116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Halloween Happenings: 23 Spooky attractions and events you should check out this Halloween season
The Gazette
Oct. 18, 2018 12:37 pm
Things are beginning to go bump in the night — and during the day for younger boys and ghouls. Here's a guide to some of the events happening this week, as well as a few to put on your calendars. Watch for more haunted happenings in the Oct. 25 Hoopla and at HooplaNow.com
HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS
CIRCLE OF ASH: 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays, Saturdays, 8 to 10 p.m. Oct. 25 and Sundays, Oct. 19 to 28, Circle of Ash Scream Park, Linn County Fairgrounds, 201 Central City Rd., Central City. Three haunted house attractions, three rides, an Escape Room, and a Murder Mystery Event, plus on-site concessions. Tickets: $20; $35 fast pass; on-site or Circleofash.com
GARRISON'S HAUNTED: 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27, follow the signs on Main Street in Garrison. Tickets: $10, Garrisonshaunted.com. Garrison firefighters fundraiser.
NEVERMOOR: Tales of the Strange: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, Sundays and Oct. 31; 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays, Saturdays; former Planet X building at Lindale Mall, 4444 First Ave. NE, Suite 3001, Cedar Rapids. Two haunted attractions, each about 10 to 12 minutes and 15-minute escape room. More interactive, theatrical tales of the macabre than a haunted house; no gore, but scares lurk through the walls. Cost: $20, $10 more for admission to The Shed; at the door. Nevermoorcr.org
SCREAM ACRES: Admission sold 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October, Bloomsbury Farm, 3260 69th St., Atkins. Four-part haunted attraction with three indoor haunts. Tickets: $20 to $45, on-site or Screamacrespark.com
PROGRAMS
A HAUNTING ON LINCOLN AVENUE: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (10/20), Mathias Ham Historic Site, 2241 Lincoln Ave., Dubuque. Halloween-themed house tours detail Halloween traditions and today's fascination with ghost stories; tours on the hour. Noon: Witches Brew presentation on herb lore at the log cabin, with crafts, games and hot cider. 2 p.m.: Zach Mortensen, The Fire-Eating Hypnotist, tickets, $11.50 adults, $6 children, includes all activities, Rivermuseum.com/events. Tickets for just the Haunting, $7.50 adults, $4 ages 3 to 17, at the door.
SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES: 7 p.m. Fridays in October, Granger House Cultural Center and Museum, 970 10th St., Marion. Oct. 19: A Certain Death, truly terrifying tales of diseases; Oct. 26: Ghost Crier, paranormal investigation results at the house. Cost: $10, Grangerhousemuseum.org/programs--events
TRI-COUNTY HAUNTED HISTORY TOUR: Oct. 25, to haunted sites in Jackson, Jones and Dubuque counties, ending with dinner and presentation by Odyssey Paranormal Society. Cost: $18, includes tour fees and dinner. Details and registration: (563) 652-3783.
FLASHLIGHT TOUR: 9 p.m. to midnight Oct. 27, Granger House Cultural Center and Museum, 970 10th St., Marion. Paranormal investigators will lead participants through The Granger House and the Carriage House. Equipment will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own, including a digital recorder. This event is limited to 20 people and tickets MUST be purchased in advance. Sorry, no walk-ins. Tickets: $20, must be purchased in advance, Grangerhousemuseum.org/programs--events
KIDS/YOUTHS
SAFE HALLOWEEN FOR KIDS: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday (10/21), Ushers Ferry Historic Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Trl. NE, Cedar Rapids. Old-fashioned Halloween event includes trick-or-treating, games and costume contests. Admission: $7 per trick-or-treater; registration encouraged, not required; (319) 286-5566 or Crrec.org
MAD SCIENTIST PARTY & TRICK-OR-TREAT: 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday (10/21), Mississippi River Discovery Center, 350 E. Third St., Dubuque. Live animal programs, trick-or-treating, science experiments, face painting, craft activities for ages 12 and under and families. Costumes encouraged, snacks and beverages are available for purchase; wheelchair and stroller accessible. Cost: $4 members, $5 ages 3 and up, at the door or Rivermuseum.com/events
HARVEST HAYRACK NIGHTS: 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (10/24), Ushers Ferry Historic Village, 5925 Seminole Valley Trl. NE, Cedar Rapids. Hayrack rides, bonfire, s'mores, crafts; saloon open with free popcorn and cocoa, and sarsaparilla for purchase. Cost: $6.25 ages 3 to 14, $9.50 adults. Crrec.org
ANIME-NIACS FANDOM HALLOWEEN PARTY: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25, Hiawatha Public Library, 150 W. Willman St., Hiawatha. For tweens and teens in grades 5 to 12; spooky treats, Jack and Sally crafts, 'Nightmare Before Christmas' movie. Admission: free.
FRIDAY NIGHT SPOOKY SWIM: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26, Bender Pool, 940 14th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Swimming, games, treat bags. Cost: $6.25; swim passes not accepted.
SPECIAL POPULATIONS HALLOWEEN DANCE: 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26, Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th St. NW, Cedar Rapids. The 27th annual Halloween fling with prizes for the best costumes. Cost: $5 at the door. All ages and abilities welcome.
TREATS
TRUNK OR TREAT: 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday (10/20), Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2900 42nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids. Photos, crafts, games, treats. Admission: Free. Gslcr.org
TRUNK OR TREAT: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 25, Western Fraternal Life Association, 1900 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Parking lot filled with decorated vehicle trunks, with treats. Rain site: Annex building next to the parking lot. Admission: Free.
HALLOWEEN PARTY WITH MAGICIAN: 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, Garnett Place Retirement Community, 202 35th St. Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids. Trick-or-treat 5 to 6 p.m., magic show with Tim Stolba 6 to 7 p.m.
COMMUNITY
WINE WITH THE WITCHES: Today (10/18) to Saturday (10/20), shop, dance and drink wine in downtown Dysart. Kickoff: Witches Costume Catwalk on Main Street, followed by Flash Mob Witches Dance, 6 p.m. today (10/18); dress in costume and join in. Friday and Saturday: Shop and Pop, pop a balloon for shopping surprises. Saturday: free pumpkin decorating for kids, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Main Street. Dysartwitches.blogspot.com
ENTERTAINMENT
HAUNTED ILLUSIONS STARRING DAVID CASERTA: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday (10/23), University of Dubuque Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett St., Dubuque. An evening of magic and comedy that gets the whole audience into the act. Cost: $10 to $25, Dbq.edu/HeritageCenter/PurchaseTickets/
PARADES
TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27, Halloween parade through NewBo/Czech Village, Cedar Rapids. Crmainstreet.org
HALLOWEEN PARADE AND CARNIVAL: 6 p.m. Oct. 26, meet at Mercer Park Aquatic Center, 2701 Bradford Dr., Iowa City. Costumed participants of all ages invited to walk around the park and return to the aquatic center for a carnival with treats and games from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free admission; kids must be accompanied by an adult. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled, but the carnival will still be held.
WORKSHOPS
MAKE-AND-TAKE JACK O LANTERN JARS: 10 a.m. to noon Friday (10/19), Baby Time, 1024 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For younger and older kids; includes two jars of your choice, decals, paint and battery-operated tea lights. Drop-in craft takes 20 to 30 minutes; wear paint clothes. Cost: $10; Eventbrite.com/e/make-take-jack-o-lantern-jars-tickets-51340993293
SHAMAN OR WITCH? WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 25, Illuminations, Cherry Building, 329 10th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Learn what these modalities have in common historically and what the difference is between them. Learn how directions and the elements are used in ritual, healings and ceremony. $30, Illuminationscenter.com/event/shaman-or-witch-whats-the-difference