Halloween is just around the corner, and the City has plenty of spooky fun for the entire family to enjoy! The City’s official Halloween trick-or-treat hours set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Below are activities being held by our various departments:

Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department

Free Movie Screening of Coco

• When: Friday, October 14, 2022, with activities starting at 6 p.m., the movie starting at 7 p.m.
• Where: Mercer Park, 1317 Dover St, Iowa City,  IA
• What: Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department in a partnership with Summer of the Arts is pleased to present the award-winning animated movie Coco at Mercer Park. In case of rain or severe weather, the movie with be shown in the gym at the Mercer Park Scanlon Gym.
• More Details: Follow the Facebook event for additional details and updates.

Guided Nature Hikes - Halloween Special

• When: Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 8 - 10 a.m.
• Where: South Shelter at Hickory Hill Park, 1419 E Bloomington St, Iowa City,  IA
• What: Enjoy hikes into the woods and along rivers & creeks. Learn about forest bathing, sensory awareness, plant identification, animal life and more while enjoying the natural beauty our parks have to offer. This hike will include some stories and legends in Iowa City history.
• Registration: Sign up online in order to participate.

Sensory Friendly Halloween Carnival 

• When: Friday, October 21, 2022, from 4 - 5 p.m.
• Where: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 
• What: This event is designed for neurodivergent individuals who benefit from a more sensory-friendly, low-stimulation event. This event will feature Halloween-themed carnival games, a spooky garden party, craft and STEAM activities, outdoor activity stations, and visits from partner organizations including the Iowa Children's Museum, Iowa City Public Library, Backyard Abundance, Iowa City Fire Department, Iowa City Police Department, Johnson County Conservation, and more. Carnival prizes and other giveaways will be available throughout the event. This event is generously supported by Hills Bank. 
• More Details: Follow the Facebook event for additional details and updates.

Halloween Carnival

• When: Friday, October 21, 2022, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 
• What: Families are invited to dress up and party with us during the Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department's annual Halloween Carnival! This free event will feature Halloween-themed carnival games, a spooky garden party, craft and STEAM activities, outdoor activity stations, and visits from partner organizations including the Iowa Children's Museum, Iowa City Public Library, Backyard Abundance, Iowa City Fire Department, Iowa City Police Department, Johnson County Conservation, and more.Carnival prizes and other giveaways will be available throughout the event. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase from local vendors. This event is generously supported by Hills Bank. 
• More Details: Follow the Facebook event for additional details and updates.

Floating Pumpkin Patch

• When: Saturday, October 22, 2022
  • Session 1: 10 a.m.
  • Session 2: 11:30 a.m.
• Where: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Swimming Pool, 220 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 
• What: Join us for our 5th annual Floating Pumpkin Patch at Robert A Lee! Swimmers ages 2-12 are welcome to jump in and grab their pumpkin (one per person) and swim around with it. Swimmers 2-4 will retrieve their pumpkins from the enclosed baby pool area. Swimmers 5-12 can access the main pool. Swimmers have 30 minute window for free swim.
• Register: Sign up for Session 1 at 10 a.m. or for Session 2 beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Two Sentence Spooky Stories

• When: Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 8 - 10 p.m.
• Where: Ashton House, 820 Park Rd, Iowa City,  IA
• What: "The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door . . ." Get your creative juices going and come up with your own two sentence spooky stories to share around the campfire, ending the evening with s'mores of course!
• Registration: Sign up online in advance. 

Halloween at the Market

• When: Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 7:30 a.m. - noon
• Where: Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, 415 E Washington St, Iowa City,  IA
• What: Costumed kiddos can trick or treat at vendor tables. Costume parade at 10 a.m. for kids and parents. Gather at the north entrance of the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp to participate. Enjoy pumpkin decorating and an Irish Dance performance by the Champagne Academy of Irish Dance! This event is free and open to kids of all ages. 
• More Details: Follow the Facebook event for additional details and updates.

Roller Skating Costume Party

• When: Saturday, October 29, 2022
  • 1st Session: 2 - 4:30 p.m.
  • 2nd Session: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 
• What: Scare your friends while you skating in your own spooky or silly costume at the annual Roller Skating Costume Party. Choose from two sessions to enjoy. There is no fee to attend. Skates are provided and socks (spooky or not) are required. All youth 11 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
• More Details: Follow the Facebook event for Session 1 and Session 2 for additional details and updates.

Tot Monster Mash

• When: Monday, October 31, 2022, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• Where: Mercer Park Aquatic Center, 2701 Bradford Dr, Iowa City, IA
• What: Youth ages 6 and under are invited to put on their Halloween costumes and join us at the Monster Mash! Activities include inflatables, carnival games, prizes, stories, crafts, and more. There is no fee for this event.
• More Details: Follow the Facebook event for additional details and updates.

Iowa City Public Library

Sunday Funday: Jack o'lantern Luminaria

• When: Sunday, October 9, 2022, from 1 - 4 p.m.
• Where: Storytime Room at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Celebrate the fall season by making a pumpkin light display. No need to carve a gooey pumpkin, simply join us in decorating paper cups to make this seasonal activity.
• More Details: Find additional information on the event page of the ICPL website.

Teen Trivia Mash-up: Halloween/Candy

• When: Thursday, October 13, 2022, from 6 - 7 p.m.
• Where: Teen Center at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Think you know everything Halloween? Prove it! We'll have random Halloween and candy trivia (plus there will be a few treats handed out- and maybe one or two tricks). Stop by the Teen Space and team up to compete for mediocre prizes and stellar statuses.
  Come already as a team or we'll match you up when you get here. Want to join from home or a remote location hub? Join via Zoom and get the link by emailing victoria-fernandez@icpl.org.
• More Details: Find additional information on the event page of the ICPL website.

Sunday Fun Day: Apple Print Pumpkins

• When: Sunday, October 16, 2022, from 1 - 4 p.m.
• Where: Storytime Room at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: We'll combine two great fall fruits to make a cute Halloween craft! Using sliced apples, we will make pumpkin prints on paper that can be used to make cards. Once the paint dries, create spooky jack-o-lantern faces on your pumpkins!
• More Details: Find additional information on the event page of the ICPL website.

Haunted Prague: Stories of Sprits, Sorcerers, and the Supernatural

• When: Tuesday, October 25, 2022, from 7 - 9 p.m.
• Where: Meeting Room A at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Michele Patrick, author of Haunted Prague: Stories of Spirits, Sorcerers, and the Supernatural, offers a presentation that will take you on a journey through one of Europe’s most hauntingly beautiful—and just plain haunted—destinations, the golden city of Prague. In a captivating slide show, she acquaints, or reacquaints, audiences with the beauty of this magical and mysterious place, where a ghost or spirit seems to lurk around every corner. Michele then discusses Prague’s haunted history; why Prague is probably the most haunted city in the world; and the extraordinary power of legend. Finally, she talks about what she hopes her book will accomplish and then offers an entertaining, Halloween appropriate, reading from Haunted Prague.
• More Details: Find additional information on the event page of the ICPL website.

Let's Talk Books: Horror

• When: Tuesday, October 25, 2022, from 7 - 8 p.m.
• Where: Meeting Room A at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Why do people read Horror? In general, because they enjoy the thrill of being scared or the sense of terror or dread that builds as they read. In Horror, it’s the combination of the characters and the mood or atmosphere of the story that creates the sense fear, repulsion or terror in the reader. Join us as we share our favorite scary reads. Not a traditional book group, Let's Talk Books is a series of casual online conversations about books. We meet on Zoom the 2nd and 4th Tuesday evening of each month and the genre or theme for the discussion changes each time. Join us to talk books with other like-minded readers! Bring some recommendations to share or just join the conversation to get some suggestions from others.
• Registration: Register on the ICPL website and you'll receive a confirmation email with the Zoom login details. You'll also get a reminder email a few days before the event.

Halloween screening of Young Frankenstein

• When: Wednesday, October 26, 2022, from 7 - 9 p.m.
• Where: Meeting Room A/B/C at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Join us for a pre-Halloween Screening of Young Frankenstein, directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder. Young Frederick Frankenstein, the American grandson of the count who started it all, returns to Transylvania to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe.
• More Details: Find additional information on the event page of the ICPL website.

Halloween Storytime & Trick or Treat Parade

• When: Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 11 a.m.
• Where: Storytime Room at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Join us for a special Halloween Storytime followed by a Trick or Treat Parade through the library! We'll stop at several service points for candy!
• More Details: Find additional information on the event page of the ICPL website.

Iowa City Senior Center

Film Friday: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

• When: Friday, October 28, 2022, at 2 p.m.
• Where: Iowa City Senior Center, 28 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Join us for a special Halloween screening of the 1978 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Film Fridays feature a volunteer-curated line-up of movies shown on the big screen in the Senior Center's Assembly Room. It's free and open to the public.

Happy Halloween Trivia

• When: Monday, October 31, 2022, at 3:30 p.m.
• Where: Iowa City Senior Center, 28 S Linn St, Iowa City, IA
• What: Join us for fall-inspired trivia and refreshments, costumes optional! Invite your friends or meet some new ones. This program is open to all ages. 
• Registration: Sign up for this program in advance.