Fall is in full swing! It is my most favorite time of year, mainly for all the typical reasons, such as boots and pumpkin spice lattes. Frolicking around a pumpkin patch, sipping apple cider around a fire that was prefaced by a hay rack ride over beautiful, crunchy leaves? Sign me up!
Then comes Halloween! I have a blast putting together costumes and decorating our yard. Baking spooky treats and watching scary movies ain’t so bad either! To be honest, my October celebrations pre-child, are pretty unfitting for my mom life. (Exactly like that sexy Minnie Mouse costume that’s been stuffed to the bottom of the Halloween bin!) Thankfully, the Cedar Rapids area has a large variety of fun ways to celebrate the season with the whole family this month!
Here is a list of fun Fall activities taking place in Cedar Rapids in October:
Pumpkin Patches & Apple Orchards
Our family always kicks off the season with a visit to the Pumpkin Patch! Here is the Cedar Rapids Moms Blog’s Guide to Cedar Rapids Area Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards. Most of them have special events running all month long, so be sure to check their individual websites as well!
The Spooky Station
October 15th-16th, 22nd-23rd, and 29th-30th
Halloween takes over The PlayStation three weekends in October, starting on the 15th. Play, trick or treat, have your face painted, do arts and crafts or visit with friendly characters! A child in costume will receive 10 free game tokens.
Cost: $8.50 per child.
Free Fall Fun Day
October 16th | 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Bring the kids to “Trick or Treat” at special designated areas at Peck’s Flower and Garden Shop. Costumes are not necessary, but welcome. There will be face painting, games, a hayride, and other fun activities for kids!
Cost: Free!
5th Annual Wicked Wickiup Fall Fest
October 22nd | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Enjoy a friendly trick or treat hike through the woods, pumpkin bowling, straw scramble, crafts, face painting (for an additional charge), creepy critters, and more! Shop the Usborne Books & More book fair and Wickiup receives 50% of sales in free books for children’s programs. Aimed at ages 3-8, but younger and older siblings welcome! Costumes encouraged!
Cost: $3 per child. Get through the line faster by registering online!
Halloween SPOOKtacular
October 22nd | 2:00-5:00 p.m.
The Cedar Rapids Ice Arena is hosting an afternoon of fun! They will have spooky snacks, haunting games, and thrilling prizes! Insanity DJ Services will be providing music.
Cost: $5 per child includes skating and skate rental.
Safe Halloween for Kids
October 23rd | 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Kids can enjoy a safe Halloween at Usher’s Ferry Historic village with trick-or-treating, games, and costume contests. Bring your best decorated pumpkin for the jack-o’-lantern contest.
Cost: $7 per trick-or-treater.
Usher’s Ferry Hay Rack Ride and Bonfire
October 26th | 5:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
Head out for good old-fashioned fall fun including hay rack rides, drinking hot cocoa around a bonfire, and making crafts. Select village buildings will be open for tours until sunset. Popcorn and sarsaparilla will be available for purchase at the saloon.
Cost: $9 per adult & $5 per child over the age of 2. Ages 2 and under are free!
Halloween Party @ Cedar Rapids Public Library
October 29th | 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Bring your little goblins to the Cedar Rapids Public Library for themed games, crafts and treats! Costumes are encouraged.
Cost: Free!
The Costume Run
October 29th | 1:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Theatre Cedar Rapids is hosting it’s 5th annual costume run starting at 3:30 p.m. New this year is a 1K family fun run starting earlier at 1:00pm. Take a run through downtown dressed in your favorite costume! . Register by October 16 to guarantee you get a 5K shirt and to be entered to win a ‘night out’ prize package. All proceeds benefit the venue.
Cost: $7 per person for Family Run and $25 per person for 5K run.
Pups and Ponies Fall Festival
October 29th | 11:oo a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Last Hope and Unbridled Spirits will be set up at Sutliff Cider with food vendors, live music, face painting, hay rack rides, inflatable obstacle course, bouncy house, apple picking, kids’ costume contest, silent auction, and a bake sale!
Cost: Tickets are $7.50 if you register ahead and $9.00 at the door. Ages 3 and under free. All activities are included in the price of admission.
Marion Airport Trunk or Treat
October 29th | 12:00-2:30 p.m.
Join the fun for the Second Annual Trunk Or Treat at The Marion Airport! There will be decorated cars, airplanes, and other cool vehicles! There will be free candy. Stick around for a pumpkin drop and chili cook off afterwards! Don’t forget to dress up!
Cost: Free!
Boo Bash: Teal Pumpkin Event
October 29th | 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Please bring 2 dozen allergy friendly or non-food treats to share with everyone and come trick or treat the Teal Pumpkin event at Birth, Baby and Beyond! Wear in your Halloween attire for a party that will be frightfully fun! Event runs 3 p.m. -5 p.m.
Cost: This is a free event, when you bring allergy safe goodies to share.
Halloween “Monster Mash” Bash
October 29th | 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Come dressed in your favorite costume to the Kids First Gymnastics Haunted House! They will host a costume contest and dancing. There will be all sorts of Halloween inspired games, like Mummy Races and make a spooky craft! The night wouldn’t be complete without some Halloween “Feel Boxes”. We will have free time and enjoy some delicious pizza! Ages 5-14 welcome.
Cost: $20 per child.
Halloween Hustle
October 31st | 4:30 p.m.
Local author Charlotte Gunnufson helps the Hiawatha Public Library kick off Read to Feed, a fall reading program. Wear your Halloween costume and bring a nonperishable food item. Then, kick up your heels and join Charlotte as we do the Halloween Hustle. We will trick or treat in the library afterwards!
Cost: Free, just bring non-perishable food item.
TRICK-OR-TREATING will take place in Cedar Rapids and some surrounding communities such as Marion and Hiawatha on Halloween night. No specific times are set. Our contributors suggest beginning at dusk and only going to houses with a porch light on. If you’re in need of allergy friendly homes to stop by, check out this map. You may sign up to participate there as well.
Is our list missing anything? What’s your favorite local fall event? Please let us know in the comment section!
Wishing you a happy, safe, and fun fall mamas!
This is great! I didn’t know there was so much going on locally for our kids this season. Looking forward to doing all these fun activities with them!
Thanks Melissa! Hope your family has lots of fun this season!