While it’s traditional to collect candy door-to-door for Halloween, consider an alternative form of trick-or-treating. Trunk or treat and trick or treat events allow costumed children to collect candy in parking lots, from businesses and other community organizations so they can enjoy a safe and fun Halloween tradition. So, don’t wait until Beggar’s Night to get that costume on, celebrate early at one these trick-or-treat or trunk-or-treat events happening throughout the Des Moines area!
Want more Halloween and fall fun? Check out our Event Calendar and Fall Fun Guide.
Editor’s Note: Please double check all information before heading out to an event. This is a working list so please check back often for updates. If you know of an event you’d like to see included, please submit it here.
2024 guide to trick-or-treat & trunk-or-treat events in Des Moines:
Thursday, October 17th
Clive Chamber Business Trick or Treat
Clive Aquatic Center • 1801 NW 114th Street • Clive, IA 50325 • (515) 222-5295
Join the Clive Chamber for their second annual Business Trick or Treat from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Greenbelt Landing (area around the Clive Aquatic Center). 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!
Uptown Ankeny Trunk-or-Treat
SW 3rd Street • Ankeny, IA • (515) 229-3635
Bring your costumed kiddos to collect treats from Uptown businesses and community organizations, trunk-or-treat style. It’s a night filled with spooky treats and fun for the whole family! 4:00 to 8:00 pm.
Sunday, October 20th
Trunk or Treat at Grimes South Sports Complex
Grimes South Sports Complex • 750 S James Street • Grimes, IA 50111
Mark your calendars for Grimes’ Trunk or Treat event! Head to the South Sports Complex to enjoy early trick or treat fun from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Local businesses and city officials will have cars decked out for the holiday and will be handing out candy.
Trunk or Treat Extravaganza
Waukee United Methodist Church • 2075 SE LA Grant Parkway • Waukee, IA 50263
Gather the entire family for an enjoyable afternoon of free fall festivities! Join Waukee United Methodist Church from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Enjoy a delightful display of decorated car trunks brimming with treats of all kinds – don’t forget to come dressed in your favorite costume! Enjoy games, a pie walk, food, and more.
Tuesday, October 22nd
Safe Trick-or-Treat
Grandview University • 1200 Grandview Avenue • Des Moines, Iowa 50316
A free event for the kids of Des Moines! Head on over to Grand View University’s Plaza to have a safe space to trick-or-trick, play games, and do crafts.
Wednesday, October 23rd
Business Trick or Treat in Altoona
Civic Plaza • Altoona, IA • (515) 967-3366
Kids can safely trick or treat in and around Prairie Heritage Civic Plaza during Business Trick or Treat in Altoona. There will be one entrance and one exit to avoid bunching up and crowding from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
Trick-or-Treat with First Responders
Johnston Fire station 38 • 10225 NW 62nd Avenue • Johnston, IA • (515) 278-2344
The Johnston Police and Fire Departments will be handing out treats from their squad cars and fire trucks and will also talk about “safety” when going out on Beggars’ Night. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costume because the Police and Fire Chiefs will be voting on the best dressed child! 5:30 to 7:00 pm.
Trunk or Treat at West Des Moines United Methodist Church
720 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50265 • (515) 279-0826
Join West Des Moines United Methodist Church for a delightful indoor event filled with candy, food, and fun! Rest assured, there’s no need to fret about rain or the cold weather!
Trunk or Treat at The Bridge
10025 NW 62nd Avenue • Johnston, IA 50131 • (515) 276-490
Wear your costume and have fun walking from trunk to trunk, trick-or-treating, jumping in a bouncy house, pumpkin painting and other activities. Come for free candy. Stay for spooky fun! The event will take place rain or shine! All activities will be available inside the church if inclement weather is expected. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 5:30 to 7:00 pm.
Trunk or Treat at New Point Church
3201 99th Street • Urbandale, IA 50322 • (515) 987-9595
Join New Point Church at their Fall Festival for lots of fun at this family friendly event. In addition to trunk or treating, there will be bounce houses, carnival style games, food and LOTS of CANDY!!! It’s all free and open to anyone in the community. 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Trunk or Treat at Immanuel Lutheran Church
900 Warrior Lane • Waukee, IA 50263 • (515) 987-4089
Enjoy a fun evening of Trunk or Treating and fall fun in the ILC parking lot from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Food, Fun and games! will be provided!
Thursday, October 24th
Trick or Treat Around the Lake
Copper Creek Lake • 4390 E University Avenue • Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
Join the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce for their annual Trick or Treat Around the Lake. The event will start at 5:00 and end at 7:00 pm. Come dressed in your costume and fill up on candy and goodies.
Trunk or Treat hosted by Urbandale Police Department
Urbandale Police Station • 3740 86th Street • Urbandale, IA, 50322
Join the Urbandale Police Department for a fun-filled Halloween event! Start in the front lot of the Police Department to check out the decorated trunks, then follow the trail with officers, stopping at multiple spots to collect more candy. End the night with an epic dance party at the Urbandale Public Library! Don’t forget to come dressed in your best Halloween costume and hang out with your Urbandale Officers!
Saturday, October 26th
Trunk or Treat Parking Lot Party
DAV Thrift Store • 2627 E University Avenue • Des Moines, IA 50317 • (515) 262-3850
It’s the 3rd annual DAV Trunk or Treat Parking Lot Party!! They invite you and your kids in their favorite Halloween costumes to join them for a fun and safe night of trick or treating in their parking lot! There will be A LOT FREE candy and prizes and giveaways!
Trunk or Treat with ZA GA ZIG Shrine
Za Ga Zig Shrine • 1100 Shriners Parkway • Altoona, IA 50009 • (515) 967-3000
It’s a parking lot party for the little ghosts and goblins. Bring your kids to Za Ga Zig Shrine’s safe and friendly trunk or treat event from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
Sunday, October 27th
Valley Junction Pumpkin Walk
Valley Junction • 5th Street • West Des Moines, IA 50265 • (515) 222-3642
Join the Halloween fun as children show off their costumes and Trick-or-Treat through Historic Valley Junction. 2:00 to 5:00 pm.
Trunk or Treat at Hope West Des Moines
925 Jordan Creek Parkway • West Des Moines, IA 50266 • (515) 222-1520
Children in sixth grade and younger are invited to trick-or-treat through the Hope West Des Moines parking lot in a safe, free and family-friendly environment.
Trunk or Treat at Wakonda Christian Church
3938 Fleur Drive • Des Moines, IA 50321 • (515) 285-8394
Join Wakonda Christian Church for their annual Trunk or Treat! They will have lots of delicious candy, decorated trunks, kind folks, fun costumes, and Halloween fun! ALL are welcome! Costumes encouraged. The event takes place from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
Wednesday, October 30th
Trunk or Treat at Urbandale Baptist Church
6501 Aurora Avenue • Urbandale, Iowa 50322 • (515) 276-0761
Make Urbandale Baptist Church one of your Beggar’s Night stops. They will have free candy, free popcorn, free pop, free candy, free hot chocolate, a free bounce house, free hotdogs and more. 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
Trunk or Treat at the Indianola Public Library
207 N B Street • Indianola, IA 50125 • (515) 961-9418
The City of Indianola and IMU departments are gathering at the Library to hand out treats on Beggars’ Night 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Come for a hot dog supper and treats, then help decide which department decorated their vehicle the best! All ages. Children 6 & under must be accompanied by an adult.
