A 1955 firetruck leads the Memorial Day parade. Foam spills across the lawn during the Hawaiian Luau. By September, kids in costumes are trick-or-treating from campsite to campsite with Yogi Bear™, 7,500 feet up in the Colorado Rockies.
That is an ordinary season at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park™ Estes Park, and the 2027 lineup is the most complete set of family-focused Estes Park events on the calendar. Every weekend from May 7 through October 3 has its own theme, with its own crafts, games and contests. Weekday activities fill the gaps all summer long. Rocky Mountain National Park is close enough for a morning hike before the afternoon foam party.
Below is every 2027 themed weekend by date, what happens at each one, and how to book the right site or cabin before the busiest weekends fill up.
What Themed Weekends Does Jellystone Estes Park Host in 2027?
Jellystone Park™ Estes Park has 22 themed weekends on the 2027 calendar, running Friday through Sunday from May 7 to October 3. The two holiday weekends (Memorial Day and Labor Day) stretch through Monday. You can also find the full lineup on the HTR Estes Park events page.
- May 7–9: Mother’s Day Weekend. Family time with Yogi Bear™, Boo Boo™ and Cindy Bear™, plus mountain views for Mom.
- May 14–16: Roar & Explore. Dinosaur games, prehistoric crafts and dino-themed activities.
- May 21–23: Spring Fling. Season kickoff with games, crafts and character visits.
- May 28–31: Memorial Day Weekend. Parade on the park’s 1955 firetruck and golf cart decorating.
- June 4–6: Pirates & Mermaids. Underwater-themed games and creative ceramics.
- June 11–13: Back to the ’80s. “Best Dressed of the ’80s” costume contest.
- June 18–20: Father’s Day Weekend. Dad vs. Dad and Kid vs. Dad laser tag, ceramics, s’mores.
- June 25–27: Birthday Bears. Ice cream social and a park-wide birthday party.
- July 2–4: Red, White and Boo Boo™. Patriotic parade, crafts and star-spangled activities.
- July 9–11: Hawaiian Luau. Bubble and foam parties, limbo contest, splash chair.
- July 16–18: Christmas in July. Site and cabin decorating, letters to Santa, winter wonderland foam party.
- July 23–25: Back to Nature. Trail walks, campfires and marshmallows under the stars.
- July 30–Aug 1: Retro Rewind. ’70s, ’80s and ’90s dance parties, karaoke and costume contests.
- Aug 6–8: Pajama Sleepover. PJs all weekend, foam parties and splash tank fun.
- Aug 13–15: Grandparents Weekend. Activities built for grandparents and grandkids together.
- Aug 20–22: Hometown Heroes. 40% off campsites and cabins for first responders and military, tug of war, laser tag, firetruck rides.
- Aug 27–29: Wild West. Western dance party and best-dressed cowpoke fun.
- Sept 3–6: Labor Day Weekend. Games, crafts and family activities all long weekend.
- Sept 10–12: Halloween Weekend #1. Trick-or-treating, haunted hike, costume and site decorating contests.
- Sept 17–19: Halloween Weekend #2. Trick-or-treating, haunted hike, costume and site decorating contests.
- Sept 24–26: Halloween Weekend #3. Trick-or-treating, haunted hike, costume and site decorating contests.
- Oct 1–3: Halloween Weekend #4. Trick-or-treating, haunted hike, costume and site decorating contests.
Activity hours at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park in 2027:
- Monday–Thursday: 9 AM–4 PM (Memorial Day through Labor Day)
- Friday–Saturday: 10 AM–10 PM
- Sunday: 9 AM–6 PM
The 2027 season also looks a little different from past years. Here is how it breaks down:
- Spring semi-dry camping: March 19–May 6
- Themed weekends: May 7–October 3
- Weekday events (Monday–Thursday): Memorial Day through Labor Day
- Fall semi-dry camping: October 4–24, weather dependent
Spring Kickoff: May 2027 Events in Estes Park
May is when the themed season starts at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park, with four back-to-back weekends that move from Mom’s big day to dinosaurs to a full Memorial Day celebration. It is a quieter month in Estes Park than July, which makes it a smart pick for families who want shorter lines and more elbow room.
- Mother’s Day Weekend (May 7–9): Give Mom a camping weekend in the Rockies with family games, character visits and plenty of time to sit back and take in the mountain views.
- Roar & Explore (May 14–16): A dinosaur weekend for little paleontologists, packed with prehistoric games, dino crafts and activities built around stomping, roaring and exploring.
- Spring Fling (May 21–23): Yogi Bear™, Boo Boo™ and Cindy Bear™ host a weekend of games, crafts and outdoor adventures to kick off summer.
- Memorial Day Weekend (May 28–31): Honor fallen heroes with a parade led by the park’s 1955 firetruck, a golf cart decorating contest and a long weekend of activities.
Mountain weather in May changes fast. Sunny afternoons can turn into chilly evenings, so pack layers and warm pajamas. Families who would rather skip a cold tent night can book one of the cabin rentals at Jellystone Estes Park, which keep the kids warm and the gear dry.
One more planning note: Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer in Estes Park, and the heated pool opens Memorial Day weekend (weather dependent). Expect this weekend to book earlier than the rest of May.
Estes Park 4th of July and Midsummer Themed Weekends
June through early August is the peak of the season at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park, with weekday activities running Monday through Thursday and a different theme every weekend. This stretch includes the park’s Fourth of July celebration and its biggest foam-and-splash weekends.
June: Pirates, Neon and Throwbacks
- Pirates & Mermaids (June 4–6): Underwater-themed games, ocean crafts and creative ceramics for young pirates and mermaids.
- Back to the ’80s (June 11–13): Tease up the hair, break out the neon and enter the “Best Dressed of the ’80s” contest. Parents usually compete harder than the kids.
July: Fourth of July, Foam and Christmas in Summer
- Red, White and Boo Boo™ (July 2–4): The park’s 4th of July weekend, with a patriotic parade, holiday crafts and star-spangled activities for the whole family.
- Hawaiian Luau (July 9–11): Bubble and foam parties, a limbo contest and the splash chair. Pack a second set of dry clothes.
- Christmas in July (July 16–18): Decorate your cabin or site, write letters to Santa, watch for gift deliveries and join a winter wonderland foam party in the middle of summer.
- Back to Nature (July 23–25): Unplug with trail walks, campfires and marshmallows roasted under a dark mountain sky.
- Retro Rewind (July 30–August 1): Pick your decade, ’70s, ’80s or ’90s, for dance parties, karaoke and costume contests.
August: Pajamas All Weekend
- Pajama Sleepover (August 6–8): Stay in your PJs from breakfast to bedtime, with foam parties and splash tank fun.
The Fourth of July is one of the busiest weekends of the year in Estes Park, so families who want Red, White and Boo Boo™ should book as soon as 2027 reservations open. Because weekday events run all summer, a Sunday-to-Friday stay around any of these weekends gives kids a full week of activities instead of two days.
Which 2027 Weekends Celebrate Family Milestones?
Four 2027 weekends at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park are built around the people in your family: dads, birthday kids, grandparents and the first responders in your community. Each one adds activities you will not find on a regular weekend.
- Father’s Day Weekend (June 18–20): Dad vs. Dad and Kid vs. Dad laser tag, ceramics made together, and s’mores under Colorado skies.
- Birthday Bears (June 25–27): An ice cream social and a park-wide birthday party with Yogi Bear™, Boo Boo™ and Cindy Bear™. Celebrating a specific birthday? The Jellystone Estes Park birthday party packages add a private party on top of the weekend.
- Grandparents Weekend (August 13–15): A weekend of outdoor adventures and shared activities designed for grandparents and grandkids to do together.
- Hometown Heroes (August 20–22): Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, nurses and military members get 40% off campsites and cabins all weekend, plus tug of war, laser tag, poolside downtime and rides on the 1955 firetruck.
Closing Out Summer: Wild West and Labor Day
The last two weekends of summer keep the energy up. Wild West Weekend (August 27–29) brings a boot-scooting dance party and a best-dressed western gear contest, so pack a bandana and a cowboy hat. Labor Day Weekend (September 3–6) runs through Monday with games, crafts and family adventures, and it marks the last weekend for weekday events before the park shifts into its fall Halloween season.
Estes Park Halloween at Jellystone: Four Weekends of Spooky Fun
Jellystone Park™ Estes Park runs Halloween across four consecutive weekends in 2027: September 10–12, September 17–19, September 24–26 and October 1–3. Families get the full Halloween experience weeks before October 31, without the school-night scramble.
Each Halloween weekend includes:
- Campground trick-or-treating with Yogi Bear™, Boo Boo™ and Cindy Bear™
- A site and cabin decorating contest, so bring lights, pumpkins and props
- A haunted hike that is spooky enough for older kids and manageable for little ones
- A costume contest for every age group
Fall is also one of the best times to visit the Estes Valley. Aspens around Estes Park usually turn gold in mid-to-late September, and the elk rut fills meadows in and around Rocky Mountain National Park with bugling bulls. A morning watching elk followed by an afternoon decorating your campsite is hard to beat.
Plan for cold. September nights in Estes Park regularly drop near freezing, so costumes that fit over a jacket are a good idea. Cabins book quickly for these weekends for the same reason. If your kids are set on winning the decorating contest, bring battery-powered lights and zip ties, since mountain wind does not care about your inflatable ghost. After October 3, the park moves to fall semi-dry camping through October 24, depending on weather.
Camping Near Rocky Mountain National Park: Pair a Themed Weekend with a Park Day
Jellystone Park™ Estes Park sits on US Highway 36, a short drive from downtown Estes Park and the entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park, so any themed weekend can easily include a day in one of the country’s most-visited national parks. Read more about camping near Rocky Mountain National Park on the Jellystone Estes Park area guide.
Kid-Friendly Park Ideas
- Bear Lake: A flat loop of under a mile around an alpine lake, easy for preschoolers and strollers.
- Trail Ridge Road: The highest continuous paved road in the U.S., topping out at 12,183 feet, usually open late May to mid-October, weather permitting.
- Junior Ranger program: Free activity books at visitor centers. See the NPS kids and youth page.
- Elk watching in Moraine Park: Best at dawn or dusk in September and early October.
- Alluvial Fan: A short, partly paved walk to a waterfall and a field of giant boulders that kids love to scramble on.
A simple game plan: enter the park early, hike before lunch, and be back at Jellystone by mid-afternoon for the weekend’s parade, foam party or costume contest. Pack water, sunscreen and rain jackets, since afternoon thunderstorms are common in the high country in July and August. For rainy-day backups and in-town ideas like Lake Estes and the Aerial Tram, browse Visit Estes Park.
How to Book a 2027 Themed Weekend at Jellystone Estes Park
Booking a 2027 themed weekend at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park takes about five minutes once you know your dates and stay type. Follow these steps:
- Pick your weekend. Use the schedule above or the themed events page. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day and the Halloween weekends usually book first.
- Choose where you’ll stay. Compare cabins, RV sites and tent sites below or on the HTR Estes Park site types page. Families new to camping usually start with a cabin.
- Plan for add-ons. Daily activities require a park wristband. Ceramics, laser tag, bingo, gem mining and the arcade carry an extra cost, so set aside a small activity budget.
- Book online. Reserve on Campspot or call the park at (970) 586-4230 for help choosing a site.
- Pack for the theme. Costumes, PJs, ’80s neon or western gear make the weekend. Add warm layers and swimwear for summer weekends.
- Cabins: Best for first-time campers, cool spring and fall weekends, and grandparent trips. Beds and a roof make chilly Halloween nights easy. Book early for holiday weekends.
- RV sites: Best for RV families who want hookups close to the action. Sites fit rigs up to 40 feet with electric and sewer hookups. See RV camping in Estes Park.
- Tent sites: Best for budget-minded families and seasoned campers. Basic sites; pack for mountain nights that can drop near freezing in spring and fall.
You can see everything included with your stay on the Jellystone Estes Park activities page, from mini golf and Ga Ga Ball to the jump pad and outdoor movies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jellystone Estes Park in 2027
When does Jellystone Estes Park open in 2027?
Jellystone Park™ Estes Park opens for spring semi-dry camping on March 19, 2027. Themed weekends run May 7 through October 3, with weekday events Monday through Thursday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Fall semi-dry camping runs October 4–24, depending on weather. Semi-dry sites have limited water service, so confirm hookups when booking an early or late-season stay.
Are activities included with a stay at Jellystone Estes Park?
Most daily activities at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park are included with your stay and a park wristband, including mini golf, Ga Ga Ball, the jump pad, playgrounds, crafts, dance parties, foam parties and outdoor movies. Ceramics, laser tag, bingo, gem mining and the arcade cost extra. Themed weekend events such as parades and costume contests are part of the regular schedule.
What are the best things to do in Estes Park with kids?
The best things to do in Estes Park with kids include a Jellystone themed weekend, the easy Bear Lake loop in Rocky Mountain National Park, the park’s free Junior Ranger program, a drive up Trail Ridge Road, and elk watching in Moraine Park in fall. Lake Estes and the Estes Park Aerial Tram are also good half-day options close to town.
What are the activity hours at Jellystone Estes Park?
In 2027, activities at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park run 10 AM to 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on Sundays during themed weekends, May 7 through October 3. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, weekday events also run Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Schedules can shift with weather, so check the event calendar before you arrive.
Does Jellystone Estes Park offer a first responder discount?
Yes. During Hometown Heroes Weekend, August 20–22, 2027, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, nurses and military members receive 40% off campsites and cabins at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park. The weekend also includes tug of war, laser tag, poolside time and rides on the park’s 1955 firetruck.
Plan Your 2027 Jellystone Estes Park Weekend
The 2027 calendar is set, and the holiday and Halloween weekends are always the first to go.
Reserve your 2027 themed weekend at Jellystone Park™ Estes Park →