Halloween Events in Des Moines

Halloween in Des Moines 2026

Celebrate the spooky season with one of these fun Halloween events happening in Des Moines. Kids of all ages will enjoy new events or even an old tradition. Grab your Halloween costumes, dress up, and head out to celebrate in Des Moines. Play fun games, enjoy non-scary trick-or-treating, and have tons of family-friendly events.

** Keep this page bookmarked. We will be updating it daily through the season!

Other Halloween Resources:

October 23, 24, 30 & 31 from 7–9 PM

Tommy’s Express Car Wash in West Des Moines

The entire property and wash tunnel will transform into a drive-through haunted attraction filled with Halloween decorations, spooky surprises, and live role players. Designed as a Halloween experience the whole family can enjoy from the comfort and safety of their vehicle, each car will also receive candy and a voucher for a FREE month of Tommy’s Express car washes. Tickets are $25 per vehicle at the event or $20 in advance, with presale tickets limited to 250 vehicles per night. Purchase tickets here.

Movie in the Park

October 2 at 6:25 p.m.

Colby Park

Join Windsor Heights for a Movie in the Park! They will be showing Hocus Pocus and serving free pizza, popcorn, soda, and cookies.

Halloween in Uptown

October 8 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Uptown Ankeny

Uptown Ankeny’s beloved Trunk-Or-Treat event is growing once more! Come for the candy, in the form of FOUR blocks of trunk-or-treating, then stay for more Halloween frights and delights! Spooky tunes from DJ Big Lare, a costume contest, rides on the Uptown Express, plus more bewitching surprises. Halloween In Uptown is presented by our friends at Veridian Credit Union.

Costume Contest: Enter to win in one of three categories: Best Single Costume, Best Group Costume, and Best Handmade Costume. Check in from 4-6 pm. Judging at 6:30, prizes will be awarded at 7. Must be present to win!

Spirits in the Gardens

October 9 & 10; 5 to 9 p.m.

October 11; 5 to 9 p.m.

Reiman Gardens

Tickets: must be purchased online.

$17 – Adult General Public
$15 – Members & ISU Students
$8 – Youth (ages 2 to 12)
Free – Under 24 months

See incredibly detailed, volunteer-carved Jack-O-Lanterns! Sunset is at approximately 7:00. See amazing Jack-O-Lanterns, Collusion hologram projections (best after sunset), glowing orbs, and the Sycamore Falls lighted tower. Follow a designated path and see all of the fun. There are planned activities. View the schedule here.

Pumpkins After Dark

October 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31; 7:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m.

Laurisden Amphitheater, Water Works Park, Des Moines

Tickets: Purchase here. Tickets vary by day but start at $18 each.

Check out 10,000+ hand-carved pumpkins built into large art installations at Pumpkins After Dark. Watch live pumpkin carving demonstrations, live music, food trucks and lots of family-friendly fun.

Ghost & Goblins in the Garden

October 10; 10 a.m. to Noon

Ted Lare Design Build & Garden Center

Get ready for a frightfully fun time at the Ted Lare Design Build & Garden Center! We’re welcoming all little ghosts, goblins, and witches for a Halloween event filled with spooks, sweets, and surprises. The Garden Center will be transformed with eerie decorations, and there will be several activity stations for your little ones to enjoy, including crafts, games, and so much more! Each child will receive a treat bag to decorate and use for collecting their candy and prizes. (You’re welcome to bring your own bag if preferred!)

Recommended Ages: 4-12 (fun for all ages!)

Tickets: $15 per child. Required for participating children only. Parents or guardians do not need tickets unless they wish to join in craft-making activities. Please register in advance so we can prepare materials for an unforgettable experience.

Night Eyes

October 15-18 & 22-25; 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Blank Park Zoo

Tickets:

$10 per person
$8 per member
Under 12 months are free

Iowa’s sweetest family tradition, Night Eyes, is back and ready to delight! Roam through life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, enchanted lighted displays, a merry-not-scary treat safari*, and enjoy live entertainment and games, all while learning more about and supporting wildlife. *Please bring your own bag for the Treat Safari.

Costume Contest: Each week we will hold a virtual costume contest. Everyone is encouraged to participate by submitting photos or voting for your favorite online. Winners will receive a behind the scenes animal tour for a group of four. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit blankparkzoo.com/nighteyes.

Family Fright Night

October 17, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

RecPlex

Tickets: $5 each

Get ready for a spooktacular evening of Halloween fun at the RecPlex! Family Fright Night, presented by Stew Hansen Automotive Group, is a safe, family-friendly event featuring indoor trick-or-treating, games, inflatables, face painting, and more. Children can collect treats from creatively decorated vendor booths before exploring a variety of exciting activities throughout the indoor turf. Costumes are encouraged.

Family Halloween

October 23-25

Living History Farms

Tickets:

Advance: $12 • $11 members • Under 2 free
At the door: $13 • $12 members • Under 2 free

Take part in the annual Living History Farms Family Halloween! You’ll be welcomed into the 1876 town of Walnut Hill to enjoy trick-or-treating at historic storefronts, try your hand at games like pumpkin bowling, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and listen to enchanting storytellers. Take a look at the times and purchase tickets!

Harvest Hoedown

October 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Valley Community Center

Harvest Hoedown is a FREE community event for anyone ages 14+ with special needs. Come dressed for a hoedown to enjoy a festive dinner followed by karaoke, wagon rides, and games. This event is free, but please sign up to let them know you’re coming!

Halloween Hoopla

October 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Raccoon River Nature Lodge

Tickets: $10 each

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. Come on out and join the freaky festivities. We will decorate pumpkins and enjoy a ride on the” Witch’s Wagon” around Blue Heron Lake. You will be treated to count Dracula’s “blood” while making your own Skeleton S’mores. Be sure to save the date. We’re just dying to see you there! Must register.

The Great Pumpkin Party

October 18; 6 to 8 p.m. (Families with Special Needs Night)

October 19 – October 21; 6 to 8 p.m.

Valley Church

Wear your non-scary costumes and enjoy giant inflatables, barrel train rides, carnival games, free popcorn, and more! They have all sorts of fun at Valley Church, Valley Community Center, and our outdoor areas. Invite your friends and family!

The Great Pumpkin Party is Des Moines’ best family activity this fall and it’s FREE! We have a variety of great options at Valley Church, Valley Community Center, and outdoors. Plus a special night for families with special needs!

There’s something for everyone at the Great Pumpkin Party!

Eerie Evenings

October 28 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Tickets: Purchase here

Adult: $14
Senior: $13
Youth: $11
Members receive $6 off each ticket.

New this year from the Greater Des Moines BOOtanical Garden is Eerie Evenings, a night filled with lights, vibes, and spectral plants to add to your spooky season. Come roam the dome after hours! Flora will be onsite providing cash bar and concession services. Last entry time will be 8:30pm.

Pumpkin Walk

October 25 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Valley Junction

Dress up your little goblins and ghouls for an afternoon of free, family-friendly fun. Enjoy hayrides, kids’ activities, dance performances, and trick-or-treating at our locally owned small businesses. Free pumpkins will be available while supplies last. Learn more here.

Trick or Treat at Treehouse Village

October 25; 1 to 4 p.m.

Iowa Arboretum Treehouse Village in Madrid, Iowa

Tickets: Purchase tickets here

$12 for those 13+
$7 for those 3-12
Free for 2 and under

Costumed revelers of all ages and abilities travel the paved, accessible trail at Treehouse Village, collecting treats along the way! Halloween Scavenger Hunt, coloring contest, and more. Family-friendly fun! Included with regular admission or discounted Museums for All admissions (with SNAP/EBT/WIC card + Photo ID). Members are always FREE! No extra charge for activities or trick-or-treating. Learn more here.

Goldie’s Halloween Party

October 31; 5 to 7 p.m.

State Historical Building

Mark your boo-tiful calendar…Goldie’s Halloween Bash (A Night of Spooky Fun at the Historical Museum) is coming! Join us Saturday, Oct. 25, for an evening of spook-tacular, family-friendly fun at the State Historical Museum of Iowa! Costumes encouraged (Goldie will be dressed up too)! Perfect for younger learners, but fun for the whole family. Learn more here.

Spooky Science

October 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Science Center of Iowa

Tickets: Purchase tickets here.

$20 for those 13-64
$15 for those 2-13
$15 for those 65
Free for members

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!

Costumes are encouraged. No costume weapons will be allowed in the building.

Trick or Trees

October 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Tickets: Purchase tickets here.

Members: FREE
Adult: $14
Senior: $13
Youth: $11
Pineapple Program, Museums for All, SNAP/EBT, & reciprocal membership participants: FREE

Join the Greater Des Moines BOOtanical Garden for Trick or Trees. 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!

Howelleen Around the Farm

October 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Howell’s Pumpkin Patch

Tickets: $14 each. Purchase here (Buy online and save!).

Come explore the farm Scavenger Hunt style. Complete your list and redeem it for your tasty treats.

Halloween on the Hill

October 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Historic Sherman Hill

Walk the historic neighborhood and experience houses transformed into spooky spectacles—complete with stormtroopers, knights, zombie spiders, Freddy Krueger, a full-size pirate ship, live Thriller performances, and more.

This family-friendly event is free to attend.

Throughout the evening, we’ll be collecting donations for the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) Food Pantry. While it’s all tricks and no treats, warm hot chocolate and other goodies will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting Beacon of Life, a nonprofit that empowers women in crisis.

Spooktacular Trick or Treat

October 27; 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Skateland

Join us for Skateland Spooktacular Indoor Trick-or-Treat, where kids can dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat safely indoors while local businesses and organizations hand out candy and goodies. This is just for trick-or-treating; no skating during this time.