How old is too old for trick-or-treating?

Halloween is a kid’s dream holiday. Dressing up in a cool costume and getting free candy – who can ask for anything better? But how old is too old for trick-or-treating?  

Some towns have laws about trick-or-treating ages, saying that kids under twelve are not allowed to partake in the holiday fun and violators could be charged a fine. Norfolk, VA; Portsmith, NH; Suffolk, NY; and Virginia Beach are a few examples of places where this law is enforced. Luckily for us in Maryland, there are no laws restricting trick-or-treating.  

A few students here at Fallston gave their opinion on what they think about trick-or-treating. Julianna Giglio-Tos, a senior, said that senior year is a fine age to stop. Julianna and her friends in her neighborhood have trick-or-treated up until their senior year because they only go around in their neighborhood where people know them and have watched them grow up. 

Another senior with a similar opinion, Renae Gent, says that 17 is a good age to stop because it is your last year being a real kid. Renae thinks that any age after that is just “too far because [they’re] too old.”  

Another senior, Sydney Beard, had a different opinion on the topic, saying that she thinks kids should stop in 5th grade. Sydney explained that “middle school is a step up,” and kids trick-or-treating after that age can interfere with the younger children who still deserve the fun experience.  

Trick-or-treating is considered a kid’s activity; however, what age is “being a kid” considered? Whether it’s under the legal age of 18 or before you enter middle school, everyone has their own idea of when trick-or-treating should stop. So, before deciding how old is too old for trick-or-treating, how about we decide on what age do you officially stop being a kid?