West Des Moines and Des Moines Metro Events, When and Where: Night Eyes, Chicago, Kathy Griffin, Kenny Rogers

 
There’s plenty to do in West Des Moines in the days ahead, and if you want to travel into to Des Moines and around the metro, there’s plenty to do there, too.

Here are some selected events, with a full list of Des Moines metro events available here.

This Weekend

Mills Civic Monster Mash – Costume contests with prizes at Gino’s West Glen (most original), Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar (scariest), Cabaret West Glen (best group),Tonic (sexiest) and 515 Ultra Lounge (best couple). The fun starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m., and the clubs in the West Glen Town Center are in easy walking distance from one another.
West Glen Town Center
7 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Cost: Check with linked venues

Halloween Hoopla – Have fun at this annual haunted holiday family event. You can decorate pumpkins, play some spooky games, ride the witches wagon around the lake, and eat a treat or two!  Registrations are limited and pre-registration is required.  For more information call 222-3444 or register online .
Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge
6-8 p.m. Friday
Tickets

Valley Voices Booster Club fundraiser – If you want your home to look like it was ripped from the pages of a national magazine, be sure to stop by Saturday and Sunday and choose from =hundreds of unique items used in Better Homes & Gardens photo shoots, including Halloween and Christmas decor, gifts, bakeware, scrapbooking tools, home accents and more, all for 50  percent to  75 percent  off retail. All profits go support vocal programs at Valley High School and Valley Southwoods

Valley High School
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free

Pumpkin Walk –  Children show off their costumes as they trick or treat around the Junction, where many merchants will be open and offering special treats. Everyone gets a pumpkin under the gazebo in Railroad Park in this Historic Valley Junction Foundation-sponsored event.
Historic Valley Junction
2-4 p.m. Sunday
Free

More Halloween events here.

Other Events Around the Metro

Night Eyes – This Halloween tradition is a merry, not scary, event for the whole family.
Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines.
5:30-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 1-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Cost: $5.

Wonder of Words Festival – WOW Presents: An Evening With Dennis Lehane.
Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines.
7:30 pm. Thursday
Tickets.

25th Annual Family Halloween – Horse-drawn wagon rides, marshmallow roasts, storytellers, scarecrow and jack-o-lantern displays delight all during this non-scary family event. Children aged 12 and under can trick or treat through town, and we'll have free pop and popcorn for all. Costumes are welcome and encouraged.
Living History Farms, Urbandale.
Oct 25, 2012 - Oct 28, 2012
5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
Cost: $5/member; $6/non-member; under 2 years free.

Playhouse Halloween party – The Des Moines Community Playhouse Hollywood Halloween costume party will benefit the Kate Goldman Children's Theatre and other educational programs conducted by the Playhouse. Guests will enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, hosted beer and wine and music by Final Mix.
West End Architectural Salvage, Des Moines
7:30 p.m. Friday
Tickets.  

Symphonie Fantastique – Des Moines Symphony Masterworks 2: Benny Kim performs Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 - one of the violin repertoire’s most beautiful and beloved of all pieces. Plus, just in time for Halloween, experience Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique - a fanciful and vivid musical exploration of passion, tragedy and the supernatural.

Upcoming

The Amazing Kreski – "Even now I know what you are thinking!"
Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.
Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines.
Tickets.

STOMP –  The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with rhythm.
The Civic Center, Des Moines
Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 10, 2 p.m.; Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets.

Chicago – Starting in 1967, Chicago established a reputation for its powerful live show. The group has record sales of 100 million, 21 Top 10 singles, 5 consecutive Number One albums, 11 Number One Singles and 5 Gold singles. Their hits include: “Make Me Smile,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” “Saturday In The Park,”  and “Wishing You Were Here.”
Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State University, Ames
Tickets: Call (515) 294-3347

Annual Tree Lighting Event – Come to the Amphitheater for a live performance by Flipside, followed by Santa's arrival, tree lighting and fireworks.
Jordan Creek Town Center, West Des Moines
Nov. 16, 6 p.m.
Free.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast –  The smash hit Broadway musical is based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film. Dazzling production numbers include "Be Our Guest" and the beloved title song.
The Civic Center, Des Moines
Nov. 20 and 21, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 23, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 24, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 25, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets.

Kenny Rogers Hits and Christmas Show – Blending sets of timeless hits and Christmas favorites, the man known as "The Gambler" has sold over 120 million albums, Kenny Rogers offers a memorable, warm and fun Christmas event for the entire family.
The Civic Center, Des Moines
Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets.

An Evening With Kathy Griffin – Two-time Emmy winner, NY Times bestselling author, Grammy nominee, and 2009′s GLAAD Vanguard recipient Kathy Griffin has been making audiences laugh for years discussing Hollywood gossip and celebrity blunders.
Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State University, Ames
Tickets: Call (515) 294-3347