Community Chat

[Love to Run]

Children in Des Moines, Iowa, go trick-or-treating on Beggars' Night in 2023. 

Children in Des Moines, Iowa, will go trick-or-treating on Halloween night for the first time in more than 85 years.

Unlike the majority of the country, communities in the Des Moines metro area go trick-or-treating during Beggars’ Night, the day before Halloween, thanks to a policy-turned-tradition dating back to the 1930s.

This year, severe weather forced the city to break with tradition and push the festivity to Halloween. Beggar’s Night could see severe thunderstorms while Halloween is forecast to see prime conditions with no rain and temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

“To my knowledge, it has never been moved or canceled since it was established after Halloween in 1938,” Assistant City Manager Jen Schulte told the Associated Press. “However, the safety of our residents, families and children is always our top priority and led to the change in this year’s scheduled Beggars’ Night.”

The Beggars’ Night celebration can be traced back to a particularly crime-stricken Halloween in 1938, according to the State Historical Society of Iowa. That night, Des Moines police answered 550 reports of vandalism – teenagers setting fires, breaking windows and sidelining street cars.

[on the bay]

@Love to Run,

That is such an interesting story.

Who knew?!

Makes me think there are probably so many of these traditions and laws in various cities around the country that are exclusive to them that we've never heard of.

I bet there must be some book about all of these.

Anyone remember that beloved reporter who traveled the country and showed different things unique to where he visited? I forgot his name.

I remember he died several years ago.

Anyway, thanks for sharing that!

[CalminHeart]

Des Moines had severe storms so it's a good thing trick or treat was moved to tonight. 

[catter70]

@on the bay , are you thinking of "On the Road" with Charles Karult? I think it was on Sun. mornings. He passed in 1997. Soon after his passing, it was found that he had been having an extramarital affair  for some 30 years.

[on the bay]

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@catter70 wrote:

@on the bay , are you thinking of "On the Road" with Charles Karult? I think it was on Sun. mornings. He passed in 1997. Soon after his passing, it was found that he had been having an extramarital affair  for some 30 years.

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@catter70 ,

Yes, that was it!

[Lakelife62]

The Beggars’ Night celebration can be traced back to a particularly crime-stricken Halloween in 1938, according to the State Historical Society of Iowa. That night, Des Moines police answered 550 reports of vandalism – teenagers setting fires, breaking windows and sidelining street cars.

Surely you jest.

Teenagers didn't do those things in the good old days.

I thought it was the new generation of coddled, unmannered, everyone-gets-a-trophy, lazy, n'er do well, snowflake teens who invented that? Is it possible that teenage rebellion started nearly one hundred years ago? Maybe even before? It can't be.

[Love to Run]

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@Lakelife62 wrote:

The Beggars’ Night celebration can be traced back to a particularly crime-stricken Halloween in 1938, according to the State Historical Society of Iowa. That night, Des Moines police answered 550 reports of vandalism – teenagers setting fires, breaking windows and sidelining street cars.

Surely you jest.

Teenagers didn't do those things in the good old days.

I thought it was the new generation of coddled, unmannered, everyone-gets-a-trophy, lazy, n'er do well, snowflake teens who invented that? Is it possible that teenage rebellion started nearly one hundred years ago? Maybe even before? It can't be.

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@Lakelife62 Nailed it!🤣