Everyone experiences a debate on whether pillowcases full of candy should be obtainable to all, and it emerges when you turn 16 years old. Trick-or-treating might be a childhood rite of passage, but once you hit sixteen, it’s time to leave trick-or-treating to the middle schoolers.
In 2025, 196 million adults plan to celebrate Halloween. There’s no question that Halloween is widely enjoyed across the nation, with one in four Americans reporting it as their favorite holiday.
I most commonly see children ranging from one to 10 years old trick-or-treating. The last time I went trick-or-treating, I was in middle school, and even then I believed I was too old because I was going door-to-door with toddlers. Not only did I feel out of place, but I also felt like I was taking candy from the children and getting in the way of families who are enjoying the holiday.
Furthermore, the children who are trick-or-treating could be scared seeing the older kids because older kids are more likely to wear scarier costumes and congregate in larger groups. Since trick-or-treating is portrayed as an activity for children, parents may be uncomfortable with the fact that teenagers are choosing to trick-or-treat rather than doing more age-appropriate activities such as attending costume parties or hanging out with friends.
Additionally, it is mostly high schoolers who are passing out the candy, and taking candy from kids whom I pass in the school hallways seems a bit off-putting and awkward to me.
In our own community, a poll was conducted through The Ghostwriter’s Instagram account. The results varied, with some saying there should be no limit and others cutting the age off at 16. When WA students were asked at which age high schoolers become too old for trick-or-treating, they had diverse opinions.
Some argue that reaching an age where they are given more responsibilities doesn’t mean their childhood enjoyments should be taken away from them. Still, in some areas, it is illegal to partake in trick-or-treating if you are over a certain age, with the age ranging from 12-14 years old. While the enforcement of the laws is inconsistent, this shows that some communities believe the cut-off age should be lower.
While I do believe that it is perfectly reasonable for those between the ages of 14 and 15 to enjoy trick-or-treating with their friends, as long as it is not causing a disturbance, I still believe that children above the age of 16 years old should be the cut-off.
Halloween is more geared towards younger children who experience the magic of dressing up and collecting candy, and continuing the tradition well into your teenage years can take that experience away from younger children. Part of growing up is learning to let go and adapt to new opportunities, which is why 16 years old is a perfectly reasonable age to give up trick-or-treating; you’ve had 16 years to trick-or-treat and enjoy the candy, but the miles of walking just for the candy to be uneaten doesn’t seem worth it. Instead, you could instead watch a movie with your friends or give candy to children who visit your door.
Some adults get angry at teenagers who are trick-or-treating, while others believe it’s better that they’re trick-or-treating, rather than doing a dangerous activity such as consuming alcohol at a Halloween party.
While the opinions on this topic differ widely, a specific age to stop trick-or-treating is not set in stone, and it depends on the person and their situation. However, it’s reasonable to say that once you turn 16 years old, it’s time to retire the candy bag and let the next generation indulge in the fun.
Growing up means finding new ways to celebrate Halloween — whether that’s handing out candy, hosting costume parties, or simply reliving the nostalgia by looking at old photographs. It’s time to put the trick-or-treating bags away and pick up the candy bowl to pass out.
