Every year, 72.4 million people go trick-or-treating, and in turn, the debate intensifies about whether there is such a thing as being too old to go trick-or-treating. But do not fear, The Hiller staff is here to weigh in on whether or not trick -or-treating has an age limit.
Senior and Co-Editor-In-Chief Cameron Street comments, “I love that I still go trick-or-treating; it’s so fun to dress up for one night. You only live once. I definitely feel like there’s a certain age limit, but if you’re still in your school years, it’s fine. Once you turn 19, that’s when it gets weird.”
Many share this feeling; as children grow older, they often adjust their Halloween celebrations to better suit their age. Younger kids have tons of energy on the holiday, want to run around the neighborhood and get all the free candy they can. However, as people age, they adapt their celebrations to reflect their age, such as going trick-or-treating with friends instead of parents, or opting out of going out altogether and attending a party.
“I feel like Halloween costumes kind of change with your personal style. When you’re younger, it’s your parents who choose what costume you wear. But as a teenager, your costume evolves based on whether you’re going with a group or what you’re interested in when Halloween comes around,” Street adds.
In recent years, Halloween has become a highly commercialized holiday that benefits greatly from consumerism. Every candy company offers the “big bag” for parents to set outside their house, and retail stores keep putting out Halloween decorations earlier and earlier, sometimes as early as August.
Stores like Spirit Halloween alleviate the weight of age limits by offering costumes for everyone, whether someone needs one for their young child, is a teenager seeking ideas, or is an adult attending a Halloween party looking for something a little more fun.
Staff Writer and Sophomore Brett Ames says, “Places like Spirit market towards kids and then they have the adult costumes that aren’t kid-friendly, so I feel like they keep it open to all age groups. Some people think that [trick-or-treating] is just for young kids, but I think everyone can enjoy it for as long as they want, as long as they aren’t ruining it for others.”
Seeing older kids go trick-or-treating can even be relaxing for adults: “We live in a time where it’s almost too easy for kids to get in trouble, so I would imagine it’s calming to see them spending the night collecting candy with friends instead of causing problems elsewhere,” mentions Senior and Co-Editor-In-Chief Cadi Wright.
While Halloween is a time for fun and festivity, safety is always a top priority for parents and communities. Concerns about adults trick-or-treating often come from a desire to protect younger children from potential risks.
It’s important to maintain a balance between preserving the excitement of Halloween for all ages with making sure children feel safe in their neighborhoods.
Wright states, “I think you can definitely be too old for trick-or-treating from a safety standpoint. It’s just kind of uncomfortable to think of a random adult walking the streets at night with a bunch of [minors]. It should be limited to children and teenagers.”
Overall, Halloween does tend to have a majority-agreed-upon age limit, but don’t worry, Hillers, it’s only after graduation that it can get weird! As long as we embrace the fun and festivities that Halloween brings, we can enjoy it at any high school age. Whether it’s dressing up in costumes, attending parties or simply enjoying spooky movies, the spirit of Halloween is all about creativity and community.
So keep the tradition alive and make the most of this haunting holiday, celebrating together with friends and family. Happy Halloween Hillers, don’t be boring—go trick-or-treating!!
