ROUND 1: EVIL ENTERTAINMENT
COSTUME PARTIES: For those who don’t want to stay home on All Hallows Eve, stepping into the night invites a playful fright. Costume parties deliver steady entertainment in the form of bobbing for apples, dancing to the Monster Mash, and a nod to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. If dancing with a ghoul isn’t appealing, a murder mystery can provide clues, atmosphere, and friendly competition that keeps everyone engaged.
TRICK-OR-TREATING: Trick-or-treating offers chills and thrills by simply popping out from behind a corner to startle unsuspecting witches and warlocks. Yet the routine of moving door to door can feel like a slog after a while.
Costume parties offer more fun for everyone with less effort, so the night can be enjoyed with less stress and more celebration. The party atmosphere often outshines the alternative.
SCORE: COSTUME PARTIES – 1
TRICK-OR-TREATING – 0
ROUND 2: DEATHLY DECORATIONS
COSTUME PARTIES: A good costume party goes all out with the decorations. From fog machines to sound effects, bloody limbs, chainsaws, cobwebs, and cauldrons, the possibilities for creating a creepy mood are limited only by imagination and budget. It’s easy to craft a bona fide haunted house that lingers in guests’ minds.
TRICK-OR-TREATING: The decorations you see when you go trick-or-treating are noticeably simpler. Some houses mount tombstones and scarecrows on the lawn. Others leave the porch light off and the scene stays muted. Don’t expect a truly spooky experience.
Trick-or-treating gets caught in the cobwebs. Costume parties score again!
SCORE: COSTUME PARTIES – 2
TRICK-OR-TREATING – 0
ROUND 3: FOOD “FRIGHT”
COSTUME PARTIES: Halloween brings out the grossest grub, packed with playful gore. Brains made from Jell-O, cupcakes smeared with chocolate dirt and gummy worms, and bottles labeled with quirky names are common at a costume party. Yet there are still classics like apple cider and pumpkin pie that comfort the crowd.
TRICK-OR-TREATING: Trick-or-treating centers on candy, the kind, amount, and places to gather it. If luck is with a collector, full-size bars appear. The haul means plenty of sweets that last well beyond the night.
Party snacks are fun, but the bite of dawn turns them into memory. Trick-or-treating brings a bucketful of candy home!
SCORE: COSTUME PARTIES – 2
TRICK-OR-TREATING – 1
ROUND 4: “GHOST” LIST
COSTUME PARTIES: Since walls don’t part for guests like ghosts, entry hinges on being on the guest list or hosting a party yourself. The upside is that costume parties welcome people of any age, even if they’re no longer living.
TRICK-OR-TREATING: Trick-or-treating is seen by some as child’s play. After a certain age, some folks question the point of going door to door with a pillowcase full of treats. Still, dressing up and scaring neighbors doesn’t require an invitation to participate.
Who says teens can’t trick-or-treat? Costume parties see their guest lists grow. Trick-or-treating ties the match!
SCORE: COSTUME PARTIES – 2
TRICK-OR-TREATING – 2
ROUND 5: FEAR FACTOR
COSTUME PARTIES: All puns aside, Halloween can be a scary experience in the strongest sense. At a costume party, it is common to know the host and some guests, so a fake thumb in cider can still feel like a prank rather than a fright.
TRICK-OR-TREATING: Trick-or-treaters may face pranks and misdirections, along with the occasional dangerous decoy masquerading as candy. There is a real risk with unwrapped treats, so caution is wise for those collecting sweets.
There will be no dawn if you are dead. Costume parties snag the final point for safety!
SCORE: COSTUME PARTIES – 3
TRICK-OR-TREATING – 2
ROUND UP: Trick-or-treating came knocking for a treat, but ended up with a trick. The time-honoured tradition of dressing up and knocking on doors is open to everyone and fills many bags with sugary plunder. Yet costume parties bring more decorations, more entertainment, and greater safety, sealing the win for the night.
Happy Halloween!