Halloween Events in the Corridor for Kids, Pets, & Adults [LIST]

Looking for something fun to do to celebrate Halloween? Here are some of the events happening in Linn and Johnson County in the second half of October:

Pet Halloween Events

Dog-O-Ween
- Theisen's (1800 51st St NE), Cedar Rapids
- Sunday, October 22nd at 3 p.m.
- "Dress up your furry friends for a howlin’ good time at our NE Location in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, October 22nd for the annual Dog-O-Ween Costume Contest. Your $10 entry per dog benefits local pet organizations (Cedar Valley Humane Society), plus all entries will receive goodie bags filled with savings! Dress up your pooch for the dog only category or join in the fun and enter as a combo. Register any time after 1:00 pm for the contest at 3!"
Wag-O-Ween
- Big Grove Brewery, Iowa City
- Sunday, October 22nd from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- "Attendees of all ages will enjoy meeting adoptable dogs and cats, a bounce house, pumpkin decorating, a costume contest and more! New this year, we will have raffle baskets available to win! Buy a raffle ticket and you just might be one of the lucky winners who walks away with a gift basket or two from some of your favorite local businesses! The auction proceeds will all benefit Last Hope."
- Admission is $5 for ages 2 to18 (ages 2 and under are free) and $10 per adult - vaccinated dogs are welcome
Frightmare Biscuit Hunt
- Cheyenne Off-Leash Dog Park, Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 28th at 11 a.m.
- "...we hide the treats and your pooch will hunt them down! Biscuit hunts are a fun way to treasure hunt while socializing with other canine friends. There will be a costume contest for the best dog costume and for the best owner/dog combo costume. Multiple prizes will be given out, so get your thinking cap on!"
- Event is free, but donations are appreciated
Dog-o-ween: A Howl-oween Celebration for Dogs
- NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 28th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- "Join us from 11am to 3pm along with your beloved furry companion for a delightful day filled with a canine costume contest, the Iowa Ceramics Center's Paw Print Keepsake activity, a charming Dog and Owner Photo Booth, a showcase of small businesses offering a variety of dog-related products, and so much more! Dress up your dog in a Halloween costume and stop at different booths for a trick or treats."
Pet's Playhouse Halloween Celebration
- Pets Playhouse, Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 28th at 10 a.m.
- Featuring a costume contest (for pets and kids), food, a petting zoo, and more

Adult Halloween Events

Wine with the Witch
- Bloomsbury Farm, Atkins
- Thursday, October 19th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- "You will enjoy an evening full of deliciously frightful wine and entertainment by Wheezy the Witch & friends, as well as VIP access to 2 of our haunted attractions! 1 drink ticket is included in your ticket. A private bar will be available for additional beverage purchases."
- Tickets are $49.95 per person - purchase them HERE
Post Halloween Parade Party
- Chrome Horse Saloon, Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 21st from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Featuring live music, a DJ, and a costume contest with cash prizes
- Admission is $10 per person
Witch Walk Sip & Shop
- Downtown Swisher
- Thursday, October 26th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- "Shopping, music, specials, food, drinks & more! Grab a punch card at your starting location - get a punch at each stop and be entered to win the Spooktacular Gift Basket full of goodies!"
Alisabeth Von Presley's Disney Villains Halloween Bash
- The Ideal Theater & Bar, Cedar Rapids
- Friday, October 27th at 8 p.m.
- "Alisabeth Von Presley brings her signature ELECTRIC style to The Ideal stage for the first time...with her Disney Villains Halloween Bash!! Come as your favorite Disney villain (or whatever you want!) to AVP's annual Halloween party. Fishbait opens the evening with their own unique brand of punk rock."
- Tickets are $17 per person - purchase them HERE
Dance of the Dead 3 Halloween Party
- The Olympic South Side Theater, Cedar Rapids
- Friday, October 27th at 8 p.m.
- Featuring a DJ, a taco bar, and a costume contest
- Tickets are $15 at the door
The Shining Halloween Party
- The Ideal Theater & Bar, Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 28th at 8 p.m.
- "For one night, The Ideal becomes The Gold Room from The Shining. Step in (if you dare) to the Overlook Hotel and into the magic of The Gold Room, where ghosts of parties past waltz in the golden light. Speakeasy-soul sensation VANDELLO entertains party goers the entire evening. The Shining-themed costumes OR 1920's Gatsby garb is encouraged, but not required."
- Tickets are $15 per person - purchase them HERE
Cedar Rapids Haunted Halloween Ball
- The DoubleTree by Hilton Convention Complex, Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 28th at 7 p.m.
- Featuring costume contests with cash prizes, food trucks, photo booths, live music, and more
- Tickets are $22 for general admission and $47 for VIP - purchase them HERE
Halloween Bar Crawl
- Downtown Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 28th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Featuring drink/food specials, a costume contest, professional photographers, and more
- Tickets are $25 - purchase them HERE
Iowa City Official Halloween Bar Crawl
- Downtown Iowa City
- Saturday, October 28th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Featuring food/drink specials, a costume contest, a photographer, and more
- Tickets are $12.99 - purchase them HERE
The Halloween Ball
- Eastbank Venue & Lounge, Cedar Rapids
- Sunday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m.
- Guests are encouraged to dress up
- Tickets are $45 for general admission and $75 for VIP - purchase them HERE

Kid/Family-Friendly Halloween Events

The Great Pumpkin Float
- Ely City Park
- Friday, October 20th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- "For this one special night, the City Park Pond will come aglow with floating pumpkins. The smell of fire pits and roasting marshmallows will fill the air while your favorite Halloween tunes help to bring the spooky vibe. Ely Parks & Recreation will be selling $1 s'more kits, hot chocolate, hot dogs and other beverages at the concession stand during the event. Families are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to sit on. Want to watch your own pumpkin float on the water? You can! Staff will provide the rafts and the light - all you need to bring is a carved pumpkin. Your pumpkin MUST weigh 5lbs or less to float."
- To reserve a raft, sign up via CivicRec HERE - there are 50 total slots available
Teen Tree House of Horrors Dance
- Mercer Park, Iowa City
- Friday, October 20th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- "Show off your Monster Mash skills at the Halloween dance. We will have games, pictures, and a costume contest for a variety of categories. Refreshments will be provided. Join us for a night of frights and friends! Ages 12-16 welcome."
Cedar Rapids Haunted Halloween Parade
- NewBo & Czech Village District
- Saturday, October 21st at 6:30 p.m.
- Creepy Kid Zone begins at NewBo City Market at 4 p.m. with Family Costume Contest at 5 p.m.
Wickiup Fall Fest
- Wickiup Hill Learning Center, Toddville
- Saturday, October 21st from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- "Come out and experience our friendly trick or treat hike through the woods, pumpkin bowling, straw scramble, creepy critters, and more! Aimed at ages 3-10, but younger and older attendees welcome. Costumes are encouraged!"
- Cost is $3 per child - register online HERE
Halloween Carnival
- McGrath Powersports, Cedar Rapids
- Saturday, October 21st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- "Join us Chrome Divas at our Halloween Carnival. We will have free cookie decorating! We will have tickets to purchase for games and bounce houses. First 50 kids in costume will get a special prize! Chrome Horse will [serve] lunch"
Tiffin Halloween Hike
- Tiffin Soccer Fields
- Saturday, October 21st from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- "Dress up in your Halloween costume, get candy, enjoy games, crafts and more! Make sure you stop at every booth to get all the supplies to create your pumpkin craft at the end of the hike! And it's all free! Enjoy an evening with your family!"
- Winter clothing donations will be accepted to help families in the CCA School District
Floating Pumpkin Patch
- Robert A Lee Community Center, Iowa City
- Saturday, October 21st from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- "Swimmers ages 2-12 are welcome to jump in to the pool and grab their pumpkin (one per person) and swim around with it. Swimmers 2-4 will retrieve their pumpkins from the enclosed baby pool area. Swimmers 5-12 can access the main pool. Swimmers will have a 30 minute window for free swim. All participants will leave with a baggie of stickers and decorations to decorate their pumpkin at home!"
- Cost is $10
Safe Halloween for Kids
- Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Cedar Rapids
- Sunday, October 22nd from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- "Enjoy the annual old-fashioned Halloween at the village with trick-or-treating, games and costume contests. Registering in advance is encouraged but not required."
- Cost is $5 per child - register online HERE
Halloween Spooktacular
- The Fun Station, Cedar Rapids
- Sunday, October 22nd from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Featuring balloon twisting, Halloween movies, cookie decorating, arts & crafts, and candy - kids in costume get a FREE Play Maze Ticket for a future visit
- Purchase tickets online HERE
Day of the Dead
- NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids
- Friday, October 27th from 5:30 p.m.to 7:30 p.m.
- "Fuerzas Culturales will commence the evening at 5:30 pm with an opening introduction. Following this, there will be alternating sessions of dance performances and Loteria (Mexican Bingo). Once the dance and Loteria activities are concluding, a screening of "Coco" in Spanish will take place. Additionally, attendees can enjoy face painting services and explore a communal ofrenda (altar) during the event."
Halloween Carnival
- Robert A Lee Community Center, Iowa City
- Friday, October 27th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- "Ghostly carnival games, inflatables, seasonal crafts, magical STEAM activities, special visitors, and more! Halloween costumes are encouraged but are not required."
Monster Mash Bash
- Solon Recreation & Nature Area
- Saturday, October 28th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Featuring trunk or treat, inflatables, a pumpkin carving contest, vendors, food trucks, a silent auction, and more
Halloween at the Market
- Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, Iowa City
- Saturday, October 28th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- "All are invited to come in costume and trick-or-treat at the vendor tables! Kids and parents will gather at the north side of the Chauncey Swan Parking Garage at 10 a.m. for a costume parade. Stick around to decorate a pumpkin to take home! Kids of all ages welcome."
Halloween at the Farm
- Bass Farms, Mount Vernon
- October 28th & 29th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- "Wear your costumes and have some fun! Bring your family to pick out your pumpkins, shop our country store, and have some family fun! Activities include hay rack rides, giant jumping pad, grain cart basketball (NEW), soccer ball billiards (NEW), sling shots, spider webs, 18 hole mini-golf, tire playground, pedal carts, GIANT tic tac toe, GIANT checker board tables, teeter totters, LIFE size connect four, GIANT Jenga, photo ops, candy corn bag toss, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin slide, corn hole and much much more!"
- Admission is $10 - ages 2 and under are free
HalloWEEKEND 2023
- The Iowa Children's Museum, Coralville
- October 28th, 29th, & 31st from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- "Bats, spiders, pumpkins, and more will take over our exhibits during the spooky season and families can check out special Halloween activities. Pirate Pete’s Trick-or-Treasure Takeover: Our mascot, Pete, is wearing his pirate costume for Halloween this year and taking over the museum with spooky, swashbuckling fun! Build a sea-worthy ship in the blue room, make a pizza with treacherous toppings, and deposit gold doubloons at the bank. We’ll also have pirate training activities, a scallywag scavenger hunt, sea shanty sing-alongs, and so much more! Costumes are encouraged (but not required)"
- Admission is $ per child/adult (ages 1 and under are free) and $9 for ages 60+
Trick-or-Treat with SCOOB
- Marcus Theatres, Cedar Rapids
- October 28th & 29th at 10:30 a.m.
- Featuring a screening of "Scoob!", trick-or-treat stations, photo opportunities, Halloween crafts and more - costumes are encouraged
- Tickets are $9 - purchase them HERE
Cedar Rapids Fire Department's Trick or Treat Open House
- 700 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
- Sunday, October 29th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- "Come join us for our first Truck or Treat Open House! This family friendly event is sure to be one you won't want to miss. Children's costume contest, self guided tours, activities for children, and CANDY!"
Fall Festival
- Guthridge Park, Hiawatha
- Sunday, October 29th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- "Dress up in your best costume and join us for tricks and treats at the Hiawatha Farmers Market! Enjoy treats from the vendors, performances by Prestige Dance Studio and a costume contest sponsored by Metro Kiwanis!"
Kids' Halloween Brunch
- Chrome Horse Saloon, Cedar Rapids
- Sunday, October 29th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- "Please come out for our annual Halloween Kids' Brunch for only $5. We will have free face painting and fun and games."
Tot Monster Mash
- Mercer Park, Iowa City
- Tuesday, October 31st from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- "Youths ages 1-6 are invited to put on their Halloween costume and join us at the Monster Mash! Activities include inflatables, carnival games, prizes, stories, crafts, and more."

Haunted Houses/Attractions

Circle of Ash
- Linn County Fairgrounds, Central City
- Attractions
  - Circle of Ash Haunted House
  - Frightmare Forest
  - Socko's Fun House
- Hours
  - Fridays in October from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
  - Saturdays in October from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.
  - October 19th & 26th from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  - October 22nd & 29th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Light-Fright on Sunday, October 29th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. for $10 per family
- Purchase tickets online HERE
The 5th Realm
- Lindale Mall, Cedar Rapids
- Hours
  - Fridays & Saturdays through October 28th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
  - Thursdays & Sundays from October 12th through 29th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Purchase tickets online HERE
Eclypse
- 171 Hwy 1 W, Iowa City
- Hours
  - October 20th, 21st, 27th, & 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
  - October 22nd & 29th from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  - Blackout Nights on October 19th & 26th from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  - Halloween from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Purchase tickets online HERE
Haunted Hayrack Rides
- Wilson's Orchard, Iowa City
- October 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th, & 29th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- "As the hayrack begins its slow, creaky journey through a moonlit forest, you'll encounter spooky surprises along the way. There will be themed scenic stops throughout the ride - perfect for capturing those magical family moments. The ride also includes a stop at our corn maze, rumored to be the site of frequent alien sightings!"
- Tickets are $15 - purchase them HERE
Tunnel of Terror
- Tommy's Express Car Wash, Cedar Rapids (4035 1st Ave SE & 4420 Westdale Pkwy SW)
- October 20th & 21st and 27 & 28th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- "Join us on-site for the best haunted car wash and leave with a scary, clean car."
- Cost is $20 per car
Spooky Hayrack Night
- Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Cedar Rapids
- Wednesday, October 25th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- "Come to Ushers Ferry for our last fall hayrack night with a Halloween twist! In addition to the hayrack ride, enjoy a children's craft, s'mores and hot cocoa around the bonfire where you may meet a mysterious village resident and enjoy an after-dark guided tour. Hear some of the darker and rarely told history of Ushers Ferry along the way and perhaps enjoy a classic spine-tingling tale or two!"
- Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door (ages 5 and under are free) - register online HERE
Ely's Haunted House
- 1510 Walker Street (the house behind the library), Ely
- Friday, October 27th from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- A less scary (actor free) version of the Haunted House will be available on Thursday, October 26th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Admission is free, but donations are welcome