Beggars' Night 2026: Columbus and Des Moines Dates and Times
Most Central Ohio towns that have posted are going Thursday, Oct. 29. Around Des Moines, most are on Halloween itself, 6 to 8 p.m. Town-by-town lists inside.
Quick answer: In Central Ohio, most towns that have posted are holding Beggars' Night on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Around Des Moines, most are trick-or-treating on Halloween itself, Saturday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. Check your town below before you plan the night.
Beggars' Night is what Central Ohio and the Des Moines area call trick-or-treat night. Each town sets its own date and hours, and it isn't always Halloween. Here's where 2026 stands as of September 25, from the town announcements and local lists we track.
Central Ohio Beggars' Night 2026
Of the 32 Central Ohio towns that have posted 2026 hours so far, 24 picked Thursday, October 29, including Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Gahanna, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Bexley, New Albany, Pickerington, Canal Winchester and Newark. Another 8 are keeping Saturday, October 31: Amanda, Genoa Township, Grandview Heights, Marysville, Orange Township, Plain City, Sunbury and Worthington.
Last year, most Central Ohio towns held Beggars' Night on Thursday, October 30.
See every Central Ohio town, with the date, the hours and the source for each.
Des Moines Beggars' Night 2026
Around Des Moines, most towns now hold Beggars' Night on Halloween itself. Of the 23 metro towns that have posted, 21 are going Saturday, October 31, and 20 of those run from 6 to 8 p.m., including Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Johnston, Waukee, Clive, Altoona, Grimes and Indianola. Ames and Winterset picked Friday, October 30.
See every Des Moines-area town
Beggars' Night 2026 at a glance
The two regions went opposite ways this year. Central Ohio mostly moved to the Thursday before Halloween, and the Des Moines area mostly stayed on the day itself.
What is Beggars' Night?
It's the local name for trick-or-treat night in Central Ohio and around Des Moines. Rather than everyone going out on October 31, each town sets an evening and a two-hour or so window, and publishes it ahead of time. That's why neighboring towns can trick-or-treat on different nights.
If your town hasn't posted yet
Not every town has posted 2026 hours. Until yours does, its page shows last year's date and hours, clearly marked, and we update it when the new hours come out. Check again the week of Halloween, because rain dates do get used.
Beggars' Night FAQ
When is Beggars' Night 2026 in Columbus?
The city of Columbus is holding it on Thursday, October 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., as are most Franklin County towns that have posted. Check your own suburb's page, because a few are keeping October 31.
When is Beggars' Night 2026 in Des Moines?
Des Moines and most metro towns that have posted are trick-or-treating on Saturday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Is Beggars' Night the same as trick-or-treat?
Yes. It's the same door-to-door trick-or-treating, under a local name and on the evening each town chooses.
Everywhere else
Beggars' Night is a Central Ohio and Des Moines tradition, but thousands of towns elsewhere set official trick-or-treat hours too. We track 3,939 of them in 37 states: find your town.
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