Sundays at Denver’s Convergence Station are a unique chance to immerse yourself in Halloween spirit

If someone asked me to name the most successful or well-known immersive experience in Denver, I would probably say it’s Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station. The massive tourist attraction, nestled just off I-25 and Colfax (less than half a mile from the Broncos’ Empower Field), opened its doors in 2021. With interactive art exhibits, roaming characters and a detailed multiverse narrative, the “choose-your-own-adventure” nature of the experience lends itself to multiple visits – especially if you bring the family.

In the spirit of Spooky Season, Meow Wolf has dedicated its Sunday exhibitions to “Spirited Station,” which promises additional family-friendly activities such as scavenger hunts, Halloween treats and the “Cosmic Howl.” Costumes are encouraged, making the already magical world of Meow Wolf even more appealing for those looking to make the most of the Halloween season. Another bonus of the event were the “ghoulish goodies” handed out by staff wandering the halls of the exhibits, including candy and a nifty Cosmic Howl pin.

“The Bearret” in Convergence Station. Lead Artist: Caity Kennedy. | Photo: Jess Bernstein

Creature Scout Scavenger Hunt

When arriving at Convergence Station, our first stop was the Information Desk to learn more about the unique Spirited Station offerings. The Meow Wolf staff was quick to provide us with our Creature Scout Scavenger Hunt worksheet. Fourteen riddles hint at where you can find your creature (e.g. “… the surface of my planet is a bleak barren land …”), and what the creature looks like (i.e. “… I’m the color of a parrot but my feets are not apparent …”).

For a first-time Meow Wolf adventurer, the riddles may seem a bit daunting. But returning visitors will instantly recognize hints that lead to particular sections of Convergence Station, including the Trash Heap and Cathedral. Every time you spot a creature, be sure to take a picture – at the end of your trip to Convergence Station, you will return to the Information Desk to prove you found the right ones.

The Creature Hunt provides a gamified experience that will especially appeal to kids, who may not be interested in wandering Convergence Station without a goal. In fact, the scavenger hunt comes with prizes: Finding seven creatures awards you with the Junior Creature Scout Badge, and finding all 14 comes with the Expert Creature Scout Badge.

A screenshot from the “Cosmic Howl” interactive adventure.

Each time we found a creature from the riddles, I got a burst of excitement. We found eight of the 14 creatures after two hours of searching, but I have no doubt another hour would have been enough to earn that coveted Expert Scout Badge.

The Cosmic Howl

The Cosmic Howl is not specific to “Spirited Station” Sundays, but it is another way to immerse yourself in the Meow Wolf world — as long as you bring a fully charged smartphone! At the Information Desk, we were provided a QR code that led to a website featuring a message from “Little Sys,” a hacker who has given us a mission that might sound like gibberish to those unfamiliar with the intricate lore of Meow Wolf. We are told that “Source Ghosts” are clogging up the “Techstream,” and that we must “decode” these ghosts to send them back to the space between universes called “The Tave.”

Don’t worry – you won’t need a Ph.D. in Meow Wolf-ology to play the game! Similar to the Creature Scout Scavenger Hunt, the Cosmic Howl tasks you with finding 10 pieces of artwork around the exhibits. Thankfully, the location of each missing artifact is provided explicitly.

When you find and scan your artifact, you’ll be directed to a new screen which prompts you to “decode” the Source Ghost by solving another riddle. (Hope you like riddles!) The initial prompt is fairly straightforward, but each riddle comes with an optional clue that will help you solve the puzzle if you find yourself stuck. (I greatly appreciated the clues – my brain power was spent from the combination of the Cosmic Howl and the Creature Scout Scavenger Hunt.)

While the Cosmic Howl doesn’t come with prizes, it is a fun and accessible way to immerse yourself in the world. Ultimately, both of these Spirited Station elements are a great way to enjoy Meow Wolf for returning visitors.

As a casual Meow Wolf fan, I can only aimlessly wander the halls so many times before the novelty wears off. At the same time, the intricate storyworld of Meow Wolf can feel daunting and confusing. Certain sections have books, computers and “Memory ATM Machines” you can interact with (provided you purchase a $3 QPASS in addition to your admission). Therefore, Spirited Station offers a free and fun middle ground for Average Joes like me to structure my visit with a unique spooky-season twist.