Halloween events in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City area: Parties, movies and more

If there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Orchestra Iowa.

Maestro Timothy Hankewich and his stalwart musicians are suiting up for Halloween, ready to bust some ghosts in the Paramount Theatre on Saturday night.

The ensemble will be performing the soundtrack to the 1984 film that spawned a multimedia empire and made us all look at the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in a whole new light.

Costumes are optional but masks are not, so however you dress for this event, be sure to cover your nose and mouth so you won’t get slimed. And don’t cross the streams — Spengler says that would be bad.

What: Orchestra Iowa Pops presents “Ghostbusters” in Concert. When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Where: Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Tickets: $18 to $59, Paramount Ticket Office, (31) -366-8203 or artsiowa.com/ghostbusters-in-concert-2021 Students through college tickets are half-price by phone or in-person at 119 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Check out these other holiday hauntings designed to raise your spirits — dead or alive.

» HAUNTED HOUSES: Don’t miss out on these Eastern Iowa haunted attractions

» MORE SPOOKY SITES: The Gazette’s Holiday Light Finder gets in the Halloween spirit

Haunted attractions

The 5th Realm: Open 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Lindale Mall, 4444 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Cost: $15 online or at the door. enterthe5threalm.com or (319) 804-9695

Scream Acres at Bloomsbury Farm: 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 3260 69th St., Atkins. Cost: $36.95 online, $43.95 at the gate. screamacrespark.com. (319) 446-7667

Circle of Ash: 8 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Linn County Fairgrounds, 201 Central City Rd., Central City. Cost: $25 to $60. circleofash.com

Haunted Halloween Ball 6

The Pork Tornadoes will be whipping through the DoubleTree Ballroom on Saturday for the sixth annual Haunted Halloween Ball. It claims to be the biggest Halloween party in the state, and who are we to challenge that? And besides, the event raises not only the dead and undead, but also money for good. So far, the organization has donated more than $45,000 to Eastern Iowa charities. This year’s recipient is Trees Forever.

What: Haunted Halloween Ball 6. When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Where: Ballroom, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, 350 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Tickets: $25 to $50, creventslive.com/events

Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Corridor offers several portals for entering the Time Warp that never grows old.

Cedar Rapids: 6 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, NewBo City Market, 1100 Third St. SE. Local burlesque troupe Knights of the Round Pasties will lead the preshow activities, including the audience-judged costume contest. Every guest will receive a prop bag, and NewBo Beer and Wine will offer drink specials; no outside food or drink allowed. Also, anyone 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets: $20 single, $40 two-person table, $120 six-person table, newbocitymarket.org/events-at-the-market

Iowa City: Midnight Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021; doors open at 11:30 p.m., Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St. Prop bags provided — no outside movie props permitted. Presented by the Englert and Comics in Action. Tickets: $20 advance, $22 day of show, englert.org/event/rocky-horror-picture-show

‘Secret Worship’

Storyteller Darrin Crow embarks on a journey that starts innocently enough but quickly progresses from vague dread to palpable menace and finally naked horror. What happens when powerful memories and a longing to revisit the past meet with an ancient and unsleeping evil? A simple side trip to revisit childhood becomes a trial by terror. After an evening with Algernon Blackwood’s gripping tale of terror, you’ll be looking over your shoulder as you leave. Where: Giving Tree Theater, 752 10th St., Marion. When: 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $16, givingtreetheater.com

Parties

Halloween Hoedown: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, DanceMor Ballroom, 77 Second St. SE, Swisher; free admission. Featuring: Line dancing with a DJ, 7 p.m.; Beast & Bird food truck; live music by the Boot Jack Band, 9 p.m. to close; costume contest, 10:30 p.m.

Halloween Jam: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, Artisan’s Sanctuary, 1239 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. The talent will scare you and you’ll be goblin’ lots snacks and beverages. Wear your favorite costume or come as you are, which the host says could be really scary.

Nightmare on First Avenue: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, Classic Event Center, 3607 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Live music, costume contest, prizes, drinks. (It pays to tape an event flyer to a pole outside The Gazette newsroom.)

Well Lit Halloween Party: 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, Chrome Horse Saloon, 1201 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Well Lit is back on stage to help the adults celebrate Halloween. Also: costume prizes and shots.

Little ghouls and goblins

Movie at NewBo City Market: Starting at sunset Friday, Oct. 29, watch “Hocus Pocus” on the NewBo City Market lawn, 1100 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Movies move indoors in inclement weather. Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs; No outside food or drinks; Costumes encouraged. Cost: Free.

SpookFest: 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, Swisher. Take the kids to downtown businesses for treats and games.

Halloween Party Kit: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Take and make holiday fun available at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE, and the Ladd Library, 3750 Williams Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. No registration needed.

Hiawatha Public Library, 150 W. Willman St.: Edible Halloween Crafts 4 Kids, 3:15 to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, featuring Graveyard Pudding Cups, Ghost Lollipops and a Witch Hat Treat; for ages 3 to 12. Halloween Storytime, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, with stories, songs and in-house trick-or-treating; costumes welcome; for young kids and their caregivers.

Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St.: Halloween Storytime at Tot Time Monster Mash, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, Bookmobile at Mercer Park; kids ages 6 and under are invited to put on their Halloween costumes and join the staff at Mercer Park Aquatic Center and Scanlon Gym for inflatables, carnival games, prizes, stories, crafts and more; free event, no registration is required. Shaun of the Dead, zombie film for adults only, 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, Meeting Rooms A to C; free admission. Pumpkin Storytime, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, at Wilson’s Orchard, 4823 Dingleberry Rd. NE, Iowa City; stories, crafts and more; meet in front of the farm store, costumes encouraged. Teen Halloween Bash, 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, Meeting Rooms A to C and the Teen Center; dancing, food, music, games, Halloween costume parade with awards for funniest, scariest and most epic costume; done in time for “Hocus Pocus” at 7 p.m. in Chauncey Swan Park. Slightly Spooky Storytime, 10:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, Meeting Rooms A to C; stories, songs and rhymes featuring pumpkins, crisp fall leaves, and maybe a friendly monster or two. Sunday Fun Day: Mosaic Pumpkin, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, Storytime Room; materials provided to make a pumpkin or jack-o'-lantern window decoration.

Iowa City Halloween Carnival: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, 415 E. Washington St. Ghostly carnival games, spooky experiments, and prizes; Bookmobile open with other creepy activities; free, designed for ages 10 and under, costumes encouraged but not required. FilmScene will show “Hocus Pocus” in the Chauncey Swan Park outdoor theater at 7 p.m.

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@thegazette.com