Fall just might be the most wonderful time of the year in Des Moines! From pumpkin patches and apple orchards to hay rides and trick or treating, there are so many fun things to do with your family in October before it gets too cold to be outside! And in the words of Anne of Greene Gables, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

Send us an email if we missed anything and we will add it to the list!

October 2016 events and activities

October 1 and October 15 | Harvest Wagon Rides at Living History Farms
5 p.m.
Admission: $15. Advanced tickets required.
Details: Bring your blanket and enjoy an evening horse and wagon ride

October 1, 2 | Country Celebration at Center Grove Orchard, Cambridge
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission: $12.95
Featuring music, hayrides, face paintings, and a Pumpkin Princess.

October 1, 2, 8, 9 | Apple & Pumpkin Fest at Wills Family Orchard in Adel
Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Admission: from $3
Details: hay wagon rides, corn maze, live music, and more

October 8–9 | Covered Bridge Festival in Winterset
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $2; children 12 and under are free

October 9 | Fall Frenzy at Walker Johnson Park in Urbandale
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Details: Enjoy a scavenger hunt, crafts, and outdoor games.

October 12 | Pixies & Pirates Day at the Urbandale Library
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Free movie and popcorn for the kids while adults can meet Margaret Kerry, the original model for Disney’s Tinker Bell.

October 13 | Pixies & Pirates Night at the Glynn Village Clubhouse
1440 SE Waddell Way, Waukee
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Includes free Pixies and Pirates crafts, face painting, cookie-making station, appetizers from the Mandarin Grill & Sushi Bar, stories by Tinker Bell from Princess Parties, and more.

October 14 | Family Night at Science Center of Iowa
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission: $5

October 14 | Parent’s Night Out, Pump It Up of Urbandale
5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Price: $20 per child; includes open jump time in our arenas, games, dinner, and craft project.

October 15 | Live Healthy Iowa Kids Run
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

October 15 | Printing the Prairie at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Admission: Members: child/adult pair – $10.50; additional child: $7.50
Nonmembers: child/adult pair: $18; additional child: $10
Celebrate Iowa’s native plants and prairie landscape by creating monoprints using native grasses and wildflowers.

October 15, 22 | Pumpkin Express, Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Admission: $22. Advanced tickets required.

October 15-16 | Pumpkin Fest at Center Grove Orchard, Cambridge
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission: $12.95
Enjoy seasonal items from the Country Store, find the perfect pumpkin, and meet the Pumpkin Princess.

October 17 | Tinker Bell Talks
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Waukee High School Auditorium, 555 SE University Ave, Waukee
Learn about Margaret Kerry, the original model for Disney’s Tinker Bell, her life in the movies, and have a chance to chat with her.

October 17, 18, 19 | The Great Pumpkin Party at Valley Church in West Des Moines
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
October 17 is for families with special needs
Admission: Free

October 18 | WOW! It’s Tinker Bell
Women of Worth Luncheon, 1701 Campus Drive, Clive
11:30 a.m. to 1:30p.m.

October 20, 21, 22, 23 & October 27, 28, 29, 30 | Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo
Thursdays & Fridays: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission: advance tickets $4; children 12 months and under are free
Details: Trick-or-treat through the zoo   

October 22 | Superhero/Princess 5K and Kids Fun Run Des Moines Riverwalk Hub
9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

October 22 | “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”  at Center Grove Orchard, Cambridge
Noon to 4 p.m.
Admission: $12.95
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic Charlie Brown TV special including a special showing of the cartoon!

October 22, 23 | Spirits in the Garden at Reiman Gardens, Ames
4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: Free for kids ages 18 and under. $8 for adults

October 23 | Valley Junction Pumpkin Walk
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

October 23 | Scare Us Hill Children’s Event
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

October 23 | Fall Festival Trunk ‘n Treat at Lutheran Church of Hope
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

October 25 | Family Night Trick or Treat at Valley West Mall
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Enjoy inflatable rides, crafts, balloon animals, and temporary tattoos.

October 27 | Trick or Treat at Homemakers
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

October 28 | Not So Scary Jump at Pump It Up of Urbandale
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $10/child preregister or $12/child at door

October 28 | Trunk or Treat at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
A safe and fun party for the whole family, featuring trick or treating in the parking lot and fun activities inside!

October 29-30 | Costume Weekend at Center Grove Orchard, Cambridge
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission: $12.95
Trick-or-treating in the farmyard.

October 30 | Beggar’s Night
Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights

October 31 | Halloween
Trick or treat in Adel, Grimes, and Dallas Center

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