October 31st, 2023: Halloween starts and ends, and for teenagers across the country, it is important to know: How old is too old to go trick or treating? Do I seem too old to take candy from houses? Can I still wear a silly costume? Fortunately, studies all over the internet have been revealed to answer our conundrum.

How old is too old to go trick or treating? There is one simple answer: There is no hard and fast age limit! However some studies suggest that certain ages cease trick or treating out in their neighborhoods. In Chesapeake, Virginia, they say the age cut off should be 14 years of age. In other places such as Upper Deerfield Township in New Jersey, they say 12 is the end of it.

In an informal poll from the Today Show, that was taken by roughly 2,000 people, about 75 percent said that 17 was the age cut off. However, Sheryl Ziegler, a Denver family therapist suggests that there should be no age limit to trick or treating (also referred to in the Today Show article), and that the parents should decide when based on their etiquette and behavior.

In fact, in an article by Country Living, they brought on an expert named Catherine Newman to answer their question. She said: “I begrudge teenagers nothing. I just think they get in so much trouble for the weirdest reasons. Isn’t trick-or-treating the most innocent, delightful thing for them to still want to do? Actually, when people complain about teenagers trick-or-treating, I’m like, ‘Wait, what do you wish they were doing? Would you rather they were on their phones?'”

All in all, there is no real age to stop trick or treating. It all depends on what the child and the parent decides, since there is really no harm in going trick or treating even when you’re older. Though some places may assume or suggest a certain age, it is only a suggestion, and not enforced.