Dos

• Dress up: While some people think we may be nearing the age that we can’t dress up anymore, we haven’t gotten there quite yet.  I’ve noticed that a lot of students stop dressing up during high school, but I’ve heard about how much fun they have dressing up once they get into college.  Halloween isn’t just for the little kids; you aren’t too old to dress up and have fun just yet.

• Go Trick-or-Treating: It’s still fun even if you’re in High School.  Seriously though, who doesn’t love free candy?

• Take your little sibling Trick-or-Treating: If you’re feeling a little hesitant to go trick-or-treating because you think you’re too old, take your younger siblings.  Chances are they look up to you, so you offering to spend time with them will make this holiday one for them to remember.

• Go to a Haunted House: Find one, gather up a few friends, and just go.  While I personally don’t recommend the ones hosted by places like teen centers, there are plenty that are going on over the weekend that are worth your money.

• Have a scary movie marathon: While some of the older scary movies are just outright pathetic (such as the old Frankenstein), there are a ton of really scary movies out that are worth watching (such as Disturbia even though it’s a couple years old, it’s still really good).  Stop by a Redbox or a Blockbuster, pick up a few movies, send out a mass text to a few friends, and pop some popcorn.  Then, play the movie, sit back, and either scream or laugh along to it with your friends.  There’s always someone who buys into it all and spends the entire time screaming and there’s always someone who laughs because they see how unrealistic it is.  If you don’t feel like hosting it, send out a text to meet friends at a movie theater.  Saw 3D or Paranormal Activity 2 are playing, so it’s a fun experience without the clean-up! Either way, it should be a fun time.

Don’ts

• Wear a costume you can’t go out in: If you plan on going out trick-or-treating or to an outdoor haunted house, it’s probably not the best idea to wear a costume that isn’t warm enough or that isn’t comfortable enough.  I’ve seen girls going trick-or-treating as Marilyn Monroe in her notorious white halter dress…when it’s like forty degrees out.  There’s also the girl who wears like seven inch heels when she’s going to a haunted house.  My question is: how can you run away in a haunted house in shoes you probably can’t even walk in?

• Take handfuls of candy: I can honestly say that’s the exact reason teens feel pressured not to dress up anymore.  Some stupid groups of teens go around grabbing handfuls of candy, so adults get mad.  Honestly, just walk to a couple more houses and be respectful.

• Be disrespectful: Considering the houses you go trick-or-treating at are buying candy to give to you for free, say “thank you.”  Your parents reminded you to use your manners every single year before you went up to every single house, so just say “Thanks” as you run down the driveway with the free candy.

• Act like you’re too old to enjoy Halloween: Honestly, you aren’t, so just dress up and enjoy the holiday even if you’re only handing out candy.  Halloween is the one day a year that you can dress up like a complete creep or diva in the gaudiest most obnoxious clothes without anyone saying anything, so just have fun with it!