By Shreya Vaidhyanathan, Opinion Editor

With age comes responsibility, as well as—unfortunately—an end to running around on a random Saturday night and raiding your neighbors’ candy bowls. As you get older, the thrill of taking seven Snickers from a bowl reading “Please take one” fades away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Halloween night!

Halloween treats

From the classic Pillsbury cookies you can throw in the oven to white chocolate bark with mix-ins like M&Ms and pretzels, the possibilities for creativity in the kitchen are endless. You could stick to the classics by busting out the family brownie recipe, or venture outside your comfort zone and create a spooky-looking dessert complete with googly eyes or iced cobwebs. At the end of the night, if none of your baking attempts were successful, Halloween candy serves as the perfect backup plan!

Horror movie night

A movie marathon is the perfect option for getting scared without having to leave the comfort of your home. Supplies you may need include popcorn, the fluffiest blankets, a stack of horror classics on DVD or access to a handful of streaming services you probably already pay for but never use. Don’t miss the opportunity to yell at the main character for splitting from the group, not to mention ending the night with a mindless Disney show to hopefully get some nightmare-free sleep.

Haunted houses

Although getting older means no more trick-or-treating, it certainly opens up more avenues to scare yourself. Gone are the days when you were too short to enter the best of the haunted house world. Whether you choose the classic Eastern State Penitentiary or go for the Bates Motel experience, make sure to take advantage of the hayride!

Pumpkin carving competition

Now that you are old enough to handle a knife without your parents standing over your shoulder, it would be an absolute waste to not host a jack-o’-lantern carving competition for you and your friends. You could mix it up with self-portraits, matching the pumpkin to your costume or by trying to replicate various cartoon characters. No matter what you and your fellow carvers decide, you truly can’t go wrong with pumpkins on Halloween.

Ghost stories

Everyone gets a free pass for creeping each other out on Halloween night, the perfect time to finally tell the scary story you have been saving for ages. Grab some graham crackers and marshmallows and gather around the fire. Bonus points for pitching a tent and actually sleeping outside in the 40 degree weather!

Door duty

You are never too old to appreciate little kids running around in Darth Vader masks or witch hats! Join in on what this holiday is truly about: candy. This can be going on in the background of baking or watching movies, and besides, an undeniable plus is that bag full of leftover candy at the end of the night. 

Shreya Vaidhyanathan can be reached at [email protected].