by CrowdFlow Co
If you're in Des Moines looking for something to do for Halloween that isn't a mall trick-or-treat or a haunted house your kids will regret, there's a farm 35 minutes north on I-35 that runs three Halloween weekends back to back. Pumpkin Nights keeps the farm open until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays in October with fireworks on Saturdays. Costume Weekend is trick-or-treating across the farm. Pumpkin Destruction closes the season by launching the leftover pumpkins. Here's how the three fit together and which one to pick.
| Event | Dates | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin Nights | Fri & Sat, Oct 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24 | 9 AM to 9 PM | Date nights, older kids, anyone who wants fireworks |
| Costume Weekend | Sat & Sun, Oct 24–25 | Regular hours (until 9 PM on the 24th) | Little kids, first Halloweens, family photos |
| Pumpkin Destruction | Sat & Sun, Nov 7–8 | Regular hours | Everyone who wants to watch a pumpkin get wrecked |
The farm is at 32835 610th Avenue in Cambridge, Iowa. About 35 minutes from downtown Des Moines, 25 from Ankeny, 20 from Ames. Closed Tuesdays. Fall season runs through November 8.
Pumpkin Nights is new for 2026 and it's the reason this post exists. On four Fridays and Saturdays in October the farm stays open until 9 PM, with lights strung across the farm, a fire pit for s'mores, and a brand-new games and photo op area built for just this kind of evening. Everything that's open during the day keeps running into the evening: the pumpkin patch, the attractions, the food, the apples. You just get to do it under the lights instead of afternoon sun.
Cool down with a Dirty Soda while you're out there. And fireworks go up every Saturday night of Pumpkin Nights: October 3, 10, 17, and 24.
Who it's for: this is the one to pick if you're coming without kids. A fall date night that starts with apple picking, runs through s'mores at the fire pit, and ends with fireworks is a real plan, and it's 35 minutes from downtown. It also works for families with kids old enough to stay up past eight.
What it costs: standard admission. Farm'All Pass and Fall Season Pass holders are covered, and weekday tickets are cheaper than weekend, so a Friday Pumpkin Nights is the better deal than a Saturday.
If you're searching for trick-or-treating around Des Moines in 2026, this is the farm version, and it lands the weekend before Halloween: October 24 and 25. Come dressed in your best costume and trick-or-treat across the farm, then visit with the Pumpkin Princess. Kids and adults both dress up, so nobody feels silly.
The pumpkin patch is still open that weekend, so you can pick your carving pumpkin in costume, which is the photo your relatives will actually want.
Saturday the 24th is the day to circle. It's the last night of Pumpkin Nights, so the farm stays open until 9 PM and the final fireworks show of the season goes up that night. Trick-or-treat in the afternoon, dinner at the food venues, s'mores at the fire pit, fireworks. One ticket. Sunday the 25th is the quieter version: same costumes, same candy, normal closing time.
Who it's for: little kids, first Halloweens, and anyone who wants a daylight trick-or-treat where nobody's watching the street for cars.
November 7 and 8, the final two days of the season. Every pumpkin that didn't get picked gets a send-off: launched, dropped, smashed, and generally wrecked across two days of contests and finale moments.
It's also the week after Halloween, which means it's the answer to "we're not done with fall yet." Apple picking has closed by then (last day is November 2), but the bakery is running and the attractions are all open. Details on what's being smashed and when are on the Pumpkin Destruction page as the weekend gets closer.
| If you're… | Go on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A couple, no kids | Friday Oct 9 or 16 | Pumpkin Nights at weekday pricing, no fireworks but a cheaper ticket |
| A couple who wants fireworks | Saturday Oct 10 or 17 | Full Pumpkin Nights with the show. Come early and pick apples before dark |
| Family with kids under 6 | Sunday Oct 25 | Costume Weekend without the Pumpkin Nights crowd. Daylight trick-or-treat, home by dinner |
| Family with kids 6 and up | Saturday Oct 24 | Costume Weekend plus the last Pumpkin Nights plus fireworks, all on one ticket |
| Anyone who hates crowds | A weekday, or Halloween itself, Saturday Oct 31 | Weekdays are always calmer. October 31 has no special event and no Pumpkin Nights |
| Done with Halloween, not done with fall | Nov 7 or 8 | Pumpkin Destruction. Last chance at the corn maze and the bakery until spring |
If you have any flexibility, come on a weekday. Weekend admission costs more and the difference in crowd size is not subtle. Thursdays after 2 PM, gate admission is buy one, get one free.
I-35 north to Exit 102, then five miles east on Highway 210. That's about 35 minutes from downtown Des Moines, 25 from Ankeny, and 20 from Ames. Parking is in a field, and after rain it's soft, so boots are worth it. Drive times from 26 Central Iowa towns are on the directions page.
Bringing a youth group, church group, or a big family? Group Nights include a campfire, s'mores, and evening access to the farm. Details are on the group reservations page.
Standard admission covers Pumpkin Nights, Costume Weekend, and Pumpkin Destruction. Online admission is $14.95 on weekdays and $19.95 on weekends. Coming more than three times this fall? The Fall Season Pass at $69.95 pays for itself on the fourth weekend visit, and it covers Pumpkin Nights too.
Buy Tickets Or see the full fall calendar, week by week