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New Halloween Adventures Come Alive at Dino Park Zoo
Celebrating 35 years of Halloween festivities with new surprises for all ages
DES MOINES, Iowa (September 24, 2025) – Before Dino Park Zoo transforms back into Blank Park Zoo, the dinosaurs have one more surprise for zoo guests. Iowa’s Sweetest Halloween Tradition goes Jurassic, as the prehistoric party animals add their own twist to the Zoo’s popular fall event, Night Eyes: Dinosaur Adventure, presented by T-Fiber.
For 35 years, Night Eyes has been bringing central Iowa families together for a merry-not-scary Halloween celebration. This year, guests will find 17 life-size animatronic dinosaurs illuminated throughout the zoo, along with the Treat Safari and beloved decorations that the event has become known for.
“This is a milestone year for Night Eyes, and the dinosaurs didn’t want to miss out,” said Anne Shimerdla, President and CEO of Blank Park Zoo. “We’re closing out the Dino Park Zoo era with our biggest Halloween bash yet, complete with candy, rides, and lots of dinosaurs.”
Guests will be immersed in a world of glowing lights, dinosaur roars, and Halloween fun at every turn. Families can ride the carousel or hop aboard the train for a nighttime adventure, then stop at treat stations to collect candy throughout the zoo. The Family Fun Zone will feature inflatables, arcade games, and spin art, while entertainment throughout the zoo includes a magician, popular superheroes, and princesses.
Event Information
- When: October 16 – 19 & October 23 – 26, 2025, 5:30 – 9 p.m. (last admission at 8:30 p.m.)
- Where: Dino Park Zoo (Blank Park Zoo), 7401 SW 9th St., Des Moines, IA
- Tickets: $10 per person (Blank Park Zoo members save $2)
- Special Offer: One day only, Thursday, September 25, tickets for any Thursday or Sunday of the event are just $6
Halloween fun isn’t only for the kids. On October 31 and November 1, adults 21 and older can experience the zoo in a whole new way during Spirits of the Wild. Guests will take part in a quest to capture a notorious cryptid not seen in Iowa in over a century. The adventure includes challenges throughout the zoo, live music, a mixologist, and samples from local breweries and distilleries. Tickets for Spirits of the Wild will go on sale soon.
Don’t miss the dinosaurs’ farewell Halloween party before they go extinct at the end of October! Learn more and purchase tickets at dinoparkzoo.com.
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About Blank Park Zoo
Blank Park Zoo's mission is to inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education, research, and recreation. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, the zoo offers a unique opportunity for visitors to experience and learn about animals from around the globe, all while supporting vital global conservation efforts. As the only accredited zoo in Iowa, Blank Park Zoo is proud to be a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).