🌱 Des Moines Digest
Issue #65 |Monday, OCTOBER 26, 2026
Everything You Need for a Great Des Moines Week!
Good morning, Des Moines! 🎃
What a weekend! Between the Downtown Farmers’ Market and the first nights of Eerie Evenings at the Botanical Garden, Des Moines made the most of the final stretch of October.
Now, we’re heading into one of the spookiest weeks of the year, with haunted porches, Halloween fun, and plenty of reasons to get out and explore. Plus, there are a few important dates worth getting on your calendar before the week gets away from you.
Here’s what’s on your radar this week:
🍬 Trick-or-treat is Saturday evening — time to get those costumes ready!
🗳️ Election Day is November 3 — early voting is open now.
🎒 DMPS has no school next Monday and Tuesday — plan ahead for the long break.
👻 Halloween on the Hill returns — haunted porches and spooky neighborhood fun are back!
Let’s get into everything happening around the metro this week!
No judgment here. But we all have a type. Which one are you? 👇
🎭 This Week’s Poll: Which Halloween-Week Type Are You?
- 👻 The Haunted Wanderer: Walking Sherman Hill with a flashlight and a can of beans for DMARC
- 🍻 The Boos & Brews Grown-Up: Costume, brewery samples, and a live DJ in a tropical dome
- 🍬 The Candy Strategist: Already bought the good stuff and “tested” a few
- 🗳️ The Early Voter: Ballot done, sticker on, feeling smug
🌤️ THIS WEEK’S WEATHER
Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 71°F | 72°F | 76°F | 75°F | 75°F |
Conditions | ☁️ Mostly cloudy | ☁️ Mostly cloudy | 🌤️ Mostly sunny; slight rain chance | ⛅ Partly sunny; showers possible | 🌦️ Cloudy; showers possible |
Wednesday looks like the warmest day, with some sunshine. Monday and Tuesday will be mostly cloudy, while rain chances increase Wednesday night into Thursday and Friday. Plan outdoor activities earlier in the week, and keep an umbrella handy toward the end of the week.
📰 News Digest
📰 What's Happening in Des Moines Metro
📰 What’s Happening Around Des Moines
🍬 Trick-or-Treat Is Saturday Night
Get those costumes ready! Des Moines trick-or-treating is set for Saturday, October 31, from 6–8 p.m. West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Waukee, and Johnston are following the same schedule. Handing out candy? Turn on your porch light!
🗳️ One Week Until Election Day
Iowa’s general election is Tuesday, November 3. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot has passed, but there’s still time to vote early in person.
Remember: mailed ballots must arrive at your county auditor’s office by the time polls close on Election Day. Bring a valid ID if you’re heading to vote.
🎒 A Heads-Up for DMPS Families
Planning your week? Des Moines Public Schools has no classes Monday, November 2, or Tuesday, November 3. Monday is a professional development day, and Tuesday is Election Day.
Downtown School families should also note that fall conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, followed by fall break on October 29–30.
💙 Your Week-at-a-Glance Reminder: Get your voting plan sorted, check school schedules, and make room for one last farmers’ market morning or a spooky night out. Halloween weekend is almost here!
🍹 The Ultimate Guide to Des Moines Happy Hours
Need a good excuse to get out this week? Des Moines has plenty of spots where you can grab a drink, a bite, and a little after-work downtime without spending a fortune. From downtown favorites to neighborhood spots, happy hour is one of the easiest ways to enjoy more of the city for less.
We rounded up the best of it — happy hour specials, local bars and restaurants, drink deals, food specials, and more — in one guide.
📚 WEEKLY STUDY TIPS
Brought to you by Camp Homework
📚 Fresh Strategies for Parents and Students — New Tips Every Issue!
Halloween week can be distracting for students, so here’s how to stay on track:
🍬 Turn candy into math. Sort and count, make graphs, or work out fractions. It’s the one math lesson kids will beg for.
📚 Read something spooky. Pick a short Halloween chapter book and read together for 15 minutes each night.
⏰ Get ahead on assignments. With a long weekend of events and two no-school days next week, finish what’s due before Friday.
😴 Protect bedtime. Late-night events add up. Clocks fall back this Sunday (Nov. 1), so use the extra hour to catch up on sleep.
🗓️ Plan for Nov. 2–3. Two days off means a chance to review, rest, or finish projects without the school-night rush.
Learning doesn't stop when school is out. Camp Homework helps students build confidence, strengthen skills, and stay ready for the school year ahead. Learn more at camphomework.com.
🎟️ EVENT SHOWCASE
📍 909 Robert D. Ray Dr., Des Moines, IA 50309
📅 Friday, Oct. 30, 7–10 p.m. (ages 21+)
💵 $25 non-members, $22 members
This is the adults-only side of the BOOtanical Garden. Tickets include brewery and cidery samples from Big Grove, Brightside Aleworks, Fenceline Beer Lab, Firetrucker, Iowa Brewers Union, Reclaimed Rails, and Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, plus a live DJ, strolling magic, and face painting. The garden says this event sells out quickly, so buy tickets in advance. Costumes are encouraged, and fast-fired pizza and a cash bar will be on site. Plan on a rideshare if you’re sampling.
🎃 When Is Trick-or-Treating in Des Moines Metro?
Get those costumes and candy bowls ready! Most Des Moines metro communities will celebrate Halloween on Saturday, October 31, from 6–8 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 | 6–8 p.m.
Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Altoona, Clive, Urbandale, Waukee, Johnston, Bondurant, Grimes, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, and Windsor Heights.
A Few Exceptions
Friday, October 30 | 5–7 p.m.: Runnells and Winterset
Friday, October 30 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.: Ames, due to a home Iowa State football game
Planning to head out? Double-check your city’s official announcements before you go, as local schedules can change. Happy Halloween, Des Moines!
🎉 Big Events This Week
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Tue, Oct 27, 7:30 p.m. | Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave. | Tickets vary | |
Tue, Oct 27, 7 p.m. | Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St. | Tickets vary | |
Wed, Oct 28, 7:30 p.m. | Wooly’s, Des Moines | Tickets vary | |
Thu, Oct 29, 7 p.m. | Casey’s Center, 233 Center St. | Tickets vary | |
Fri, Oct 30, 7 p.m. | Casey’s Center, 233 Center St. | Tickets vary |
🥕 Farmers Markets
Market | Day & Hours | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Sat, Oct 31, 8 a.m.–noon (final Saturday of the season) | Historic Court District, 300 Court Ave. | Free to attend | |
Season ended in September. Returns in spring. | 100–300 blocks of 5th St., West Des Moines | Free |
🍂 Small & Local Favorites
Event | Date | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Mon, Oct 26, 6–7 p.m. and 7:30–8:30 p.m. | Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden | $25 | |
Tue–Thu, Oct 27–29, 6–9 p.m. | Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden | $14 adult / $13 senior / $11 youth | |
Thu, Oct 29, 5:30–7 p.m. | Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden | Check site | |
Fri, Oct 30, 6 p.m. | Jester Park Nature Center, Granger | Check site |
We want to hear from you! Des Moines Digest exists to help locals find the best things to do, see, and explore across the metro — but we can only make it better with your input. Tell us what sections you love, what you skip, and what you wish we covered more. Whether it's a hidden gem, an event type, or just a quick "keep doing this" — we're all ears. Your feedback shapes every issue, so hit reply or click below and let us know. This digest is for you, Des Moines! 💬
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Thanks for starting the week with us, Des Moines. See you Thursday! 🌱
— Alex | Des Moines Digest 📘
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