Halloween Events in Ankeny & Des Moines: Your 2026 Guide
Costumes are coming out, pumpkins are appearing on front porches and spooky season is officially here in Central Iowa.
If you're looking for Halloween events in Ankeny and Des Moines in 2026, there's plenty happening throughout October—from trick-or-treating and family events to haunted houses and Halloween nights out for adults.
We've rounded up some of the Halloween events happening around Ankeny and the Des Moines metro this October so you can start filling up your calendar.
Bookmark this page! We'll continue adding events as more 2026 Halloween activities are announced.
Halloween Events in Ankeny, Iowa
Let's start close to home.
Halloween in Uptown Ankeny
Thursday, October 8, 2026
4–8 PM
Uptown Ankeny
Halloween in Uptown is one of Ankeny's biggest Halloween events of the season.
Head to historic Uptown Ankeny for a huge candy-filled evening featuring trunk-or-treating with more than 50 Ankeny businesses and organizations, along with a DJ dance party, costume contest, rides and other Halloween surprises.
Costumes are definitely encouraged.
If you have younger kids who can't wait until Halloween night to break out their costumes, this is an easy one to add to the calendar.
Fall Movie Under the Stars: Hocus Pocus
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Wagner Park | Ankeny
It doesn't get much more Halloween than watching Hocus Pocus outside on an October night.
Ankeny Parks & Recreation is hosting a Fall Movie Under the Stars at Wagner Park featuring the Halloween classic.
Bring blankets and chairs, bundle up if it's chilly and settle in for an outdoor movie night right here in Ankeny.
Fright Lights in Uptown Ankeny
Throughout October
Uptown Ankeny
Make an evening out of seeing the Fright Lights in Uptown.
Halloween light displays transform the district during October, making this an easy activity to pair with dinner, drinks or dessert at one of the businesses in Uptown.
It's also one of those Halloween activities that doesn't require an entire afternoon or a trip across the metro.
Grab a coffee or hot chocolate and take a walk through Uptown after dark.
Heelerween Party at the Ankeny Library
Thursday, October 29, 2026
9:30–11:30 AM
Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library
Have a little one who loves Bluey?
The Ankeny library's Heelerween Party includes a chance to meet a famous Blue Heeler dog, make a craft and trick-or-treat throughout the library.
Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes.
This one is geared toward families looking for a daytime Halloween activity.
Ankeny Trick-or-Treat Night
Saturday, October 31, 2026
6–8 PM
Ankeny's official Trick-or-Treat night will take place on Halloween, Saturday, October 31 from 6–8 PM.
Ankeny has permanently moved its community trick-or-treating to Halloween rather than holding a separate Beggars' Night.
Participation is voluntary, and residents who are handing out candy are encouraged to turn on their front porch lights.
So get the costumes ready—and don't forget the Halloween jokes!
Halloween Events in Des Moines & the Metro
If you're willing to make the short drive from Ankeny, there are even more Halloween activities happening throughout Greater Des Moines.
Monster Mash at the Des Moines Art Center
Saturday, October 10, 2026
11 AM–2 PM
Des Moines Art Center
Here's a Halloween activity that's a little different from the traditional pumpkin patch.
The Des Moines Art Center's free Social Saturday: Monster Mash includes Halloween crafts, a scavenger hunt, spooky storytime, a guided tour and a Halloween performance.
Costumes are welcome, although the Art Center has some costume restrictions to protect the artwork.
The best part?
Admission is free and registration isn't required.
Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo
October 15–25, 2026
Blank Park Zoo | Des Moines
Night Eyes is one of the Des Moines metro's best-known family Halloween traditions.
Blank Park Zoo transforms for Halloween with a kid-friendly experience designed to be more fun than frightening.
If your kids love animals and Halloween, this is an easy way to combine both.
Night Eyes runs on select dates from October 15 through October 25 in 2026, so check the zoo's schedule and ticket availability before you go.
Family Halloween at Living History Farms
October 23–25, 2026
Living History Farms | Urbandale
Step back into the 1876 town of Walnut Hill for one of the metro's most unique trick-or-treating experiences.
During Family Halloween at Living History Farms, kids can trick-or-treat through the historic storefronts, have their fortunes told, watch demonstrations, play games, make crafts and take a twilight horse-drawn wagon ride.
2026 times are:
Friday, October 23: 5–8 PM
Saturday, October 24: 5–8 PM
Sunday, October 25: 3–6 PM
Sunday includes an earlier, toddler-friendly time, making this a good option for families with younger children.
Eerie Evenings at the BOOtanical Garden
Sunday, October 25, 2026
6–9 PM
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden becomes the BOOtanical Garden for Halloween.
Eerie Evenings transforms the tropical conservatory and Gardeners Show House with Halloween décor, dramatic lighting and plenty of spooky plants.
You can wander through at your own pace and experience the Botanical Garden after dark.
If you've been to the Garden during the day, this is a completely different way to experience it.
Boos & Brews at the BOOtanical Garden
Friday, October 30, 2026
7–10 PM
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Looking for a Halloween event without the kids?
Boos & Brews is the Botanical Garden's adults-only Halloween celebration.
The evening includes samples from local breweries and cideries, a live DJ, strolling magic, body art and plenty of Halloween atmosphere throughout the conservatory.
It's a fun option for a Halloween date night or a night out with friends.
Halloween on the Hill
Sherman Hill | Des Moines
Halloween on the Hill is one of Des Moines' most unique neighborhood Halloween traditions.
Historic homes throughout Sherman Hill get into the spirit with elaborate decorations, spooky characters and entertainment.
It's less traditional trick-or-treating and more of a Halloween experience as you walk through one of Des Moines' oldest neighborhoods.
Keep an eye on the event organizers for final 2026 details before heading out.
Looking for Something Scarier?
Not every Halloween event has to be kid-friendly.
If haunted houses are more your speed, Central Iowa has several options.
The Slaughterhouse Haunted Attraction
Located in downtown Des Moines, The Slaughterhouse is an immersive haunted attraction for people looking for something considerably scarier than a family trick-or-treat event.
This is definitely one for the older kids and adults—not the preschool crowd.
Haunted Woods
Head south of Des Moines to Carlisle for an outdoor haunted experience.
Haunted Woods' 2026 season begins October 2 and operates Friday through Sunday, with additional Halloween weekend dates.
Instead of walking through a building, you're making your way through the woods after dark.
We'll let you decide whether that sounds fun or terrifying.
Make a Halloween Weekend Out of It
You don't necessarily have to choose only one activity.
One of the best things about fall in Ankeny and Des Moines is how many seasonal activities are within a relatively short drive.
You could spend the afternoon at a pumpkin patch, grab dinner in Ankeny or Des Moines and finish the evening seeing Halloween lights or heading to a haunted house.
For families, you could also make it your mission to get as much use as possible out of those costumes before October 31.
Between community events, Night Eyes, Living History Farms and Halloween itself, there are plenty of opportunities.
When Is Trick-or-Treating in Ankeny in 2026?
Mark your calendar:
Ankeny Trick-or-Treat: Saturday, October 31, 2026 from 6–8 PM.
The City of Ankeny has permanently moved its community trick-or-treating to Halloween.
Make sure kids have something visible or reflective as it gets dark, watch carefully when crossing streets and be extra cautious if you're driving through residential neighborhoods during trick-or-treating hours.
Des Moines Trick-or-Treat Night
Saturday, October 31, 2026
6–8 PM
Des Moines
Des Moines trick-or-treating will take place on Halloween night from 6–8 PM.
This is a change from the longtime Central Iowa tradition of Beggars' Night on October 30. Des Moines and many surrounding metro communities officially moved trick-or-treating to Halloween beginning in 2025.
And while the date has changed, don't retire your best Halloween jokes just yet. Telling a joke for your candy is a Des Moines tradition worth keeping!
What About the Rest of the Des Moines Metro?
If you're celebrating outside of Ankeny or Des Moines, many surrounding communities have also moved trick-or-treating to October 31 from 6–8 PM.
That includes communities such as West Des Moines, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Grimes and others.
Since Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, it's an especially convenient year for families to get out and trick-or-treat.
As always, check with your individual city before heading out in case hours or plans change.
Halloween in Ankeny & Des Moines
Whether your version of Halloween involves taking the kids trick-or-treating, watching Hocus Pocus, walking through a haunted house or grabbing a Halloween-themed drink with friends, there's plenty happening around Central Iowa this October.
And that's one of our favorite things about living in the Ankeny and Des Moines metro—you don't have to go far to find something fun to do.
Know about a Halloween event in Ankeny or Des Moines that should be on this list? Send it our way! We'll continue updating our 2026 guide as Halloween gets closer.
And if you're thinking about making a move in Ankeny or the surrounding Des Moines metro, the Hokel Real Estate Team would love to help you find your place here.