A Week of Not-Too-Spooky Fun!

October 26 - 31, 2021 • Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Creepy-crawly spiders and happy jack-o-lanterns have transformed our space into The Iowa Children's BOOseum! Come play during the week leading up to Halloween for not-too-spooky activities that kids of all ages will enjoy. 

Activities: Create creepy crafts in the Art Studio and use peculiar toppings in Pizzeria Pie. Read In The Leaves by Huy Voun Lee on a story walk throughout the museum. And don't forget to pick up a Halloween “I Spy” scavenger hunt at the front desk! We’ll also have rotating Halloween activities throughout the week including pumpkin bowling and Halloween cup stacking.

Costumes are encouraged: It's so much fun to play in your Halloween costume! Our team likes to get in the spooky spirit as well, so keep an eye out for dinosaurs, superheroes, and other silly characters.

Spooky Sing-Alongs (weekend only): Dance to the music and sing with us about pumpkins, bats and other Halloween favorites! Sing-alongs will take place on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 am & 12:30 pm.

All activities are included with museum admission.

Sensory-Friendly Halloween

Sunday, October 31st, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Join us for a special Halloween-themed Super Hero Night! As part of our HalloWEEK, this free event offers sensory-friendly activities in a calmer environment and opportunities to collect treats in our museum exhibits.

Costumes are encouraged (but not required!) as you look for our “treat stations” throughout the museum. In line with the Teal Pumpkin Project, all treats will be small non-food items to avoid allergy concerns. We will also have not-too-spooky Halloween activities, including art projects, a Halloween "I Spy" search, and pumpkin bowling. Friends from the Iowa Regional Autism Assistance Program will also join us to make scratch art bookmarks.

Admission is free for families with children who have special health or sensory needs thanks to our friends at GreenState Credit Union! A limited number of visitors will be admitted to ensure a calm and welcoming environment, so please reserve your tickets in advance (look for the Super Hero Night listing on October 31st and follow the prompts to reserve your tickets).

Jack SPLAT!

Chauncey Swan Park • Saturday, Nov. 6, 10:00 a.m.

Once Halloween is done, don’t toss your jack-o-lanterns in the garbage—let us toss them from up high instead! Jack SPLAT is going to a whole new level!

Join us on Saturday, November 6th at 10 a.m. in Chauncey Swan Park as we give your carved creations one last hurrah for the Halloween season! We will throw your pumpkins off the northwest corner of the parking ramp, so set up your blanket or lawn chairs nearby to get the best view. Come for the SPLATS, but stay for music and jokes from Pete the Turtle (and our Executive Director, Jeff). Watch the high-flying fun and enjoy a fall morning in the park!

Pumpkin Drop-Off:

Ready to watch your pumpkins fly? There's two drop-off options:

• The Iowa Children’s Museum on Thursday, Nov. 4 or Friday, Nov. 5 during opening hours (10 am – 6 pm)
• Chauncey Swan Park in Iowa City the morning of the event

All pumpkins must be received by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6th.

Bring Home Some Magic!

Magic-Themed Play Packs Still Available for Limited Time

Grab your wand and cauldron (and don’t forget your magical pet!) as we learn enchanting spells, complete bewitching activities, and discover the magic all around us! Our Magical Mysteries Play Pack is still available for a limited time.

This peculiar parcel contains everything your child needs for a magical adventure, including four magic-themed activities and bonus content that explores art and science concepts. Easy-to-follow instructions and creative prompts will help the children in your life conjure up their own fun!

For a limited time, you can receive all four magical activities for just $40 thanks to support from GEICO Cares. Don’t let this magical adventure disappear; keep your wand at the ready as we solve Magical Mysteries!

Make a Haunted House

Complete a creepy craft at home with our Director of Exhibits. Watch Kelly make a haunted house and then grab your craft supplies to make your own!

Jack SPLAT Throwback

Are you ready to watch pumpkins fly? Enjoy this throwback to 2020 when our high-flying event was virtual (but the SPLATS were as good as ever)!

Draw a Spooky Jar

It's another at-home Halloween craft! In this episode of Art Club, Kelly will show you how to draw jars full of frog eyes, stardust, and spider webs!

Pumpkin Tower STEM Activity

Let’s use recycled materials (or whatever you have hanging around) to create a tower that supports pumpkins! This is another throwback to our October 2020 Virtual STEM Family Free Night.