Check out this list of events happening in the Des Moines area this weekend, October 25-27. We’ve curated the ones that we found most interesting and listed them here for you.
Disclaimer: Events are subject to change or sell out. Please contact the businesses directly to confirm availability via the links below.
Featured Event
Costumes & Cocktails Party: ‘Til Death Do Us at Republic On Grand
- Saturday, October 26, 7-10 p.m.
- Wicked Heights at Republic on Grand, 401 E Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50309
Halloween parties are the theme of this weekend, and we’re most looking forward to this one on Saturday!Head up to the rooftop of the AC Hotel for a night of eerie excitement, featuring DJ cdisiac spinning the best beats from 7 PM to 10 PM. Dress to impress in your most creative or terrifying costume, and get ready for an unforgettable evening of music and dancing ’til you drop.
Friday, October 25
Halloween Costume Party at Up-Down
- Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26
- Up-Down, 500 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Kick off Halloweekend at an East Village staple! For two nights only, hit up Up-Down’s Annual Halloween Party, featuring specialty cocktails, blood bags, and decor galore. Snap a photo at the photo booth and enter the nightly costume contest. Stick around until 11 p.m. for a chance at the prize for individual and group costumes!
The Top Off at Elevencherry Salon
- Friday, October 25, 4 – 7 p.m.
- Elevencherry Salon, 106 11th St #105, Des Moines, IA 50309
It is the last Friday of the month, so you know what that means! Stop by Elevencherry Salon for The Top Off, a monthly cocktail party to giggle, sip, and unwind. This month, enjoy a happy hour like no other, featuring The Bitter Truth (a Campari cocktail with tart grapefruit and hoppy IPA), tarot by @madelinegbagby, and handmade clay jewelry by @naeclayco!
Wine, Witches, and Brews in The Indianola Square
- Friday, October 25, 5 – 9 p.m.
- The Indianola Square, 125 West Salem Avenue, Indianola, Iowa 50125
View this post on Instagram
Jester Park After Dark
- Friday, October 25, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 NW 128th St, Granger, IA 50109
Soak up the last bits of the season at Jester Park with a spooooooky twist! Experience the park after dark at this free and family-friendly event. Enjoy everything the park has to offer – in or out of costume – for a Halloween-themed evening in nature.
Halloween Choreo and Scary Movie at Encore Fitness
- Friday, October 25, 6:30 p.m.
- Encore Fitness, 1300 NW 100th St #5000, Clive, IA 50325
View this post on Instagram
Late Nite by Lamp Light at The Picker Knows
- Friday, October 25, 7 – 10 p.m.
- The Picker Knows, 1208 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265
View this post on Instagram
Saturday, October 26
LAST WEEKEND: Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market
Photo Credit: @dtfarmersmarket
- Saturday, October 26, 8 a.m. – Noon
- Des Moines’ Historic Court District
It is the final weekend to enjoy the 49th season of the Downtown Des Moines Farmers’ Market! The Market is an open-air street market located in the Historic Court District in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). Vendors will be set up outdoors on Court Avenue and adjacent side streets. It’s one of the best in the country! Don’t miss it this season and see some of our absolute favorite small business owners from around the metro.
Ghoul’s Night Out in the East Village
- Saturday, October 26, 5-8 p.m.
- Historic East Village, lots of shops participating!
Gather your gang and take to the streets of the East Village on the evening of October 26th from 5 until 8 PM for a spirited good time at Ghoul’s Night Out. Drinks, treats, late-night shopping, and special events lie in wait for you. Costumes highly encouraged! There are other great offers throughout the day on the 26th too!
Wicked Art at Gabriel House
- Saturday, October 26, 1 – 6 p.m.
- Gabriel House, 1701 Pennsylvania Ave, Des Moines, IA 50316
View this post on Instagram
Giver’s Night in Highland & Oak Park
- Saturday, October 26, 4 -7 p.m.
- The Highland and Oak Park Small Businesses
“Join the small businesses along 6th & Euclid Avenues in the Historic Highland Park Business District for a special neighborhood trick-or-treat event! We invite you to don your costumes and bring along donations for The Supply Hive to swap for a treat! Suggested Donations include: non-perishable Food Items, fresh food for community fridges, hygiene/personal care products, household paper products, diapers, and formula. (We realize that making these kinds of donations is not reasonable or realistic for every family – your kiddos will NOT be denied a treat due to lack of donation!) Donations will be accepted at each participating location.”
Halloween Sanctuary Stroll at Iowa Farm Sanctuary
- Saturday, October 26, 4:30 – 7 p.m.
- Iowa Farm Sanctuary, 1696 250th Street NW, Oxford, IA, 52322
View this post on Instagram
Halloween Party at Confluence Brewing
- Saturday, October 26, 6 – 10 p.m.
- Confluence Brewing, 1235 Thomas Beck Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315
Celebrate Halloween at Confluence Brewing! Be sure to show up in costume and get your first beer for FREE! Bring a few friends and get a free photo strip at the Halloween photo booth, and stick around for the costume contest at 7 p.m. – the top three costumes will receive gift cards and bragging rights!
Halloween Party at Smash Park
- Saturday, October 26, 6 p.m.
- Smash Park, 6625 Coachlight Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266
If you want to celebrate out in West Des Moines, head out to Smash Park for a Halloween Party! Enjoy live music, specialty beverages, and a treat (no trick!) if you come in costume!
Boo-tanical Brews at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Saturday, October 26, 7 – 10 p.m.
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309
View this post on Instagram
Emo Nite at Wooly’s
- Saturday, October 26, 10 p.m.
- Wooly’s, 504 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Embrace your inner and outer emo at Emo Nite! Pull together your best emo fit and get your tickets for a night full of your favorite emo hits. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 10 p.m. event.
Halloween Drag Show and Costume Contest at The Garden
- Saturday, October 26, 10 p.m.
- The Garden, 525 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309
It is spooky season, and what better way to celebrate than with an evening drag show! Come dressed in your best costume to enter the Halloween costume. Be sure to make your reservation because there will be some HOT talent, including Luca Choo, Jade Knight, Brandonna Dupri Lareese, Ava Tremaine Cass, and Ryder Lambert. Plus, there will be NO cover that night, and food will be served until close!
Sunday, October 25
Day of the Dead Celebration at the Des Moines Art Center
- Sunday, October 27, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
Celebrate Día de Los Muertos the Des Moines Art Center! This free and festive event features family-friendly art activities, food, music, and more. The day will include a Catrina costume contest and an ofrenda designed by young local artists. “This year, we are honoring Jóvenes de la Flama Eterna “Youth of the Eternal Flame”— remembering and celebrating the lives of young members of our community, lost too soon.”
Trick or Treat with Your Pup at Paws & Pints
- Sunday, October 27, Noon – 4 p.m.
- Paws & Pints, 6218 Willowmere Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321
Of course we couldn’t leave your pups without a way to celebrate Halloween! Per usual, Paws & Pints has us covered with the cutest Halloween even of the season. Bring your dressed-up dogs and enter the costume contest, make your way through the haunted dog house, take part in a special trick-or-treat activity, and so much more!
Pumpkin Walk in the Historic Valley Junction
- Sunday, October 27, 2 – 5 p.m.
- Historic Valley Junction
Celebrate Halloween in the Historic Valley Junction! Bring your friends and family for an afternoon of trick-or-treating, hay rides, and food and drink. Enjoy performances by The Betty Hill Dancers, and snag a FREE pumpkin from The Theatrical Shop, while supplies last!
