Beggars’ Night in Des Moines & Surrounding Communities 2025
Happy Halloween! Get your best Beggars’ Night jokes ready … trick-or-treat season is almost here in the Des Moines metro!
In true Iowa fashion, our area has long had its own tradition of celebrating Beggars’ Night on October 30th instead of Halloween. But last year, many communities made the switch to hold it on the Saturday before Halloween or on Halloween night, breaking the long-standing Beggars’ Night tradition.
Beggars’ Night is a quirky Des Moines tradition that dates back to the 1930s and 1940s. At the time, Halloween night often saw pranks and mischief, so local leaders decided to create a safer, more family-friendly alternative. They moved trick-or-treating to October 30th and added a unique twist. Kids were encouraged to tell jokes, riddles, or perform a little trick before receiving candy. Over the decades, this tradition became a hallmark of central Iowa, with generations of kids growing up expecting to “earn” their treats with a laugh.
Below is the updated list of 2025 Beggars’ Night and Halloween trick-or-treat dates for communities in and around Des Moines. We’ll continue to update this post throughout the season, so if you spot an edit, please contact us so we can keep the list accurate.
Bookmark these other Halloween resources:
- Halloween Events in Des Moines
- Trunk or Treat Events in Des Moines
- Halloween Costume Shops
- Fall Festivals
- Pumpkin Patches in Des Moines
Adel: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.
Dallas Center: Saturday, October 25; 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.
De Soto: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.
Granger: Saturday, October 25; 6 to 8 p.m.
Newton: Thursday, October 30; 6 to 8 p.m.
Pleasant Hill: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.
Polk City: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.
Winterset: Friday, October 31; 5 to 7 p.m.
Winterset is on Monday
Adel has changed theirs to Tuesday.
Thanks for letting me know! Updated 🙂
Bummer that DSM and ALL suburbs are the same day! Used to be able to enjoy multiple days with friends & family
Bummer that DSM and ALL suburbs are the same day! Especially when you have two homes… Used to be able to enjoy multiple days with friends & family.
Winterset is **** NOT **** on Monday. It’s on Tuesday. #getfactsright
It’s listed on Tuesday night. Not on Monday?
I believe Carlisle is on the 30th. They are doing their Pumpkinfest on Saturday, October 26, but Trick or Treating is the 30th.
Just updated. Thank you for letting me know!
https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2023/08/10/adel-city-council-approved-a-street-closure-and-beggars-night-date/
Adel is the 28th
Thank you for the update!
Carlisle Beggars night is Saturday October 28th
Carlisle Pumpkinfest is Saturday October 28th 1-3pm
Carlisle Hometown Pride Hayrack ride and Smores Saturday October 21 1-3pm
Iowa didn’t create beggars night. Ohio Nebraska and several other states do it as well and it is determined by a coalition that includes multiple states. It was because of safety and criminal activities that it was created. I’m actually old enough to remember it being created in the late 80’s early 90’s as a result of children being unsupervised, many towns having different dates and times, and so that parents could have adult on Halloween because with trick or treat on the same night parents had to pick kids or party
Newton’s Trunk or Treat and beggars night are both on Halloween night this year. Just an FYI! Thank you for this resource! https://www.newtongov.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=8284