Nothing compared to Halloween for 80s kids. Honestly, first it was chaos and then candy, with no room for rules. School night? Who cared? From after school until after midnight, you faced a wild ride of nightmares and sugar-fueled chills.
Now, as a parent, I’m all for petitions that push Halloween until the last Saturday in October.
Even the costumes were wild. That flimsy plastic cover could have caught fire if you got too close to the wrong flashlight, and your breath fogged up the tight mask as Mom zipped up her coat. Ventilation? Non-existent – unless you were one of the lucky few who snagged a last-minute mask with a convenient mouth hole.
I vividly remember watching ‘Basket Case’ year after year, and just the sight of the VHS box still haunts me.
And let’s not forget illegality. I remember being egged on my doorstep – right in front of my parents! Venturing into another neighborhood could have easily tied you to a lamppost. The police station regularly hosted TPed, and kids from rival neighborhoods stopped by to track down those legendary “life-size chocolate houses.”
👇🏼 Keep scrolling for 1980s Halloween vibes. 👇🏼
It was like The strangersbut everyone was dressed as Michael Jackson and Madonna.
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So grab your dad’s flashlight and a pillowcase (because you’re going to need it for all the candy) — We’re taking a parentally forbidden trip back to Halloween in the 1980sfrom the decorations to the hazards and everything in between.
LOOK: 13 things that will make you nostalgic for 80s Halloween
Halloween in the 1980s had its own vibe, from the waxy candy bags to the widespread fear of razor blades in apples. Do you think you can handle the nostalgia? Keep scrolling if you dare!
Gallery credit: Stephen Lenz
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Gallery credit: Emma Stefansky