As the nights get longer and the air grows crisp, Halloween approaches with its familiar blend of spooky and sweet fun. And it provides us with a chance to take a stroll down memory lane.

As we look back on Halloween’s past, many of us enjoy cherished memories of parties, pumpkins, costumes, neighborhood adventures, and, of course, candy.

Have you even stopped to think what has changed when it comes to Halloween?  This blog post will take a look at Halloween through the decades.  It will be a treat.  No tricks!  Grab your pumpkin spice coffee and sit back. Let’s explore how trick-or-treating, candy, costumes and traditions have evolved; or stayed the same.

The 1940s: Wartime, Simplicity and Homemade Treats

Halloween in the 1940s was shaped by World War II. Sugar was rationed, so candy was quite a luxury. Trick-or-treating was just beginning to gain popularity, and many children received homemade goodies like popcorn balls, cookies, or even fruit.

Costumes were often handmade from whatever was available—old sheets, cardboard, or hand-me-down clothes. Planning and creating your own costume was part of the fun! And costume contests could certainly be part of the mix.

Popular treats of the time included:

• Tootsie Rolls (first introduced in the 1930s)
• Necco Wafers
• Homemade fudge

Trick-or-treating: It was a modest affair, often limited to a few houses on the block. Children were expected to be very polite and the idea of Halloween as a community event was just beginning to take root.

The 1950s: The Rise of Commercial Candy and Suburban Traditions

Post-war prosperity brought a boom in consumer goods, including candy. The 1950s saw the rise of mass-produced sweets and the golden age of suburban trick-or-treating. Candy companies began marketing specifically for Halloween, and individually wrapped treats became more common.

Candy favorites included:

• Candy corn
• Atomic Fireballs
• Bazooka bubble gum
• Mary Janes
• Bit-O-Honey
• And the Caramel Apple was born

Dan Walker (1950s): The caramel apple’s creation is often attributed to Dan Walker, a Kraft Foods employee. It was an accidental discovery.  Walker reportedly melted excess caramel left over from Halloween sales and dipped apples into it, creating a new and popular confectionery.

This new treat offered a softer, chewier caramel coating, a contrast to the crunchy cinnamon coated candy apples that preceded them.

Trick-or-treating: With the growth of suburban neighborhoods, Halloween became a bigger event. Children roamed in packs, often unsupervised, collecting candy from dozens of houses.

Pillowcases replaced small bags as the preferred candy carriers, and costumes became more elaborate, often store-bought. The children’s ability to actually see through their plastic masks was another question?

The 1960s: Pop Culture and the Candy Explosion

The 1960s brought pop culture into Halloween. Costumes based on TV characters like Batman, Casper, and The Flintstones were all the rage. Candy companies continued to innovate, and Halloween became a major marketing opportunity.

Candy highlights:

• Smarties
• Sweetarts
• Starburst (introduced in 1960)
• Life Savers
• Wax lips and candy cigarettes

Trick-or-treating: The tradition was firmly established, and safety concerns began to emerge. Parents started inspecting candy more carefully, and urban legends about tampered treats began to circulate. Still, Halloween remained a joyful, community-centered celebration.

The 1970s: Safety Concerns and Supermarket Candy

The 1970s brought a mix of excitement and more caution to Halloween. While trick-or-treating remained a beloved tradition, growing concerns about safety—especially more rumors (and some occurrences) of tampered candy—led many parents to inspect treats more carefully.

This decade also saw the rise of supermarket candy aisles dedicated to Halloween, making it easier than ever to stock up on individually wrapped goodies.

Popular candies of the 1970s:

• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• Blow Pops
• Laffy Taffy
• Fun Dip
• Now and Later

Trick-or-treating: Children still roamed neighborhoods freely, but parents were more watchful. Flashlights and reflective tape became part of the costume ensemble, and some families began hosting Halloween parties as safer alternatives. Costumes were often store-bought, featuring characters from TV shows like Scooby-Doo, The Brady Bunch, or Star Wars (which debuted in 1977).

The 1980s: Big Branding and the Candy Boom

Halloween in the 1980s was a full-blown cultural event. Candy companies leaned into branding, and Halloween commercials flooded TV screens. The variety of candy exploded, and mini-sized versions of popular bars became the norm. The 1980s also saw the rise of haunted houses, pumpkin patches, and school-sponsored events.

The 1980s also saw an increase in dressing your pet in a costume. Some owners even decided to match their pets’ outfits.

From then until now, pet costumes for Halloween has skyrocketed.  In 2025, it is projected that Americans will spend over $700 million.

A 2022 PetSmart survey revealed more than 76% of pet owners dress their furry friends for the holiday.

Candy favorites of the 1980s:

• Skittles (introduced in the U.S. in 1979)
• Nerds
• Runts
• Whatchamacallit
• Gummy bears

Trick-or-treating: The tradition remained strong, but more structured. Parents often accompanied their children, and neighborhoods began setting official trick-or-treat hours. Costumes reflected pop culture icons like Ghostbusters, E.T., and Michael Jackson.

The 1990s: Cartoon Tie-Ins and Candy as Entertainment

By the 1990s, Halloween had become a full-fledged cultural event, with candy and costumes heavily influenced by television, movies, and video games. Candy packaging often featured popular characters from shows like Power Rangers, Pokémon, and The Simpsons.

The rise of big-box stores made it easier for families to stock up on bulk candy, and Halloween parties became more common in schools and communities.

Popular candies of the 1990s:

• Airheads
• Warheads (extreme sour!)
• Ring Pops
• Push Pops
• Baby Bottle Pop
• Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme

Trick-or-treating: It’s still going strong, but with more parental supervision. Flashlights, glow sticks, and reflective gear were common safety accessories. Costumes continued to often be store-bought and character-driven. All different colors of Power Rangers roamed the neighborhoods on Halloween night.

Some neighborhoods began organizing block parties or designated trick-or-treat zones to keep things safe and festive. And others took this in stride as parents made it a social affair sharing adult beverages or party pitstops.

Trunk-or-treating really began gaining popularity in the 1990s, particularly among church groups and community organizations as a safer alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. The earliest known events are believed to have started around 1994 in Center Point, Alabama, although the exact origin date is up for debate.

The concept was simple but effective: families would gather in a parking lot — often at a church, school, or community center — and decorate the trunks of their cars with Halloween themes.

Children in their costumes would then go from trunk to trunk collecting candy, enjoying games, and participating in festive activities. This setup offered a controlled environment, which appealed to parents concerned about traffic and safety.

The 2000s: Allergy Awareness and Digital Influence

Trick-or-treating: Still a beloved tradition, but increasingly supplemented by organized events like shopping mall trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treats, and community festivals.

By the early 2000s, trunk-or-treating had spread widely across the U.S. especially in rural and suburban areas.  It had become a mainstream activity and expected event in many communities.

Today, it’s often part of larger fall festivals and is embraced by schools, churches, scout troops, and even businesses.

Parents used cell phones to stay connected, and digital cameras captured every important costume moment. Halloween became more inclusive, with options for children with sensory sensitivities and dietary needs.

The 2000s brought a new level of awareness to food allergies and dietary restrictions. Parents began seeking out peanut-free, gluten-free, and dye-free options.

The Teal Pumpkin Project, launched in 2014, encouraged people to offer non-food treats for children with allergies. Meanwhile, the internet was influencing Halloween trends, with costume ideas and candy reviews spreading through blogs and early social media.

Candy trends of the 2000s:

• Mini candy bars in themed packaging
• Sour Patch Kids
• Reese’s Pieces
• Twizzlers
• Novelty candies like gummy eyeballs and Halloween-themed Peeps

Today: Health Consciousness, Diversity, and Technology

Fast forward to today, and we find Halloween to be both bigger and more complex. Candy options are vast, including organic, allergen-free, and sugar-free varieties. Parents are more involved, often accompanying children or organizing trunk-or-treat events in parking lots for added safety.

Modern candy trends:

• Mini versions of popular bars (Snickers, Kit Kat, Reese’s)
• Gummies and sour candies
• Vegan and gluten-free options
• Nostalgic throwbacks to vintage candies

Trick-or-treating today: While the tradition continues, it’s structured. Neighborhoods often set specific hours or may decide that the trick or treating will be held on a day other then October 31.  Many families opt for community events or indoor alternatives.

Technology continues to play a role too as parents can use apps to track their kids’ routes or share costume photos or fun videos instantly.

What’s Stayed the Same?

Despite all the changes, the heart of Halloween remains the same: the joy of dressing up, the thrill of knocking on a neighbor’s door, and the delight of discovering what treats await. For many older adults, Halloween is a time to reminisce and reconnect — with grandchildren, neighbors, and the sweet memories of youth.

A Final Treat

Whether you remember the days of homemade popcorn balls and a few pennies or the excitement of your first store-bought costume, Halloween is a celebration of imagination, community, and, yes, little indulgence.

So this October, why not treat yourself to a favorite candy from your childhood and share a story or two with the younger generation? After all, the sweetest part of Halloween is the memories we make and share.

 

 

Friends Life Care publishes the eMeetinghouse blog. to share information of things that may be of interest to older adults.  As a mission-driven Quaker nonprofit organization in business for some 40 years, Friends Life Care is committed to helping seniors and baby boomers — especially Friends Life Care members — to thrive independently at home as they age.  Questions about becoming a member?  Learn more from a Friends Life Care Plan Counselors — contact us today.

Images: Canva, modern & Google Images, retro

Source for lists of popular candy and costumes by the decades: M365 Copilot