Illustration of people dressed in various costumes for Halloween

Illustration by R.J. Matson

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Are You Too Old to Trick-or-Treat?

Some towns are banning teens from trick-or-treating on Halloween. Is that fair?

October 2022

by Anna Starecheski

Katrina Burnett, 17, was excited for her favorite holiday. She was dressed like Sally from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. Her face was made up with fake scars. She wore a wig made of red yarn. She visited houses with her siblings, ready to collect some candy. But doors kept slamming in her face. “You’re too old,” she heard again and again.

The response Katrina received was rude. But it isn’t rare. Many people think teens shouldn’t trick-or-treat. Are they right?

Katrina Burnett, 17, was excited. It was her favorite holiday. She was dressed like Sally from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. Her face was made up with fake scars. She wore a wig made of red yarn. She went trick-or-treating with her siblings. But doors kept slamming in her face. “You’re too old,” she heard again and again.

This idea is not rare. Many people think teens shouldn’t trick-or-treat. Are they right?

Katrina Burnett, 17, was excited for her favorite holiday. She was dressed like Sally from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. Her face was made up with fake scars, and she wore a wig made of red yarn. She visited houses with her siblings, ready to collect some candy—but doors kept slamming in her face. “You’re too old,” she heard again and again.

The response Katrina received was rude, but it isn’t rare. Many people think teens shouldn’t trick-or-treat. Are they right?

It’s About Safety

Some adults don’t understand why teens want to trick-or-treat. There are plenty of other things for them to do on Halloween, they say. Teens could throw costume parties. They could go to haunted houses. That way, the candy can be left to the younger kids.

At least 10 towns in the U.S. have laws that ban teens from trick-or-treating. One of those towns is Belleville, Illinois. In 2008, the town’s mayor heard stories of teens banging on doors late at night. He worried that these teens might vandalize—or damage—homes and businesses.

Now no one over age 12 can go door-to-door on Halloween. “The point of the law was to make Halloween safe for children,” says Belleville Police Captain Mark Heffernan.

Some adults don’t see why teens want to trick-or-treat. There are other things for them to do on Halloween, they say. Teens can throw costume parties. They can go to haunted houses. That way, the candy can be left to the younger kids.

At least 10 towns in the U.S. have laws that ban teens from trick-or-treating. Belleville, Illinois, is one of them. In 2008, the town’s mayor heard stories of teens banging on doors late at night. He worried that these teens might damage homes and businesses.

Now no one over age 12 can go door-to-door on Halloween. “The point of the law was to make Halloween safe for children,” says Belleville Police Captain Mark Heffernan.

Some adults don’t understand why teens want to trick-or-treat. They say there are plenty of other things for teenagers to do on Halloween, such as throwing costume parties or going to haunted houses. That way, the candy can be left to the younger kids.

At least 10 towns in the U.S. have laws that ban teens from trick-or-treating. One of those towns is Belleville, Illinois. In 2008, after the town’s mayor heard stories of teens banging on doors late at night, he became concerned that these teens might vandalize—or damage—homes and businesses.

Now no one over age 12 can go door-to-door on Halloween. “The point of the law was to make Halloween safe for children,” states Belleville Police Captain Mark Heffernan.

Let Them Eat Candy

Illustration by R.J. Matson

But some people wonder if towns really need laws like Belleville’s. Many teens decide for themselves when they feel too old to trick-or-treat. Is it really so bad if a 15-year-old wants to continue a favorite childhood tradition? Madeline, 14, doesn’t think so. “We’re still children, after all,” she says. “It’s not like we’re 40.”

Plus, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed things. If you’re 14 now, you probably haven’t had a normal Halloween since you were 11. “You’ve missed out on a lot these past two years,” says Phyllis Fagell. She’s a middle school counselor in Washington, D.C. “It’s normal to crave more fun in your life.”

But do towns really need laws like Belleville’s? Shouldn’t teens decide for themselves when they feel too old to trick-or-treat? Madeline, 14, thinks they should. “We’re still children, after all,” she says. “It’s not like we’re 40.”

Plus, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed things. If you’re 14 now, you might not have had a normal Halloween since you were 11. “You’ve missed out on a lot these past two years,” says Phyllis Fagell. She’s a middle school counselor. “It’s normal to crave more fun in your life.”

But some people wonder if laws like Belleville’s are truly necessary. Many teens decide for themselves when they feel too old to trick-or-treat. Is it really so terrible if a 15-year-old wants to continue a favorite childhood tradition? Madeline, 14, doesn’t think so. “We’re still children, after all,” she says. “It’s not like we’re 40.”

Plus, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed things. If you’re 14 now, you probably haven’t experienced a normal Halloween since you were 11. “You’ve missed out on a lot these past two years,” says Phyllis Fagell, a middle school counselor in Washington, D.C. “It’s normal to crave more fun in your life.”

Halloween Do-Over

That’s exactly why Katrina was excited to trick-or-treat: It’s fun. Why should she be punished just because some teens behave badly?

Luckily, Katrina got another chance. Her older sister shared her story online. It went viral. After that, her town in Utah held a do-over Halloween. This time, no one slammed their door in Katrina’s face. “It feels very heartwarming to see that people care so much,” she says.

That’s why Katrina wanted to trick-or-treat: It’s fun. Why should she miss out just because some teens behave badly?

Katrina was lucky, though. She got a second chance. Her older sister shared her story online. The story went viral.

After that, her town in Utah held a do-over Halloween. This time, no doors were slammed in Katrina’s face.

“It feels very heartwarming to see that people care so much,” she says.

That’s exactly why Katrina was excited to trick-or-treat: It’s fun. Why should she be punished just because some teens misbehave?

Fortunately, Katrina got another chance. Her older sister shared her story online, and it went viral. After that, her town in Utah held a do-over Halloween. This time, no one slammed any doors in Katrina’s face. “It feels very heartwarming to see that people care so much,” she says.