Des Moines Changes Trick-or-Treat Night to Halloween

For the first time in 85 years, children in Des Moines, Iowa, will go trick-or-treating on Halloween night rather than the traditional Beggars' Night on October 30, a change prompted by severe weather forecasts. This tradition, started in 1938 to curb vandalism and promote family-friendly fun, typically involves children telling jokes in exchange for candy. The unexpected shift aligns Des Moines with the rest of the country, where trick-or-treating occurs on Halloween. Community feedback suggests support for moving the event permanently to Halloween, highlighting a desire to maintain the spirit of exchanging jokes for treats. Despite this year's change, the long-standing tradition of Beggars' Night remains a unique cultural practice for Des Moines. Other cities such as Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, maintain their Halloween activities on the 31st, with organized times for trick-or-treating.