Howl-o-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs
Last year, our family visited Great Wolf Lodge in Manteca, California, and it instantly became one of those trips we couldn’t stop talking about. The kids begged to go back, and honestly, so did I. This year, we made new memories at a new location, Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Spring, and joined them for their seasonal celebration: Howl-o-Ween!
It was the perfect way to celebrate fall: festive, family-centered, and full of fun without being overwhelming.
What Is Howl-o-Ween?
If you’ve never been, Howl-o-Ween is Great Wolf Lodge’s month-long Halloween event. The entire lodge is decked out in pumpkins, lights, and seasonal décor, and kids can jump into themed activities all week long.
Why we loved it
Because it took everything stressful about Halloween, the late nights, the cold weather, the chaos, and replaced it with fun that was safe, easy, and full of memory-making. My kids were smiling from the moment we walked in, and I never once felt like I was juggling logistics instead of enjoying them.
All the Howl-o-Ween Offerings
The best part for us was how much there was to do. Here are a few highlights my kids loved most:
Trick-or-Treat Trail: Candy stations set up throughout the lodge so kids can collect treats safely indoors.
Costume Parade: A chance for kids to show off their costumes without the pressure — just fun.
Scavenger Hunts: My kids loved racing through the lodge to find clues and treasures.
Story Time: Pajamas, cozy lobby seating, and themed stories made for the sweetest wind-down.
Dance Parties + Characters: Extra energy? Burned off at the DJ dance party, complete with silly wolf characters to hug and high-five.
Together, all of these made the lodge feel festive and magical.
Trick-or-Treating Without the Stress
As a mom, this was my favorite part. Trick-or-treating inside the lodge means:
No jackets over costumes.
No dark streets or traffic to worry about.
No shouting “stay on the sidewalk!” every two minutes.
The kids still got their holiday fix, but for the first time, I got to enjoy watching them instead of stressing. That’s a win in my book!
The Waterpark in October
Of course, the real showstopper is always the indoor waterpark.
It’s heated, it’s massive, and it never gets old. The big kids sprinted straight to the thrill slides while my youngest happily floated around the lazy river (on repeat). I loved that everyone had something that fit their comfort level, and we could all be together in the same space.
There’s just something special about splashing around in swimsuits while the world outside screams “fall.” It felt like we pressed pause on the season and stole one more weekend of summer.
This year, we also booked a cabana — and it made the day so easy. Having a central spot to drop towels, rest, and recharge kept everyone happy. And the best part? We could order food straight to our cabana, which meant no dragging wet kids through the lobby when hunger hit. Game changer.
Food Made Simple
When kids are hungry, no one’s happy– and Great Wolf gets that!
Between the waterpark cabana service, sit-down restaurants, grab-and-go counters, and snack spots throughout the lodge, we never had to think twice about meals.
We kept it simple with pizza one night and burgers the next. I loved how options were always fast, filling, and exactly what we needed between activities.
And because everything is onsite, no one had to pile back into the car. That alone is worth celebrating.
Our Cozy Cabin Stay
This year, we stayed in one of the themed suites, complete with a little “cabin” nook for the kids. They thought it was the coolest thing ever– their own private fort with bunk beds!
And for me? It meant bedtime actually worked. They were excited to go to bed, and the space truly felt like two separate rooms. Everyone slept, which is basically the definition of a family trip win.
Why We’ll Keep Coming Back
Two years, two different Great Wolf locations and both gave us the same thing: memories I know my kids will carry with them.
What I love most is how easy it feels. Everything we need is under one roof. The kids are entertained, we’re not exhausted, and we come home with full hearts instead of frayed nerves.
For us, Great Wolf has become more than a getaway— it’s a place where holidays feel lighter, family time feels richer, and traditions are built without stress. That’s why we’ll keep coming back, year after year.
A huge thank you to Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs for hosting our family. If you’re looking for a fall tradition that’s fun, stress-free, and packed with memories, their Howl-o-Ween celebration is one I can’t recommend enough. Book your stay this season and see why families like ours keep coming back year after year.
