IOWA, USA — For families looking to trick-or-treat in a way only Iowa can, Beggars' Night is fast approaching.
Read on for a brief history of Beggars' Night, plus, when you and your family can celebrate the occasion.
What is Beggars' Night?
Beggars' Night began in 1938 as a way to keep kids safe on Halloween night, according to the State Historical Society of Iowa.
By celebrating just one day earlier, police could focus their energy on combatting vandalism and other holiday shenanigans.
Beggars' Night also features an extra twist to the classic Halloween tradition: trick-or-treaters must tell a joke before they receive something sweet.
The tradition is a central Iowa mainstay, so much so that West Des Moines native and WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark mentioned the phenomenon during a press conference with the Indiana Fever earlier this year.
"When you trick-or-treat in Des Moines, Iowa, you have to tell a joke to earn your candy ... I know my mom's a stickler about it, like if you don't tell a joke, you're not getting any candy," she said.
"I was too worried about beating everyone I was trick-or-treating with to the next house," Clark continued. "I didn't really care about the joke. I was too worried about getting the full-sized candy bars and being the first to knock on the door... I was in a full sweat at trick-or-treat."
The Des Moines metro isn't the only place that officially celebrates Beggars' Night — others include Buffalo, New York, and Columbus, Ohio.
However, not all central Iowa communities celebrate Beggars' Night on the same day, and some forego the night altogether. In 2022, the Bondurant City Council shifted Beggars' Night from the day before Halloween, to the last Saturday of October.
Regardless of when you celebrate or what you call it, there are a few guidelines families should follow as they trick-or-treat. Cities across the metro encourage trick-or-treaters to travel in groups, preferably with a parent or guardian.
Additionally, trick-or-treaters should wear light or reflective clothing and always cross using traffic signals or crosswalks.
What is the forecast this week?
When is Beggars' Night?
If you are hoping to trick-or-treat this year, here is a list of dates and times for Beggars' Night across central Iowa.
NOTE: Some cities may change their dates due to the weather forecast. Those changes will be listed below.
Is there a city we're missing? Text us at 515-457-9645 or email us at news@weareiowa.com
Saturday, Oct. 26
- Bondurant: 6-8 p.m.
- Dallas Center: 6-8 p.m.
- Granger: 5-7 p.m.
- Windsor Heights: 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31
Many of the below dates have been rescheduled due to weather
- Adel: 6-8 p.m.
- Alleman: 6-8 p.m.
- Altoona: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Ames: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Ankeny: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Carlisle: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Clive: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- De Soto: 6-8 p.m.
- Des Moines: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Grimes: 6-8 p.m.
- Indianola: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Johnston: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Milo: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Newton: 6-8 p.m.
- Norwalk: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Pleasant Hill: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Polk City: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Urbandale: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Waukee: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- West Des Moines: 6-8 p.m.
- Originally scheduled for Wednesday; date changed due to weather
- Winterset: 5 to 7 p.m.