Looking for Halloween events in Iowa City that are playful, hands-on, and designed just for kids? This October, The Iowa Children’s Museum is filling the season with not-too-spooky fun, from costume-friendly celebrations inside our exhibits to an outdoor pumpkin drop that ends with a SPLAT! With options for every family—including sensory-friendly activities—you’ll find plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween through the power of play.
Here’s what’s happening this year:
STEM Family Free Night: October 24
Kick off the Halloween fun at the museum with STEM Family Free Night, sponsored by Collins Aerospace. Admission is free from 5–8 p.m., and kids can try a Halloween-themed STEM challenge while exploring our hands-on exhibits. This event is an accessible way for families to enjoy some Halloween fun (costumes are welcome)!
Sensory-Friendly Halloween: October 26
Our Sensory-Friendly Halloween gives children of all abilities the chance to enjoy the holiday in a calmer setting. From 6–7:30 p.m., families can explore the museum with lower lighting and sound, collect non-food treats at trick-or-treat stations, and take part in not-too-spooky activities during this inclusive Halloween event for kids in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area.
HalloWEEK: October 28–31
During the week leading up to Halloween, our exhibits will transform for HalloWEEK, a celebration of Halloween through hands-on play. In addition to lots of fun decorations, this year, Pete the Turtle is putting on his astronaut costume and taking the museum to the moon! All week long, you can build a shadow puppet in the art studio, make a pizza for an astronaut, and search for the stars with a stellar scavenger hunt.
Costumes are welcome every day, with extra-special activities on October 31st. Join us for a playful way to enjoy Halloween before (and after) trick-or-treating.
Jack SPLAT: November 1
Halloween isn’t over until the pumpkins fly! At Jack SPLAT, families bring their jack-o-lanterns to Chauncey Swan Park to see them tossed from three stories up. Watch pumpkins fly, cheer when they land with a SPLAT, and enjoy outdoor activities and warm breakfast treats from local food vendors. All pumpkins are composted afterward, so it’s a sustainable way to say goodbye to Halloween.
From free events to sensory-friendly celebrations, The Iowa Children’s Museum is the place for family-friendly Halloween events in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids corridor. Mark your calendars and join us for a not-too-spooky October!
