By Jan MacKell
For the fifth year in a row, the Cripple Creek District Museum will present "Night at the Museum" on Oct. 29 and Halloween night.
Being dubbed as one of the “most haunted towns in America,” Cripple Creek and its surrounding district are always up to gads of ghoulish fun at Halloween. And because this year marks the 20th anniversary of gaming, local casinos are adding to the fun with a number of promotions and giveaways. Here is the scoop on activities to take advantage of through the rest of the month.
Casino promos
Bronco Billy’s Casino offers Table Time Cash. This Oct. 29, use your player’s club card to win $50 every 30 minutes from 4 – 8 p.m. while playing table games.
Earn cash back 5X faster at Century Casinos by using your player’s club card at any slot machine on Tuesdays and Fridays. Thursday Oct. 27 is Hoot Loot Hot Seats noon to 8 p.m. when $50 will be awarded every 20 minutes to gamblers using their player’s card. There’s also Pumpkin Patch Cash, a chance to win $1,000 every 30 minutes between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29.
On Friday, Oct. 28, just earn 500 base points on your player’s club card for a bonus $25 in points at the Colorado Grande. Also, Oct. 25 is 5X Frenzy. Receive 5X points on all dollar and $5-dollar reel slot machines. The Frenzy continues on Oct. 26, when players can receive 5X points on all video poker machines. Last day of the Frenzy is Oct. 27, when players can receive 5X points on all penny machines. On Oct. 31, players can also receive $5 gas card on Oct. 31 for each 200 base points you earn. Then, be on hand and root for your favorite employee during the Halloween Employee Costume Contest at 4 p.m.
The Double Eagle Hotel & Casino is giving away a brand new Mazda Hatchback on Oct. 29. It’s fire engine red, looks pretty fast, and it can be yours. Just use your player’s club card to earn entries daily for each $5 you cash out. Earn 500 points, and get a whopping 50 entries. Cash drawings will begin at 2 p.m. and last throughout the day, with one final drawing for the car.
Earn cash back 5X faster and play Hoot Loot Hot Seats and Pumpkin Patch Cash at Century Casinos in October. Photos by Jan MacKell
Triple Crown Casinos is offering their Smashing Pumpkins promotion. Earn entries each Friday, Saturday and Sunday for your chance to catapult a pumpkin and win cash. The October Gift of the Month is a snazzy J.P. McGill’s hat in yellow or green. Just earn 250 points in one day to claim your hat. Limit one per person per month and only while supplies last.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of gambling, the Wildwood Casino is offering three types of special, numbered gaming chips. Also, don’t forget to choose your weekly football pics for a chance to win $5,000. Finally, be sure to get in on the Pick A Pumpkin promo to win your share of a guaranteed $20,000 every day in October. Earn entries daily through Oct. 30, with cash drawings every day at 8:30 p.m. The remainder of the $20K will be given away on Oct. 31 at 10 p.m.
Halloween parties
Bennett Station, 429 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-2898 - Win a trip to Vegas. Wear a costume any time between Oct. 29 – 31 for an entry. Drawing takes place Halloween night at midnight, must be present to win.
Ralf’s, 411 E. Bennett Ave., 719-689-9195 - Kostume Karaoke with Caralynn starting at 8 p.m. $100 cash prize for best costume between 8 p.m. and closing.
Sally’s, 302 Victor Ave., Victor, 719-689-3120 - Halloween Costume Contest Oct. 29, Karaoke with Shelly Starzz at 8 p.m. Bring a dish for Potluck beginning at 7 p.m. Contest 10 p.m. 1st place cash, 2nd & 3rd place T-shirts and other goodies.
Shows and Activities
Cripple Creek Park & Rec will present its annual BOOzar & Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Bring the kids for a safe and fun Halloween. Prizes, candy and games galore. Bring your decorated trunk full of candy for Trunk or Treating, and win a prize for the best decorated trunk. Call Debbie Deboodt at 719-689-3514 or email facilityassist@cripple-creek.co.us.
The Thin Air Theater Company presents Vampire of Cripple Creek at the historic Butte Opera House through Oct. 30. Show times are Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 1 and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. Make your reservation by calling 719-689-3247, 1-877-689-6402 or from the website at butteoperahouse.com.
Ghost Walks of downtown Cripple Creek, hosted by The Cripple Creek District Museum. Museum docents will guide patrons through downtown Cripple Creek and introduce them to the town’s invisible residents. Tours begin at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Jail Museum at 136 W. Bennett Ave. and end at the Cripple Creek District Museum Gift Shop with hot chocolate and cookies. Tour is free, but donations are welcome. Call 719-689-2634 for more information.
On Oct. 28 the Gold Bar Room Theatre at the Imperial Hotel presents Murder on the Pony Express, a murder mystery dinner theater. Bronco Charlie is hosting a grand opening of a new Pony Express Station. The stagecoach is runnin’ but by the end of the evenin’ someone else might be runnin’ for their life too. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. with show beginning at 7 p.m. Dress in your best old west. Tickets are $15.
Then on Oct. 29, come see A Pirate’s Death For Ye. Riding the oceans with a bunch of pirates would be hard enough, but when a mutiny is planned the cutlasses are pulled. Dress as your favorite pirate, but keep your sharp swords at home. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. Reservations for either show can be made by visiting the website at goldbartheater.com or calling 719-689-2561 or 1-877-5646-0925.
Night at the Museum at the Cripple Creek District Museum. Come take a spooky tour of the historic Depot to see who comes out at night. The Museum is open 6 – 9 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for ages 20 and younger. Children 16 and younger must be accompanied by adult. Call 719-689-9540 or email CCDMuseum@aol.com.
Join the ladies of the night at Old Homestead Parlor House Museum on Halloween night from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. This is a rare chance to see Cripple Creek’s historic brothel museum lit up at night and meet the spirits of the shady ladies within. Admission is free but donations are requested. The Museum is located at 353 Myers Ave. For more information, call 719-689-2485 or email cb4mile@hughes.net.
