Halloween Hints: Costume Ideas, Haunted Houses, Beggars Night Fun And More

DES MOINES, IA. -- The month-long celebration of all things Halloween kicks off tonight when the first metro-area haunted house opens and the fun wraps up with Beggars Night treats at the end of the month. The season brings to mind pumpkins and ghosts -- and, of course, costumes.

Here’s a guide to what you’ll find in the metro area, and some tips, for a happy Halloween season:

Costumes

2017 has been a bountiful year for costume ideas if you look to movies for inspiration. “Beauty and the Beast” and “Wonder Woman” are sure to be popular title character costumes, while variations of Pennywise the clown and the boy in the yellow raincoat from “It” also are likely to be spotted at Halloween-themed events.

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Adults might like to look at the never dull political climate for costume ideas, and that could start with a mask of your favorite -- or not -- trending politician: President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are all among the faces you’ll find at online costume sites.

If a DIY costume is what you want to do to save time and money, simply wearing orange scrubs and a badge can turn you into a character from “Orange is the New Black” or donning a yellow stocking cap and long-sleeved yellow T-shirt with denim overalls is the start of a Minions outfit. But if you want a more finished look with a ready-to-wear costume, there are plenty of Halloween themed party stores locally with for everything from fake fingernails and bloody eyeballs to wigs and props.

• Nobbies, 9999 University Ave. in Clive, bills itself as the "Ultimate Halloween Superstore" and it has costumes, decor, accessories and more. They will have a "Haunt Fair and Spooktacular Carnival" from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 to celebrate the season.
• Party City, with three stores in the area, carries decor, costumes and party goods. Stores are in Southridge Mall at 1111 E. Army Post Road in Des Moines; 2010 S.E. Delaware Ave. in Ankeny; and 6503 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines.
• Halloween Express Des Moines is a seasonal pop-up with two metro retail shops. They’re located in Merle Hay Mall, 3800 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, and Clocktower Square, 2900 University Ave. in West Des Moines. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday at both stores and the Des Moines store is open noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday while the West Des Moines store is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Costumes, props, wigs, decorations and party goods are available.

Trick or Treat

Across the metro area, “trunk or treat” events are gaining in popularity because they offer safe places and familiar faces for kids to trick or treat. Check online for events hosted at city offices, churches and police and fire stations.

Most little ghouls and goblins going door to door are allowed to trick or treat the day before Halloween, known as Beggars Night. Hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30 in Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights -- and be sure the youngsters are prepared to tell a joke to get a treat; it's a time-honored tradition in the Des Moines area. Only Grimes has set a different time for trick-or-treating kiddoes to visit neighbors: from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Safety tips

In most communities, only homes that have a porch light turned on are welcoming to little beggars durign trick or treat hours. Kids should travel with an adult or in groups and remember to cross streets at the corners, stick to familiar areas, and never enter a home alone.

Here are some additional tips from SafeKids.org to make trick-or-treating a safe experience for your youngster:

• When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.

• Choose masks that don't obstruct a child’s vision, or try non-toxic face paint and makeup in lieu of a mask.
• Give kids glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
• Do not use electronic devices while trick or treating; pay attention to surroundings and watch where you are going.

Kids also should be told to save all the goodies until they get home so a parent or adult can check to be sure they are safe or do not contain allergens harmful to some people.

Haunted Houses

If a racing heart and unexpected frights are your thing, a number of area haunted houses are ready to challenge your bravado. Haunted houses are so popular in the metro area that there is a website dedicated solely to details about where and when to get your scare on.

DMHauntedHouses.com lists fright sites in Des Moines, Urbandale and Waukee as well as some other popular haunts around the state. It also has a calendar listing that you can view online or subscribe to for iPhone or android use, and it even has interviews with some of the haunted house operators.

Though most haunted houses start in October, the long-running Linn’s Haunted House at the north Des Moines supermarket, 3805 Sixth Ave., kicks off tonight and is open from 7 p.m. to midnight. Many haunted houses will be open weekends only until the middle of the month and some operate nightly after that until the end of October.

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