October 2026 Events in Des Moines
Event list last updated
Things to do in Des Moines in October 2026
October in Des Moines is Halloween season: haunted houses, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and neighborhood trick-or-treating.
We listed 977 events in Des Moines and the suburbs for October 2026. The busiest categories are entertainment, music and arts.
Seasonal picks from the October 2026 calendar
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October 2026 by day
- Thu, Oct 11None
- Fri, Oct 22None
- Sat, Oct 33None
- Sun, Oct 44None
- Mon, Oct 55None
- Tue, Oct 66None
- Wed, Oct 77None
- Thu, Oct 88None
- Fri, Oct 99None
- Sat, Oct 101053 events
- Sun, Oct 111133 events
- Mon, Oct 121214 events
- Tue, Oct 131325 events
- Wed, Oct 141433 events
- Thu, Oct 151550 events
- Fri, Oct 161658 events
- Sat, Oct 171772 events
- Sun, Oct 181850 events
- Mon, Oct 191919 events
- Tue, Oct 202034 events
- Wed, Oct 212133 events
- Thu, Oct 222251 events
- Fri, Oct 232366 events
- Sat, Oct 242472 events
- Sun, Oct 252547 events
- Mon, Oct 262623 events
- Tue, Oct 272738 events
- Wed, Oct 282829 events
- Thu, Oct 292937 events
- Fri, Oct 303067 events
- Sat, Oct 313173 events
Oct 5 - Oct 11 (86 events)
7:00 PM CTMadison County Courthouse Square
Madison County Covered Bridge Festival
Join us in Winterset for the annual Madison County Covered Bridge Festival on Saturday, October 10, from 9 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, October 11, from 9...
Time not listedWoodland Cemetery
Guided History Field Trip: Woodland Cemetery Tour
Guided historical tour of Woodland Cemetery
Runs through Thu, Dec 31See website
Daily Lunch Special
Daily lunch special offering, recurring through December 31, 2026.
Time not listedEl Bait ShopDowntown / Court Ave
Little Giant Beer Summit at el Bait Shop
Beer summit event at el Bait Shop
All dayPainting with a Twist
Book Your Next Creative Experience Today!
Creative painting experience at Painting with a Twist
Runs through Thu, Dec 31U.S. District Court for the Southern District of IowaEast Village
AudaTours Des Moines Audio Tour: Landmarks, Laws & Legends Unveiled
Self-guided audio tour exploring Des Moines landmarks and history, recurring through December 31, 2026.
Time not listedMiddlebrook Farm
Middlebrook Farm Educational Series: Seed Saving
Educational series on seed saving at Middlebrook Farm
All dayAnderson Gallery, Drake University
(Not) At Home
Art exhibition at Anderson Gallery, Drake University, recurring through October 18, 2026.
Time not listedHoliday Inn & Suites
Slay the Runway/Children's Fashion Show
Children's fashion show event
Time not listedCedar Ridge Shopping Center
Rhea Lana's Fall/Winter Children's Consignment Shopping Event
Recurring children's consignment shopping event every 6 days until October 10, 2026
Time not listedRepublic on Grand
Wicked Heights
Event at Republic on Grand recurring daily until November 1, 2026
All dayDes Moines Water Works Park Foundation
Pumpkins After Dark: Jack-O-Lanterns Come Alive!
Jack-o-lantern display at Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation
Time not listedMiddlebrook Mercantile
Matt Terronez @ Middlebrook Mercantile
Live music performance by Matt Terronez
Time not listedPrairie Meadows
Queen Flash - The Ultimate Queen Tribute
Queen tribute band performance
Time not listedUnity Center of Des MoinesIngersoll
Des Moines Spirit Seekers Fair
Spirit seekers fair event
Time not listedJordan Creek Town CenterDowntown / Court Ave
Ruck of Remembrance
Event at Jordan Creek Town Center
Time not listedThomas Mitchell - Meet at Pond Parking Lot
Nature Immersion - Noticing the Changing Seasons
Nature observation event
Time not listedCirque Wonderland
Tassel Master- A Fan-based Burlesque Show
A fan-based burlesque show at Cirque Wonderland
All dayThe SlaughterhouseDowntown / Court Ave
The Slaughterhouse Haunted House
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday until November 1, 2026
Runs through Sun, Nov 29Des Moines Art CenterIngersoll
Elle Pérez: La Despedida on View
Art exhibition at Des Moines Art Center, recurring weekly through November 29, 2026.
Time not listedJester Park Nature Center
Fall Celebrations
Fall celebration event at Jester Park Nature Center
Showing the 36 soonest of 977 events in October 2026.
See the rest of October 2026 on the events pageMonthly Events Questions
Common questions about October 2026 events in Des Moines
What events are happening in October 2026 in Des Moines?
This page lists the events on our calendar for October 2026, Central time, in Des Moines and surrounding areas: a calendar with the count for each day, then the events week by week, with dates, times and venues.
How often is the monthly calendar updated?
New events are collected daily from venue and organizer calendars. All times are Central Time, and each list shows when it was last updated.
Do you include events in Des Moines suburbs?
Yes. The calendar includes events across the Des Moines metro, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston and other nearby communities.
Can I filter events by category or type?
Yes. The category buttons on this page narrow the month to one category, and each day in the calendar opens that day on the events page.