Celebrate Halloween 2026 with the best Trunk or Treat events in Ames. Discover family-friendly Halloween celebrations featuring decorated cars, candy giveaways, costume contests, games, community gatherings, and safe trick-or-treat experiences for children. Whether you're planning a fun family outing or looking for Halloween events near you, explore the top Trunk or Treat events happening across Ames.
Listings updated
Curated by the AllEvents team, for you.
β Top pickSat, Oct 245:00 PM
3200 Adventureland Drive Altoona IA 50009
On nowSat, Oct 24Hicklin Power Sports, Grimes
π Saturday, October 24th β° 10 AM β 2 PM π Hicklin Power Sports 3160 SE Grimes Blvd #700, Grimes, IA 50111 Weβre wrapping up the season with a family-friendly Halloween event featuring bikes, costumes, food, candy, activities, and prizes. π Trunk-or-Trea
On nowSat, Oct 241000 West Hickman Road Sales department, Waukee
Trunk or Treat at Deery Waukee π Grab your costumes and your candy bags! Deery Waukee is hosting a Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 24, from 12 to 2 p.m. π COME HUNGRY & THIRSTY! Amos Flava & My Eatzz β Delicious BBQ! Pit Stop Pop β Dirty sod
Food trucks
On nowSat, Oct 24Camp Dodge Pool Pavillion, Johnston
GET READY TO ROCK AT FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL 2026 π€π€π When? October 24th, 2-4pm Where? Pool Pavilion, Camp Dodge What? Trunk-or-Treat, Mini Golf, Youth Bands, Carnival Games, Food Trucks, and more! π RSVP to attend or volunteer:
Games & bounce housesFood trucks
On nowSat, Oct 244525 Beaver Ave, Des Moines
Come visit the Iowa Wolves at New Hope United Methodist's Trunk or Treat!
On nowSat, Oct 24870 NE Douglas Pkwy, Waukee
3rd Annual Trunk or Treat at Premiere! Join us on Saturday, October 24th, from 4-5p in the Premiere parking lot at our Waukee location for an afternoon of festive fun! Come dressed in your best costume (or coziest fall outfit) and stroll through a parki
Costume contest
On nowSat, Oct 241100 Ashworth Rd, Waukee
Join us for a family-friendly, FREE community event! A safe, fun-filled time to show off those costumes, enjoy some games, collect some candy, grab some yummy popcorn and enjoy some fall drinks! It's an event you don't want to miss. We hope to see you the
Games & bounce houses
On nowSat, Oct 24Woodward Fire-Rescue
Come join us for Trunk or Treat! Trunk decorating begins at 4pm across from the fire station near the mural. There is plenty of room, so come join the fun! Trunk or treat begins at 5pm. The fire department is hosting a free-will donation dinner and wil
On nowSat, Oct 241450 NW Gettysburg LN, Dallas Center
Treats, sweets & horsepower! Join us at Paragon Performance on October 24 from 5β7 PM for Trunk or Treat! Weβll have our indoor shop set up with trunks and frunks full of candy, so the fun goes on rain or shine. Admission is free, and all ages are w
On nowOct 24β251000 Shakespeare Ave, Stratford2 days
ππ» SAVE THE DATE β TRUNK-OR-TREAT IS BACK!! π»π Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 24th from 5:00β7:00 PM because we are SO excited to bring our Trunk-or-Treat back for another year! π§‘π¬ Last year was our FIRST YEAR hosting this event, and WOW β ou
Food trucks
On nowSat, Oct 24The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Waukee
Raccoon River Ward and Walnut Hills Ward Trunk or Treat Raccoon River and Walnut Hills Wards Available to anyone in the community. Bring your family and friends. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH - T
Free
On nowSat, Oct 24870 NE Douglas Pkwy, Waukee
Join us on October 24th from 5-7p at our Waukee location for a Spooktacular Bash studio event! Dancers will enjoy a fun dance class filled with Halloween-themed choreography, new skills to learn, and plenty of spooky surprises. Come dressed in your Hallow
On nowSat, Oct 242316 230th St Ste 104
Join us for a fun filled Halloween evening at PDC! Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and enjoy dancing, games, music, and LOTS of trunks full of candy! Saturday, October 24th 5:30β7:00 PM PDC Studio Parking Lot + indoors πWE NEED TRUNKS! PDC
Games & bounce houses
Sun, Oct 25602 SE Delaware Ave, Ankeny
Join Ankeny United Church for our annual Trunk or Treat extravaganza! Come dressed in your costumes for candy and fun! All are welcome and this is a free event! We hope to see you there!
Sun, Oct 25Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines
Get your little ones dressed in their friendly Halloween costumes and experience the fun of fall with Lutheran Church of Hope's annual Trunk βnβ Treat! 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, WDM IA 50266 Children in grade 6 and under are invited to trick-or-treat in
Sun, Oct 25Lutheran Church of Hope β Ames
You and your little ones are invited to Trunk or Treat at Hope Ames! All children in grades 5 and under can dress in their friendly Halloween costumes and experience the fun of fall while trick-or-treating. This will take place in our parking lot creati
Sun, Oct 252920 NW 9th St, Ankeny
Join us for a safe, fun and exciting Trunk or Treat event with trunks provided by our own Westwood families and local businesses! ππ Volunteers Needed for Trunk or Treat! ππ Help us make this yearβs event magical for our Westwood Elementary kids! ποΈ Sunda
Sun, Oct 253250 SE Soteria Ave., West Des Moines
Youβre invited to Trunk or Treat at Soteria! Bring the whole family for a fun afternoon filled with creatively decorated trunks, plenty of candy, warm drinks, and more! π Sunday, October 25 β° 3:00β5:00 pm π Soteria Church This event is free and open t
Trunk contest
Sun, Oct 252601 Border St, Norwalk
Bring your family and enjoy free candy, games, inflatables, and more!
Games & bounce houses
Sun, Oct 253820 SW 9th St, Des Moines
GAMES β’ CANDY β’ HOT DOGS β’ SβMORES Join us for a fun free neighborhood celebration with Cub Scout Pack 22 β’ Boy Scout Troop 40 and local neighborhood associations Bring your familyβand your treat bag! Sunday, October 25 β’ 4:00β5:30 p.m. Lutheran Church o
Games & bounce housesFood trucks
Sun, Oct 253700 Cottage Grove Ave, Des Moines
Fall Festival is back at Grace! ππ More than 300 neighbors joined us last year, and we canβt wait to welcome everyone back for one of our favorite events of the year. Wear your favorite costume and bring the whole family for trunk or treat, a bounce hou
Sun, Oct 25501 Holcomb Ave, Des Moines
Save the date! Annual NHS Trunk or Treat! October 25, 2026 4-6pm in the NHS Parking Lot! More info to come.
Sun, Oct 252340 SE 3rd St, Grimes
Join us for our brand new event- Sweets and Scaries on October 25th from 5:00-6:30PM! Trunk or Treat, Photo Ops, Live Dance performances and More. Food and Drink available from Cups of Kindness and Sips Dirty Drinks. Fun for the whole family, see you ther
Sun, Oct 254700 SW 14th Street, Des Moines
Trunk or Treat at Southside π Date:Sunday, October 25, 2026 Time: 5:00 PM Location: Southside Church & Community Center Grab your costumes and join us for Trunk or Treat at Southside! Bring the family for free food, candy, and a chance to spend
Sun, Oct 254101 E 42nd St, Des Moines
Trunk or Treat in Eastview's parking lot. Come dressed in your Halloween costume. All ages welcome.
Tue, Oct 274400 W 1st St, Grimes
π Trunk or Treat at Bentley Ridge Get ready for a spooktacular evening at Bentley Ridge! Join us Tuesday, October 27 from 5β7 PM for our annual Trunk or Treat, where kids can come dressed in their favorite costumes and enjoy an evening full of candy, cra
Wed, Oct 281204 13th St, Dallas Center
Join us for Trunk or Treat on Wednesday October 28th from 4:30-6:30!
Wed, Oct 281335 NE Beaverbrooke Boulevard, Grimes
Get your little ones dressed in their family-friendly Halloween costumes and experience the fun of fall as our PowerLife students and leaders host a Trunk or Treat event! Children in grade 5 and younger are invited to trick-or-treat in our parking lot in
Wed, Oct 286036 NE 12th Ave, Altoona
Trunk or Treat β Community Event This free event is open to the entire community. Join us on Wednesday, October 28 from 6 β7:30 PM. Bring the kids for a safe, family-friendly evening of trunk-or-treating in the NewLife Church parking lot! Walk from car
Thu, Oct 292544 Hubbell Avenue, Des Moines
ππ» TRUNK OR TREAT AT DEWEY AUTO OUTLET! π»π Join us Thursday, October 29th, from 5β7 PM for a spooktacular evening of Halloween fun! π¬π Bring the whole family out for: π Decorated trunks π Plenty of candy π» Halloween fun for all ages! Get the kids dress
Trunk contest
Thu, Oct 296750 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines
Join us for candy, coffee, and some Halloween fun. Bring your kids, nieces, nephews, grandkids, neighbors, everyoneβs welcome.
Thu, Oct 29East High School , Des Moines, IA, United States, Iowa 50316
Join us for the 9th annual Scarlet Pride Booster Club Trunk-or-Treat at East High School. This is a free family fun event open to the public. Put on your Halloween best and trick or treat from car to car. Prizes for best costumes and best trunk. There wil
Costume contestTrunk contest
Fri, Oct 30Camp Dodge Freedom Center, Johnston
π Community 5K & Trunk or Treat ππ¬ Lace up your shoes, grab your costume, and join us for an afternoon of movement, connection, and Halloween fun! The USO, Warrior & Family Services Branch, Integrated Primary Prevention, and Iowa Counterdrug tea
Fri, Oct 301250 SW State Street, Ankeny
Halloween should be a chance for every child to have fun, dress up, collect treats, and enjoy time with family. This October, Circle City ABA is hosting 2026 Trunk or Treat Events for families across Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska. These ev
Fri, Oct 305627 NW 86th Street, Johnston
Halloween should be a chance for every child to have fun, dress up, collect treats, and enjoy time with family. This October, Circle City ABA is hosting 2026 Trunk or Treat Events for families across Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska. These ev
Fri, Oct 30Marshalltown High School
πΎ Save the date for Trunk or Treat! Marshalltown High School Student Council invites all community members to join us on Friday, Oct. 30, from 5β7 p.m. in the Marshalltown High School staff parking lot. Enjoy an evening of candy, snacks, games and activ
Games & bounce houses
Fri, Oct 30300 Holcomb Ave, Des Moines
Weβre excited to announce our 1st Annual Trunk or Treat! Get your costumes ready and mark your calendars! Bring the whole family out for an evening of fun, treats, and community. οΏ½ October 30th οΏ½ 6:00β8:00 PM οΏ½ Birdland Aquatic Center 300 Holcomb Ave, D
Fri, Oct 3015200 Hickman Road, Clive
Weβre excited to invite all of our daycare families to join us for a spooktacular Trunk or Treat event! π·οΈβ¨ Bring the whole family, dress up in your favorite Halloween costume, and get ready for an evening full of candy, decorated trunks, fun, and lots o
Trunk contest
Sat, Oct 314501 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines
Join West Des Moines Christian Church for Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 31st from 10:00am-12:00pm! Open to the whole community, this event gives families a chance to dress up for halloween and trick or treat in a fun, safe environment! The day will
Sat, Oct 312600 E Euclid Ave, Des Moines
We are bringing back our totally free Trunk or Treat, with a new time (2-4 pm) and even more fun! Show your creativity with a costume contest at 3:00pm. The Mario World-Themed Spooky Woods Cemetery walk is moving up the hill with the addition of Boo's Mau
Costume contest
Sat, Oct 31Big Boyz Treasures, Des Moines
Our annual trunk or treat, will be moving this year. Still hosted by certified auto sales but this year we're moving it to 16th streets liquidation destinations Big boyz Big mammaz Big broz We're going to have haunted mazes, trunk or treats spanding ac
Sat, Oct 313712 2nd Ave, Des Moines
Come out for a ghoulishly fun night at our 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat! Join us for candy, games and so much fun! Show us your best costume at our costume contest @ 4pm- weβll see who has the best costume in each age group. Come join us and then head hom
Costume contestGames & bounce houses
Sat, Oct 3112001 Hickman Road, Urbandale
Join us for our annual TRUNK OR TREAT! Open to the public.π«ΆπΌ Grab those costumes, bring your sweet tooth, and come spend a little time with our Primrose family before dinner and the big night of trick-or-treating! Inside the school, weβll have a kid-fr
Sat, Oct 31Pumpkinville and Cornmaze, Mitchellville
Itβs our 3rd Trunk or Treat event Show up in your costumes and get some candy!
Sat, Oct 31Pathway Church - Johnston
While you are out Trick or Treating, stop by the Pathway Church parking lot and score some major treats! We'll be in costumes handing out fun and treats to all the kiddos!
Sat, Oct 313816 36th Street, Des Moines
Bring the whole family for a FREE, fun and family-friendly Trunk or Treat hosted by Revival Center Youth Department! β€οΈ π Decorated trunks π¬ Candy & treats π― Games & activities β€οΈ Fun & fellowship! π Saturday, October 31st β° 6β8 PM π Revival
Trunk contestGames & bounce houses
Everything to decorate your trunk, fill the candy bowl and dress the kids β from monster-mouth kits and string lights to bulk Halloween candy and costumes. Check delivery dates before you order.
Links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, AllEvents earns from qualifying purchases.
Trunk decoration kitMonster mouth, teeth and googly eyesShop on Amazon 
Orange string lightsBattery-powered, no outlet neededShop on Amazon 
Stretchy cobwebsSpiders included, for every cornerShop on Amazon 
Light-up jack-o'-lanternsLED, safe around kidsShop on Amazon 
Bulk candy variety packIndividually wrapped, enough for a lineShop on Amazon 
Glow-stick braceletsA candy-free treat that lights them upShop on Amazon 
Teal pumpkin bucketNon-food treats for kids with allergiesShop on Amazon 
Jack-o'-lantern bucketThe classic, for collectingShop on Amazon 
Dinosaur costumePlush and hooded, warm for an evening outShop on Amazon 
Cauldron candy bowlFor the front edge of the trunkShop on Amazon 
Witch hatSoft and floppy, for little headsShop on Amazon 
Sun, Oct 25821 South 25th Street, Fort Dodge
Thu, Oct 29Maytag Park & Maytag Bowl, Newton
Fri, Oct 30909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines
What kids are wearing this year, and how to dress for an evening in a car park.
SuperheroSpider-Man topped the list for kids: 2.3 million of them.
PrincessA classic that never leaves the top five.
WitchThe hat does most of the work. Add a broom for the photos.
GhostOne sheet, two eye holes, done in ten minutes.
Pop-star demon hunterThis year's breakout, thanks to KPop Demon Hunters.DinosaurPlush and hooded: the warmest costume in the car park.Costume rankings: National Retail Federation, 2025 Halloween survey.
Since the 1990s
Churches started it. Parents wanted a Halloween with less gore, fewer strangers and no crossing busy roads in the dark, so congregations parked in a circle, opened their boots and handed out candy from the back. In car-dependent suburbs it simply worked better than a street of houses far apart β and a flat car park suits children with allergies, wheelchairs and strollers too.
Trunk or treat events in Ames run from Oct 24 to Oct 31, 2026: 48 events. The busiest weekend is Oct 23 β Oct 25, with 26 events.
Yes: 26 events are on for Oct 24 β Oct 25, including VELOCITY CREWW SEASON FINALE BIKE MEET at Hicklin Power Sports, Trunk or Treat and FALL FAMILY FESTIVAL 2026 at Camp Dodge Pool Pavillion. Another 1 event is on nearby.
Yes: 1 of the 48 listed is free, including Raccoon River Ward and Walnut Hills Ward Trunk or Treat at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most trunk or treats are free to walk into.
Yes: 3 more events are listed within reach of Ames, in Fort Dodge, Newton and Des Moines. The soonest is Trunk or Treat! in Fort Dodge, on Sun, Oct 25.
At 47 venues, including Hicklin Power Sports, Camp Dodge Pool Pavillion, Woodward Fire-Rescue and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most take place in the car park of a church, school, library or community centre.
The most popular on AllEvents right now are 2026 Modern Custom Dreamz Trunk or Treat (Sat, Oct 24), Trunk or Treat (Sun, Oct 25) and MACC Downtown Trunk-or-Treat! 2026 (Mon, Oct 26).
Start times run from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Most begin around dusk, so the decorated trunks are lit when the children arrive, and last two or three hours.
A Halloween event where children go from car to car instead of door to door. Families park in one place β usually a church, school or community car park β open their boots, decorate them, and hand out candy from the back. It began at American churches in the 1990s as a safer, more contained alternative to trick-or-treating, and most now add a costume parade, games or a best-decorated-trunk contest.
Their costume, a treat bucket or bag, and something that glows β a glow stick or a small torch β because most events run after dark. Comfortable shoes help: a big car park is a lot of walking.
Pick a theme and fill the open boot with it. Monster mouths, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, outer space and under the sea are the favourites. Battery string lights matter most, since a car park has no sockets; then a backdrop, cobwebs or props, and a bowl of candy at the front edge.
Many are. Look for a teal pumpkin: it is the sign of a trunk handing out non-food treats such as glow sticks, stickers and small toys, part of the Teal Pumpkin Project for children with food allergies.
