Every Halloween, kids can be seen trick-or-treating, but where is the cutoff? At what age is trick-or-treating socially unacceptable? People believe there is a clear cutoff, while others feel the tradition shouldn’t be limited by age. 

Tommy Reingold is a senior here at East, and he’s gone trick or treating his whole life, and even though he enjoys it, he has a firm opinion on how old is too old.

“18 is too old because you’re out of high school and legally an adult. I feel like it’s just weird to be an adult trick-or-treating,” Reingold remarked.

While there is no official limit to trick or treat, opinions on the matter vary. Some perceive it as harmless fun, and others think it’s time to hang up the candy bag.

There is a clear falloff in opinion when trick-or-treating is unacceptable. The prime age for children to participate in the act is between 2 and 17, then after 18, the majority feel they are too old.

Christopher Jones, a senior at East, shares a very different opinion compared to Reingold.

“I’d say whenever people stop giving you candy, the magic of the hallowed eve is going door to door in a costume and demanding bribes in exchange for not being tricked. In history adults carried the ceremony out. Why, in its evolution, must it be restricted to just children?” Jones said

Emily Lin, a freshman, is participating in the tradition again this year. She has heard people say 18 is too old and she has her own opinion.

“I think 26 because that’s when someone starts to look like an adult or older, like they wouldn’t be able to pass off as a teen,” Lin added.

The act of trick or treating has no definitive end; it can be enjoyed by all ages if the participant doesn’t mind a little extra attention as they get older.  

Written by junior Nicholas Reingold and senior Ethan Lin. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.