WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Children in Washington Court House will trade their porch lights for jack-o’-lanterns on Thursday, Oct. 29, as the city holds its annual Beggars Night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the city announced in a Facebook post.
Residents who want to participate are encouraged to turn on their porch lights during the two-hour window and have candy ready for trick-or-treaters making the rounds through city neighborhoods.
Washington Court House, the Fayette County seat and home to roughly 14,400 residents, is one of dozens of central Ohio communities that mark Beggars Night on a weeknight rather than on Halloween itself. The custom traces back to 1954, when Columbus police reported that Oct. 31 trick-or-treating in the city had grown unruly, and officials there moved the tradition to an earlier date. Surrounding communities followed suit, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission now helps coordinate a common Beggars Night date each year for cities and townships across the region, keeping the tradition on a Thursday evening rather than the calendar holiday.
City officials did not announce a rain date or backup plan in the post. Families are encouraged to use reflective or visible costumes and to trick-or-treat in groups, standard safety guidance local officials repeat each Halloween season.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the City of Washington Court House.
