CNN
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Children in Des Moines, Iowa, will go trick-or-treating on Halloween night for the first time in more than 85 years.

Unlike the majority of the country, communities in the Des Moines metro area go trick-or-treating on Beggars’ Night, the day before Halloween, thanks to a tradition of policy dating back to the 1930s.

This year, severe weather forced the city to break tradition and move the celebration to Halloween. Beggar’s Night saw thunderstorms and fog, while Halloween is expected to see excellent conditions in the 40s and 50s with no rain and temperatures.

“To my knowledge it has never been moved or canceled since it was established after Halloween in 1938,” Assistant City Manager Jen Schulte told the Associated Press. “However, the safety of our residents, families and children is always our top priority and has led to the change to this year’s planned Geuzennacht.”

According to the State Historical Society of Iowa, the Beggars’ Night celebration can be traced back to a particularly crime-ridden Halloween in 1938. That night, Des Moines police responded to 550 reports of vandalism: teenagers set fires, broke windows and sidelined street cars.

In an effort to curb hooliganism, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department has declared Oct. 30 as Beggar’s Night, when children are allowed to go door-to-door trick-or-treating under the supervision of adults. Halloween would be reserved for family-friendly activities and adult events.

But the event had a twist: children had to sing a song or recite a poem in exchange for candy. Over time, the tradition became for children to tell jokes.

The plan worked: By the mid-1940s, the number of Halloween police calls had been cut in half, according to the state historical society.

What was originally an effort to combat Halloween vandalism became a tradition for the city.

Before news of a rainy forecast broke, some communities had already moved Beggars’ Night to the Saturday before Halloween so that trick-or-treating wouldn’t fall on a weekday.

According to Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen, the city will conduct a study next year to consider an official date change for the weekend.

For trick-or-treaters, the point of the night remains the same regardless of the day of the week.

“I mean, it makes a difference. But you still get candy,” Lucy Jaksich, a 9-year-old from Des Moines, told CNN affiliate KCCI.

CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward contributed to this report.