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 list 637 events in Des Moines and the suburbs for October 2026 so far. 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 1135 events
- Fri, Oct 2242 events
- Sat, Oct 3358 events
- Sun, Oct 4438 events
- Mon, Oct 5513 events
- Tue, Oct 6623 events
- Wed, Oct 7732 events
- Thu, Oct 8831 events
- Fri, Oct 9944 events
- Sat, Oct 101054 events
- Sun, Oct 111133 events
- Mon, Oct 121213 events
- Tue, Oct 131315 events
- Wed, Oct 141416 events
- Thu, Oct 151529 events
- Fri, Oct 161631 events
- Sat, Oct 171741 events
- Sun, Oct 181825 events
- Mon, Oct 1919None
- Tue, Oct 20203 events
- Wed, Oct 21213 events
- Thu, Oct 22225 events
- Fri, Oct 232311 events
- Sat, Oct 24245 events
- Sun, Oct 25253 events
- Mon, Oct 26261 event
- Tue, Oct 27274 events
- Wed, Oct 28284 events
- Thu, Oct 29294 events
- Fri, Oct 303014 events
- Sat, Oct 31317 events
Oct 12 - Oct 18 (306 events)
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 of Des Moines landmarks and history
Runs through Fri, Oct 30Exile Brewing CompanyDowntown / Court Ave
The Haunting at Exile, 2026
Haunted event at Exile Brewing
Runs through Sun, Nov 1The SlaughterhouseDowntown / Court Ave
The Slaughterhouse Haunted House
Haunted house attraction for Halloween season
Runs through Wed, Dec 30RezBlue Arena, White Rabbit VR, Des Moines Gaming Club
Virtual Reality Date Night or Couples Friends Outing at RezBlue
Virtual reality experience for couples and friends
Runs through Sun, Oct 18Anderson Gallery, Drake University
(Not) At Home
Art exhibition at Anderson Gallery
Runs through Fri, Nov 6Center Grove Orchard
Pumpkin Fest
Pumpkin Fest will take place October 1 – November 6! October is harvest season's Pumpkin Fest, our biggest event of the year. The farm will be...
Runs through Sun, Nov 29Des Moines Art CenterIngersoll
Elle Pérez: La Despedida on View
Art exhibition at Des Moines Art Center
Runs through Wed, Dec 30RezBlue Arena, White Rabbit VR, Des Moines Gaming Club
Virtual Reality Date Night or Couples Friends Outing at RezBlue
Recurring weekly on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday until December 30, 2026
Runs through Sun, Nov 29Des Moines Art CenterIngersoll
Elle Pérez: La Despedida on View
Elle Pérez: La Despedida art exhibition at Des Moines Art Center, recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday until November 29, 2026
Runs through Thu, Dec 31See website
Daily Lunch Special
Daily Lunch Special, recurring daily until December 31, 2026
Runs through Sun, Oct 18Anderson Gallery, Drake University
(Not) At Home
Recurring daily until October 18, 2026
Runs through Fri, Oct 30Exile Brewing CompanyDowntown / Court Ave
The Haunting at Exile, 2026
The Haunting at Exile Brewing Company, recurring every week day until October 30, 2026
Runs through Thu, Dec 31U.S. District Court for the Southern District of IowaEast Village
AudaTours Des Moines Audio Tour: Landmarks, Laws & Legends Unveiled
Recurring daily until December 31, 2026
Runs through Sat, Dec 5Rook Room Game Lounge & CafeDowntown / Court Ave
Euchre Tournament
Monthly euchre tournament at Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe, recurring on the 1st Saturday until December 5, 2026
Runs through Sat, Oct 17Glendale Cemetery
Glendale Cemetery Historical Tour
Historical tour of Glendale Cemetery
Runs through Sun, Oct 18Anderson Gallery, Drake University
(Not) At Home
Art exhibition at Anderson Gallery, Drake University
Runs through Fri, Oct 30Starts @ Whiskey River
The Haunted Trolley Tour
Haunted trolley tour starting at Whiskey River
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 of Des Moines landmarks and history
Runs through Sun, Nov 29Des Moines Art CenterIngersoll
Elle Pérez: La Despedida on View
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday until November 29, 2026
Runs through Sun, Nov 1The SlaughterhouseDowntown / Court Ave
The Slaughterhouse Haunted House
Haunted house attraction, recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday until November 1, 2026
Runs through Sun, Dec 27xBk Annex
Stand-up and Improv Comedy Classes
Weekly comedy classes for stand-up and improv at xBk Annex
Runs through Wed, Oct 14Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation
Des Moines Biergarten
Biergarten event at Des Moines Water Works Park - recurring weekly on Sunday and Wednesday
Runs through Sun, Dec 27Mickey's Irish Pub Waukee
Sunday Funday Bingo
Weekly bingo event recurring on Sundays until December 27, 2026
Runs through Sun, Nov 1The SlaughterhouseDowntown / Court Ave
The Slaughterhouse Haunted House
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday until November 1, 2026
Runs through Thu, Dec 31U.S. District Court for the Southern District of IowaEast Village
AudaTours Des Moines Audio Tour: Landmarks, Laws & Legends Unveiled
Audio tour of Des Moines landmarks and history, recurring daily until December 31, 2026
Runs through Thu, Dec 31Des Moines, IA
Daily Lunch Special
Daily lunch special recurring until December 31, 2026
Runs through Sun, Oct 18Anderson Gallery, Drake University
(Not) At Home
Art exhibit recurring daily until October 18, 2026
Runs through Sun, Nov 29Des Moines Art CenterIngersoll
Elle Pérez: La Despedida on View
Art exhibit recurring weekly until November 29, 2026
Runs through Mon, Dec 28The False 9 Social ClubValley Junction
Trivia Monday Nights
Recurring weekly on Monday until December 28, 2026
Showing the 36 soonest of 370 events from today in October 2026.
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Monthly 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.