I haven’t figured out what you get an entire community for its birthday, so a crossword felt like a good start.
I’ve also got my sights set on 4,500 Scoop subscribers! We’re at 2,900, and I’d love your help getting there. Refer a friend using your personal link below, and I’ll send you a Highlands Ranch-themed crossword by November 5.
Onto this week's Scoop:
🍂 8 ways to get out and about this weekend
🎃 4 upcoming Trunk-or-Treats
🧩 Help us reach 4,500 neighbors
Let's get into it.
—Grace Hody
Editor, The Ranch Scoop
An Invitation from Highlands Ranch Water
Do you have questions about your water bill, water rates or the services Highlands Ranch Water provides? HR Water would love to hear from you!
You’re invited to Highlands Ranch Water’s Fall Community Open House:
Thursday, Nov. 5 | 5:30–7 p.m.
Highlands Ranch Senior Center
200 E. Highlands Ranch Parkway
With proposed changes to water and wastewater rates in 2027, this is a great opportunity to learn more about what your rates pay for, why increases are being considered, and how your dollars support reliable water and wastewater services.
Staff from across the district will be on-hand to answer questions, share information, and have one-on-one conversations.
Whether you have a specific question or just want to learn more, stop by and say hello!
Weekend Outing Ideas
Sip in Centennial — Centennial
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 17 (1–5 p.m.)
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Head to Centennial Center Park for live music, food trucks and tastings from more than 20 Colorado breweries, distilleries and cideries.
Haunted House Escape Room — Englewood
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 17 (2–4 p.m.)
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Think you can escape a haunted house? Put your puzzle-solving skills to the test at Englewood Library's Halloween-themed escape room.
Pawloween Doggie Costume Contest — Parker
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 17 (4:30–6:30 p.m.)
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Costumes aren't just for humans! Bring your pup to Lone Tree Brewing's Parker location for a Halloween costume contest, with prizes for the top three best-dressed dogs.
Halloween Monster Bash & Mystical Makers Market — Littleton
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 17 (12–3 p.m.)
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Head to Aspen Grove for an afternoon of Halloween fun! Bring the kids in costume for trick-or-treating, bounce houses, horse-drawn carriage rides, and crafts.
Murder Mystery Masquerade — Cherokee Ranch & Castle
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 17 (6 p.m.)
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A murder at a masquerade ball? Head to Cherokee Ranch & Castle in Sedalia for an interactive whodunit, complete with castle tours, appetizers and a chance to unmask the killer. Dress to impress! Tickets $84.95; reservations required.
Zak Mirz: Kid@Heart — Parker
🗓️ Saturday, Oct. 17 (7:30 p.m.)
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A little magic for your Saturday night! Head to the PACE Center for an evening of illusions and storytelling with Zak Mirz, a semifinalist on America's Got Talent and winner of Penn & Teller: Fool Us.
Creepy Crawlies Fall Festival — Castle Rock
🗓️ Sunday, Oct. 18 (10 a.m.–3 p.m.)
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Snakes, toads and hissing cockroaches? Just another fall Sunday in Castle Rock. Head to Festival Park for creepy creatures, seasonal vendors, roasted chilies and fall treats.
Lone Creek Farms — Franktown
🗓️ September 25–November 1 | Thursday–Sunday
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Make a full fall day of it at this family-run Franktown farm, where admission unlocks more than 20 attractions—including a corn maze, pumpkin patch, pig races, candy cannons and the crowd-favorite firetruck pumpkin drop.
Upcoming Trunk-or-Treats
Grace Presbyterian Trunk-or-Treat — Littleton
🎃🗓️Saturday, Oct. 24
An annual Halloween celebration with trunk-or-treating and trick-or-treat street activities.
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Highlands Ranch Ward Fall Festival — Highlands Ranch
Wednesday, Oct. 28
🎃🗓️A neighborhood chili dinner followed by trunk-or-treating at 7:15 p.m. at 9790 Foothills Canyon Boulevard.
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Foothills Bible Church Trunk-or-Treat Street — Littleton
🎃🗓️Saturday, Oct. 31
Decorated trunks, candy, games, inflatables, face painting and food trucks. Family registration is available.
➜ Event details
St. Luke's Fall Festival — Highlands Ranch
Saturday, Oct. 31
🎃🗓️ Trunk-or-treating, a bounce house, crafts, games and treats around the church's pumpkin patch. Suggested $20 donation per family.
➜ Event details
On Our Radar Next Week
Virtual Tour of Roxborough State Park — Highlands Ranch
🗓️ Monday, Oct. 19 (7–8:30 p.m.)
➜ Event details
Explore the beauty and history of Roxborough State Park without leaving the Ranch. Join the Highlands Ranch Historical Society at Southridge Recreation Center for a virtual tour of one of Colorado's most scenic parks. Suggested $5 donation for nonmembers.
Ranch Brief: From the Archives
We found a little treasure. Decades before The Ranch Scoop, there was this.
In January 1986, when Highlands Ranch was still a young community, HRCA published its first newsletter. No inboxes, no Instagram, just neighborhood news delivered the old-fashioned way.
Years later, we're still keeping the Ranch connected. Just with fewer stamps.
SCOOP Hub
📬 Before You Go
Forty-five years of Highlands Ranch, and there's still plenty to discover.
Hit reply: How long have you lived in or around the Ranch? I'd love to hear from some of our South Denver residents!
And if you enjoy the Scoop, consider forwarding it to a neighbor. Every referral gets us a little closer to 4,500.
Above all, have a wonderful weekend!
See you next Thursday,
—Grace
Ranch Resources
🔥 Restrictions
💧 Restrictions
🧺 Farmers Market
🌳🏛️ Highlands Ranch Metro District
🚗 Douglas County: Link On Demand