Step into the twilight of Cedar Rapids with our guide to Halloween happenings. For those who prowl Cedar Rapids's streets year-round and those just in for a scare, this guide unveils the city's Halloween highlights.
This October, prepare to get in the spirit with the infinite excitement of the Circle of Ash, a thrilling bar crawl that invites participants to explore the city’s lively nightlife with a spooky twist. Additionally, experience the fun of the Cedar Rapids Official Halloween Bar Crawl, where local bars transform into eerie venues, each featuring distinct decorations and specials. And the Not of this World Halloween Parade is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing a vibrant display of creativity and costumes that delight all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Cedar Rapids
- Circle of Ash (Central City)
- Cedar Rapids Official Halloween Bar Crawl
- HalloWEEK at Iowa Children's Museum (Coralville)
- Scream Acres (Atkins)
- Not of this World Halloween Parade
- Wickiup Fall Fest (Toddville)
- Hocus Pocus Dance Party & Costume Contest
- The 5th Realm
- Fall Festival (Hiawatha Farmers Market) (Hiawatha)
- Sensory-Friendly Halloween (Coralville)
See these and even more events listed below!
Cedar Rapids Area Haunted Experiences
Scream Acres
What to Expect:
Scream Acres offers a unique blend of 3D immersive haunts and live entertainment, making it a premier haunted experience in Eastern Iowa.
Description:
Scream Acres in Atkins, IA, offers a chilling Halloween experience with four incredible haunts: 3D Sinister Silo, Cell Block Z, The Slaughterhouse, and Haunted Cornfield. The park features original storylines, trained actors, and talented makeup artists, creating a haunting experience that brings nightmares to life. Enjoy live music, scare entertainment, and beer tastings at the Glass Alley Beer Garden, making it an unforgettable night.
Where: Atkins | More Info: Scream Acres
The 5th Realm
What to Expect:
An immersive, interactive haunt experience with an updated 6,000 sq. ft. maze featuring over 2,000 sq. ft. of brand new rooms.
Description:
This fall, The 5th Realm reopens, offering a terrifying experience as a clandestine operation captures a diver named Brooks, who discovered an ancient mystery at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Their experiments have unleashed mutated horrors from the 5th Realm, creating surreal experiments, missing patients, and otherworldly happenings within the walls of Cedar Hills Sanitorium. Navigate through the maze of this haunted house, featuring movie-level set design and highly trained actors, to uncover the dark history and sinister forces behind the torture.
Where: Cedar Rapids | More Info: The 5th Realm
Haunted Woods
What to Expect:
A family-friendly haunted house experience with trick-or-treating at the end.
Description:
Hope Station's Haunted House Trick-or-Treat Night is a family-friendly event where visitors can witness the transformation of Hope Station into a haunted house. As you make your way through the haunted house, you will be rewarded with candy at the conclusion of your journey.
Where: Carlisle | More Info: Haunted Woods
Circle of Ash
What to Expect:
The unique feature of Circle of Ash is its immersive and terrifying experience with three distinct haunted attractions designed to scare visitors.
Description:
Circle of Ash Haunted Attraction is Iowa's scariest haunted house, featuring three terrifying attractions: a traditional indoor haunted house, a haunted forest filled with monsters, and a fog-filled clown maze. The event promises an evening filled with screams and offers various ticket options, including general admission, fast pass, and VIP experiences.
Where: Central City | More Info: Circle of Ash
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Cedar Rapids
Not of this World Halloween Parade
What to Expect:
The event features a Creepy Kid Zone with various activities like balloon twisting, scary face painting, and twisted spin art.
Description:
The **Not of this World Halloween Parade** is a family-friendly event that takes place in the vibrant Czech Village and New Bohemia District. The parade features a Creepy Kid Zone with balloon twisting, scary face painting, and twisted spin art. The event culminates with a Halloween parade and a family costume contest. It's an excellent opportunity for families to enjoy spooky yet fun activities together.
Where: Cedar Rapids | More Info: Not of this World Halloween Parade
HalloWEEK at Iowa Children's Museum
What to Expect:
A variety of Halloween-themed activities suitable for all ages, including a pumpkin patch and harvest-themed fun.
Description:
Join the Iowa Children's Museum for HalloWEEK, a week-long celebration of not-too-scary Halloween activities. Explore exhibits filled with bats, spiders, and pumpkins, and enjoy harvest-themed fun like building a scarecrow, making pizza with creepy-crawly toppings, and going on a pumpkin scavenger hunt. Families can also check out special Halloween activities throughout the week.
Where: Coralville | More Info: HalloWEEK at Iowa Children's Museum
Wickiup Fall Fest
What to Expect:
A variety of interactive activities including a trick-or-treat hike, pumpkin bowling, and straw scramble.
Description:
Experience a fun-filled day at the 14th Annual Wickiup Fall Fest Enjoy a friendly trick-or-treat hike through the woods, pumpkin bowling, straw scramble, and creepy critters. This event is perfect for children aged 3-10, with younger and older siblings welcome. Costumes are encouraged!
Where: Toddville | More Info: Wickiup Fall Fest
Hocus Pocus Dance Party & Costume Contest
What to Expect:
A fun-filled morning of dancing and celebrating Halloween with a costume contest.
Description:
Join in for a spellbinding morning of Halloween fun at the Hocus Pocus Dance Party & Costume Contest. This event promises a delightful mix of music, dance, and festive costumes, making it an ideal activity for families and friends to enjoy together.
Where: Cedar Rapids | More Info: Hocus Pocus Dance Party & Costume Contest
Fall Festival (Hiawatha Farmers Market)
What to Expect:
A weekly gathering of local vendors offering a diverse range of fresh produce and handmade goods.
Description:
The Hiawatha Farmers Market is a weekly event that takes place from the first Sunday in May through the last Sunday in October. Each week, vendors from all over Iowa gather at the 10th Avenue parking lot of Guthridge Park to offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, baked goods, honey, meat, and arts and crafts.
Where: Hiawatha | More Info: Fall Festival (Hiawatha Farmers Market)
Pumpkin Fest
What to Expect:
The Iowa Fall Festival at Bloomsbury Farm offers a diverse range of family-friendly activities and attractions, making it a premier destination for autumn celebrations.
Description:
Experience the vibrant autumn season at Bloomsbury Farm's Iowa Fall Festival. Explore 18 acres of U-Pick pumpkins, navigate the 10-acre corn maze, and enjoy 30+ family-friendly attractions. Capture iconic fall-themed photo ops, indulge in gourmet snacks and drinks, and participate in special events like the Pumpkin Blaster Show and Pig Races. This festive event is perfect for all ages, offering a variety of activities to keep everyone entertained.
Where: Atkins | More Info: Pumpkin Fest
Sensory-Friendly Halloween
What to Expect:
Sensory-friendly Halloween activities in a calmer environment.
Description:
Join us for a Sensory-Friendly Halloween at the Iowa Children's Museum. This free event offers sensory-friendly activities in a calmer environment, perfect for families with children who may have sensory sensitivities. Enjoy not-too-spooky Halloween activities and collect treats from our museum exhibits. Costumes are encouraged but not required. All treats will be small non-food items to avoid allergy concerns.
Where: Coralville | More Info: Sensory-Friendly Halloween
Art at Brucemore: Ceramic Ghosts
What to Expect:
Participants create their own unique ghostly sculptures using clay and various decorations.
Description:
Embrace your spooky spirit at Art at Brucemore: Ceramic Ghosts, a unique workshop where participants build their own ghostly creations using clay and various hand-building techniques. Decorations can be added with colored glazes and textures, making each piece a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The workshop is hosted at Brucemore's Carriage House, and all materials are provided.
Where: Cedar Rapids | More Info: Art at Brucemore: Ceramic Ghosts
Halloween Food, Drink, and Parties Near Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Official Halloween Bar Crawl
What to Expect:
A festive bar crawl with exclusive drink specials and a $1,000 national costume contest.
Description:
Join the spookiest bar crawl in Cedar Rapids for the 7th Annual Halloween celebration Enjoy 2-3 drinks or shots included, no cover at all bars, and exclusive drink specials. Explore some of the best bars in Cedar Rapids while enjoying an electric atmosphere. The event features a $1,000 national costume contest, professional photographers, and an awesome after party. Don't miss out on this thrilling Halloween event!