These days, Halloween is just as much about adults having fun with costume parties as it is for children and families.
But when it comes to trick or treating, how old is too old?
Last year, Belleville, Ill., banned children who had completed eighth grade from trick-or-treating. It remains to be seen whether such antics are an issue in Washington.
“There typically is no increase in the arrest of juveniles for vandalism related to Halloween,” said Traci Hughes, department spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department.
But that doesn’t mean the area is free from Halloween challenges. College students and young adults can prove to be a handful.
William Starrels of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission of Georgetown said the main problem in his neighborhood is the large crowd of adults who come out late at night. The crowd, generally speaking, is college age up to thirtysomethings.
“If you go to Georgetown right now, the restricted parking is starting. Barricades are going up again, and we’ll have lots of police,” he said. “It gets really crowded and a couple steps short of chaotic.”
With the holiday falling on a weekend this year, it is expected police will be on their toes.
“We expect it to be exasperated this weekend because, one, Halloween is on a Saturday night, and two, the weather’s supposed to be nice,” Starrels said. “The police mobilize and keep everybody safe, and keep the traffic lanes flowing.”
Away from the District’s party hot spots, other neighborhoods are on the watch for the pranks of the older kids, who often don’t show up in costume, but come for the candy.
David Fromm, president of the Del Ray Citizens Association, said in rare cases where an older child comes to his door for candy, he’ll give them a ribbing for being too old or not having a costume. But he’ll give them candy in the end — no harm, no foul and better to not risk any unnecessary “tricks.”
“We’ve had some vandalism, but nothing serious … smashed pumpkins kinds of things,” said Della Stolsworth, president of the Luxmanor Citizens Association in northern Bethesda. “We haven’t had much of an issue.”
Stolsworth added the association has no guidelines as far as age or how late someone can trick-or-treat. She also said it can be hard to tell who is too old, and that some older children escort younger siblings in the neighborhood.
“It depends on the individual,” she said of who is too old to trick-or-treat. “You have to make your own decision.”
