(LA JUNTA, Colo.) — Southern Colorado celebrated its annual Tarantula Fest on Saturday, Sept. 28, drawing hundreds of enthusiasts to La Junta to witness the arachnids’ fall mating ritual.

The festival featured a variety of events, including a parade, eight-legged races, and a hairy leg contest, all centered around the tarantulas emerging from their burrows in search of mates.

The tarantulas make their appearance every fall, scurrying across the more than 443,000 acres of the Comanche National Grassland. This natural spectacle attracts both fans and researchers eager to observe the thousands of tarantulas on their journey.

La Junta Tourism plays a significant role in organizing the event, which highlights the unique mating ritual of these arachnids. Scientists note that there is still much to learn about the behavior and ecology of the tarantulas during this time.

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