All Things Halloween: Two Dozen Ways to Enjoy The Spooky Holiday In The Des Moines Area (Updated Listings)

DES MOINES, IA — Halloween is a holiday that offers so much fun it can’t be contained in one day. In the Des Moines area, it barely fits into what's left of the month, with activities to fill every day of the calendar through Monday. In addition to fall pumpkin patches and hay rides, there are a number of Halloween-themed family events planned at regional attractions, area businesses, churches and community centers.

Of course, some activities are suitable for adults only, such as pub crawls and some of the area’s haunted houses. And others hold greater appeal for youngsters: think events with storytimes, craft activities and inflatables.

There even are items for your fur friends if you want to dress them up and get them out of the house.

Two of the most popular events each year are Night Eyes at the Blank Park Zoo and Living History’s Farms’ Family Halloween. Both continue from 5:30 to 8 p.m. tonight through Oct. 29.

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This is the 27th year for Night Eyes, the zoo event where lights, castles and special characters await children as they trick or treat at candy stations and look for the zoo's animals. Admission is $6, or $5 for zoo members at the door, and $4 in advance at the zoo, area Hy-Vee stores or online. Different entertainers are featured each night and the schedule includes superheroes, princesses, Star Wars, an acrobalance show and a magician. Click here for the schedule.

Living History Farms welcomes children 12 and younger to trick-or-treat around the 1875 town of Walnut Hill and enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, games, storytellers and pumpkin bowling. Each night has a special theme: Thursdays, Double Treats and Athletes; get twice as many treats and dress up as your favorite athlete. Fridays: Doggone Scary; bring your furry friend along (in costume!) for trick-or-treating. Saturdays: Fairytales and Super Heroes; meet your favorite characters and dress up in your best superhero and fairytale costumes. Sundays: Farmer & Friends; Dress up as an animal on the farm, a farmer, or Victorian style like a person in the past. Wear your best “Living History Farms” themed costume. Admission is $7 for adults, $6.50 for children 3 to 12.

Here are some additional family-friendly Halloween events remaining around the metro area, listed by community:

Ankeny

Halloween in Uptown. 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26. Children 12 and younger can trick or treat at businesses in the Uptown area marked with a lighted pumpkin.

Creepy Capers Halloween Party. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 (Ages 2-7) Lakeside Center, 400 N.W. Lakeshore Drive. Superheroes, princesses and other costumed kiddos are invited to this fun Halloween party with games, goodies, cookie decorating and marshmallow roasting. Cost is $7; pre-registration required.

Howl-O-Ween Pooch Pawty. 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 29, Ankeny Dog Park, 1155 S.W. Ankeny Blvd. Bring your dog for trick-or-treating, games and a costume contest. $5 per dog, season passes not accepted for this special event.

Clive

Clive Library Halloween Hop. 6:15 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26 and 10 t0 10:45 a.m. Oct. 27, 1900 N.W. 114th St. Costume dance party with Halloween tunes, treats and not-so-spooky fun. Registration required; call 515-453-2221.

Des Moines

Batty About Bats. 5 to 5:45 p.m. Oct. 26, North Side Library, 3516 Fifth Ave.

"History on the Rocks: Dying Art of Mourning." 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, State Historical Museum of Iowa, 600 E. Locust St. (Adults only.) Emily Godbey, associate professor of art and visual culture at Iowa State University, will talk about historic death portraits and Veronica O'Hern from the Iowa Arts Council will present a program on the lost art of "hair work," a Victorian era practice of creating mementos from a loved one's hair. Hands-on activity: make your own creation with synthetic hair. Also browse death and funerary artifacts from the museum’s collection including a funeral home record book, a casket, funeral clothing and undertaking implements. Must be 18 to attend, includes appetizers; ages 21 and older (with ID) also get a “Grim Reaper” signature cocktail with admission. Cost is $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Halloween "Whodunit" Hike. Oct, 27 at Four Mile Community Center, 3711 Easton Blvd. Take a hike on the trail and meet some interesting things along the way and solve the mystery of the missing acorns. Guided hikes start every ten minutes from 6:30 to 7:20 p.m. Wear a costume, enjoy a snack and craft after the hike. Sign up for hike time.

Salisbury House’s Mysteries of the Castle. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28, 4025 Tonawanda Drive. Trick or treat and take part in activities, crafts, science experiments with Mad Science of Iowa, scavenger hunt, face painting, balloon art, entertainment, visit by University of Iowa Mobile Museum.

Spooky Science at Science Center of Iowa. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 28, 401 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Hair-raising experiments, bubbling potions and visual illusions abound. Trick-or-treat your way throughout the building and experience themed programming. $1 off admission for those in costume.

Rock the Pumpkin. Life Change Church event from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and Grand Avenue. trunk or treat with inflatables, balloon animals, wax hands, popcorn, candy.

Westminster Presbyterian Children’s Carnival. 4114 Allison Ave. 6 p.m. Oct. 28. Food, games, prizes and a costume parade. Hoot and Howl organ concert follows from 7 to 8 p.m. with spooky organ music.

Phantoms of the Orchestra with Des Moines Symphony and Magic Circle Mime Company. 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 29, Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St. The maestro and his assistant are frightened by phantoms that return each fall and they must regain control of the ghoulish orchestra of the undead. The story of the Sorcerer's Apprentice is brought vividly to life in this eye-catching Family or Pops concert program.

Eighth annual Spooky Paws Parade, East Village. 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 at 503 E. Locust St. Costume contest, trophies awarded for Best in Show "furkid" and human,plus scariest and cutest furkid. Complimentary photos noon to 4 p.m. at Jett and Monkey's photo booth. Register for the parade at the corner of East Locust Street and Robert Ray Drive Street (near Simon Estes Amphitheater) at 1:15 p.m. Judging for the costume contest will occur before the parade. Nonprofits and business groups welcome in the parade; bring your banner, dressed up dogs (and owners) and candy to pass out. For information, 515-244-4211 or emailinfo@jettandmonkey.com.

Central Iowa Wind Ensemble concert: “Princesses & Pirates.” 2 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 29, 519 Park St. Season-opening performance features Disney tunes and a visit by princesses. Come in costume.

Halloween on the Hill. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31, Sherman Hill Neighborhood Association, 1620 Pleasant St., Suite 204. Family party.

Urbandale

Urbandale Police Department Trunk or Treat. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 3740 86th St. Wear costumes for goodies provided by police and area businesses. Snack on popcorn, cookies and cider. Donations of unexpired fresh, canned or packaged foods accepted for the Urbandale Food Bank.

West Des Moines

Valley Junction Pumpkin Walk. Noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 29. Children can show off costumes as they visit area businesses. Hay rides, activities at some shops and free pumpkins.

Once the kids have had their fun, check out some adult activities that celebrate Halloween. Here are three events that give you a reason to dress up and get out of the house.

“Starry Nightmare” Costume Party. 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 28 at Pinot’s Palette, 900 42nd St., Des Moines. Wear a costume, paint your own scary version of Van Gogh’s famous painting as you sip drinks with friends. $45. Register in advance. 515-277-7651

Trunk or Treat: Find area events here

OTHER ACTIVITIES? To submit additional Halloween events, click here or email melissa.myers@patch.com.

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