La Junta Tarantula Fest
September 25-26, 2026
Join us for our annual Tarantula Festival in Downtown La Junta
Enjoy a parade, vendors, education pavilion, tarantula tours, live art and much more!
FEST TOURS
Adventure out on Tarantula Tours to see the tarantulas in their natural habitat.
FEST PARADE
Want to be part of the annual Tarantula Fest parade? Sign up to join the line here?
FOOD Vendors
Calling all food vendors. Sign up to feed folks at our annual Tarantula Fest.
Events, locations and times are subject to change.
All Events are Free to attend, except Guided Tours, Koshare Show & Chuck Wagon Dinner.
FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site - 35110 State Highway 194
Limit 15 people - 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM
10-11 AM
Story Time - Dr. Cara Shillington, Professor of Biology
Woodruff Memorial Library – 522 Colorado
1-3 PM
Dr. Paula Cushing and Dr. Cara Shillington - Experts Tarantula Talk
Otero College – 1802 Colorado
Ed Stafford Theatre
1-3 PM
Woodruff Memorial Library – 522 Colorado
Grades K-6th
3:15 PM - 5:30 PM
Arachnophobia Movie
Fox Theatre – 11 East 3rd Street
"An Arachnophiliac discusses Arachnophobia" - movie talk by Dr. Paula Cushing - prior to the Movie
Q&A with Steven Kutcher - The Bugman of Hollywood - after the Movie
Please Note: Those attending the tours will need to leave the movie early.
5 PM - 8 PM
Tarantula Fest Bus Tours - Sold Out
Thyme Square - 302 Colorado
7 PM
The ART Project Art Show
Plaza Block Building - 10 East First Street
SATURDAY | SEPTEMBER 26, 2026
9 AM
Downtown La Junta
- Kids Zone | Sponsored by Knights of Columbus and Tiger Trades Academy 4H
9 AM - 5 PM
Food & Vendor Booths
Downtown La Junta
9 AM - 3 PM
Classic Car Show
Otero County Courthouse – 13 W 3rd – Northside
9 AM
8 Legs & 4 Paws Tarantula Pet Parade
Downtown La Junta
10 AM
Tarantula Parade
Downtown La Junta
10:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Education Pavilion
Thyme Square - 302 Colorado
11 AM - 5 PM
Tarantula Fest Activities
Downtown La Junta
- La Junta FFA Cornhole Tournament (sign up at 11 AM)
- Hairy Leg Contest | Sponsored By: County Commissioner Rob Oquist
- 8 legged races | Sponsored By: Ayala Wealth Management
- Break Dancing Crew | Ruiz Arts
- US Army 4th Infantry Division Rock Band
2 PM
Koshare Dancers
Koshare Museum – 18th & Colorado
5 PM - 8 PM
Tarantula Fest Bus Tours - Sold Out
Thyme Square - 302 Colorado
8:30 PM
La Junta Tiger Stadium - 18th & Smithland
Pre-festivities begin at 8:30 PM. Drones take flight at 9 PM
Performances by the LJHS Cheerleaders & LJHS Marching Band
Experience La Junta's Annual Tarantula Fest
Photography from © Scene in the Wild Photography
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Tarantula Fest Platinum Spiderships
Discover the Tarantula Trek
Each fall, large numbers of tarantulas skitter across the landscape in La Junta and southeast Colorado.
While this phenomenon has traditionally been called a migration, it is actually an annual mating ritual performed by male tarantulas who roam across the 443,000-plus acres on the Comanche National Grassland looking to mate.
For a chance to observe such extraordinary natural behavior and be a part of a truly exceptional adventure, Visit the Tarantula Trek for more information!