Have a spooky good time celebrating Halloween with events all month long around Des Moines.
Whether you are looking for an adult-only event or something for the whole family, make the most of those costumes around town. You can never have too much candy, right? Or at least, you can never have too much fun!
We are proud to partner with New Horizon Academy to bring you this events guide. New Horizon Academy provides exceptional early childhood education and care for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from 6 weeks old through pre-kindergarten. Through research-based curriculum and nurturing care, New Horizon Academy supports the development of cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills in every child. Visit their website to learn more about our early learning programs, state-of-the-art classrooms, commitment to health and safety, and more. Schedule a tour at one of the NAEYC Accredited schools today or check out this virtual tour.
More Halloween Fun
Halloween Events around Des Moines
September 21–October 27 | Phantom Fall Fest, Adventureland Altoona
Select dates and times
Enjoy your favorite rides during the day, then fright all night with horror around every corner. Hang on to your friends through more fog, more freaks, more FX- starting with four haunted houses.
4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Join in for an evening farmers market at the Ankeny Market & Pavilion. See regular-season vendors, shop pumpkins from the Ankeny Area Historical Society, and Thirsty Pigs will be on site with seasonal beer, cider, and more.
Cost: $25, $10/member
This adult-only event features music by The Punching Pandas, delicious seasonal brews, lighted displays throughout the zoo, costume contests, a haunted train ride experience, and adult brews trick or treating.
October 11-13 | Spirits in the Garden at Reiman Gardens
5 p.m to 9 p.m.
Cost: $7 and up
See amazing Jack-O-Lanterns, visit the Candy Factory, and enjoy a magic show! A local community group will be selling prepackaged snacks and warm drinks as a fundraiser near Lake Helen. Advanced tickets are required with a specific entry time window.
October 12 | Truck or Treat, Waukee Family YMCA 210 N. Warrior Lane, Waukee
9 am to 12 pm
Families are invited to interact with community trucks and vehicles, enjoy seasonal treats and snacks, stop in for games and activities in the gym, and so much more. Costumes encouraged!
October 12 | Fall Festival & Candy Crawl at Grimes South Sports Complex
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Enjoy plenty of candy, food trucks, a kid zone, demonstrations, great vendors, and activities for all ages. Costumes are encouraged!
October 17 | Halloween in Uptown, Uptown Ankeny
4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Join in for a night of trick or treating. Meet the trunk or treaters on SW 3rd between Cherry and Walnut. There will be several lighted pumpkins in front of businesses as well where you can go inside and trick or treat.
October 17-20 and 24-27 | Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo
5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: starting at $6
Roam through enchanted lighting displays, a merry-not-scary treat safari, and enjoy live entertainment and games. Advance ticket purchase is suggested.
October 18-20, 25-27 | Family Halloween at Living History Farms
Fridays/Saturdays: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sundays: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: $8-$9
Enjoy a fun trick-or-treating experience through the historic businesses in Living History Farms’ 1876 town of Walnut Hill. There will also be games and horse-drawn wagon rides.
October 19 | Bondu Spook-Tacular
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free
Head to Bondurant for a fun and safe Trick-or-Treat opportunity with a costume contest and donut eating contest. There will also be games, activities, and candy for the little ones.
Book your lane(s) now! Their Kooky not Spooky event includes 2 hours of glow bowling and shoe rental for up to 5 guests per lane, a large single-topping pizza, and a pitcher of soda.
5:30 p.m to 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Wear your non-scary costumes and enjoy giant inflatables, barrel train rides, carnival games, free popcorn, and more! Plus October 22 is a special night for families with special needs.
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wear your costumes, enjoy bobbing for apples, pumpkin bowling, and more.
$10 for ages 1 – 10, free for adults and children over 10. Free for members.
October 24 | Trick or Treat Around the Lake, Copper Creek Lake
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Join in for an evening of trick-or-treating around Copper Creek Lake Park. Businesses will have tables set up for you to visit as they hand out candy and promotional items.
October 26 | Giver’s Night!, 6th & Euclid Avenues
4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Our take on Beggar’s Night, we invite you to don your costumes and bring along donations for The Supply Hive to swap for a treat! Suggested donations include non-perishable Food Items, fresh food for community fridges, hygiene/personal care products, household paper products, diapers, and formula.
October 27 | Nature Center After Dark-Halloween, Jester Park Nature Center
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Storytelling, crafts, open Nature Center exhibits, and a short program. Come in costume for this free family-friendly Halloween-themed night.
October 27 | Modern Custom Dreamz Halloween Trunk or Treat
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bring the kiddos all dressed up with their candy bags ready for a evening of fun and see some creative ideas from all the car clubs around the Des Moines area. Tons of cars and cool lights and costumes.
October 28 | Huxley Spooktacular, Railroad Park
4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Chock full of spooky fun for all ages! Enjoy a variety of food trucks, trick or treat on the Story Walk, live music, beverages, treats, games, and activities for all.
October 26 | Trick or Trees, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
This festive, family-friendly event includes activities, entertainment, and trick-or-treating in the Garden. Visitors can participate in creep-tastic educational activities about trees and spooky botanicals. Costumes are encouraged!
October 26 | Not-So-Spooky Halloween Party, Canoyer Garden Center – Grimes
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
This is a FREE, fun, and family-friendly event! Wind your way through the foggy enchanted forest as you groove to the music and play games, collecting treats along the way!
October 26 | Halloween Hullabaloo, West Des Moines RecPlex
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Calling all goblins, ghosts, and ghouls to the RecPlex for a spooky good time in a family-friendly environment. Decorate pumpkins and play fun games and activities like hula hoop pumpkin toss, monster freeze dance, snacks, and more. Space will be limited so don’t miss out.
October 26 | GPS Great Pumpkin Hunt at Greenwood Park
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: $10
Participants will learn how to use a hand-held Global Positioning Unit and then will use the GPS to find the “GreatPumpkin” in the park. A series of smaller pumpkins will be hidden in the park and leading the way to “the Great Pumpkin.”
October 27 | Pumpkin Walk, Valley Junction
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Let your kids show off their costumes and enjoy trick-or-treating in the 100-300 blocks of 5th Street.
October 27 | Trick or Treat on the Farm, Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch
Have some Halloween fun on the farm! Scavenge for treats around the farm, smash some pumpkins, enjoy all our fall activities, and more. Join the costume contest, prizes are awarded by age group and category.
October 28 | Spooky Science, Science Center of Iowa
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dust the cobwebs off your costumes, and bring the whole family down to enjoy spooky, science-y, and SAFE Halloween fun. There will be hair-raising experiments, creepy-crawly critters, and tons of other spook-ified programming. All activities are included with admission – free for SCI members!
Find more Halloween and fall activities here.
What are your favorite Halloween activities? Let us know if we missed anything!
We work hard to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, locations, and other information before heading to an event or activity, since it may change.
