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Is it OK to go trick-or-treating at 17?

There is no age when kids 'should' stop trick-or-treating, but after graduating high school many enjoy other ways to celebrate Halloween, Sheryl Ziegler, a Denver family therapist tells TODAY.com. The decision to stop is based more on behavior than age.



In 2026, the general social consensus is that trick-or-treating at 17 is perfectly acceptable, provided you are wearing a costume and being respectful. Most neighbors would much rather see a teenager out enjoying wholesome, candy-filled fun than participating in riskier activities. However, there are a few "grounded reality" checks: some specific cities in the U.S. (like Chesapeake, VA, or Bathurst, NB) have historically had "age-limit" ordinances on their books—though many have been relaxed due to public outcry. As a 17-year-old, a peer-to-peer "best practice" is to go with a group of friends or younger siblings and wait until the "little kids" have had their turn earlier in the evening. As long as you aren't scaring small children or acting rowdy, almost everyone is happy to drop a Snickers bar into your bag. After all, 17 is the last year of being a "kid" before the responsibilities of 18 kick in, so why not enjoy one last haul?

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Most teenagers stop dressing up and trick-or-treating somewhere between the ages of 12 and 16 — but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad manners for them to go door-to-door, as long as they are polite while out on the streets.

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You are never too old!” Aneisha McMillan, of the Halloween Costume Association, told FOX Television Stations. “I live in a quaint little town in Michigan and my kids range from 7 to 24, and all of them will be trick-or-treating.” And according to a 2021 poll from YouGov, plenty of folks agree with McMillan.

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