13 Things That Will Make You Nostalgic for Halloween in the ’80s

Nothing quite compared to Halloween for kids in the '80s. Honestly, it was chaos first and candy second, with no room for rules. School night? Who cared? From after school to after midnight, you were in for a wild ride of sugar-fueled nightmares and chills.

Now as a parent, I’m all for petitions that push Halloween to the last Saturday in October.

Even the costumes were wild. That flimsy plastic cape could’ve gone up in flames if you got too close to the wrong jack-o’-lantern, and your breath fogged up the tight mask as Mom zipped your coat up snug. Ventilation? Nonexistent—unless you were one of the lucky few to grab a last-minute mask with a convenient mouth hole.

And let's not forget the lawlessness. I remember getting egged at my own front door—right in front of my parents! Venturing into another neighborhood could easily have gotten you tied to a lamppost. The police station regularly got TPed, and kids from rival neighborhoods would roll through to track down those legendary "full-size candy bar houses."

👇🏼 Keep scrolling for the 1980s Halloween vibes. 👇🏼

It was like The Outsiders, but everyone was dressed as Michael Jackson and Madonna.

RELATED: 15 Unforgettable Things You'd Always Find at Grandma’s House

So grab your dad's flashlight and a pillowcase (because you're going to need it for all the candy) — we’re taking a no-parents-allowed trip back to Halloween in the 1980s, from the decorations to the dangers and everything in between.

LOOK: 13 Things That Will Make You Nostalgic for Halloween in the '80s

1980s-era Halloween had its own vibe, from the waxy candy bags to the widespread fear of razor blades in apples. Think you can handle the nostalgia? Keep scrolling if you dare!

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LOOK: How Halloween has changed in the past 100 years

Stacker compiled a list of ways that Halloween has changed over the last 100 years, from how we celebrate it on the day to the costumes we wear trick-or-treating. We’ve included events, inventions, and trends that changed the ways that Halloween was celebrated over time. Many of these traditions were phased out over time. But just like fake blood in a carpet, every bit of Halloween’s history left an impression we can see traces of today.

Gallery Credit: Brit McGinnis