Landscape, Wildlife, and Travel Photography
Tarantula Festival – La Junta, Colorado

Tarantula Festival – La Junta, Colorado

It may sound like some Halloween-themed event, but the festival in a small town in southeast Colorado is really a celebration (and one town’s attempt to capitalize on it) of the annual tarantula migration. And while I’m being picky here, while it’s often called the migration, it’s more of a “mate-gration” or “walkabout” as the spiders are there all year. The males just come out and are on the move during this fall window in hopes of finding a mate and therefore easier to spot.

The actual viewing, which you can do you on your own or through guided tours, occurs in the National Grasslands outside of town, but can also stay busy in town with a parade, downtown festival with food vendors, and even a movie screening of Arachnophobia.

For more info, visit the town’s official festival website and read this interview with a CSU entomologist for more specifics on what you’re actually observing.

All photos from September, 2024, during the 4th Annual Tarantula Festival.

It all starts with the parade.
This car won best in show (or whatever the prize was called). It was on display later in the day at the downtown festival which I can only assume means that if you win, your car gets impounded for a day.
Tarantula spirit.
Even the dogs dress up.
An older couple driving their vintage car in the parade with a “looking for love” sign.
Children of the Corn? That may be what unknowing motorist may think if they drove by this scene. Instead, it’s people roaming around the grasslands looking for tarantulas.
A tarantula traffic jam.
Success. One of several we spotted.
A male tarantula on the move.
Arachnophobia playing at the Fox Theater.

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