Tarantula Festival
October
The first La Junta Tarantula Festival will be held Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th.
First Annual Tarantula Festival
The dates are set for events, activities, entertainment, and education revolving around Southeast Colorado’s furry-legged friends in October.
The first La Junta Tarantula Festival will be held Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th.
Activities in the making include guided educational tours to the Comanche National Grassland to view tarantulas in their natural habitat, a family fun bicycle ride, a Saturday morning parade and costume contest, educational presentations from a tarantula expert, downtown tarantula art installations, food trucks, vendors and more.
Organizations involved include La Junta Tourism, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, The Comanche National Grassland, Otero College, Canyons and Plains of Southeast Colorado, The La Junta Chamber of Commerce, Clean Valley Recycling, SECO News and numerous others.
Otero College is sponsoring and hosting a guest lecturer, who is an arachnid and tarantula specialist.
Clean Valley Recycling will be hosting a family fun Tarantula bike ride.
The Fox Theatre will be showing a tarantula-related movie. (A Virtual Tour of The Fox Theatre of La Junta )
The Southeast Colorado Antique Vehicle Club will be hosting a car show in conjunction with the Tarantula Festival and SECO News will have coverage and press releases about the show.
Get Up Close and Personal with a Tarantula
Each fall, thousands of tarantulas venture away from their homes in search of a mate. During this time, they can be seen mainly at dusk and into the night crawling across the Plains of southern Colorado.
It’s a sight to see or avoid – depending on how much arachnophobia you have.
Lately, this once little-known annual occurrence has been gaining national attention giving locals and tourists a new reason to explore La Junta, Colorado.
Enjoy a Taste of Southeast Colorado
Explore the History & Heritage
Tour Downtown Art, Galleries, and Local Crafts
SHOP: Junction 50 Galleria
Featuring rare books, unique antiques, quilts, local art and handmade jewelry.
ART: What the Fudge Mural
Located on the west side of the What the Fudge Candy Shop building (rear outside wall in the alley between Santa Fe and San Juan Avenues).
ART: Daylight Donuts Mural
Located on the north side of the Daylight Donuts building at 114 Santa Fe Avenue.
SHOP: Broke & Busted Boutique
Broke and Busted Boutique specializes in
reviving worn, tattered, and busted items, turning them into trendy and beautiful new pieces.
ART: Let's Be Kind Mural
Located on the south side of the Klein's Maker Space building at 220 Santa Fe Avenue.
ART: LiveWell Park Wishing Tree
Located at LiveWell Park & Amphitheater at 316 Santa Fe Avenue.
SHOP: Junction Plaza
Junction Plaza features local arts, crafts, sculptures, and other handcrafted specialty items.
ARCHITECTURE: Masonic Lodge Architecture
Built in 1926, the Masonic Lodge Temple building is located at Fourth Street and Santa Fe Avenue.
ARCHITECTURE: Post Office Building
Built in 1915, the La Junta Post Office is located at 324 Colorado Avenue.
SHOP: Crossroads Marketplace
La Junta's Friendly Nonprofit Community Thrift Store features clothing, household items and uncommon goods from around the world.
ARCHITECTURE: Fox Theater
Built in 1912, the Fox Theater building is located at 11 East 3rd Street.