Every year, the same debate comes creeping back like a haunted house fog machine: Should we move Halloween to a weekend?
Luckily this year it’s on a Friday, so no one is complaining. But with October 31st falling on a random weekday most years, parents and candy-loving kids have long wished the holiday could just live on the final Saturday of October. But despite a Change.org petition that’s racked up over 150,000 signatures, the government still isn’t budging.
So now, there’s a new plan on the table: Instead of trying to shift Halloween itself, why not create an entirely new holiday just for trick-or-treating?
Introducing National Trick or Treat Day.
Yep, it’s official-ish. The folks behind the Halloween petition are pivoting their energy into starting a new holiday that would always land on the last Saturday in October. That way, families could enjoy trick-or-treating on a weekend without disrupting the traditional October 31st Halloween date. And honestly, it’s a pretty clever workaround.
The idea already has a spot on the National Day Calendar website, which tracks all the unofficial holidays we never knew we needed (looking at you, National Taco Day). But whether National Trick or Treat Day actually catches on remains to be seen. It could become a fun bonus night of candy and costumes… or fade into obscurity by Thanksgiving.
The original push to move Halloween came from safety and sanity concerns.
Supporters argue that Saturday celebrations are safer for kids, more convenient for working parents, and less of a nightmare for teachers dealing with sugar-zonked students on November 1st. Critics, of course, say Halloween is Halloween, and you can’t just reschedule spooky season like it’s a dentist appointment.
So will National Trick or Treat Day stick? Time will tell. But if you love candy, costumes, and avoiding weeknight chaos, don’t be surprised if this “bonus” Halloween becomes a thing.
More Milk Duds for everyone!