Fri. Sept. 19: Movie in the Park ft. Disney's Cruella! Starts at sunset.
Looking for fun and festive ways to enjoy fall in Colorado? Whether you live in Painted Prairie or are just visiting the area, autumn is the perfect time to explore outdoor adventures, local events, and cozy community gatherings. From pumpkin patches to fall foliage hikes, there’s something for everyone.
Here are 10 of the best things to do in Aurora this fall, all located in or near the award-winning Painted Prairie community!
What’s better than a little sunshine and exercise to enjoy the fall season? Right within the Painted Prairie community, you’ll find our key amenity: High Prairie Park. A great way to enjoy a few hours outdoors, just moments from home!
From October 10–11, the 2025 Aurora Borealis Festival comes to Painted Prairie’s High Prairie Park, bringing early winter magic to Aurora, CO.! Think glowing light installations, a global gift bazaar, and tasty eats from the Flavors of Aurora Food Court.
Celebrate fall right in the heart of Painted Prairie with our signature Prairie Harvest Fest! This free event takes place Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10 am to 3pm at High Prairie Park. Get excited for:
One of the best ways to gather friends and family? With delicious food in a gorgeous setting! Have everyone on your guest list bring something fall-themed, like pumpkin cookies, mulled wine, or apple pie. Enjoy a tasty meal in one of our covered areas, with a side of mountain views! You’re sure to have a great and yummy time!
Some might argue it’s the most beautiful time of the year! Get out and enjoy the great Colorado outdoors with a festive fall foliage tour or hike. Not sure where to go? Check out these Dayhikes Near Denver!
If you’ve never experienced elk season at Rocky Mountain National Park, now’s the time to add it to your fall bucket list. Book a private 3-hour guided tour with local experts for an up-close look at this unforgettable wildlife spectacle.
Running from October 10 – 12, this family favorite event at Chatfield Farms includes access to the 10-acre pumpkin patch, corn maze, and more! This seasonal favorite event will also feature hayrides, photo booths, entertainment and live music, food trucks, and local crafts and artisan booths, just to name a few! Remember to snag your tickets before arriving, as tickets will not be available onsite.
Just minutes from Painted Prairie, the Denver Zoo transforms into a magical fall adventure in October during Boo at the Zoo! Wander through whimsical worlds filled with cryptid creatures like Bigfoot, fairies, mermaids, and werewolves. Timed entry helps keep crowds comfortable, making it a spellbinding experience for all ages!
With so many ways to celebrate the season, fall is truly one of the best times to explore all that Painted Prairie and the greater Aurora area have to offer. Whether you’re enjoying community events, local festivals, or the beauty of Colorado’s outdoors, there’s something for everyone to love. So grab a cozy sweater, gather your crew, and make the most of this magical season — right here at Painted Prairie.
Thinking about moving to the Denver Metro area? You’re not alone! The Denver Metro area has become one of the most desirable places to live in the U.S., offering unbeatable weather (300 days of sunshine!), outdoor adventure, and a thriving urban lifestyle.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive guide to help you make a smooth transition.
Denver, also known as the Mile High City, offers the perfect mix of outdoor recreation and city life. Whether you’re here for career opportunities, family-friendly neighborhoods, or a vibrant cultural scene, Denver has something for everyone.
The Denver job market is strong and growing. Top companies like Frontier Airlines, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Arrow Electronics, Ball Corporation, and Wells Fargo all have headquarters or offices here. United Airlines is planning further expansion, and Amazon is continuing its growth in nearby Aurora, CO.
If you’re job hunting, check out Andrew Hudson’s Job List, a trusted resource for Colorado professionals for more than 20 years.
Once you’ve secured your dream job, it’s time to find your dream home.
Painted Prairie, located just 18 miles from downtown Denver and minutes from Denver International Airport, has been recognized as both Denver Metro’s and the nation’s Community of the Year (2021 & 2022, & 2024).
This award-winning, neotraditional neighborhood features homes from several renowned builders, with options for first-time buyers, growing families, and empty nesters alike. Painted Prairie isn’t just a neighborhood, it’s a community, offering:
If you’re relocating to Denver and want a balance of convenience, community, and modern living, Painted Prairie is a must-see.
As a new Colorado resident, you’re probably excited to explore the great outdoors, and hiking is a great way to do it! Ranging from easy to difficult, these Day Hikes Near Denver are a few of our favorites.
Did you know that over half of the states in the U.S. don’t even have professional sports teams? Colorado has six! The Denver Broncos, The Denver Nuggets, The Colorado Rockies, The Colorado Rapids, The Colorado Mammoth, and the Colorado Avalanche games are fun for the whole family!
Foodies rejoice — The Denver Metro area (specifically Aurora) is a hotspot for incredible food from both local and world-renowned chefs! Stanley Marketplace, a community of 50+ independently owned businesses (and only 11 miles from Painted Prairie), is an awesome place to sample tasty eats from a handful of restaurants and even enjoy some local shopping! What could be better?
We’re so glad you’re considering moving to the Denver Metro Area! From career opportunities to outdoor adventures and award-winning communities, it’s the perfect place to put down roots.
Start your search with Painted Prairie, a welcoming community designed for connection, convenience, and Colorado living at its best.
Summer is winding down, and the new school year is just around the corner. Whether you’re looking for public or private education, elementary through high school, or even higher education, there are plenty of great schools near Painted Prairie in Aurora, CO.
Painted Prairie is located within the Aurora Public Schools (APS) boundaries. Our neighborhood is also close to the Denver Public Schools (DPS) boundaries, where some students choose to enroll outside our assigned district. Any family may choose to open-enroll their student into a different APS or DPS school for any reason.
Aurora Public School students come from more than 130 countries and speak over 160 different languages. There are 58 schools in the Aurora Public Schools system: 4 child development centers, 20 elementary schools, 9 P-8 / K-8 schools, 5 middle schools, 1 academy with grades 6-12, 5 high schools, 4 magnet schools, 1 vocational/technical college, and 9 charter schools. The district also offers 4 programs: 1 online program, 2 magnet high school programs, and 1 homeschool support program.
The primary education feeder school for Painted Prairie is Aurora Highlands P-8. The school opened in 2023 and will eventually serve 1,000 preschool through eighth-grade students residing within the communities along the E-470 corridor. In partnership with the community, the school creates brave spaces and empowering experiences that prepare students to thrive academically and socially in a diverse, ever-changing world. Map the drive from Painted Prairie here.
Vista Peak Preparatory offers exceptional preparation for future academic pursuits. The school is known for its pathways in STEM, business, arts, and mechanics, with a focused curriculum that earns college credit and skills for the workforce. Also, they offer opportunities for paid internships and place students directly into employment after graduation. Students also enjoy a wide variety of sports programs, arts and theater, clubs, and activities. Map the drive from Painted Prairie here.
Harmony Ridge P-8 focuses on STEM, engineering, and design process thinking with problem-based learning for the real world. The school’s philosophy is that students can create a pathway in life with learning and get where they want with the right tools. Students set quarterly goals and focus on social and emotional learning skills. Map the drive from Painted Prairie here.
High Point Academy offers students a comprehensive curriculum grounded in individual student achievement. The school’s mission is to provide a strong foundation of academic excellence in partnership with family and community, in which each individual is challenged to achieve their highest potential academically, socially, and personally. High Point Academy is an independent charter school not affiliated with a local school district. Map the drive from Painted Prairie here.
In addition to public and private primary and secondary education options, there are 17 universities and two-year technical schools near Painted Prairie. These schools include the Community College of Aurora, Pickens Tech, and CSU Global. With our proximity to I-70 and I-25, many post-grad and pre-med students are only a short drive away from MSU Denver, CU Denver, and CU Anschutz.
Whether you’re a preschooler or looking to complete your master’s degree, there are plenty of educational options to choose from when you live at Painted Prairie.
Painted Prairie was the top award winner in three categories at the 2024 PCBC Gold Nugget awards ceremony, taking home Grand Awards for Masterplan Community of the Year, Best Landscape Architecture, Best Community Land Plan, and an Award of Merit for Best-On-The-Boards Site Plan for the future Town Center development.
What makes this neighborhood award-winning? Thoughtfully designed parks and trails, several world-class builders crafting distinctive homes, and a strong sense of community. It’s where urban energy meets suburban ease, offering both connection and convenience to homeowners of all shapes and sizes.
The Gold Nugget Awards are the nation’s oldest and most prestigious awards for residential design. Since 1963, they have represented the best of the best in innovative architecture, planning, and construction.
Painted Prairie is honored to have been named a three-time Community of the Year. These top honors reflect the thoughtful design and unique lifestyle we offer our residents. Here’s what helped us stand out:
“This is a significant achievement for a community to win the Gold Nugget Grand Award for Masterplan Community of the Year and be past Community of the Year winners at the local and national level,” said Lisa Parrish, Judging Chairperson and Competition Manager for the Gold Nugget Awards. “With this win, Painted Prairie is an international winner, which is extremely rare and above and beyond the norm for a community.”
These awards celebrate what our homeowners already know: Painted Prairie isn’t just a neighborhood. It’s a lifestyle.
Chris Fellows, community development partner at Painted Prairie and President of Resolute Strategies, shared how the nationally recognized neighborhood was thoughtfully designed to become one of the most celebrated master-planned communities in the Denver metro area.
“When we sat down with Mark Johnson at Civitas and Peter Calthorpe to create the vision for Painted Prairie, we didn’t do it so we could win awards – we set out to design a great place for people to live and create a home they could be proud of.”
That people-first approach laid the foundation for a community rooted in innovation, connection, and long-term livability.
“Since then, we’ve received Community of the Year honors from three different sets of judges…that speaks volumes to the dedication of our partners who have worked so hard to make dreams come true for our residents and push the boundaries of what is possible for the city of Aurora.”
We’re the only other Colorado community designed by the same creative planning team, Civitas and Calthorpe & Associates, who successfully transformed Stapleton Airport into a world-renowned, successful urban redevelopment now known as Central Park.
Their legacy of thoughtful design and community-first planning continues at Painted Prairie, where award-winning placemaking meets everyday livability. Backed by longtime Denver developers Alberta Development Partners and Resolute Strategies, the team behind Painted Prairie shares a proven track record of building award-winning communities that blend thoughtful design with long-term impact.
Ready to experience firsthand what makes Painted Prairie a nationally recognized, award-winning community? Join us at one of our upcoming events to explore the neighborhood, meet our homebuilders, and see why so many families are choosing to call Aurora home.
Looking for free, family-friendly fun in Aurora, CO this summer? The Painted Prairie community has you covered with a vibrant lineup of public outdoor events. Summer 2025 brings the return of our iconic Music in the Park and Movie in the Park series, all located in our treasured High Prairie Park. Cozy up under the stars while watching fan-favorite flicks, or dance along to live performances from some of the area’s top local bands, and make sure to grab a bite from our on-site food trucks. Make sure to mark your calendars, and we can’t wait to see you there!
Did you make it to our first Music in the Park of the season featuring Soul School at Painted Prairie this past weekend? If not, don’t worry, there’s more fun ahead! The park came alive as people danced to the sounds of Golden Oldies, Motown, Country, Jazz, Rock, Funk, and more.
Next up: That Eighties Band takes the stage on Friday, August 22nd from 7:00-9:00 pm, bringing all your favorite throwback hits. Come early at 6:00 pm to grab a bite from Los Dos Potrillos, serving authentic Mexican food, enjoy ice cream from Em’s Ice Cream truck, and visit Three Little Lemons, our neighborhood lemonade stand!
There’s nothing quite like watching a movie under the stars on a warm summer evening! At Painted Prairie, our Movie in the Park events bring the big screen to High Prairie Park for a truly unforgettable evening. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and your favorite people for two exciting movie nights this summer.
The Avengers: Saturday, July 26th
Join us for an action-packed night of adventure and watch Marvel’s heroes save Earth! We’ll start the movie at sunset (8:15 pm), but come early at 6:00 pm to grab food from a local food truck and treat yourself to ice cream.
Cruella: Friday, September 19th
End the summer in style with this bold and stylish take on the origin story of Disney’s most fashionable villain. The movie starts at sunset (7:00 pm), with food trucks and ice cream arriving at 6:00 pm.
Whether you’re looking for free family fun or just need an excuse to enjoy top-notch entertainment in the great outdoors, our Music and Movies in the Park series is the perfect way to get out and about. With beautiful sunsets, delicious local eats, and unforgettable performances, what’s not to love about summertime in Aurora?
Looking for your next place to call home but considering options beyond the Metro area? 5280 just named Aurora one of Denver’s best suburbs, not only for its more affordable home prices and mortgage payments, but also for its access to parks, open spaces, and an impressive variety of global cuisine.
Painted Prairie was highlighted as a standout master-planned community, recognized for our rapid growth and welcoming atmosphere for families. Combining suburban connection with urban ease, this is a place former city dwellers can comfortably call home.
With this in mind, let’s get into the nitty gritty of why Aurora was crowned as an elite place to live, causing home buyers to flock to the area.
With a median home price of $463,000 compared to Denver’s $615,000, Aurora offers a more accessible path to homeownership, especially for families earning the area’s average household income of $84,000. Lower monthly mortgage payments, greater financial flexibility, and the ability to afford more space or desirable upgrades: it’s an all-around win.
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or returning to the 2025 housing market, Aurora provides a compelling alternative to the rising costs in the city of Denver. From move-in-ready options to custom builds, you’re sure to find something that fits your lifestyle and budget.
Being the most racially diverse city in Colorado isn’t just beneficial for creating a welcoming environment for all to enjoy, but it also means that the food scene is diversifying, too! Foodies: You’ll love visiting the plethora of restaurants that Aurora has to offer. Make sure to check out some of our favorites:
Aurora is perfect for anyone looking to stay connected to the outdoors. From scenic trails and neighborhood parks to master-planned communities like Painted Prairie, where green space is just outside your door, it’s an easy choice for those who prioritize nature.
If you work at Denver International Airport or love to travel, the location offers another major advantage. No more hour-long, $100 Uber rides. Living in Aurora means you’re just minutes away.
With its unbeatable blend of affordability, cultural richness, outdoor access, and community-focused living, it’s no wonder Aurora is earning recognition as one of Denver’s top suburbs. Read the full 5280 article here.
At Painted Prairie, we understand the pressure brokers face to close deals quickly—especially in today’s fast-moving housing market. More buyers are entering with tight timelines, prioritizing move-in ready homes, energy-efficient features, and long-term value.
Our master-planned community brings it all together in one place. With nine award-winning builders and built-in support designed to streamline your sales process, you can easily match buyers with the right home—fast.
Below, we’ve outlined three key ways we help you do just that.
No matter your buyer’s situation—whether relocating for a new job or needing more space for a growing family—we have stylish inventory (some are even celebrity-designed!) and move-in ready options that are good to go. Just add furniture!
These quick-delivery homes help eliminate common buyer objections like build timelines or uncertainty around finishes, making it easier for clients to move forward with confidence. The result? Faster closings and fewer obstacles for you.
Our suite of digital resources is designed with broker efficiency in mind. From model home video tours to interactive site plans, you can easily pre-sell homes and qualify buyers before they tour our community.
These tools help you save time, streamline the sales process, and confidently present more home options—making it easier to match your clients with their perfect fit.
Our builders offer simple, competitive, and transparent co-op programs—so you always know what to expect.
When you reach out about the community, you’ll likely connect with Kristen, our Broker Relationships Manager. She serves as your personal guide to Painted Prairie, helping you present the community to clients, initiate conversations with builders, and access the tools you need to close the deal.
We also go the extra mile to celebrate our broker partners! Through our robust broker program, you’ll enjoy monthly recognitions, exciting annual prizes, and year-round support designed to keep you motivated and appreciated.
At Painted Prairie, we’re here to make your job easier—and more rewarding. Our resources and broker support give you everything you need to close with confidence.
The real estate industry is constantly changing, but one thing remains clear: first-time homebuyers are entering the market by storm. In today’s climate, new home construction is emerging as a beacon of opportunity.
In 2024, 40% of homebuilder sales were to first-time buyers, while existing home sales dropped by 9.3%, according to Elliot Eisenberg, The Bowtie Economist.
This shift shows a notable trend: new construction homes for first time buyers are gaining popularity—and for good reason.
It’s understandable that first time home buyers may have hesitations—this is a big investment, after all! Those ready to take the next step from renting to buying have historically drifted toward resale vs buying new construction, which used to cost about 17% more than a previously-owned home.
The market is constantly changing, and in 2025, the median price of a newly-built home is actually 1% less than that of an existing home. First-timers: this is your chance! Freshly built homes are a great investment, offering lower maintenance, personalization, move-in ready options, and many builders also have attractive incentives that you won’t find anywhere else.
Slower traditional home sales mean more opportunity for buyers—especially those looking for a fresh start. For first-time homebuyers, new construction homes offer modern features, energy efficiency, and fewer upfront maintenance concerns. Even better? Builders are offering attractive incentives like rate buy-downs, reduced closing costs, and lower down payments to make ownership more accessible.Top builders like KB Home, Toll Brothers, and Pulte Homes are leading the way—and you’ll find all three right here at Painted Prairie.
The long-term benefits of buying a new construction home are great for nervous starter-home seekers! New homes mean modern appliances (many under warranty), energy-efficient designs, fewer repairs, and lower utility bills. Plus, customization is easier and more affordable than renovating an older home. New homes for first-time buyers offer more than just a place to live—they offer peace of mind. If you’re exploring homeownership in the Denver or Aurora, CO area, discover Painted Prairie—where modern living, thoughtful design, and a vibrant community come together.
