What Happened to Halloween?

We’re barely past Halloween...well, technically “Trick or Treat Friday” and somehow it already feels like the world has moved on. November 2nd hits and suddenly every store is wrapped in garland and Santa is staring at you like you owe him money. Thanksgiving? Apparently that’s just the pregame to Christmas now. But before we sprint into holiday chaos, I’ve got thoughts about Halloween, specifically where the hell did it go?

This year, we were on our game. No Browns stress hanging over us. Up early, recording early, actually functioning like responsible adults. And for Halloween night, I was ready. Fire pit going. Candy bowl stacked like a Costco display. Spirit high.

And then… almost nobody showed up.

I swear to you, when I was growing up, Halloween was one of the greatest nights of the entire year. It was an event. You planned for it. You strategized. You picked a costume you could move in because you were covering territory. You mapped the neighborhoods. You negotiated candy trades like you were on Wall Street. And your parents actually let you roam at night like a tiny sugar-fueled raccoon with no supervision. It was glorious.

Now? Man… we got four groups of kids the whole night. Four.

Meanwhile half my street had their lights off, porch dark like they were actively hiding from children. Old people peeking through blinds like trick-or-treaters were coming to repossess their house. And I could see kids at the end of the street look down, notice only one house participating (mine), and just say “nah.” Can’t say I blame them.

But shout out to the heroes:

There were two people riding bikes reverse trick-or-treating, giving candy to us in the driveway. Legends. Then the next morning, three kids showed up at my door asking if I had leftover candy. And honestly? Respect. You show up with that kind of courage at 9:30 AM the day after..yeah, I’m hooking you up. I gave them handfuls. They deserved it.

I Think Kids Don’t Need Halloween Anymore

Hear me out.

Kids today have candy whenever they want. Parents hand out snacks at the store just for keeping their shoes on. There’s a trunk-or-treat every weekend in October. The thrill is gone. The hunt is gone.

When I was a kid, candy was a currency.

You rationed it. You protected it. You’d tackle someone for a king-size Baby Ruth.

Now candy is like… just candy.

And that sucks. Bad.

Speaking of Costumes… Let’s Talk Classics

Some costumes hit different:

• The year my boy Nate crushed the Jack Sparrow look, iced out pirate swag and flip flops? Elite.
• Napoleon Dynamite & Kip couple costume with the “LaFawnduh” sign. Perfect.
• Jake Delhomme era costume.. jersey, hat, wristbands… committed.
• The year SpongeBob entered the chat.  Don’t forget that one.

And personally? I’ll never forget trick-or-treating:

• As the devil, at an actual nuns’ convent.
• Getting toothbrushes from Dr. Winkle (whose yard was always filled with toothbrushes the next morning justice).
• Or the strategic debate every kid in Avon Lake had:
  • Lake Road: fewer houses, but potential full-size bars.
  • Interior neighborhoods: rapid-fire small candy hits.

Quantity vs quality. Candy capitalism. We were out there grinding.

Here’s Where I Land On It

I was frustrated this year. Green Beans looked at me like, “This is depressing, man.” And I felt it.

But you know what?

Somebody has to keep the tradition alive.

If I give up, and the next person gives up, eventually Halloween just disappears. And that cannot happen.

So I’ll be out there every year.

One kid? Ten kids? Zero kids? Doesn’t matter.

If you show up in costume, whether you’re five years old or eighty-seven, you’re getting candy.

If you’re of age and want to pull up to the driveway fire pit and have a beer, even better.

If you’re a kid who knocks on my door the next day to ask for leftovers, you’re the spirit of Halloween itself.

Those kids get it.

We need more of that.

Halloween isn’t dead.

We just have to fight for it a little.