Des Moines and Waukee Haunted Houses 2017

September 26, 2017 by admin

With the arrival of pumpkin season many of us are preparing for Halloween, which is a time to see adorable kiddos running around dressed up as Ninjago figures or a whole swarm of Elsa look-a-likes. Halloween for some is also the time to scare yourself silly with horror movies and haunted houses!

For those scream-seekers out there, we’ve compiled a list of the top haunted houses in the Des Moines area for you to visit!

Waukee Haunted House

Centennial Park Enclosed Shelter

Open: Oct. 27 & 28

Hours: 7:00-10:00 P.M.

Sponsored by the Waukee Park Board, this haunted house is an annual tradition! Come for a scare if you are brave enough!

Linn’s Haunted House

3805 6th Ave, Des Moines IA 50313

Open: Sept. 29-30, Oct. 6-7, Oct. 13-14, Oct. 20-31

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 7-10 P.M. / Fri & Sat 7-Midnight

Linn’s Haunted House is the oldest haunted house in town, which has been voted on for the top haunted houses in Des Moines!

Slaughterhouse

97 Indiana Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314

Open: Oct. 6-7, Oct. 13-15, Oct. 19-22 and Oct. 26-29

Hours: Fri/Sat: 7:00 P.M.-Midnight. Other nights: 7:00-11:00 P.M.

Slaughterhouse is a movie-style haunted house. The building was originally a real-life pig slaughter house adding to the horror!

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream Park

4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines, IA, 50317

Open: Oct. 6-7, Oct. 13-14, Oct. 19-22, Oct. 26-29 and 31st

Hours: 6:45 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. Fri./Sat.; 8:30 P.M. Thurs./Sun.

Know as the Midwest’s largest and most elaborate Halloween Theme Park, with three haunted houses, two haunted walks, zombie paintball shoot bus ride and more!

So tell us, which haunted house had you screaming?

Trick-Or-Treat: Non-Candy Alternatives to Halloween Candy

October 3, 2016 by admin

We all know Halloween pretty much means the same thing as “eat candy until you just can’t eat another handful of candy corn.” However, with various allergies and a push to encourage healthier snacking habits in our kids, you may want to find a non-candy alternative for Halloween Trick-or-Treaters.

Here are a few fun treats for the kids that might actually make them forget about the candy!

GoGo squeeZ Mummy Fruit Pouches

{From The Nerds Wife}

These adorable little mummies are quick to assemble and just plain adorable! Oh and healthy! Score!

Glow Sticks

{From Lady Bugs Teacher Files}

What child doesn’t literally light up at the mere mention of a glow stick! Comes complete with a free printable!

Boo-bbles

{From Parents.com}

That name though… Boo-bbles! No one will be missing the chocolate with these cute treats!

Fang-tastic Halloween Vampire Fangs

{From Creating Really Awesome Fun Things To Do}

A Halloween craft you can really “sink your teeth” into… (See what I did there!?) But really, who doesn’t remember getting a good set of fangs for Halloween.

Clementine Jack-O-Lanterns

{From Under Construction Blog}

Clementines are fun. Jack-O-Lanterns are fun. Put them together for double the fun! This would be a fun project for the kids to get involved with too, minus the Sharpie!

Do you have any other non-candy alternatives you will be passing out this year? Please share!!

Family-Friendly Halloween Events In Waukee / Des Moines

October 3, 2016 by admin

It may seem like Fall has only begun, but Halloween will be here before we know it. You’ve got your costumes all ready to go trick-or-treating and candy waiting by the front door (maybe not if you’re the 11th hour type and that’s OK)!

Don’t find yourself all dressed up with no where to go this Halloween-season. Check out these family-friendly Halloween events in the Waukee / Des Moines area.

Note :: Waukee’s Beggars’ Night will be held Sunday, October 30 from 6-8 p.m. throughout the City.

Blank Park Zoo Night Eyes :: October 20-23 & 27-30

Take a ride on the train and trick-or-treat your heart out!

Details:

Thursdays & Fridays: 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Admission: Gate Tickets: $6 | Zoo Member: $5 | Children under 12 months old are free

Living History Farms Halloween Event :: October 22-25 & 28-31

Horse-drawn wagon rides, storytellers, pumpkin bowling, and scarecrow and jack-o-lantern displays delight all during this non-scary family event. Children aged 12 and under can trick or treat through town, and we’ll have free pop and popcorn for all!

Details:

Time: 5:30-8:30 pm
Tickets: At The Door: $6.50/person; $5.00 LHF member

Pumpkin Walk Valley Junction :: October 23

Join the Halloween fun as children show off their costumes and travel through Historic Valley Junction.

Details:

Time: 2:00-5:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Trick-or-Treat Night At Homemakers :: October 27th

Put your Halloween costumes on and bring the whole family to Homemakers for our Annual Trick-or-Treat Night! Kids will love showing off their costumes and filling their bags with tons of goodies—and parents will appreciate the cozy, calm atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.

Details:

Time: 5:00- 7:00pm
Cost: FREE!

Center Grove Orchard ::

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown :: October 22

In honor of the 50th anniversary of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” television special, they are celebrating all day! Explore the Corn Maze, which is designed from a famous scene of the show, visit with Snoopy who will be strolling the Farmyard and watch a special showing of the cartoon!

Details:

Time: 12-4 PM: Snoopy Walk Around; TBD: Showing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”

Costume Weekend :: October 29 – 30

Put on your costumes and come to the Farmyard! What better place to go Trick or Treating than at Center Grove Orchard! Our staff will be dressed in their festive costumes, handing out candy at many different Trick or Treat locations.

Details:

11 AM: The Moogician
2 PM: The Moogician
5 PM: The Moogician
All Day: Trick or Treating

Trick-or-Treat at Jordan Creek Mall :: October 27th

Join us on October 27th, 2016 for our sixth annual TRICK-OR-TREAT event at Jordan Creek Town Center! Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the mall and kid-friendly event on the lower level near Younkers from 6 – 8pm. We hope to see you there!

Details:

Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Hy-Vee Waukee (And Various Locations) :: October 22

Join us for a fun, kid-friendly event on Saturday, October 22nd from 1-3 pm in the store! Activities include: coloring, cookie decorating, mini-pumpking decorating and more! Costumes are encouraged but not required.

Details:

Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Waukee YMCA :: October 29

Don’t be afraid to join us for this frighteningly FREE event for the whole family! Both children and adults will have a ghoulishly good time participating in a variety of healthy activities, including:
* Trick-Or-Treating through the creepy corridors of the Waukee Family YMCA
* Doing the “Frakenstein” at the Monstor Mash Dance Party
* Creating your own crackle crunch (trail mix)
* Making your own crafts
* Showing off your creative costumes
* . . . And so much more!

Details:

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Cost: FREE

With the arrival of pumpkin season many of us are preparing for Halloween, which is a time to see adorable kiddos running around dressed up as Ninjago figures or a whole swarm of Elsa look-a-likes. Halloween for some is also the time to scare yourself silly with horror movies and haunted houses!

For those scream-seekers out there, we’ve compiled a list of the top haunted houses in the Des Moines area for you to visit!

So tell us, which haunted house had you screaming?

{From The Nerds Wife}

{From Lady Bugs Teacher Files}

{From Parents.com}

{From Creating Really Awesome Fun Things To Do}

{From Under Construction Blog}

Do you have any other non-candy alternatives you will be passing out this year? Please share!!

It may seem like Fall has only begun, but Halloween will be here before we know it. You’ve got your costumes all ready to go trick-or-treating and candy waiting by the front door (maybe not if you’re the 11th hour type and that’s OK)!

Don’t find yourself all dressed up with no where to go this Halloween-season. Check out these family-friendly Halloween events in the Waukee / Des Moines area.

Blank Park Zoo Night Eyes :: October 20-23 & 27-30

Details:

Living History Farms Halloween Event :: October 22-25 & 28-31

Details:

Pumpkin Walk Valley Junction :: October 23

Details:

Trick-or-Treat Night At Homemakers :: October 27th

Center Grove Orchard ::

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown :: October 22

Details:

Costume Weekend :: October 29 – 30

Details:

Trick-or-Treat at Jordan Creek Mall :: October 27th

Details:

Hy-Vee Waukee (And Various Locations) :: October 22

Details:

Waukee YMCA :: October 29

Details:

So now that you’ve got SEVERAL places to go, what are YOU (or your kids) going to be for Halloween?