Des Moines City Says 'Yes' To Beggars' Night, Mayor Urges Coronavirus Safety

Press release from the City of Des Moines:

October 15, 2020

DES MOINES, IOWA – Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 – Mayor Frank Cownie today announced there will be a Beggars’ Night in Des Moines for children to celebrate Halloween but stressed it needs to be done safely and responsibly because of the recent surge of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Iowa. Beggars’ Night will be celebrated on Friday, Oct. 30 with trick or treating allowed from 6-8 p.m. throughout the City.“The original idea behind Beggars’ Night was to make trick or treating safer for kids by designating it the night before Halloween,” Cownie said. “We want to reinforce that commitment to safety and urge everyone to follow the guidelines from our medical experts for a healthy Halloween.”

Iowa today reported 103,222 cases of COVID-19 statewide since mid-March with 17,489 in Polk County.

Nola Aigner Davis with the Polk County Health Department said while Beggars’ Night will take place throughout the county, parents and children need to take a cautious approach.

“Beggars’ Night and Halloween need to be different this year to help reduce contact with others and lessen the spread of COVID-19,” Aigner Davis said. “What we’re hoping to do is celebrate this holiday but do it safely by limiting interactions with others.”

For tips from the CDC on safe trick or treating, click here.

This press release was produced by the City of Des Moines. The views expressed here are the author’s own.