It's never too early to think snow

The snow might not be flying yet, but the ski season deals are in full swing.

• Got a fifth-grader? Paper applications became available this week at local schools, King Soopers, Colorado Ski and golf and other locations for the Fifth Grade Passport. These lucky kids get three free lift tickets to 25 area resorts. Yes, that's 75 days of skiing or riding. Info can be found here. This year, sixth-graders can get the same deal for $59 before Nov. 9 (details here).
  
• Nothing's better than free: Ski for free at Crested Butte Nov. 25—Dec. 15.
  
• Where to take the young ones: Gazette outdoor expert Dave Philipps recommends buying passes from Ski Cooper and Monarch.

Check out more of Philipps pre-ski season tips online: Don't PASS 'em up!

Things to do this weekend (Oct. 6-7)

Saturday, Oct. 6:

Harvest Festival. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Rock Ledge Ranch, 30th Street and Gateway Road. To celebrate the bounty of the autumn harvest, the ranch offers free admission as well as pony and horse rides, old-time music, pumpkins, tours, a folk-art silent auction, food and more. Fees apply to most activities. Details: 578-6777 orwww.rockledgeranch.com.

Tri-Lakes Friends of the Library Book Sale. 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Monument Branch library, 1706 Lake Woodmoor Drive, Monument. An assortment of books offered at bargain prices. Buy a bag of books for only $3. Details: 488-2370 or www.ppld.org.

Fall Walk. 9 a.m.-noon registration, walk begins at The Western Warehouse, Stetson Hills and Powers boulevards. Join the Falcon Wanderers for a 5k or 10k non-competitive walk to take in the autumn air. Free. Details: Russ, 667-5662 or russbe@earthlink.net.

Sunday, Oct. 7:

"Oh Zorro Oh Oh Oh." 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Theater at Venue 515, 515 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs. The Manitou Art Theater presents their ridiculous version of the swashbuckling legend of Zorro, complete with the theater's trademark physical comedy, puppetry and music. $8. Tickets/additional show times: 685-4729 or www.themat.org.

Lakewood's Cider Days. Noon-4 p.m., Lakewood Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood. All this weekend, join the apple cider-themed festivities with cider presses, an apple bake-off, historic demonstrations, live music, kids' activities and more. $6 adults, $3 kids 3-12. Details: 303-987-7850.

On the newsstands....

The October edition of Pikes Peak Parent magazine has hit both the brick-and-mortar and virtual newsstands. The slight crisp in the air, emerging fall colors and the new season of Ghost Hunters motivated our staff to spread Halloween cheer throughout the pages of the issue.

The kids on the cover are decked out in homemade, no-sew costumes pulled from the creative mind of Jane Bennett from Imagination Celebration and our writer Pam Hoskins. My favorite munchkin is Aidan McMinn, 6, who rocks out his dragon costume (see right). Watch out!

Also in the Halloween vein are articles regarding how to tell a scary story, activities for teens that don't involve eggs or toilet paper, and our fear-themed Fresh Perspectives interviews with kids. Taking the cake for the cute things kids say this month was 6-year-old Matthew S:

What are you scared of? Why?
MS: Dead people, because they eat you.
What are some things grown-ups are afraid of?
MS: Dead people, because they try to catch grown-ups, too.

On a heavier note, October was also PPP's Annual Medical Guide, where we discuss the challenges of dislexia, alternative options for infertility and local medical resources (page one and page two).

Enjoy the entire publication online at www.pikespeakparent.com. And if you have comments, feedback or story ideas for the future, contact our editor at parent AT gazette DOT com.