Take your kids to Union Park for a huge candy haul this weekend in Des Moines
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This is the perfect weekend to debut your Halloween costumes if you or the little ones in your life are ready for it. Kick off your weekend with a visit at Blank Park Zoo Thursday night for Night Eyes, the Halloween event that skips the scares in favor for fun for all ages. Families can also visit Living History Farms Friday night for some trick-or-treating or stop by Union Park in costume Saturday afternoon for a massive drop of candy. Adults looking to skip all the sweets can enjoy a pork and wine sampling event, or catch cocktail specials and other freebies during Ghoul's Night Out in the East Village in Des Moines.
Get in the Halloween spirit at Blank Park Zoo
Thursday night: Families are invited to the return of Night Eyes at Blank Park Zoo, 7401 S.W. Ninth St. in Des Moines. See light displays, experience free carnival games and inflatables and more during this festive, “merry-not-scary” event. Night Eyes continues through the weekend from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 for nonmembers.
See the art of Saturday Sketch Club
Thursday night: Visit the Polk County Heritage Gallery, 111 Court Ave. in Des Moines, for the new exhibit featuring the work of the Saturday Sketch Club. The club has a 75-year history of outdoor sketching and painting, according to John Morrissey, Polk County Heritage Gallery board president. The artist reception is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and is free to attend.
See a Des Moines Symphony violinist after her Cannes Film Festival performance in May
Friday night: Varsity Cinema, 1207 25th St. in Des Moines, is hosting a discussion with Geneviève Salamone, a musician from the Huron-Wendat Nation who performs with the Des Moines Symphony, before the premiere of Martin Scorsese’s new film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Salamone composed and performed original music for the movie’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and will discuss her involvement with the film on-stage before the showing. “Killers of the Flower Moon” follows the murders of the people of the Osage Nation after oil is discovered in their land in the 1920s. The event starts at 7 p.m. General tickets are $12.
Treat yourself to all the wine and pork you want
Friday night: Sip wine and sample dishes with pork thanks to Pork + Pinot, presented by the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Winefest. This 21 and up event invites attendees to try numerous samples from local chefs paired with wine. After, guests can vote for their favorite. Pork + Pinot will be held at the FFA Enrichment Center at 1055 S.W. Prairie Trail Pkwy. in Ankeny. The event starts at 5 p.m. Tickets are $75.
Take the little ones trick-or-treating early
Friday night: Get transported back into the 19th century for Halloween at Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road in Urbandale. Go trick-or-treating at historic storefronts, take a ride on a horse-drawn wagon and experience other activities from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday or Saturday night and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 for ages 2 and up.
More: Here's your gore galore guide to 9 scary Halloween haunts in the Des Moines metro area
Take the kids to snatch some candy from the sky
Saturday afternoon: Head to Union Park, 2009 Saylor Road in Des Moines, for a candy drop, where hundreds of pounds of candy will be dropped with help from the Des Moines Fire Department. Costumes are encouraged. The candy drop is at noon and is free to attend.
Go shopping and get drinks during Ghoul’s Night Out
Saturday night: Visit the East Village in Des Moines for Ghoul’s Night Out, where dozens of businesses are offering cocktail specials, free treats and discounts for one evening. Visit Nightingale Cocktail for a $5 midnight margarita, Storyhouse Bookpub for seasonal cookies as you browse, or Twisted Vine Brewery for the release of a chocolate milk stout and live music, among other specials across businesses in the area. Ghoul’s Night Out runs from 5 to 9 p.m.
More: Here are 16 of the best restaurants in Des Moines' East Village
Catch Iowa native Elizabeth Moen at xBk Live
Saturday night: Singer-songwriter and Vinton native Elizabeth Moen performs at xBk Live, 1159 24th St. in Des Moines. Moen performed on the main stage at 80/35 Music Festival earlier this year and in Iowa City at the end of 2022 for her album release, “Wherever You Aren’t.” The singer also released covers of Oskaloosa native Arthur Russell’s music earlier the year. The concert is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $21.95.
More: 11 places to eat near Drake University including Indian, diner fare, burgers, ice cream
Saturday night: Grammy-nominated group Sandbox Percussion teams up with the Des Moines Symphony at the Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St. in Des Moines, for "Discover Scheherazade." Sandbox will perform "Re(new)al: Percussion Quartet Concerto," a piece based on renewable energy. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show range from $15 to $70. Also Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Vote for the best chili at a chili cookoff
Sunday afternoon: Variety — the Children’s Charity of Iowa that benefits at-risk, underprivileged, critically ill and special needs children is hosting a benefit and chili cookoff. The Iowa Taproom, 215 E. Third St. in Des Moines, will host the third annual chili cookoff, where people can enter their chili into the competition for $20 or taste the various entries for $15. The cookoff is from noon to 2 p.m.
Celebrate local jazz with an annual award ceremony
Sunday night: The Community Jazz Center of Greater Des Moines is holding its annual hall of fame ceremony and concert at Noce, 1326 Walnut St. in Des Moines. See two musicians get inducted into the Hall of Fame, or other awards that include special recognition to honoring up and coming artists in Des Moines. The event is from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets start at $20.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at PBarraza@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Things to do this weekend in Des Moines include Blank Park Zoo
