Halloween Events and Trick or Treat Times in the Iowa City Area

The spooky season has arrived! It’s time to start shopping for costumes — consider second-hand shopping! —picking out candy, and thinking about local Halloween events and activities, like trick-or-treating. Enjoy this handy guide to all things Halloween, including events and trick or treat times in the Iowa City area.

graphic: Halloween in the Iowa City area


Halloween Events and Trick or Treat Times in the Iowa City Area

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021

WhatPumpkin Painting & Carving
When: Wed., Oct. 13, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Community Center, 520 W Cherry St.
Know Before You Go: Let the kids get your home ready for Halloween. Children 12 years and younger may visit the Community Center for painting or carving a pumpkin. Registered kids pick out their own pumpkin to carve or decorate, or both! North Liberty city staff will provide all materials needed to get the job done with treats included. Mask required.

Friday, Oct. 15, 2021

What: Halloween Moonlight Walk and StoryWalk
When: 
Friday, Oct. 15
Where: Liberty Centre Pond
Know Before You Go: StoryWalk is at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Park at the Community Center and meet the North Liberty Library in front of US Bank at 6:30 p.m. for a live StoryWalk reading of Creepy Carrots before exploring the display around Liberty Centre Pond. A second live reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. but attendees can do a self-guided StoryWalk at any time throughout the evening. A Moonlight Walk will follow from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Park at the Community Center and walk through the Ranshaw Way (Highway 965) underpass to Liberty Centre Pond. The pathway will be lit by all kinds of friendly ghosts to help you along the way. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. A backdrop will be set up for you to snap photos to share on social media. This is an all ages, family event but children must be supervised by an adult. No registration needed. Please be mindful of your distance from other groups.

Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021

What: Solon Trunk or Treat
When: Saturday, Oct. 23, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: S. Chabal St, Solon
Know Before You Go: Come out for the third year of truck or treat fun at the Solon Recreation and nature area parking lot. All ages welcome.

What: Floating Pumpkin Patch
When: Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Where: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center
Know Before You Go: Swimmers ages 2 – 12 years old are welcome to jump in and grab a pumpkin. Participants will leave with a baggie of stickers and decorations to decorate their pumpkin at home! This event is $5 per child and registration is required.

What: Inclusion Fright Night Dance
When: Saturday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Where: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center
Before You Go: This Halloween bash will be sure to bring out the scariest creatures. Wear your most frightful or creative costume for a chance to win a prize.Registration is $6 per person.

Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021

WhatFall Festival at Sidekick Coffee & Books
When: Sunday, Oct. 24, 1 p.m.
Where: Sidekick Coffee & Books (1310 1/2 Melrose Ave.)
Know Before You Go: Enjoy outdoor games, musical performances, crafts, stories, and more!

Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021

WhatParanormal Iowa with Chad Lewis
When: Wednesday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Where: Coralville Public Library
Know Before You Go: Join us at the Coralville Public Library as Paranormal Researcher Chad Lewis shares his experiences and research about phantom animals, mysterious UFOs, and the things that go bump in the night right here in Iowa! This event is free.

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 

What: Tot Time Monster Mash
When: Thursday, Oct. 28, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Mercer Park Aquatic Center & Scanlon Gym
Know Before You Go: Kids ages 6 and under are invited to put on their Halloween costumes. Activities include inflatables, carnival games, prizes, stories, crafts, and more.

What: Webb-O-Lanterns
When: Thursday, Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m.
Where: North Liberty Library
Know Before You Go: Join the library for an informative evening with a NASA subject matter expert to learn about the Webb Space Telescope launch. Pumpkins and templates will be provided for a create your own Webb-O-Lantern! This program is appropriate for third graders to adults. Masks required. This event is free, but registration is required.

What: Haunted Happenings
When: Thursday, Oct. 28, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Lower level of the North Liberty Community Center
Know Before You Go: After a year hiatus, Haunted Happenings returns with a Overconscientious plan for its unvaccinated target audience of preschool and grade school children. The lower level of the Community Center will be transformed into a collection of spooky scenes to view and a maze to walk through before getting your picture taken and receiving a bag of treats from the North Liberty Optimists. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

Friday, Oct. 29, 2021

What: Halloween Carnival
When: Friday, Oct. 29, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Where: Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center
Know Before You Go: Ghostly carnival games, spooky experiments, and prizes, oh my! This free Halloween-themed carnival is best served for children ages 10 and under. Halloween costumes are encouraged, but not required.

What: Trick or Treat on Main Street – West Branch
When: Friday, Oct. 29, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Main Street, West Branch
Know Before You Go: Grab the kids and head down to historic Main Street West Branch to kick off Halloween weekend! Businesses will be lining the streets to welcome your families and hand out treats. Enjoy a festive photo opp, free tote bags, and free grab-and-go hot dogs and chips in Heritage Square. Stick around to eat, shop, and explore local shops and restaurants!

What: Hocus Pocus at FilmScence in the Park
When: Friday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Where: Chauncey Swan Park
Know Before You Go: Free! Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department is teaming up with FilmScene to show the frightfully fun, family flick Hocus Pocus at Chauncey Swan Park!

What: Haunted Happenings
When: Friday, Oct. 29, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Lower level of the North Liberty Community Center
Know Before You Go: After a year hiatus, Haunted Happenings returns with a Overconscientious plan for its unvaccinated target audience of preschool and grade school children. The lower level of the Community Center will be transformed into a collection of spooky scenes to view and maze to walk through before getting your picture taken and receiving a bag of treats from the North Liberty Optimists. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021

What: Halloween at the Iowa City Farmers Market
When: Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, 10 a.m. –  12 p.m.
Where: Iowa City Farmers Market, Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp
Know Before You Go: All are invited to come in costume and trick-or-treat at the vendor tables. The costume parade is 10 a.m., where kids and parents gather at the north side of the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp. Stick around to decorate a pumpkin to take home! This event is free, and kids of all ages are welcome.

What: Halloween at the Farm!
When: Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Bass Farms, 840 Bass Lane, Mount Vernon
Know Before You Go: Bring your family to pick out your pumpkins, shop the country store, and have some family fun! Halloween specials include a corn maze, pumpkin house,  giant Guess Who Game, and spider web in addition to their usual fall activities like hayrack rides, bouncy houses, slingshots, 18 hole mini-golf, giant tic tac toe, giant checkerboard tables, teeter-totters, life-size connect four, giant Jenga, photo ops, candy corn bag toss, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin slide, corn hole, and more! The cost is $8. Kids age two and younger are free.

What: Open Roller Skating
When: Saturday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. -7:45 p.m.
Where: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center
Know Before You Go: Free roller skating! Socks are required, don’t forget to bring your own. Skates provided.

WhatRocky Horror Picture Show
When: Saturday, Oct. 30, 11:50 p.m.
Where: The Englert
Know Before You GoThe Englert Theatre and Comics in Action are proud to bring the Rocky Horror Picture Show to life once again at the Englert! Come out at midnight for the only film that, for 40 years and running, brings together costumes, screaming, laughs, and the occasional thrown object! We’ll provide the props (included with your ticket purchase).

Sunday, October 31, 2021

WhatParty at the Fire Station
When: Sunday, Oct. 31, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Fire Station, 25 W. Cherry St.
Know Before You Go: Join Sparky to check out some fire trucks, meet some fire fighters and, of course, grab some candy.

WhatCoralville Trick or Treat Night
When: 5:30 – 8 p.m.
Where: Coralville
Know Before You Go: Trick or treating is scheduled rain or shine. If handing out candy, be sure to sanitize frequently. Do not participate if awaiting COVID-19 results.

WhatIowa City Trick or Treat Night
When: 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Where: Iowa City
Know Before You Go: Dress up and go door-to-door. The City of Iowa City recommends mask wearing and keeping a distance when possible.

WhatNorth Liberty Trick or Treat Night
When: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Where: North Liberty
Know Before You Go: The annual tradition. As the pandemic continues, consider alternatives like contactless candy-delivery methods and limiting your trick-or-treating group to those you already have frequent interaction with.

Katie
Katie is a spouse, mother, and professional communicator. She became acquainted with Iowa City as a student at the University of Iowa, earning degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and most recently her MA in Strategic Communication. Katie and her husband met and fell in love in Iowa City, deciding to never leave. Their family can often be found eating their way through downtown, walking their dog in City Park, or cheering on their beloved Hawkeyes at live sporting events.

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