For the first time in over 80 years, children in Des Moines will trick-or-treat on Halloween itself, thanks to an unexpected change caused by the weather.
Halloween in Iowa’s capital is usually celebrated a little differently from the rest of the country. Instead of dressing up and knocking on doors on October 31, Des Moines has its own local tradition called “Beggars’ Night,” which takes place on the night before Halloween. The annual event, which began in 1938, was originally intended to keep Halloween safe and free from mischief. Back then, vandalism and hooliganism were common, with teens throwing bricks, soaping windows, and even setting fires. That year alone, police responded to over 500 incidents of vandalism on Halloween.
The city’s former parks director, Kathryn Krieg, wanted to create a safer, family-friendly way to celebrate. Thus, Beggars’ Night was born. It quickly became a tradition for kids to trick-or-treat on October 30, not by shouting “trick-or-treat,” but by sharing a joke or a little performance. Parents and neighbors would smile as children tried their best to be comedians, often hearing quips like, “Why don’t lobsters share? Because they’re shellfish!”
However, this year’s Beggars’ Night faced a rare interruption. Severe weather, with heavy rain, thunderstorms, and even the possibility of tornadoes, is forecasted for Wednesday night. Concerned for everyone’s safety, city officials decided to move Beggars’ Night to Halloween evening itself, making this the first time Des Moines kids will go trick-or-treating on October 31 since the 1930s.
“To my knowledge, it has never been moved or canceled since it was established after Halloween in 1938,” Assistant City Manager Jen Schulte remarked. “But the safety of our residents, families, and children is always our top priority.”
The city’s decision wasn’t made lightly and was prompted by an official notice from the National Weather Service, predicting strong storms. Following Des Moines’ lead, several neighboring communities, including Pleasant Hill, West Des Moines, and Ankeny, also opted to reschedule their Beggars’ Night celebrations to Halloween for this year.
For many longtime residents, this unique situation has stirred mixed emotions. Debbie Westphal Swander, owner of a costume shop in West Des Moines, commented, “I didn’t realize we were that much of an anomaly because for us, this is normal. We’re going to be in sync at least for this year with the way the event is celebrated everywhere else.” She added, “The big picture for me is, it’s absolutely about the kids. That’s the most important thing.”
Though it’s only a temporary shift, this year’s Halloween in Des Moines will be a little extra special. Children will get to experience the holiday the way millions of others do, dressing up and trick-or-treating on the very night associated with ghosts, goblins, and all things spooky. And with Beggars’ Night moved just this once, children will have an extra day to practice their favorite jokes, adding a bit of Des Moines flair to Halloween night.
For one night, Des Moines will join the rest of the country in trick-or-treating tradition, yet its residents will likely cherish the unique history of Beggars’ Night for years to come.