2019 Beggars' Night: Tips to keep kids safe while trick-or-treating

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Here are five simple ways to keep your children safe while they're out trick or treating this Halloween. Visit DesMoinesRegister.com for more safety tips.

Follow these guidelines for safe trick-or-treating:

• Use nontoxic face paint instead of a mask.
• If children must wear masks, make sure they can see and breathe easily.
• Costumes should be made of nonflammable material.
• There should be a reflective band or tape on costumes so children are easily seen.
• Keep costumes short enough that kids won't trip on them.
• Props should be made of plastic, foam board or cardboard, with no sharp edges or points.
• Use treat bags with handles so kids can keep their arms free.
• Use flashlights to light your way, not candles.

More on Beggars' Night in central Iowa:

• When is Beggars' Night?
• Why Des Moines has Beggars' Night
• Cold weather can’t chill Halloween spirit for Iowa kids

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From the archives: Some of our favorite Beggars' Night photos

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West Des Moines children finish their trick-or-treating on Beggar's Night. Pictured first row: Emma Gerlach, 5, left, and Jacob Gerlach, 4. Second row: Zachary Gerlach, 9, and Brycen Gerlach, 7, right. Register file photo

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Ted Bleimehl and his daughter, Josie, 3, lead a group of trick or treaters on Sunday, October 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Kai Douglas, 2, Amya Millsap, 13, Victoria Breedlove, 4, and Kalena Hodge, 13, go trick-or-treating in Des Moines on Beggars' Night Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register

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18-month-old Harrison Moffat takes a break from trick-or-treating to play in the leaves on Beggars' Night, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

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Children make their through the Sherman Hill neighborhood, ready to fill their candy buckets, on Beggars' Night, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/Register file photo

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Children make their through the Sherman Hill neighborhood, ready to fill their candy buckets, on Beggars' Night, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

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Amya Millsap, 13, and Kai Douglas, 2, go trick-or-treating in Des Moines on Beggars Night Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register

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Jen McDonald-Ill takes her daughter Frankie Ill, 6, dresses as a corpse bride and friend Isla Pulver, 7, dressed as an Iowa State cheerleader Trick-or-treating on Beggars' Night Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register

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Ann Flood hands out candy to trick-or-treaters in Des Moines on Beggars' Night Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register

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Trick-or-treaters take to the streets of Des Moines on Beggars' Night Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register

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Trick-or-treaters take to the streets of Des Moines on Beggars' Night Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register

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Ana Fritzjunker, 10, leads her friends Laci Hennessey, 10, Olivia Halstead, 11, and Reece Jones, 11, as the group walks down 45th street off Kingman Boulevard on Beggars' Night, on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, in Des Moines, Iowa. Register file photo

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Olmsted kindergartener Everett Atwell runs to the next house on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Rick Martin talks with tick-or-treaters as they stop at his house on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Jack Matson waits as Olmsted second-grader Daxon Kiesau makes a candy selection on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Olmsted kindergartener Hollister Harris runs trying to stay up with older kids on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Addison Kent, 4, (left) walks with her family on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Olmsted kindergartener Dylan Dresback leads his mom , Kim, and dad, Ryan, as they walk from house to house on Sunday, October 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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A miniature Captain America roams the streets on Sunday, October 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Olmsted second-grader Cheyenne Mills smiles as she runs for the door of the next house on Sunday, October 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Robert Mapes asks for a joke before handing out candy Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, during Beggars' Night in Des Moines. Michael Zamora/The Register

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Emma, 10, and Leo Gannon, 7, lead their mother Debbie Gannon and grandmother Susan King down the sidewalk Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, as they start out their trek for candy on Beggars' Night in Des Moines. Michael Zamora/The Register

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Rob Fox (left) and Calvin Waggoner, 6, walk from house to house in their Pac-Man costumes Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, during Beggars' Night in Des Moines. Fox said he and Waggoner have worn matching themed costumes for several years, with Waggoner picking the Pac-Man theme after watching the movie "Pixels." Michael Zamora/The Register

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One-year-old John True Muelhaupt of Des Moines takes an early bite of candy while going door-to-door during Beggars' Night on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. Register file photo

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Children go door-to-door during Beggars' Night on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. Register file photo

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Jon Pugh of Des Moines chases after his son Graham, 7, as they take part in 2014 Beggar's Night festivities Des Moines, Iowa. Register file

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Charlie Craiger, 11, of Des Moines, trolls for candy during Beggar's Night on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie Litchfield/The Register

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Sasha Rooney-Kozak, 2, walks back to his parents while going door-to-door during Beggar's Night on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie Litchfield/The Register

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Dressed as a Rubix Cube Kobie Long, 12, and her friend Erin Martin, 13, walk through a Des Moines neighborhood enjoying the Beggar's Night festivities on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie Litchfield/The Register

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One-year-old John True Muelhaupt of Des Moines leads his mother Andrea Muelhaupt as the two go door-to-door during Beggar's Night on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie Litchfield/The Register

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One-year-old John True Muelhaupt of Des Moines leads his mother Andrea Muelhaupt as the two go door-to-door during Beggar's Night on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, in Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie Litchfield/The Register

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Jack Matson listens as Holy Trinity third-grader Sophia Taylor tells a joke on Sunday, October 30, 2016, on Beggars' Night in Urbandale. Merle Laswell/For the Register

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Liliana Haaland (3 years old) of Waukee dressed as a blue princess riding a green dinosaur. Special To The Register

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More safety tips:

• Kids should never eat candy before a parent has examined it. Parents should check candy to ensure the wrapper has not been tampered with.
• Treats not commercially wrapped should not be eaten.
• A parent or older teen sibling should accompany younger children.
• Parents or teens, not children, should hand out candy at home.
• Trick-or-treaters should walk in groups of no more than four or five kids to make it easier for the adult to keep track of them.
• Know the adult your child is with.
• Only go to homes that have porch lights turned on.
• Don't enter strangers' homes.
• Use sidewalks; don't cut across lawns.

Source: Polk County Sheriff's Office

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Get to know the origin of Des Moines' pre-Halloween tradition called "Beggars' Night."