This fall, Colorado’s plains are witnessing a fascinating natural event that has both locals and tourists buzzing with excitement.
It’s the tarantula mating season, and for the third year in a row, the small town of La Junta is hosting its annual Tarantula Festival, attracting arachnid enthusiasts from all over the country.
As the sun sets over the dry, rolling plains of southeastern Colorado, the Colorado Brown tarantulas emerge from their burrows, their furry bodies scuttling across the landscape in search of a mate.
This phenomenon typically peaks in late September to early October, and the town of La Junta becomes the center of the action.
The festival-goers, armed with flashlights and car headlights, venture out onto the prairies to catch a glimpse of the creatures that are normally feared by many.
Vintage cars adorned with giant spiders’ parade through La Junta, adding flair to the event.The tarantulas, however, are not the menacing predators they are often portrayed as. They are crucial to the local ecosystem.
The male tarantulas, after spending about seven years maturing, are now ready to find a mate. They roam the Comanche National Grassland, and their journey to find a female is a highlight for those attending the festival.
As night falls, families, scientists, and arachnophiles alike pile onto buses to witness the spectacle, while vintage cars adorned with giant spider decorations parade through town.
The event also includes lighthearted contests, like the “Hairy Leg Contest,” where attendees dress up to mimic the tarantulas’ distinctive look.
Meanwhile, the town’s Fox Theatre screens *Arachnophobia*, the cult classic film that humorously depicts a spider invasion.
While the sight of these spiders might give some a jolt, experts stress that North American tarantulas are docile, and their venom is not dangerous to humans.
For many, this yearly gathering offers a rare opportunity to witness these remarkable creatures in their natural habitat.