seasonal celebrations Clear Lake Haunted Hike If you dare, they will scare!
Weekends in October 7–11 p.m. and Halloween 7–9 p.m. 2532 South Shore Drive, Clear Lake thedanddranch.com 631-357-1695 $9 The Haunted Hike at the 1884 D &D Ranch includes a Halloween museum featuring classic and well-known spooks, a haunted Old West ghost town, and eight acres of pastures and cornfields, where more horrors await. A cast of college drama students provides fun and dramatic scares; a portion of the proceeds benefits local children’s organizations.
Des Moines Blank Park Zoo’s Night Eyes Merry, not scary!
October 17–20 and 24–27 Thursdays and Fridays 5:30–8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays 1–8 p.m. 7401 SW 9th St., Des Moines blankparkzoo.com 515-288-4722 $5 per person, $4 for members The Blank Park Zoo’s Night Eyes offers Halloween fun for the younger crowd. The event leads costumed kids and their “handlers” on a themed treat safari across the zoo grounds. Favorite storybook characters entertain, and a play area with a bounce house provides a pit stop. Animals with outdoor access sometimes greet visitors. Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park
Five-in-One! 4 October 4, 5, 11, 12, 17–20, 24–27, and Halloween night 4051 Dean Avenue, Des Moines sleepyhollowscreampark.com 515-262-4100 Tour any three haunted houses for $19 or all five for $25 Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park offers five haunted houses, including the vampire-themed Castle of Blood and Twisted Tales (think fairy tales gone wrong). Plus, the entry fee lets visitors fight off a horde of zombies that have overtaken an abandoned research facility at the Duty Calls laser park, join the Club Blood dance party, and tour the Museum of Fear’s collection of authentic props from classic horror films.
heart of darkness, waterloo
Circle of Ash, Cedar Rapids
The Slaughterhouse A bloody good time
Weekends in October, Halloween 8 p.m.–12 a.m. 1300 Metro East Drive, Pleasant Hill theslaughterhousedm.com 515-864-9832 $12 ($10 with coupon) First you’re wheeled in on a pallet jack like a lamb to the slaughter. Then you’re herded through a maze of steel barriers that will put you face to face with “blood, gore, and murderous madmen.” Calling itself “Des Moines’ Most Feared” and “most Iowa-centric” haunted house, The Slaughterhouse earns its reputation with a realistic setting and a dedicated crew of “butchers.” Wicked Wicked fun
October 30–November 10 Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines desmoinesperformingarts.org 515-246-2300 Prices vary; tickets on sale August 5 Wicked returns to Des Moines for a second run after setting sales records with its initial showing in the city in 2011. The award-winning play tells the tale of two notorious witches from Dorothy’s land of Oz and how they became known as The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The musical is recommended for children ages 8 and up.
Malvern Gateway of Chaos Scared for a cause
October 5, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 8–11 p.m. with No-Scare from 7–8 p.m. on October 25 and 26 1605 Main St. Malvern gatewayofchaos.com $9 or $7 with two nonperishable food items. No-Scare is $5. Ranked Iowa’s best haunted house by hauntworld.com, Malvern’s Gateway of Chaos draws thousands of fans from across the state. Dozens of volunteers donate time and money to the event, which donates 100 percent of its proceeds to the Malvern Area Betterment Association, a nonprofit that supports social, educational, and community development.
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