BEST BETS >> THINGS TO DO AROUND DENVER THIS WEEKEND

The Magic of Jack O’Lanterns runs at Hudson Gardens in Littleton through Nov. 2. PROVIDED BY SAMANTHA BRYANT PR

Ella Armendartz, 9, left, with her mother Karen and Conor Noonan, 6, participate in the malt sack race during Longmont’s Oktoberfest presented by Left Hand Brewing at Roosevelt Park on Sept. 19, 2014. DAVID R. JENNINGS — THE DAILY CAMERA

Denver American Indian Festival takes place at Lakewood’s 40 West Arts District this weekend. PROVIDED BY DENVER AMERICAN INDIAN FESTIVAL

This year’s Vatos Locos Bilingual Comedy Festival takes place at venues in Denver, Longmont and Greeley. PROVIDED BY SIDE SPLITTING ENTERTAINMENT

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By John Wenzel

jwenzel@denverpost.com

The Magic of Jack O’Lanterns

Through Nov. 2: If you can’t get enough of Jack O’Lanterns, check out the family-friendly Magic of Jack O’Lanterns installation at Hudson Gardens, which opened Sept. 20 and runs through Nov. 2. The fourth annual outdoor event, produced by haunted-house maker 13th Floor Entertainment, features more than 7,000 glowing Jack O’Lanterns of different styles along the trail.

“Guests will come face-to-face with their favorite characters, a nautical sea-scape, pirate ship, dinosaurs, dragons and much more,” organizers wrote.

New attractions this year include a light show that runs every 30 minutes and more than 70 new displays, plus a DIY s’mores station and the return of food trucks, adult drinks, themed merch, and a low-sensory night on Sunday, Sept. 29. Tickets: $15 for kids and $20 for adults, with discounts available. magicofthejackolanterns.com/denver

Left Hand Oktoberfest

Through Sunday: It’s natural for breweries to hold their own Oktoberfests, but few do it with the gusto of Left Hand Brewing Co. The Longmont-based brewer brings back its event on Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28, with a bevy of traditional events, Colorado-style.

That includes two days of live music at Left Hand’s on-site Garden venue, where this year’s Oktoberfest Märzen Lager will be poured, plus kids sack races, a stein holding contest, brat-eating contest, costume contest, polka and an artisan craft market.

Tickets are $10 for Friday, $20 for Saturday or $25 for both days. Kids 12 and under are free. VIP packages are also available and include event tickets, beer tickets, and covered seating for eight people. 1245 Boston Ave. in Longmont. lefthandbrewing.com or eventbrite.com

Colorado’s only bilingual joke fest

Through Sunday: A week after Denver’s High Plains Comedy Festival, the Denver Improv and Greeley’s Moxi Theater are hosting the Vatos Locos Comedy Festival, which organizer Ricky Ramos describes as the state’s first and only bilingual comedy event.

The expanded second year, which kicked off Wednesday, Sept. 25, includes Steve Espinoza’s Sept. 26 headlining set at the Denver Improv, an early and late show at Longmont’s The Speakeasy (Sept. 27), and a wrap-up show with Espinoza and others at Stella’s Pinball & Arcade, adjacent to Greeley’s Moxi Theater (Sept. 28).

Tickets are $12-$20 per show at denver.improv.com or moxitheater.com.

A free American Indian fest

Saturday-Sunday: Lakewood’s growing 40 West Arts District will for the second year host the Denver American Indian Festival, a free and family-friendly event that brings together Indigenous music, crafts, food, dance and interactive workshops.

Highlights include performances by Native musicians and dancers Shelley Morningsong & Fabian Fontenelle, Rose Red Feather Woman, Eric “Many Winds” Herrera, Seven Falls Indian Dancers, Alasadir x Cozmik Sage and Azteca Grupo Huitzilopochtli.

The event takes place 10 a.m to -5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 1390 Brentwood St. denveramericanindianfestival.org