Get ready for a spooktacular season in Des Moines with our creepy compendium of events. Unmask the marvels of Des Moines's Halloween festivities with our guide, revealing wonders to costumed locals and masked marauders.
Popular Events: Experience the thrill of the Official Halloween Bar Crawl, where revelers can wander from bar to bar in their favorite costumes. With unique drink specials and lively atmospheres, it's a social highlight of the season. And definitely don't forget the haunting thrills of Scream Acres, where eerie attractions and chilling experiences await. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Des Moines
- The Official Halloween Bar Crawl
- Scream Acres (Atkins)
- Spooky Science
- Halloween Zoo Brew
- Spirits in the Garden (Ames)
- Fall Festival & Candy Crawl (Grimes)
- Ames Haunted Forest (Ames)
- Boos & Brews 5k Fun Run
- Trick or Trees
- Sensory Friendly Halloween Party at Des Moines Children’s Museum (West Des Moines)
See these and even more events listed below!
Des Moines Area Haunted Experiences
Scream Acres
What to Expect:
Immersive haunted attractions with original storylines and talented makeup artists.
Description:
Scream Acres in Atkins, IA, offers a chilling Halloween experience with four creepy attractions: 3D Sinister Silo, Cell Block Z, The Slaughterhouse, and the Haunted Cornfield. The event 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.
Where: Atkins | More Info: Scream Acres
Ames Haunted Forest
What to Expect:
Convenient RV and car parking options for all seven home games of the 2024 Iowa State Football Season.
Description:
Ames Haunted Forest provides parking services for the 2024 Iowa State Football Season, offering both RV and car parking options. The parking area is conveniently located one block east of ISU Stadium and is available for all seven home games.
Where: Ames | More Info: Ames Haunted Forest
Haunted Woods
What to Expect:
Experience a haunted house transformation with trick-or-treat rewards.
Description:
Join us at Hope Station for a spooky Halloween celebration. Transform into a haunted house, where you'll be rewarded with candy at the conclusion of your journey. This family-friendly event is perfect for trick-or-treaters of all ages, offering a fun and thrilling experience through the haunted house.
Where: Carlisle | More Info: Haunted Woods
The 5th Realm
What to Expect:
A clandestine operation unleashes mutated horrors through experiments, creating a terrifying haunted experience.
Description:
The 5th Realm is a haunted experience where a clandestine operation obsessed with finding the secret to opening the portal to the 5th Realm captures a diver named Brooks. Their experiments have unleashed mutated horrors, creating a terrifying tale of horrors behind opening the portal between this Realm and the 5th Realm. This fall, the portal reopens, promising a new and chilling experience for those brave enough to enter.
Where: Cedar Rapids | More Info: The 5th Realm
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Des Moines
Spooky Science
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration with science-y activities that are safe for all ages.
Description:
Spooky Science at the Science Center of Iowa is a Halloween celebration filled with hair-raising experiments, creepy-crawly critters, and other spook-ified programming. The event encourages costumes but prohibits costume weapons, ensuring a safe and fun experience for all ages.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: Spooky Science
Fall Festival & Candy Crawl
What to Expect:
A festive celebration with a variety of activities and treats for all ages.
Description:
The Fall Festival & Candy Crawl is a fun-filled event happening on October 12, 2024, at the South Sports Complex in Grimes, Iowa. The festival will feature a variety of activities for all ages, including the Candy Crawl, food trucks, local vendors, games, and bouncy houses. Costumes are highly encouraged, making it a delightful experience for both kids and adults.
Where: Grimes | More Info: Fall Festival & Candy Crawl
Spirits in the Garden
What to Expect:
A magical display of over 1,000 hand-carved Jack-O-Lanterns.
Description:
Spirits in the Gardens is a beloved Halloween event at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa, featuring over 1,000 intricately carved pumpkins that light up the night. The event includes a Jack-O-Lantern sneak peek on Friday night, followed by trick-or-treating, chemistry experiments, cosplay, and more on Saturday and Sunday nights. It is a celebration of community, creativity, and the spirit of Halloween.
Where: Ames | More Info: Spirits in the Garden
Trick or Trees
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating and educational activities in a beautiful botanical garden setting.
Description:
Join us at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens for a family-friendly and festive Trick or Trees event. Enjoy educational activities, entertainment, and trick-or-treating amidst the beautiful botanical garden. Costumes are encouraged The event takes place on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 9 am to 4 pm. Food Trellis will be open from 11 am to 2 pm.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: Trick or Trees
Boos & Brews 5k Fun Run
What to Expect:
A fun-filled day of running and celebrating with craft beer in a festive atmosphere.
Description:
Join us for a fun-filled day of running, beer, and spooky vibes at 515 Brewing Company. Lace up your running shoes for a 5k-ish course that starts and ends at this awesome taproom in Clive. Enjoy scenic routes while getting your heart pumping, and celebrate with a locally-made craft beverage at the finish line. This event is perfect for all levels of walkers, runners, and joggers, offering a unique blend of exercise and festive atmosphere.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: Boos & Brews 5k Fun Run
Halloween Hike at Annett Nature Center
What to Expect:
A Halloween hike themed around severe weather with jack o' lantern lit trails and encounters with different weather phenomena.
Description:
Join Warren County Conservation for the 2024 Twister Annual Halloween Hike at Annett Nature Center. This event is themed around severe weather, where participants will trek down a jack o' lantern lit trail and encounter various weather phenomena like tornadoes, thunderstorms, blizzards, hail, and floods. The hike will be followed by craft-making and enjoying treats at the nature center.
Where: Indianola | More Info: Halloween Hike at Annett Nature Center
Trunk Or Treat
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween event featuring face painting, food trucks, and various activities.
Description:
Celebrate Halloween with the whole family at the 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat at Shottenkirk Chevrolet Waukee. Enjoy face painting, food trucks, and many more exciting activities in an evening filled with Halloween fun.
Where: Waukee | More Info: Trunk Or Treat
Night Eyes
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration in a zoo setting with immersive light displays and activities.
Description:
Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo is a merry-not-scary Halloween tradition where families can enjoy enchanted lighted displays, a treat safari, live entertainment, and games while learning about and supporting wildlife. The event features a costume contest, a fun zone with inflatables and carnival games, and themed displays created by the zoo's talented staff and volunteers.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: Night Eyes
Halloween Food, Drink, and Parties Near Des Moines
The Official Halloween Bar Crawl
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration featuring multiple bars, costume contests, and exclusive drink specials.
Description:
Join the 7th Annual Des Moines Official Halloween Bar Crawl on October 26, 2024, for a spooktacular night of bar-hopping. Enjoy over 4+ venues, free entry into the best bars, and exclusive drink specials. The event includes a national costume contest, professional photographers, and an awesome after-party. This is the ultimate Halloween party where you and your friends can dress up in your most creative costumes and explore some of the best bars in Des Moines.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: The Official Halloween Bar Crawl
Halloween Zoo Brew
What to Expect:
Immersive Halloween celebration in a zoo setting with unique activities and local brew samples.
Description:
Celebrate Halloween at Blank Park Zoo with Halloween Zoo Brew, an adults-only event featuring handcrafted light displays, a haunted train ride, adult trick-or-treating, and local brew samples. Enjoy music by the John Paul Jones Group and a variety of activities.
Where: Des Moines | More Info: Halloween Zoo Brew
Other Halloween Activities Near Des Moines
Sensory Friendly Halloween Party at Des Moines Children’s Museum
What to Expect:
A Halloween celebration tailored for children with sensory sensitivities in a low-light, calming environment.
Description:
The Sensory Friendly Halloween Party at Des Moines Children’s Museum is a special event designed for children with sensory sensitivities. On October 25 from 5 to 6 p.m., the museum will host classic and fun party games in a quieter and calmer environment. Activities include fishing for apples, witches hat ring toss, craft and coloring sheets, dancing to the Monster mash, and a scavenger hunt. The event aims to provide a safe and enjoyable Halloween experience for all participants.