Best Decorated Halloween Displays in Des Moines

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Best Decorated Halloween Displays in Des Moines

We all love the array of Christmas light displays that happen annually, but recently you may have noticed an increase in Halloween displays at houses, in neighborhoods, and at some known organizations in the Des Moines area. This would be a great way to extend your spooky night after a Trunk or Treat event or Beggars’ Night. Do you have the spookiest house on the block or know of one we should include? Contact us and we’ll get it added!

While we have personally not seen all of these displays, we asked the Des Moines Parent community where they like to see the best decorated Halloween displays in Des Moines. Here is the roundup of the 2024 best-decorated Halloween displays!

** Please note we will be traveling around this season to gather pictures of these displays for you. If you have any photos you would like to share, please let us know!

House located in Sherman Hill

1016 E Thornton Avenue in Des Moines

Drive by this fun house full of fun Halloween displays!  The absolute best night to drive or come by is October 30th when all the animatronics will be out and they hand out full-size candy bars.

1121 62nd Street in West Des Moines

Elven Cache Creations Halloween light show runs every night in October.

  • 6-10 p.m. Mon-Thurs
  • 6-11 p.m. Fri-Sun

Listen to the music with your radio on 89.5 FM, and watch 1000’s lights perform a bright and colorful spooky, not scary light show. The songs are a mix of Halloween classics and newer Halloween rock songs.

Angel Park Neighborhood in Clive

This house has numerous amounts of inflatables to celebrate the spooky season!

Ashby Neighborhood

The Ashby Neighborhood does not disappoint during the holiday season. I have no doubt they go all out for Halloween too!

Aurora on 70th Street in Urbandale

This Halloween display is located South of Auroroa on 70th Street near Urbandale High School. There are two adjacent houses that participate and they typically have a theme using a lot of skeletons.

Halloween on the Hill

One of our favorite Halloween events, it even made the 100 Things to Do in Des Moines book! This annual event is held on October 31st in the Sherman Hill Neighborhood. Front yards are covered in spooky decorations, while traditions like a “Thriller” performance fill the streets and Freddy Kreuger roams around. The celebrations are free, but attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items or monetary donations for the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC).

House located in Sherman Hill

NW Mils Court Haunt

Address: 901 NW Mils Ct. in Ankeny

Don’t miss this spooky house and more items will be added soon!

Hull and 12th Street

Not many details were shared, but this display is located right behind Cattel Elementary School.

Land of Giants

Address: 4908 NW Seventh Street, Ankeny, Iowa

The Land of Giants turns on at dusk until 9 p.m. and consists of several 12-foot lighted and animated creatures. Do not miss this fun display!

Park Avenue – 34th or 35th Street Corner

Drive by this large two-block area for trick-or-treating and/or for all the Halloween decor. The neighborhood puts a lot of time (almost a month) into setting up this Halloween display on the South side of Des Moines.

The Pirate Potterhouse

Address: 3720 Brook Ridge Court, Des Moines

We have been to this display a few times! If you are a Harry Potter fan you will love this fun Halloween display. This home is located in the Brook Run Neighborhood between Pleasant Hill and Altoona. Visit their Facebook page for updates on hours.

The Pirate Potterhouse. Picture taken in 2020.

Spirits in the Gardens

Enjoy some spooky fun in the gardens at Reiman Gardens. Spirits in the Gardens is an annual event hosted annually. The event is filled with over 1,000+ hand-carved Jack-O-Lanterns, candy, chemistry experiments, and so much more. It is recommended to purchase tickets ahead of time.

Fright Lights

Address: Uptown Ankeny

Fright Lights 2024, sponsored by Latitude 41 Lawn and Landscapes of Iowa, will be lit at dark every evening through October 31st. Do some shopping or grab a bite or a drink at one of our unique Uptown businesses and then stroll, cycle, or drive through their collection of Halloween-themed animated light displays for some spooky outdoor fun!

Zombie Hollow

Address: 2310 St. Charles Road, Winterset, Iowa

Zombie Hollow is a fun haunted maze for the whole family! It is filled with fun lights, displays, and more. It is a super impressive setup filled with lots of fun details and some fun characters such as Star Wars or Jack the Skeleton. The goal is for all ages to enjoy the Halloween magic. Tickets must be purchased online. They are open on weekends in October and offer daylight times on Saturdays. Take a look at all the details here.

Erin Huiatt

Erin is a reliable resource and stepping stone for women and families to find support and make connections within our community. She wants families to feel confident to reach out and ask for help and advice to get pointed in the right direction. She enjoys traveling and exploring with her two children in tow!

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