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The Boo Awards 2026: Des Moines

Pick your favorites around Des Moines! Voting is open Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 25, 2026. Sign in with your email, then vote once per category every day. Winners are announced Tuesday, October 27, just in time for Halloween weekend.

Boo says: "Every one of these is confirmed for this Halloween on its own official site. Big places often win the open categories, so Boo's Hidden Gem is just for the small, local ones. Go show them some love!"

Best Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin patches and corn mazes. 2 nominees.

Apple & Pumpkin FestAdel, IA
Howell's Pumpkin PatchCumming, IA

Best for Little Goblins

Not-scary picks for the youngest trick-or-treaters. 15 nominees.

Apple & Pumpkin FestAdel, IA
Beggars' Night on IngersollDes Moines, IA
Family HalloweenUrbandale, IA
Grimes Trunk or TreatGrimes, IA
Halloween on the HillDes Moines, IA
Howell's Pumpkin PatchCumming, IA
Lutheran Church of Hope Trunk or TreatWest Des Moines, IA
Night EyesDes Moines, IA
Norwalk Trunk or TreatNorwalk, IA
Pumpkins After DarkDes Moines, IA
Spirits in the GardensAmes, IA
Spooky ScienceDes Moines, IA
The Haunting at ExileDes Moines, IA
Trick or Treat in Treehouse VillageMadrid, IA
Trick or TreesDes Moines, IA

Boo's Hidden Gem

Only small, local events can win this one: no theme parks, zoos, chains or tour companies. 15 nominees.

Apple & Pumpkin FestAdel, IA
Beggars' Night on IngersollDes Moines, IA
Family HalloweenUrbandale, IA
Grimes Trunk or TreatGrimes, IA
Halloween on the HillDes Moines, IA
Haunted Hall of Tortured, Twisted TerrorsWaukee, IA
Howell's Pumpkin PatchCumming, IA
Lutheran Church of Hope Trunk or TreatWest Des Moines, IA
Norwalk Trunk or TreatNorwalk, IA
Pumpkins After DarkDes Moines, IA
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream ParkDes Moines, IA
Spirits in the GardensAmes, IA
The Haunted Woods: The Mare Witch 5Carlisle, IA
The Haunting at ExileDes Moines, IA
The SlaughterhouseDes Moines, IA

Most Fun Overall

Anything goes: every event in the guide. 25 nominees.

Apple & Pumpkin FestAdel, IA
Beggars' Night on IngersollDes Moines, IA
Boos & BrewsDes Moines, IA
Des Moines Halloween Bar CrawlDes Moines, IA
Eerie Evenings at the BOOtanical GardenDes Moines, IA
Family HalloweenUrbandale, IA
Grimes Trunk or TreatGrimes, IA
Halloween on the HillDes Moines, IA
Halloween Zoo BrewDes Moines, IA
Haunted Hall of Tortured, Twisted TerrorsWaukee, IA
Howell's Pumpkin PatchCumming, IA
Lutheran Church of Hope Trunk or TreatWest Des Moines, IA
Night EyesDes Moines, IA
Norwalk Trunk or TreatNorwalk, IA
Phantom Fall FestAltoona, IA
Pumpkins After DarkDes Moines, IA
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream ParkDes Moines, IA
Spirits in the GardensAmes, IA
Spooky ScienceDes Moines, IA
The Deadly Dirge of Des Moines Ghost TourDes Moines, IA
The Haunted Woods: The Mare Witch 5Carlisle, IA
The Haunting at ExileDes Moines, IA
The SlaughterhouseDes Moines, IA
Trick or Treat in Treehouse VillageMadrid, IA
Trick or TreesDes Moines, IA

Most Likely to Make You Scream

Haunted houses and the scariest nights out. 6 nominees.

Haunted Hall of Tortured, Twisted TerrorsWaukee, IA
Phantom Fall FestAltoona, IA
Sleepy Hollow Haunted Scream ParkDes Moines, IA
The Deadly Dirge of Des Moines Ghost TourDes Moines, IA
The Haunted Woods: The Mare Witch 5Carlisle, IA
The SlaughterhouseDes Moines, IA

All Des Moines Halloween events · How The Boo Awards work

Quick Answers

How do I vote for the best Halloween events in Des Moines?

Sign in on this page with your email address, then press Vote next to your favorite in each category. You can vote once per category every day from Thursday, October 1 to Sunday, October 25, 2026.

When are the Des Moines Boo Awards winners announced?

Tuesday, October 27, 2026, before Halloween weekend. Winners are named as voted by BooMap fans.

What is Boo's Hidden Gem?

A category only small, local events can win: family farms, local haunts, community and church events and independent tours. Theme parks, zoos, aquariums, chains and tour companies are not eligible.