Halloween in the 1960s: Costumes, Candy, and Changing Traditions

When we think about Halloween today, it’s all about elaborate costumes, haunted attractions, and bags stuffed full of candy. But Halloween in the 1960s looked a little different. It was a decade where traditions were shifting—trick-or-treating was booming, costumes were becoming more commercial, and the holiday was cementing itself as one of America’s favorite celebrations.

One of the biggest changes in the 1960s was the explosion of store-bought costumes. Companies like Ben Cooper, Collegeville, and Halco were mass-producing inexpensive Halloween outfits made of thin plastic masks and vinyl smocks. For just a few dollars, kids could transform into popular TV characters, superheroes, and classic monsters. Walking through neighborhoods in the 1960s, you’d see flocks of children dressed as Batman, Casper the Friendly Ghost, or the Universal Monsters. Those simple plastic costumes might look flimsy today, but at the time they were magical.

Trick-or-treating also became a firmly established tradition during the 1960s. The idea had been around since the 1930s and 40s, but by the sixties, it was a nationwide phenomenon. Candy companies leaned into it, promoting bite-sized versions of their products as perfect for handing out. Hershey’s, Mars, and Nestlé all helped turn candy into the centerpiece of Halloween. Before that, kids might get fruit, popcorn balls, or homemade treats in their bags. The 1960s shifted the focus to pre-packaged sweets, shaping Halloween as we know it today.

Decorations in the 1960s also reflected a mix of tradition and commercial influence. Families used cardboard cutouts of witches, skeletons, and black cats, many of which came from companies like Dennison or Beistle. Carved pumpkins glowed on porches, and some neighborhoods even started organizing community parties and parades to keep the festivities safe and fun.

Of course, not everything was lighthearted. The late 1960s also brought the first widespread concerns about Halloween safety. Urban legends about tampered candy and stranger danger began to circulate, leading some parents to be more cautious. While most of these fears were exaggerated, they became part of the cultural conversation around Halloween.

Looking back, the 1960s were a turning point. Halloween was no longer just about spooky folklore—it was becoming a pop culture event. Television specials, themed commercials, and mass-marketed products made the holiday bigger, brighter, and more accessible than ever before. The traditions that grew in that decade continue to influence how we celebrate today.

That’s just a snapshot of Halloween in the 1960s. On the latest episode of The Halloween Podcast, I dive deeper into the costumes, the candy, and the cultural changes that made the decade such an important part of Halloween history.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lOW1dG92BsRmRphdxh5M9?si=d7eTU-rgR_q9jkeiWs9NxA