October is bringing a noticeable seasonal change to Casper, with cooler weather, outdoor opportunities, creative community activities and fall gatherings beginning to shape the local calendar. From local makers and museum activities to seasonal food, music and family events, the community is finding plenty of ways to enjoy autumn before winter arrives.

 

As the month continues, fall will gradually give way to spooky season, with pumpkins, Halloween activities and other seasonal celebrations appearing throughout Casper. For residents, the season offers more than a list of events—it is an opportunity to slow down, explore local places, support community businesses and organizations, and enjoy the simple experiences that make autumn in Wyoming special.

Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror classic The Shining returns to Studio City Mesa in Casper for its final Flashback Cinema screening on Wednesday, October 7, at 7 p.m. The 144-minute film, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd, follows a family's increasingly disturbing experiences at an isolated mountain hotel.

 

The screening gives Casper moviegoers an opportunity to enjoy the psychological horror favorite on the big screen during the Halloween season. Studio City Mesa is located at 3150 Talon Drive, with tickets available through WyoMovies' official Flashback Cinema page and theater ticketing channels.

Casper College will host “Let’s Talk: Where Does Our Water Go? Understanding the North Platte System” on Thursday, October 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The free community event will offer an accessible introduction to how the North Platte water system is managed, including water storage, releases, allocation, and factors that can affect the region’s water resources.

 

The event will take place in Walter H. Nolte Gateway Center, Room 225, inside the Robert and Ruth Dove Conference Center on the Casper College campus. The evening will conclude with a moderated audience Q&A, giving community members an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the subject in an open public setting.

The Nicolaysen Art Museum will host its adult Corner Studio: Mini Treat Bucket Buddies workshop on Thursday, October 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Halloween-inspired creative evening costs $25 for museum members and $35 for non-members, with crafting supplies and light refreshments provided. Guests may also bring their own adult beverages.

 

Reservations can be made by calling The NIC at 307-235-5247, with attendees asked to arrive by 5:20 p.m. for check-in. The museum will also offer a teen version of the craft on October 13 and a free Fall Open House on October 10, giving Casper residents several ways to enjoy art, creativity, and the fall season together.

The 2026 Special Olympics Wyoming State Fall Tournament comes to Casper October 7–9, bringing athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, and supporters together for three days of competition and celebration. The tournament features soccer, bocce, bowling, and cycling at venues throughout the Casper area, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for Wednesday evening at Natrona County High School.

 

Beyond the competitions, the tournament highlights the inclusive spirit of Special Olympics through Unified Sports, the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and a community-supported Victory Banquet and Dance. The public is encouraged to come out, cheer for the athletes, and help make Casper a welcoming home for competitors from across Wyoming.

Habitat for Humanity, The Heart of Wyoming will host From Info to Home on October 6 at the Natrona County Library, giving prospective homeowners an opportunity to learn how the organization's local homeownership program works. The session will cover the partnership involved in becoming a Habitat homeowner, the financial and housing considerations involved, and what applicants should understand before moving forward.

 

With the next application period scheduled for January 2 through January 29, 2027, the October session provides an opportunity for interested Natrona County residents to learn about the program and begin preparing. The program combines affordable, interest-free home financing with sweat-equity participation, creating a homeownership pathway built around both affordability and community involvement.

The WYFCCLA Youth Leadership Fall Conference takes place Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper, bringing Wyoming FCCLA students and educators together for a full day of leadership development, workshops, networking, and career-focused learning. The conference theme, “Sketch Your Future,” reflects its emphasis on helping students explore their potential and prepare for the opportunities ahead.

 

The conference begins with registration at 8:45 a.m. and continues through a closing session at 4 p.m., with rotating workshops, choice sessions, and a keynote presentation by speed-painting artist and speaker Rob Surette. The statewide gathering gives students an opportunity to connect with peers from across Wyoming while strengthening the leadership and practical skills they can bring back to their schools and communities.

The annual Crab Crack Fundraiser, organized by the Casper Shrine Club and Calliope Clowns, brings the Casper community together for an all-you-can-eat dinner featuring Dungeness crab, prime rib, and traditional sides. Tickets cost $45 per person, and guests can also participate in silent auctions and door raffles throughout the event.

 

All net proceeds support the club’s local charitable operations, including assistance with travel, lodging, and specialty healthcare costs for central Wyoming children receiving treatment at regional Shriners Children's Hospitals. The event takes place at the main shrine lodge at 1501 W. 39th St., with doors opening at 4:30 p.m.

 

“Voices and Votes” concludes its run at Fort Caspar Museum, giving visitors a final opportunity to explore the history of American elections, civil rights, and voting equality. The Smithsonian-affiliated traveling exhibition features historical photographs, archival videos, artifacts, and interactive displays that bring the story of American democracy to life.

 

The exhibition also highlights Wyoming’s historic role in women’s suffrage, including its distinction as the first territory to grant women the unconditional right to vote in 1869. Visitors can see the displays at Fort Caspar Museum, 4001 Fort Caspar Road, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the final day.

The Scare Away Breast Cancer Screening program is bringing accessible breast health services to Casper through a specialized clinical outreach effort focused on reducing financial and scheduling barriers. The program offers walk-in screenings from 8 a.m. to noon, while the diagnostic imaging team will remain available until 3 p.m. MDT to process patients.

 

The outreach also provides access to financial assistance information through the Wyoming Cancer Program, which helps cover screening mammogram costs for eligible low-income, uninsured, or underinsured residents. Located at 6350 E. 2nd St., Suite 190, the program gives women in the community an opportunity to prioritize their health with greater access to support and care.

Wyoming Pop Culture Con returns to Eastridge Mall in Casper on October 3–4, 2026, bringing together fans, artists, vendors, and special guests for a weekend of pop culture celebration. The nonprofit convention offers free general admission and features a cosplay contest on Saturday, a new cosplay catwalk on Sunday, guest appearances, an artist alley, collectibles, and food options.

 

Whether visitors come to cheer on cosplayers, meet a voice actor, browse comics and collectibles, or simply enjoy a creative community gathering, the convention offers a chance to connect over shared interests. With activities spread across both days, it gives Casper residents and visitors a fun way to spend part of their weekend.

WyHy Federal Credit Union is hosting its free Fall Shred Day in Casper on Friday, October 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. at its branch on 1521 Centennial Court. Residents can bring up to two banker boxes of unwanted personal documents for secure, on-site destruction by a professional shredding service. With a convenient drive-through process, the event makes it easier for community members to dispose of sensitive paperwork, including old account statements, canceled checks, ATM receipts and unwanted credit reports, while taking an important step toward protecting their personal information.

 

Beyond providing a practical service, WyHy is encouraging participants to support the Food Bank of Wyoming through optional donations. The initiative brings together document security and community care, giving Casper residents an opportunity to clear out household clutter while helping provide food and necessities to people in need. It's a simple way to make a positive difference, one box of old paperwork and one act of generosity at a time.

The 41st Annual Casper College Humanities Festival, themed “The West: Past, Present, and Future,” is bringing history, science, art and culture together from September 28 through October 2, 2026. With free public lectures, presentations and cultural performances, the festival invites the Casper community to explore the stories, discoveries and traditions that have shaped the American West. The program features local and regional presenters, including authors, historians and researchers, with topics ranging from dinosaur discoveries and Western food traditions to Indigenous heritage and environmental conservation.

 

Alongside the festival, the Casper College GLAM exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to discover Western history and natural heritage through collections from the college's galleries, libraries, archives and museums. While the festival concludes Friday, October 2, the exhibition continues through October 22, giving the community more time to explore the region's past and present. Through these experiences, Casper College is creating opportunities for learning, cultural appreciation and meaningful conversations about the future of the American West.

Behind the Badge Date Night will bring law enforcement officer couples together in Casper on October 9 for a free evening centered on encouragement, connection and quality time. Hosted by Wyoming Strong Families, The Richardson Foundation and Foster’s Outriders, the gathering will take place at Rone Home Banquet Hall and include a complimentary dinner catered by Occasions by Cory.

The event offers couples an opportunity to step away from their regular routines and enjoy an evening together in a welcoming setting. Community members are encouraged to invite a law enforcement officer they know, while couples interested in attending are reminded that space is limited and registration closes October 2, 2026.

The Battle for the Boot: 307 Corporate Games will make its debut in Casper October 1–3, bringing local businesses and nonprofit organizations together for three days of individual challenges and team competitions at the WYO Sports Ranch and YMCA of Natrona County. Teams of 6–9 employees will compete across a variety of athletic activities while collecting points toward the coveted traveling Battle for the Boot trophy.

 

The three-day event begins with opening ceremonies at WYO Sports Ranch on October 1, continues with individual and team challenges on October 2, and concludes with additional team events and closing ceremonies October 3. Corporate team registration is $675, while nonprofit teams can enter for $500, creating a new opportunity for Casper’s business community to compete, connect and have fun together.

Renee Stewart, a professional jeweler, Casper College geology volunteer and current president of the Natrona County Rockhounds Club, presented “Wyoming Jade” today as part of Casper College’s 41st Humanities Festival and GLAM Exhibit Day. Her presentation explored Wyoming’s official state gemstone through its geological characteristics, including the variety of colors and patterns found in Wyoming nephrite jade.

 

The program also connected the gemstone to Wyoming’s history and rockhounding culture, including the state’s 1930s-era “Jade Rush,” notable jade stories and practical guidance for identifying and searching for jade in the field. As the opening presentation for GLAM Exhibit Day, the program helped connect geology, history, art and local culture under this year’s festival theme, “The West: Past, Present, and Future.”

Casper native Randi Wittler has been named CEO of Casper Buzz, a local platform connecting residents and visitors with events, businesses and community information.

 

A 2011 Kelly Walsh High School graduate, Wittler served as a police officer from 2016 to 2023 and owns the online business Wyo Tactical Prints.

 

She will lead Casper Buzz’s daily operations and community engagement as the platform expands its digital services and strengthens ties with local businesses and organizations.

 

Wittler said she wants to help Casper residents stay informed and connected while supporting the businesses and events that bring the community together.

 

Her appointment also allows the company’s founder and development team to focus on Wyoming Forged, a statewide discovery platform developed in Casper and expected to launch in January 2027.

The 2026 Casper Start-Up Challenge Pitch Night will bring five local entrepreneurs to The Rialto on Wednesday, September 30, for an evening centered on innovation, entrepreneurship and locally developed business ideas. The finalists are competing for a share of up to $50,000 in seed funding, while also gaining an opportunity to introduce their ventures to the Casper business community.

 

This year's finalists represent a diverse mix of industries, including outdoor recreation, bird conservation, ranch technology, artificial intelligence and leadership development. From Vouno Pack and Flock Blocker to RangeLink Technologies, Legacy AI Technologies and Culture Club, the competition offers a snapshot of the different ideas being developed in Casper and the possibilities that can emerge when a community invests in its entrepreneurs.

Riverdance 30 – The New Generation will return to Casper on March 22, 2027, bringing its 30th anniversary tour to the Ford Wyoming Center. The production combines Bill Whelan's Grammy Award-winning music with a new generation of dancers, updated visual elements, innovative staging and the high-energy choreography that has made Riverdance an international phenomenon.

 

The Casper performance is part of a 47-city North American tour and begins at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale, giving Casper audiences the opportunity to experience the anniversary production when the celebrated dance phenomenon returns to the city.

Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions held a six-hour volunteer training session today at its Casper campus, preparing community members to provide companionship, emotional comfort and respite support to terminal patients and their families. The training took place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 319 S. Wilson St.

As hospice services continue expanding throughout Natrona County, the organization is seeking a diverse volunteer network, including veterans who can connect with and support veteran patients. The training reflects the important role community volunteers can play in extending comfort and practical support to patients and families during a difficult stage of life.

Katy Hallock and the City of Casper’s Urban Forestry team have been recognized as the 2026 Wyoming Urban & Community Forestry Program of the Year, highlighting the city’s long-standing commitment to caring for and strengthening its urban forest. Casper has been recognized as a Tree City USA community for nearly 30 years, reflecting decades of attention to the trees and green spaces that contribute to the character of the community.

 

That work is continuing through new efforts, including the recent establishment of Casper’s first arboretum. The statewide recognition provides an opportunity to celebrate Hallock and the Urban Forestry team while highlighting the long-term importance of planting, maintaining and protecting Casper’s tree canopy for generations to come.

Sunny Spur Corn Maze offers Casper families, friends and visitors a classic way to enjoy the fall season through an outdoor adventure built around exploration, laughter and spending time together. The maze creates an experience where getting turned around is part of the fun, giving visitors an opportunity to slow down and enjoy a simple seasonal activity.

 

More than just a place to wander through rows of corn, Sunny Spur adds another community-centered tradition to Casper’s autumn calendar. It gives people a reason to step outside, enjoy the changing season and create memories together without needing an elaborate plan.

The annual Platte River Revival Volunteer Day returns to Casper on Saturday, September 26, bringing community members together for hands-on restoration work along the North Platte River. Volunteers will assist with tasks such as removing invasive Russian olive regrowth, protecting native trees and clearing litter and debris from the river corridor.

 

The volunteer effort is part of a larger, long-term restoration project that has involved thousands of community members over the years. Beyond the physical work, the day represents an opportunity for Casper residents to take an active role in protecting the river, its habitat and the outdoor spaces that make the community special.

Fall Fest returns to David Street Station on Saturday, September 26, bringing Casper families and community members together for an afternoon of autumn entertainment. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can enjoy local vendors, live music, food trucks, train rides, lawn games, a bouncy house, a pumpkin patch and performances from Dance Evolutions.

 

With A Band Named Sue providing live music and several local food and beverage vendors taking part, the event offers a relaxed way to spend part of the weekend downtown. More than anything, Fall Fest is an opportunity for Casper to enjoy the changing season together, support local businesses and make a few simple fall memories.

The Casper Warbirds open their 2026–27 NCDC regular season this Friday, September 25, at the Casper Ice Arena, hosting the Vernal Oilers in a 7:00 PM puck drop. The game also marks the Oilers' official NCDC debut following back-to-back USPHL Premier National Championships, and it's the first of a two-game home series between the two clubs.

 

To celebrate opening night, the Warbirds are offering a $5 "Opening Night Special" on admission for all fans, making it an affordable way for the Casper community to be part of the season kickoff.

Two 1999 American LaFrance pumpers from the Casper Fire-EMS fleet are being donated to the Casper College Fire Science Technology program after approximately 27 years of service. The engines have moved into retirement as newer apparatus have entered the fleet, while their age, maintenance needs and increasingly difficult-to-find replacement parts have made continued operational use impractical.

 

Rather than selling the vehicles as surplus, Casper Fire-EMS is giving them a new role in education. At Casper College, the engines can provide future firefighters with hands-on experience around full-size fire apparatus, creating a meaningful connection between Casper's firefighting history and the next generation preparing to serve the community.

Casper’s Dolly Day will bring the community together on September 25 for a full day inspired by Dolly Parton’s music, creativity and generosity. The celebration will include programming connected to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a Dolly Dash look-alike parade, a downtown Dolly Dally, local business specials, food trucks and other activities throughout the day.

 

The celebration will end with Dolly karaoke, look-alike and sound-alike contests and prizes at City Works, but the real purpose goes beyond the fun. One hundred percent of the event’s proceeds will benefit the new Casper Youth Hub, making the day an opportunity to celebrate community while helping create a space where Casper youth can learn, connect and grow.

The 2026 Wyoming Nurses Association and Wyoming Council for Advanced Practice Nursing Annual Convention begins September 24 at the Best Western Downtown Casper Hotel and continues through September 25. Centered on the theme “Stronger Together,” the two-day convention will bring nursing and advanced practice professionals together for education, networking, discussions and recognition of nursing leadership across Wyoming.

 

Featured speakers include American Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy and American Association of Nurse Practitioners President Valerie Fuller. The program also addresses workforce wellbeing, dementia care and healthcare experiences from organizations around the state, creating opportunities for professionals to share knowledge and consider practical ways to strengthen care in Wyoming communities.

The Wyoming Supreme Court will bring a rare public educational experience to Casper College on Thursday, September 24, giving local residents and students an opportunity to observe the state’s highest court in action. At 10 a.m., the justices will hear oral arguments in Hurd v. Hurd, an active case involving the distribution of a family trust estate.

 

The morning will continue at 11 a.m. with the court’s “You Be The Judge” program, where local attorneys will present a mock case and Casper College students will take on the role of judges and issue a decision. Together, the programs offer the Casper community an unusual opportunity to learn about the judicial process through both observation and hands-on participation.

Stitch & B!tch at Dab Hand Yarn & Crafts offers Casper creatives a relaxed and welcoming place to work on their projects while meeting other makers. The weekly gathering welcomes knitters, crocheters, spinners, embroiderers and crafters of all kinds, with participants encouraged to bring whatever project they are currently working on.

 

As part of Casper on a Budget, the gathering highlights an affordable side of the city's arts community: creativity that is built around connection rather than spending. With free coffee, tea, juice and snacks available, the Wednesday evening meetup is another example of how independent creative spaces can help make Casper a lively place for art, making and community.