With Halloween just around the corner, everyone is finalizing their costumes and planning meet-ups to trick-or-treat in the biggest neighborhoods with the best candy. Picture crunchy orange-red leaves scattered across the sidewalk and the chilly air creeping through the thin fabric of a costume. A full night of cheer.

At least, that is how Halloween worked back in primary school.

Halloween has traditionally been a time when kids aged 10 and under dress up, paint their faces, and wander their neighborhoods asking for candy with a cheerful, “Trick or treat!” But as generations have grown, this beloved tradition is changing, with teenagers—and even young adults—now taking over the streets.

This raises an age-old question: At what age should one stop trick-or-treating? Is Halloween truly just for kids, or can teens still put on costumes and join in? And if so, where should we draw the line?

Some argue that today’s youth may be trick-or-treating longer because they lost out during the pandemic. According to The Washington Post’s Annie Atherton, teenagers may simply want to capture those experiences they missed in 2020. Atherton suggests that for many, Halloween is a “core memory,” and the idea of growing up and leaving behind this tradition may be unsettling.

“[Folks] might be wrapped up in feelings about what it means to grow up and trade in make-believe and innocence for responsibility,” Atherton said.

Opinions at West Chicago Community High School are mixed, and the Chronicle has previously covered this topic, suggesting – at that point -Halloween offers “an opportunity—just for one day—to break societal norms and reconnect with childlike wonder.” Many students here, from freshmen to seniors, say they plan to trick-or-treat this year and likely for years to come.

“There is no age limit. It’s Halloween; it’s supposed to be fun. It’s a holiday,” Rachel Balmer, a freshman in high school, said.

Yet, without an age limit, Halloween loses its magic. Part of the joy of trick-or-treating is the innocent thrill that comes with being young, dressed up, and eagerly collecting candy. By high school, those memories should be treasures, not traditions to revisit year after year. Older teens mingling with little kids for candy can feel unsettling, and at a certain age—say, 11—it is time to transition to more age-appropriate ways of celebrating.

As the White Rabbit says, “Trix are for kids,” and so, too, should be trick-or-treating. While it may be tempting to keep the tradition alive through the teen years, Halloween can still be enjoyed without going door-to-door. Perhaps a night at a Halloween party or helping out with a haunted house would be more fitting.

Some, including Student Resource Officer Mike Levato, might disagree. According to Levato, the West Chicago Police Department will be out on Halloween night to ensure everyone’s safety, especially with teens between 14-18 still out alongside young kids and parents. While he doesn’t work on Halloween himself, Levato thinks the cut-off should be around age 16. He notes that teens around 17-18 sometimes cause issues, such as taking entire bowls of candy or engaging in other disruptive behaviors.

Levato believes that if teens go out, they should respect the tradition and avoid causing trouble.

“I just wish that if the kids that do go out, they go out to have fun and don’t cause problems or do damage,” Levato said.

A few teenagers, like West Chicago Community High School junior Hailey Teran, are aware of the judgment that comes with trick-or-treating as they get older but are willing to look past it. Teran plans to continue the tradition until she turns 18.

“I feel like all the parents will judge me, and that is the point – that I will no longer feel comfortable begging adults for candy [at 18]. They definitely are [judging] now; I just don’t care yet,” Teran said.

For some, the joy of Halloween and the nostalgia tied to trick-or-treating can be worth ignoring societal expectations—even if only for a few more years.

Ultimately, while everyone deserves a way to celebrate Halloween, trick-or-treating is best left to those young enough to feel its magic. For high schoolers who choose to participate, keeping it respectful and safe for the little ones is key. Halloween is, at its core, a holiday for the young.