Halloween in Des Moines 2025
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:
Movie in the Park
October 3 at 6:15 p.m.
Colby Park
Join Windsor Heights for a Movie in the Park! They will be showing The Nightmare Before Christmas and serving free pizza, popcorn, soda, and cookies.
Halloween in Uptown
October 9 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 10; 6 to 9 p.m.
October 11 & 12; 5 to 9 p.m.
Reiman Gardens
Tickets: must be purchased online.
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.
Ghost & Goblins in the Garden
October 11; 10 a.m. to Noon
Ted Lare Design Build & Garden Center
Get ready for a frightfully fun time at the 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: 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 16-19 & 23-26; 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Blank Park Zoo
Iowa’s sweetest family tradition 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.
Halloween Skate Spooktacular
October 17; 6:45 to 8:15 p.m.
RecPlex
Get ready for a spine-chilling good time at the Halloween Skate Spooktacular! Join us on the rink for a night of frightful fun featuring ice skating, treats, and a costume contest! Come dressed to impress – whether you’re a creepy creature, heroic haunter, or punny pumpkin, there are prizes for the best costume in both kid and adult categories. Purchase tickets here.
Family Halloween
October 17-19 & 24-26; Times vary
Living History Farms
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 17 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!
Bondu Spooktacular
October 18; 2 to 4 p.m.
Bondurant, Iowa
Bondu Spooktacular is Bondurant’s annual Halloween celebration that brings the community together for an afternoon and evening of festive fun. Families can enjoy inflatables at City Park from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., sponsored this year by the Bondurant Men’s Club, along with seasonal activities such as games, trunk-or-treat, and the always-popular costume contest. The celebration continues into the evening with a special outdoor movie at The Depot, located next to the Bondurant Emergency Services Building, beginning at 6:45 p.m. thanks to the sponsorship of Midstates Precast Products. With activities for all ages, Bondu Spooktacular offers a safe and family-friendly way to enjoy Halloween in the heart of Bondurant.
Halloween Hoopla
October 24 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Raccoon River Nature Lodge
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 20; 6 to 8 p.m. (Families with Special Needs Night)
October 20 – October 22; 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!
Halloween Party
Friday, October 24 at 6 p.m. (Sensory Friendly hour 5 to 6 p.m.)
Des Moines Children’s Museum
Come celebrate Halloween in the museum! Costumes optional. Make slime, go on a scavenger hunt, and play with themed sensory bins. All regular exhibits will be open. Learn more here.
Regular admission fees apply. Free for members. Museums For All and Adventure Passes accepted for this event.
Eerie Evenings
October 25 + October 28-31 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
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. TIMED TICKETS – get yours early to get the day and time you want. Last entry time will be 8:30pm.
Goldie’s Halloween Party
October 25; 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 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Science Center of Iowa
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 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
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!
Trick or Treat at Treehouse Village
October 26; 1 to 4 p.m.
Iowa Arboretum Treehouse Village in Madrid, Iowa
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.
Trick-or-Treat on the Farm
October 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Howell’s Pumpkin Patch
Come explore the farm Scavenger Hunt style. Complete your list and redeem it for your tasty treats.
Pumpkin Walk
October 26 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.
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.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Glow Skate
November 1; 6 to 8 p.m.
Skateland
Meet Jack & Sally from 6:30 – 7:30 PM Step into Halloween Town for a spooktacular night of skating fun! Join us for a special Glow Skate featuring: – Meet & take photos with Jack Skellington and Sally – Music from The Nightmare Before Christmas – Skating under the black lights—wear white or neon to glow – Costume fun—dress up for the Halloween spirit Bring the whole family for a night that’s frightfully fun and full of glowing magic. Don’t miss this one-night event! Skateland – Where Des Moines Loves to Skate!
All Halloween events are also listed on our extensive Des Moines Parent event calendar.
