Cedar Rapids Halloween Parade & Other Great Family Fun in October

Frightening Fridays and a Saturday night Halloween parade. It's going to be a fun October in Cedar Rapids.

Great news on the Cedar Rapids Halloween Parade. After several years away, it returns and I love the name they came up with: "Dark Harvest Halloween Parade".

This year's parade will be held on Saturday, October 22, and will follow a route through the NewBo District and Czech Village. It will start at the corner of 9th Avenue and 3rd Street SE and follow 3rd St before crossing over the Cedar River on the 16th Avenue bridge. It will end at C St. SW. The route is below.

Peter Durin loves Halloween more than anyone you'll find anywhere, and he and Terry-Durin Company are behind the parade. Come for all the fun in costume on October 22. The festivities begin with a Creepy Kid Zone from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at New Bo City Market. There will also be a Family Costume Contest from 5 to 5:30.

Staging for the Dark Harvest Halloween Parade begins at 5 p.m. with the parade starting at 6:30. Parade participants can win cash prizes and trophies in categories like "Most Scary Float", "Most Creative Walking Unit", and "Spookiest Lighted Float". To register a parade entry, volunteer to assist with the event, or be a parade sponsor, contact Peter Durin at pdurin@terry-durin.com. The deadline for a parade entry is October 17.

A portion of proceeds from the Dark Harvest Halloween Parade will support Waypoint: Housing People in Crisis, as well as Mission of Hope, which provides food, clothing, and housing for those in need.

Also in October, NewBo City Market will be hosting outdoor movies on "Frightening Friday." They'll be showing Gremlins on October 7 and Scooby Doo Monsters Unleashed on October 14. Doors open at 5:30 and the movies begin at approximately 6:45 both nights. There's also face painting, a costume contest, and door prizes both nights.