You don’t have to go too far to find faBOOlous Halloween happenings. The month of October is filled to the brim with events and activities to keep your little ghouls entertained! We’ve got the skinny on spooky Halloween fun in Des Moines and the ‘burbs. Check out our list of Halloween happenings, if you dare . . .
Our Halloween list continues to evolve, so check back regularly for updates, and be sure to bookmark our Halloween and Fall Fun Guides for all the best, family-friendly seasonal activities.
Editor’s Note: Please be sure to confirm all dates, times and costs before heading to an event as circumstances can change.
Here’s your guide to Halloween activities and attractions for Des Moines kids:
Flix Brewhouse – Halloween Movie Lineup
Flix Brewhouse • 3800 Merle Hay Road #1300 • Des Moines, IA 50310 • (515) 612-9200
A Halloween movie lineup so good, it’s scary. This October Flix Brewhouse is bringing you some of their favorite spine-chilling classics and original nightmares. From vampires to witches, there’s something for everyone in this spooky line-up. Reserve seats for you and your boos today!
When: October 1-30, 2023. Movies are screened at various times and each carries its unique rating.
Cost: $7 per person
Movies in the Park – Hocus Pocus
Windsor Heights Community Center • 6900 School Street • Windsor Heights, IA • (515) 279-3662
Windsor Heights’ next Movies in the Park event will feature the original “Hocus Pocus” movie. Get there early for FREE pizza, cookies, popcorn and drinks before the movie!
When: October 6, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Cost: FREE
Moonlit Movies: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Jamie Hurd Amphitheater • 4100 Mills Civic Parkway • West Des Moines, IA 50265 • (515) 222-3444
Join West Des Moines Parks and Recreation for a special Halloween edition of Moonlit Movies! They will be showing the original “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at 7:00 pm. Enjoy some Halloween-themed crafts and FREE popcorn and soda before the show starts. Be sure to bring a blanket or chairs to sit on. Costumes encouraged!
When: October 6 at 7:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Pumpkin Express Trains
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad • 225 10th Street • Boone, IA 50036 • 1-800-626-0319
Ride the train across the 156′ tall Bass Point Creek High Bridge, and the Des Moines River bridge, as you make your way to the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad’s pumpkin patch. Each child, age 2-12, gets to select their very own pumpkin.
When: October 7, 14, and 21, 2023 at 10:00 am
Cost: $22 per person age 2 and up
Grimes Fall Festival
South Sports Complex • 750 S James Street • Grimes, IA 50111• (515) 986-2143
Celebrate fall in Grimes. The Polk County Sheriff Department and Grimes Parks and Recreation are hosting this family friendly event. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes and learn about public and Halloween safety. Peruse through local business and vendor booths, check out the kid zone and enjoy fright bites from food trucks.
When: October 7, 2023 at 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; enjoy a sensory-friendly time from 10:00 to 10:30 am
Cost: FREE
Outdoor Cinema Halloween Series
SW 3rd Street • Ankeny, IA • (515) 229-3635
Uptown Ankeny is set to host an outdoor Halloween movie series featuring the films Labyrinth, Ghostbusters, Casper, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
When: October 7, 14, 21, & 28, 2023 at 7:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Spirits in the Gardens
Reiman Gardens • 1407 S University Boulevard • Ames, IA 50011 • (515) 294-2710
See 600 plus amazingly detailed lit Jack-O-Lanterns, Hollusion hologram projections (best after sunset), glowing orbs, and the Sycamore Falls lighted tower all at Reiman Gardens in Ames. Wear your costume and trick or treat and join in a variety of Halloween inspired activities.
When: October 13-15 and 20-22, 2023; Friday at 6:00 to 9:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 5:00 to 9:00 pm
Cost: $15 Adult General Public; $13 Adult Members & ISU Students; $7 Youth (ages 2-12); Free for Youth under 2
Geocache Pumpkin Hunt
Thomas Mitchell Park • 4590 NE 108th Street • Mitchellville, IA 50169 • (515) 323-5300
Learn how to use a GPS, then go search the park to find some pumpkins, collecting candy along the way! Be sure to keep an eye out for spiders along the way that are worth special prizes. Space is limited, so register early.
When: October 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Cost: $5
Halloween Hop
Clive Public Library • 1900 NW 114th Street • Clive, IA 50325 • (515) 453-2221
All ghosts and goblins are invited to wear costumes and collect yummy treats from local businesses. Enjoy an evening of free trick or treating and meet some of the amazing businesses right here in our community! After loading up on candy, join the library for a dance party in the special events building.
When: October 19, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Night Eyes
Blank Park Zoo • 7401 Southwest 9th Street Des Moines • (515) 285-4722
Ready for one of Central Iowa’s sweetest family traditions? Roam through enchanted lighting displays, a merry-not-scary treat safari, and enjoy live entertainment and games, all while learning more about and supporting wildlife!
When: October 19-22 & 26-29 at 5:30 to 9:00 pm
Cost: $6 members or $8 non-members (under 12 months old FREE)
Family Halloween
Living History Farms • 11121 Hickman Road • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 278-5286
Take part in a tradition of more than 30 years at Living History Farms—Family Halloween! Families are welcomed into the 1876 town of Walnut Hill to enjoy safe, non-scary trick-or-treating at their historic businesses, play fun games, and take a horse-drawn wagon ride. They offer “teal pumpkin” stops for trick-or-treaters with allergies. Capacity is limited, so we recommend reserving your tickets in advance.
When: October 20-22 & 27-29 Friday and Saturday 5:00 to 8:00 pm; Sunday 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Cost: $8 members or $9 non-members
Halloween Hoopla
Raccoon River Nature Lodge • 2500 Grand Avenue • West Des Moines, IA 50265 • (515) 222-3424
Halloween is lurking just around the corner, and this haunted holiday would not be complete without a fun, family-friendly event at Raccoon River Park! Please note: All children must be supervised by a paying adult to participate in the evening festivities, and to ride the hay rack. Registration required.
When: October 20, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Cost: Ages 12 and up $8.00; Ages 2-11 $6.00; Under age 2 FREE
Halloween Candy Drop
Union Park • 2009 Saylor Road • Des Moines, IA 50313 • (515) 237-1386
Celebrate Halloween by bringing your family to Union Park by the Rocket Slide for Des Moines Parks and Recreation’s inaugural free Candy Drop. With assistance from the Des Moines Fire Department and Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa they will be dumping hundreds of pounds of candy from the sky for your little ones to collect and enjoy! Costumes are encouraged, but not required.
When: October 21, 2023 at 12:00 to 2:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Family Halloween Bowling Party
Warrior Lanes • 190 Southeast Laurel Drive • Waukee, IA 50263 • (515) 987-4840
Bring the family for a safe, fun-filled afternoon of bowling. This is an alcohol-free event with Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling, concert lights, fog, phenomenal concert sound and black lights. Maximum of five bowlers per lane. Pre-Paid Non-Refundable Reservations are required.
When: October 22 at 12:00 to 2:00 pm
Cost: $54.95 per lane includes: bowling (2 hours), shoe rental, large one topping pizza and a pitcher of soda
Hooray for Halloween!
Giovannetti Community Shelter • 9000 Douglas Avenue • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 278-3900
Join Urbandale Parks and Rec at the Giovannetti Community Shelter for a spooktacular night! Children, come dressed in your costumes and bring a sack or bucket for trick or treat candy! You will make Halloween crafts, decorate Halloween cookies, and play Halloween games. Registration required.
When: October 23, 2023 at 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Cost: $15
Halloween Hike
Annett Nature Center • 15565 118th Avenue • Indianola, IA 50125 • (515) 961-6169
Join the Friends of Warren County Conservation for a non-scary Iowa Invaders Halloween Hike! Fun for the whole family, you will be guided along the trail to meet the following characters: Canada thistle, zebra mussel, wild parsnip, Asian carp, and an emerald ash borer. After the hike you can make a craft and enjoy some treats. Pre-registration required.
When: October 23, 2023; hikes leave at 6:30, 6:40, 6:50, 7:00, 7:10, 7:20, and 7:30
Cost: $5 per person; under 3 are FREE.
Halloween Party!!!
Des Moines Children’s Museum • 1551 Valley W Drive, Suite 108 • West Des Moines, IA 50266 • (515) 218-8344
Join the Des Moines Children’s Museum for their Annual Halloween party. Wear your costumes, enjoy bobbing for apples, pumpkin bowling, and more.
When: October 26-28, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm; Sensory Friendly Party October 27 at 5:00 to 6:00 pm
Cost: $10 for ages 1 – 10, free for adults and children over 10. Free for members.
Witchcrafts Under the Stars
Bandshell at Wagner Park • 410 W 1st Street • Ankeny, IA 50023 • (515) 963-3570
Join Ankeny Parks & Recreation for an outdoor movie “Coco” and receive a Halloween kit, which will include a craft, pumpkin, candy and more! Bring your blankets and chairs for a fun night at the Bandshell. Registration required.
When: October 27, 2023 at 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Cost: $12-15 per person
Trick or Trees
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden • 909 Robert D. Ray Drive • Des Moines, IA 50309 • (515) 323-6290
This festive, family-friendly event includes activities, entertainment, and trick-or-treating in the Garden. Visitors can participate in creeptastic educational activities about trees and spooky botanicals. Costumes are encouraged!
When: October 28, 2023 at 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Cost: Included with admission.
Children’s Costume Party & Parade
Warren County Courthouse Lawn • Indianola, IA 50125 • (515) 961-9420
The entire Indianola square will be filled with fun Halloween activities. Children are invited to wear their Halloween costume and parade around the square and trick or treat at local businesses! Trophies for cutest, scariest or most creative costume will be awarded.
When: October 28, 2023 at 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Cost: FREE
Halloween Hullabaloo
MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex • 6500 Grand Avenue • West Des Moines, IA 50266
Calling all goblins, ghosts and ghouls! Head on over to the RecPlex for a spooky good time in a family friendly environment. We will decorate pumpkins and glittery pumpkin mason jars, have fun activities like hula hoop pumpkin toss and monster freeze dance, snacks and more! Space will be limited…don’t miss out! Registration required.
When: October 28, 2023 at 5:00 am to 7:00 pm
Cost: FREE
Halloween on the Hill
Sherman Hill • 1620 Pleasant Street • Des Moines, IA 50314 • (515) 284-5717
It’s one of the city’s largest and most engaging Halloween experiences — and all in support of a great cause. Walk or drive around the “spooky” streets of Sherman Hill where the historic homes are decked out in Halloween splendor.
When: October 31, 2023 at 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Cost: FREE
What are your family’s favorite Halloween activities and attractions in the Des Moines area?
