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:

Click here for the Fall in Des Moines Guide

Communities

Adel: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

Altoona: Thursday, October 30; 6 to 8 p.m. 

Ames: Thursday, October 30; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

Ankeny: Thursday, October 30; 6 to 8 p.m. 

Bondurant: Saturday, October 25; 6 to 8 p.m. 

Carlisle: Thursday, October 30; 6 to 8 p.m. 

Clive: Friday, October 31, 6 to 8 p.m.

Dallas Center: Saturday, October 25; 6 to 8 p.m.

Des Moines: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

De Soto: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

Grimes: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

Granger: Saturday, October 25; 6 to 8 p.m.

Indianola: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

Johnston: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m. 

Newton: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

Norwalk: 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.

Urbandale: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

Waukee: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m. 

West Des Moines: Friday, October 31; 6 to 8 p.m.

Windsor Heights: Saturday, October 25; 6 to 8 p.m. 

Winterset: Friday, October 31; 5 to 7 p.m.