PENNSYLVANIA, USA — As Halloween approaches, the age-old question remains: When is too old to trick-or-treat?
For starters, there is no nationwide age limit for trick-or-treating, but that doesn't mean there aren't cut-offs across all cities.
In Chesapeake, Virginia only kids and teens 14 and under can go trick-or-treating and the event must be wrapped up by 8 p.m. Anyone caught out later can be charged with a misdemeanor, according to their Code of Ordinances.
However, a city spokesperson told Today.com that the city "has never detained nor charged any person under the ordinance," and that "it is on the books to allow police officers a method to detain an individual if they create a disturbance or similar actions."
According to USA Today, towns such as Jacksonville, Illinois and Rayne, Louisiana stop kids who are 13 and older from trick-or-treating. Charleston, South Carolina also has trick-or-treat restrictions in place per state law for teens over 16.
However, a poll from Today.com shows that 46% of responders say that you're never too old to trick-or-treat. That same poll found that 19% of people think that 15-16-year-olds are too old to trick-or-treat, while another 18% think 17-18 is too old.
Most kids typically decide when it's time to "hang up the candy basket." According to child psychologist Michele Borba, most kids naturally decide between 12 and 17 that they feel too old to participate in trick-or-treating.
For those who feel they may be on the cusp of "out-growing" trick-or-treating, there are plenty of spooky activities to keep the spirit of the holiday alive. There's no age limit- official or not- on watching scary movies, throwing a party or handing out candy to trick-or-treaters!
Besides, traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating isn't the only Halloween activity. Trunk-or-treat is a creative alternative to the activity, where participants gather their cars in one spot, typically a parking lot, open their trunks and hand out candy and treats to those walking from car to car.