(Des Moines, IA) - Results of a survey could spell the end to "Beggars Night" held on the night before Halloween. The City of Des Moines says a survey of residents showed a strong preference for Trick-or-Treating on Halloween, October 31st, instead on the 30th. The following communities supporting a change include: Clive, Des Moines, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines. More communities could join the list before next fall.
A survey distributed through the Metropolitan Advisory Council (MAC) enabled each community to ask residents the same questions as to their trick-or-treating preferences between Halloween, the traditional Beggars’ Night on October 30, and the Saturday before Halloween. The goal was to collect residents’ input and with that data hopefully arrive at the same date throughout most of the metro, according to Clive Mayor John Edwards, who chaired the MAC committee working on the issue.
Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen noted that although Des Moines has had Beggars’ Night on October 30 for decades, she was increasingly hearing from residents who wanted a change. Boesen said, “I’m glad we could work with our metro neighbors through MAC to see what residents wanted. They have clearly spoken, and we will take this into consideration when determining a date for trick-or-treating next year.”
Although the date will change and the Beggars’ Night name may no longer be needed, the other traditions are expected to continue. Edwards noted “Trick-or-Treating would not be the same without hearing jokes from kids dressed as their favorite characters.”
Some communities that celebrated Trick-or-Treating on the Saturday before Halloween may still retain that schedule. Based on earlier surveys, Bondurant and Windsor Heights plan to continue doing so in 2024.