Beggars’ Night ends in Des Moines as longtime fans react to the Halloween change
By Marcus McIntosh
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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Beggars’ Night, a decades-long Des Moines tradition, ended in 2025 as the city and other metro communities moved trick-or-treating to Halloween.
Kathryn Krieg, a force behind the tradition, will be remembered at a Des Moines park named in her honor. The park opened over the summer.
Krieg started working in the city’s Parks and Recreation Department in the 1930s and retired in 1970 as the city’s parks and recreation director.
Beggars’ Night began as a way to combat vandalism associated with Halloween.
Krieg brought the community together around the idea, according to the current Parks and Recreation director.
“It worked,” Ben Page said. “Really downed all the vandalism issues the city would see during the Halloween weekend.”
A 2024 city survey showed a strong preference in metro communities for trick-or-treating on Halloween. Des Moines and other communities made the change starting in 2025.
Not everyone welcomed it. A Des Moines woman who celebrated Beggars’ Night for more than three decades said she preferred Oct. 30 because it left Halloween free for children’s parties.
“I think the night before is better,” said Camie Chipp, who prefers Beggars’ Night.
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