Picking the pumpkin might be the easy part, but before you load up the family for a trip to Venetucci Farm, it helps to plan for the cost, the activities and getting that pumpkin back to your car. Great Pumpkin Weekend is Oct. 1011, with Charlie Brown-inspired activities added to the farms regular fall offerings.

WATCH: Heading to Venetucci Farm? What to know before your pumpkin patch trip

Heading to Venetucci Farm? What to know before your pumpkin-patch trip

Plan your arrival

Venetucci Farm is at 5210 S. U.S. Highway 85 in Colorado Springs. Pumpkin Fest hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets are available online or at the gate. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing, and visitors must leave by closing time. venetuccifarm.org

Nikki McComsey, owner of Gather Mountain Blooms at Venetucci Farm, recommends about an hour to an hour and a half for the main activities. Leave more time if you want to eat or shop.

Know what admission covers

Admission is $8 for ages 4 and older. Children 3 and younger enter free.

McComsey said that includes the hayride, ball pit and hay pyramid. Pumpkins cost extra, but the price is the same regardless of size or color. Food, drinks and purchases from vendors are separate, too.

What to bring

The farm recommends bringing your own wagon, stroller or backpack to carry pumpkins. Only a limited number of wagons and wheelbarrows are available.

For an outdoor farm visit, practical choices include comfortable walking shoes, layers, sun protection and checking the forecast before leaving home.

Credit cards, Apple Pay and cash are accepted. Leave pets at home for Great Pumpkin Weekend; service animals are allowed.

Whats different this weekend?

Great Pumpkin Weekend adds a pumpkin-weight guessing contest and a Charlie Brown reading nook. McComsey said visitors are encouraged to wear Charlie Brown gear or orange to join the theme.

Pumpkin-themed drinks, including Bristol Brewings Venetucci Pumpkin Ale for adults, are also planned.

Why those visits matter

For McComsey, families coming back helps keep a working farm going and gives another generation a chance to make memories.

Its really hard making farms continue to exist, she said. They only exist from people coming out to support them.

Find tickets and the latest visitor information at Venetucci Farm and Gather Mountain Blooms.

We're in the thick of homecoming dances in our area, and if your closet still doesnt have the answer, theres shopping to do. But looking good for the night doesnt have to mean spending big.

During a visit to Platos Closet in Colorado Springs, store manager Tess Bray walked News 5 through clothing options and prices, from dresses and heels to shirts and pants.

The challenge: put together a complete look while keeping an eye on the total.

Budget for the whole outfit

Start with what you can spend on everything you need, including shoes and accessories.

Bray showed dresses priced at $12 to $14, along with a $10 black dress. Some heels were priced at $9 or $10, leaving room in the budget for other finishing touches.

For my look, a $10 shirt, $18 pants and $12 shoes brought the total to $40 before tax.

Those were the prices we found during our visit. Available items, sizes and styles can change.

Be flexible with the look

If you cant find the exact outfit you pictured, try putting it together with different pieces.

Bray suggested pairing a corset top with a skirt or pants as an alternative to a dress. The store also had polos, button-ups and sweaters for shoppers considering other styles.

Try it on before checking out

I always recommend trying them on. Thats the best way to figure out if the items gonna work for you or not, Bray said.

Check the fit, buttons and zippers. Bray also suggested having someone take a photo or short video so you can see how the outfit looks and moves.

She said the store allows returns within seven days and advised shoppers to keep their receipt and leave tags attached until they decide to keep an item.

Short on time? Call ahead

Bray said shoppers can call with their size and an idea of what they want. Staff can look for options and set them aside to try on. Items can be held until the end of that day. Before heading to checkout, give the whole look a test run, and make sure it fits both you and your budget.

Before you talk yourself out of applying for a college scholarship, Aliya and Sawyer Newell have a message: "give yourself a chance."

Both students received the Daniels Scholarship, a four-year program that can help cover college expenses and provides support beyond paying the bills. Neither expected to be selected.

With applications open through Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. Mountain Time, here is what students and families need to know.

What is the Daniels Scholarship?

Josh Green, senior vice president of the scholarship program at the Daniels Fund, said the organization aims to select about 200 students each year.

Watch Jaylen Lee's video report below: Daniels Scholarship applications open: Who qualifies and why local students say to apply

The scholarship helps pay for tuition, housing, meals, books and other educational expenses. At partner schools, including UCCS, Colorado College and CSU Pueblo, funding from the Daniels Fund and the institution combines to cover up to the full cost of attendance.

Recipients can attend other accredited colleges and universities in the United States, but funding varies. At non-partner schools outside Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, students can receive up to $25,000 per year. At non-partner schools within those states, the maximum is $7,500 per year.

Green said each scholar also has a scholar success officer who helps them navigate college and connect with opportunities such as internships.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

Be graduating high school seniors residing in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah or Wyoming. Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0. Have an ACT score of at least 18 in each category, or SAT scores of at least 490 in both math and reading and writing. Meet financial requirements: household adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less on the 2025 tax return claiming the applicant as a dependent, with $10,000 more allowed for each additional dependent. Other assets are also reviewed.

Green said selection goes beyond grades and school activities. Working through high school or caring for a loved one can also help tell an applicant's story.

Every kid has a unique story, Green said.

Why take the chance?

Aliya, now a pre-med student at UCCS, planned to start at community college to keep costs down. She did not apply to a university until she advanced to the scholarship's second round.

My counselor made me do it and I was like, I'm wasting my time, she said. Like I said, small town kids like me don't get big opportunities like that.

Helping care for her father, who is paralyzed from the neck down, inspired her interest in medicine. This summer, the scholarship program connected her with an internship at Craig Hospital, where her father received rehabilitation.

I always wanted to go back there and work and give back, she said.

For Newell, a Colorado College student studying business and competing on the swim team, the scholarship eased the pressure of paying for school.

Before college, I would have had to take out a loan, Newell said.

Instead, he said, he could focus on his education and train for the swim team without the same financial worry.

Give yourself a chance because maybe someone sees something in you that you don't, Newell said.

How to apply

Start with the online application, which asks about your grades, finances and background. Students who advance complete additional steps, including essays and interviews. Green said the new class is typically announced in late March.

He encouraged students to apply early rather than risk technical problems at the deadline.

Review the full requirements and apply through the Daniels Fund website. Applications close Oct. 15 at 4 p.m. Mountain Time.

After two years straight with a loss to Navy, the Falcons host the Midshipmen at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Falcon Stadium. On the line: bragging rights and the first step toward winning the Commander-in-Chiefs Trophy.

The teams first met in 1960, and Air Force leads the all-time series 3424. Navy won their last meeting 3431 in Annapolis.

The trophy competition began in 1972, with Air Force, Navy and Army each playing the other two. Saturdays winner gets an early advantage, but beating Navy alone does not clinch the trophy. Air Force last won it in 2022.

Learn More about the Upcoming Rivalry Game Below

For Scott Koons, a former Air Force cadet and owner of Colorado Mountain Brewery, rivalry week brings back memories of campus chants and cheering from the stands.

The whole week is geared around beat Navy or, you know, beat Army, sink Navy, these kinds of things, Koons said.

Now, he expects fans from both sides to pack his restaurant. His staff is preparing with extra food, beer, and staffing, while the game brings visiting fans into the community.

Koons says the connection extends beyond academy graduates to veterans who identify with their branchs team. And underneath the competition is a shared purpose.

I think both teams respect each other very much simply because we know were all serving the same purpose, and thats for our country, he said.

Before you head to Falcon Stadium:

Arrive early: Parking lots open at 6 a.m.; stadium gates open at 8 a.m. Choose your entrance: Use the Academys South Gate for lots 12 and North Gate for lots 46. Lot 3 fans may use either. Bring identification: Starting at 6 a.m., U.S. citizens do not need a base pass or pre-registration. Visitors over 18 must carry a U.S. government-issued ID or passport. Foreign nationals must register with the Pass and Registration Office. Pack light: Clear bags may be no larger than 12 by 12 by 12 inches. Small clutches or fanny packs may be no larger than 5.5 by 7.5 inches. The stadium is cashless, and reentry is not allowed.

As for Koons prediction, theres no hesitation.

Its not if Air Force wins, its when Air Force wins this weekend, he said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A few hours of your Friday or Saturday could help a local organization tackle work it has struggled to get done.

COSILoveYous Fall CityServe takes place Oct. 23, connecting volunteers with schools, nonprofits, parks and other community spaces across Colorado Springs.

See the full story in the video below CityServe seeks volunteers for projects across Colorado Springs Oct. 23

Executive Director Stu Davis said 107 projects are planned, and he estimates a couple hundred volunteer openings remain across the two days.

The tasks range from painting and landscaping to cleaning and organizing.

You might be organizing a space that hasnt seen a set of volunteer hands in a couple of years, but its really important for the organization to keep moving forward on their daily work of working with families or people in crisis, Davis said.

A starting point for volunteering

Davis said CityServe gives people a chance to try volunteering without making a long-term commitment. Participants can choose an opportunity connected to something they care about, then decide whether they want to stay involved.

Weve seen a lot of people who have been able to walk away from a CityServe Day experience and say it was so great to connect to an organization that cares about the same things that I do, and I wanna find a way to keep going back, he said.

Davis said opportunities include projects suitable for young children and people with limited mobility. Requirements vary by site, so volunteers should read the project description before registering.

How to sign up

To find an available project:

Visit serve.cosiloveyou.com. Choose Friday or Saturday projects. Browse or filter the listings to find an opportunity that fits you. Check the time, location, age requirements and any supplies you need to bring. Complete the signup process and click Confirm Registration.

Volunteers should receive a confirmation email. Adults are encouraged to register individually, while minors can be added under a parent or guardians account.

For Davis, the invitation starts with the belief that everyone can contribute.

Im confident that everybody has something to give and maybe it just takes the right opportunity, the right invitation, he said.

Browse CityServe projects and sign up here.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

After years of construction, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and its partners gathered Tuesday, Sept. 29, to celebrate major completion milestones on three Colorado Springs road projects.

The celebration highlighted improvements on I-25 between Fillmore Street and Garden of the Gods Road, the new Powers Boulevard and Airport Road interchange, and the Military Access, Mobility and Safety Improvement Project, known as MAMSIP.

Together, the projects represent more than $250 million in investment. The work aims to improve safety, traffic flow and access to military installations on roads also used by commuters, families and commercial vehicles.

Watch Jaylen Lee's report in the video player below: CDOT celebrates milestones on three Colorado Springs road projectsI-25: More room to merge, with work still ahead

Between Fillmore and Garden of the Gods, new acceleration and deceleration lanes give drivers more space to enter and exit I-25.

While CDOT celebrated the project's progress, crews still have paving and other finishing work to complete. Shane Ferguson, CDOT's Region 2 transportation director, said barriers and cones will be removed as construction wraps up, followed by the end of construction speed restrictions.

In an interview with News5, Ferguson said he expects the remaining work to be completed in October or November.

He said building roads while keeping traffic moving requires crews to work in stages, shifting vehicles around construction and protecting both workers and drivers.

Powers and Airport: A new way through the interchange

The new diverging diamond carries Airport Road traffic over Powers Boulevard. Airport Road drivers briefly cross to the opposite side of the roadway, allowing left turns onto ramps without crossing opposing traffic.

The interchange serves Peterson Space Force Base's west entrance and is intended to reduce congestion and improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

The interchange is open, but CDOT said periodic lane closures and traffic shifts are expected through October as crews finish remaining work.

MAMSIP: Four corridors, one connected effort

MAMSIP improved I-25, Highway 94, South Academy Boulevard and Charter Oak Ranch Road. The corridors connect Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station.

The approximately $161 million program was completed in July, with South Academy as its final piece, according to CDOT.

On South Academy, the work expanded the southern section from two lanes to three in each direction and included bridge improvements, drainage, lighting and noise walls.

Other components included a passing lane and intersection improvements on Highway 94, a rebuilt Charter Oak Ranch Road and roundabout serving Fort Carson's Gate 19, and bridge and median safety improvements on I-25 south of South Academy.

Although military access helped drive the effort, the improvements also serve civilian drivers traveling those same roads.

Drivers can check COtrip.org for current closures and traffic conditions.