Halloween happenings in the Corridor

Today may be Halloween when little kids go trick-or-treating, but if that’s not up your alley, check out these Halloween events that we’ve pulled together to make sure you have a either a happy — or scary — Halloween.

Hauntings

• The 5th Realm: To Nov. 2, First Avenue entrance inside Lindale Mall, 4444 First Ave NE, Cedar Rapids; 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sunday; 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday. A clandestine operation obsessed with finding the secret to opening the portal to the 5th Realm captures a diver named Brooks, who discovered an ancient mystery at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. They believe Brooks and the secrets he discovered are key to opening the portal to the 5th Realm. But their experiments have not gone to plan, unleashing mutated horrors from the 5th Realm.; tickets and details, enterthe5threalm.com/

• Circle of Ash: To Nov. 1; weekday gates open 8 p.m., weekends open 7 p.m., Linn County Fairgrounds, 201 Central City Rd., Central City. Traditional indoor haunted house, walk-through fun house maze, haunted forest; $25 to $75 VIP; ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/CircleofAsh

• Thrashers House of Terror: To Oct. 31, 405 E. Threshers Rd., Mount Pleasant; $15 or $25 fast pass. Hours: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday; kids under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. thrashershouseofterror.com/

Children’s events

• Playground of Science: 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31, Coe College, Peterson Hall, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Kids, bring your parents trick-or-treating at the “Coe Playground of Science” night. There will be interactive demos that teach kids of all ages about the natural world around them. We’ll levitate things, launch pumpkins on our trebuchet, do the “mentos and diet Pepsi demo,” make dragon’s breath flames, play with numbers, be amazed by strong magnets, make snow, see models of eyes and hearts, learn about the human body, see how chemistry allows us to create useful substances, make ice cream with liquid air, see molten glass poured at almost 2,000 degrees, and much more. Don’t forget to bring your best costumes to trick-or-treat in. Peterson Hall is on College Road NE opposite the Clark Alumni House. RSVP: Prof. Caio Bragatto, Physics Department, [email protected].

• Jack Splat!: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Chauncey Swan Park, 405 E. Washington St., Iowa City. Don’t toss your jack-o’-lanterns in the garbage — let us toss them off the northwest corner of the parking ramp next to Chauncey Swan Park. Drop off your ghoulish gourd and set up your blanket or lawn chairs nearby to get the best view. Come for the splats, but stay for outdoor activities, sing-alongs, and a warm breakfast from local food vendors. Free.

• HalloWEEK: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To Nov. 2; Iowa Children’s Museum, inside Coral Ridge Mall, 1451 Coral Ridge Ave., Suite 715, Coralville; not-too-scary Halloween activities for all ages; costumes encouraged, not required; included with museum admission; theicm.org/events/

• Halloween Story Time: 10 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 31, Hiawatha Public Library, 150 W. Willman St., Hiawatha; fun stories and do the Monster Boogie, then trick-or-treat inside the library; free, for kids and caregivers. hiawathapubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/11442913

• Trick-or-Treat: 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 31, Marion City Hall, 1225 Sixth Ave., Marion; free. Children can dress up in their Halloween costumes and collect candy and other treats from staff on both floors at Marion City Hall. cityofmarion.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/16099/2087

Movies

• Disney’s Encanto, live-to-film sing-along concert: 6 p.m. Nov. 3, Hancher Auditorium, 141 E. Park Rd., Iowa City. Banda de la Casita will perform the film score live while the movie is shown on a big screen. Fans are encouraged to dress up as Mirabel, Luisa, Isabela, or any of their favorite characters from the film and to use their voices to transform Hancher into one big celebration of the Madrigal family. Adults $30 to $50; students and youths $15 to $25; hancher.uiowa.edu/2024-25/encanto

Miscellaneous

• Day of the Dead: To Nov. 2, Mi Lindo Vallarta, 529 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Celebration in which the people of Mexico build shrines of flowers and skulls made of sugar to honor their ancestors. The owners of the restaurant have assembled an ofrenda, or shrine, in the dining room and the public is welcome to come in costume or as they are and decorate a sugar skull in remembrance of their own loved ones past. Meet Flacco Arturo, the celebration’s mascot skeleton, and find his miniature brothers and sisters, hidden throughout the restaurant, to win a prize. All children in costume receive a free bolsa dulces sweet treat. Sing along with the lively Day of the Dead music videos on the big screen and earn a spicy festive gift. For reservations: (319) 200-1515.

• Comedy Mind-Magic and Houdini Seance: 7 p.m., Friday Tin Roost Restaurant, 840 W. Penn St., North Liberty. This fun-filled, spooky, mind-magic show featuring the Mind Meddler Troy Peters culminating with a thrilling Houdini Seance. Get ready for an immersive experience filled with magic, mystery and maybe even a few ghostly encounters. This in-person event is perfect for thrill-seekers and skeptics alike. This event is not recommended for children under 8 years of age. Proceeds from the event benefits the North Liberty Community Pantry. Cost is $20.