Halloween Participation: Kids vs. Everyone

Every year, the streets are filled with kids in creative costumes, knocking on neighbors’ doors with their trick-or-treat bags extended out for all to see. For most, this would be a heartwarming, adorable experience, watching as the kids’ eyes glow as the candy piles up in their bags. However, imagine if it were a 25-year-old doing the exact same thing, dressed up and asking for candy. Not as cute, right?

It's understandable why adults want to participate in trick-or-treating. It's fun to dress up, walk around with friends, and pretend you’re still a kid; plus, there's free candy! However, it is well-known that teenagers or adults can often act rowdy or obnoxious during Halloween. From taking all the candy from a house to just being rude and unaware of the people around them, allowing older people to engage in trick-or-treating actively hurts the kids' experiences. Letting teenagers walk alongside kids still in elementary school is a recipe for ruining both of their Halloweens.

Although the act of trick-or-treating should only be for kids, there are still many other events that adults and even teens can participate in. Interacting with kids by passing out candy or carving pumpkins are rewarding experiences in their own way, while still allowing them to be a part of the Halloween celebration. Additionally, there are many mature things that teens and adults can do that don’t interfere with kids, such as visiting haunted houses, Halloween-themed amusement parks, or watching horror movies with friends. If some adults still have the urge to dress up as their favorite characters, they can attend cosplay conventions to meet people with similar interests, or they can host their own Halloween parties, still maintaining the festive spirit. 

Even though it is hard for adults to suppress their inner kid, it is imperative that we preserve the children’s experience of trick-or-treating during one of the most magical holidays, while letting adults participate in their own unique ways. 

As we all know, Halloween is often seen as a holiday that’s mostly enjoyed in full by young children. However, as many grow older, they seem to lose some of the Halloween spirit. I can personally see how almost none of the houses on many streets have been decorated for Halloween, and this is most likely because all the kids have grown up. It’s honestly very sad to see because October and Halloween almost go hand in hand, and without the full Halloween spirit, the month just doesn’t feel the same.

While adults shouldn’t go trick-or-treating, that doesn’t mean that they can’t dress up in costumes and put effort into creating an amazing experience for the kids enjoying trick-or-treating. It would be great if every house was decorated with spooky props and if Halloween could be enjoyed by everyone no matter what age they are. 

This would also promote a lot more inclusiveness and bonding, as kids from other neighborhoods would be prompted to take new trick-or-treating routes to see some new houses. Imagine if every year on October 31st, you could look out the window and see children from neighboring communities walking down your street with smiles on their faces, ready to get some more candy with their friends. 

Participating in Halloween doesn’t necessarily refer to just decorating your house; it also means creating a fun experience for the kids trick-or-treating. This can easily be done with very little effort by just answering the door and doing a spooky yet fun welcome for the kids asking for candy.