Halloween 2026 — Trick or Treat!

Halloween 2026 — Saturday, October 31

The spookiest night of the year — and it falls on a Saturday, perfect for parties!

Ancient Origins

Halloween traces back 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain (sow-in):

• Marked end of harvest, start of winter
• Celts believed boundary between worlds thinned
• People wore costumes to confuse spirits
• Christianized as All Saints' Day Eve ("All Hallows' Eve")
• Brought to America by Irish immigrants in 1800s

Halloween by the Numbers

• Americans spend: $12 billion annually
• Candy purchased: $3.5 billion
• Costumes: $4 billion
• Most-bought candy: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 41 million kids trick-or-treat in USA

Costume Trends 2026

Adult Top:

1. Witch — eternal classic
2. Vampire — Twilight forever
3. Pirate — never goes out
4. Anime characters — Demon Slayer, JJK
5. Movie characters — Barbie, Oppenheimer
6. 80s/90s nostalgia
7. Couples costumes
8. Group/family themes

Kids Top:

1. Superhero — Spider-Man, Batman
2. Princess — Disney + Frozen
3. Cat — easy + cute
4. Ghost — sheet classic
5. Cartoon characters (Bluey, Pokemon)

Jack-O'-Lantern Carving

Choose the Pumpkin:

• Heavy for size — fresh inside
• Flat bottom — won't roll
• No soft spots or bruises

Process:

1. Cut top at angle — won't fall in
2. Scoop out seeds and pulp
3. Sketch design with marker
4. Cut carefully — small strokes
5. Push out pieces from inside
6. Add light at night

Pro Tips:

• Roast the seeds — salt, olive oil, 350°F for 20 min
• Apply Vaseline to cut edges — slows rotting
• Refrigerate between displays

Trick-or-Treating Rules

For Kids:

• Stay in groups of 3+
• Carry flashlight
• Wait at sidewalk until candy given
• Say "trick or treat!"
• Don't enter strangers' homes

For Parents:

• Adult supervision under age 12
• Plan route before going
• Check candy before kids eat — discard if open
• Bright clothing or glow sticks

Halloween Movies

Family-Friendly:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Hocus Pocus (1993)
• Casper (1995)
• Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Adult Horror:

• Halloween (1978) — the original
• The Shining (1980)
• Scream (1996)
• Get Out (2017)
• Hereditary (2018)

Quote

"Halloween is the one night a year when we can pretend to be someone else — and discover something true about ourselves."

🎃 Happy Halloween 2026! Trick or treat! 🦇👻🕷️