Halloween celebrations beyond Trick-or-treating

By Monica Sudfield | Published Oct. 21, 2017

2017 will be a record year for Halloween merchandise sales, at an expected $9.1 billion according to USA Today. This is a record Kean students will be a part of as they purchase for their “halloweekend”.

“Halloweekend” is a term used to describe the whole weekend of Halloween events. Trick-or-treating, dressing up, and sweet treats are around the corner for youngsters as we approach the holiday, but what is in store for the older generation?

“Most people say my age is too old for trick-or-treating,” said Courtney Glynn, communications major. “I find a good way to still enjoy the old holiday tradition is by taking the young kids that I do know door-to-door.”

Although trick-or-treating is commonly associated with smaller children, a survey conducted by Today.com revealed 73 percent of participants believe children should stop this activity between ages 12-17.

“Going out with my friends [trick-or- treating] when I was younger will always be some of my favorite memories,” said Josh Altman, senior majoring in communications.

Since it seems this Halloween past time is truly in the past for college students, the celebration continues in other ways.

“I plan to go out and celebrate with friends the weekend before, but the night of I’ll probably stay home and watch horror movies while giving out candy,” said Andrew Molnar, Junior majoring in History-Secondary Education.

In 2015, horror movies earned $255 million in Box Office earnings, according to CNN. Although Halloween is associated with horror, some young adults take a different route to celebrating.

“One year I dressed up as Britney Spears’ ‘Oops!… I Did It Again’,” said Jordyn Leder, a non-matriculated student. “Everyone around me at the club knew who I was dressed as and some even started singing the song to me.”

Eventbright.com refers to clubbing as the grown up version of Halloween. Of course, many clubs require guests to be 21 and over, so young adults that are too old for trick-or-treating, but too young for clubbing find alternatives to display their Halloween spirit and enjoy the holiday.

When Glynn was in high school, she would work at the event “Halloween at the Hills”, a walk through that her school hosted.

“Each room was decorated to portray a different theme and all the volunteers were urged to dress up,” said Glynn. “Costume guidelines had to be followed since the event was set up for little ones to come with their families, get candy, and enjoy the scenery. We didn’t want them to leave frightened.”

Just because trick-or-treating is in the past for the students here at Kean and young adults all over, doesn’t mean the spirit of Halloween is behind us.

However you plan to celebrate Halloween this October, hopefully it leaves you with spooks and memories to last a lifetime.

A few events taking place right here on campus that can add some extra spirit to your halloweekend are “Ghost Tours” at Liberty Hall Museum on Oct. 27 at 7 and 9 p.m.; “Pumpkin Patch Day!” at Liberty Hall Museum on Oct. 28 from 10-5 p.m.; “Halloween Bake Sale” in the student center atrium on Oct. 31 from 3:15- 5:30 p.m.

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