Vikings Vocalize by sharing favorite Halloween stories

Neela Cooke, Staff Writer

October 10, 2025

Halloween isn’t just about trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving; it’s a way to show creativity, bond with friends, and bring a little spooky spirit into the hallways. The holiday has become a highlight of the fall semester.

“What was Halloween like for you as a child?”

“Every year, I would load up on candy and eat it while watching scary movies like Michael Myers (Halloween) with my mom.” – Aiden Burton

“I’m originally from Dayton, Ohio…[It] has more people as a community, so there is a lot more participation throughout the city, rather than just the neighborhood.” -Robert Gabbard

“My street gets really busy on Halloween, so I would do a lot of trick or treating, and we would have [a] Halloween party at my house.” -Bree Adams

“My cousins and I would go to different houses, and we would just trick or treat and stuff like that.” – Callie Becker

“I love Halloween. I grew up on a military base, and so everybody participated. It was a big deal”. – Heather O’Quinn

“Horrible. I hate Halloween. My mom used to give me stupid costumes…She made me dress as a booger.” – Meloyne Clark

“What about this time of year, the site sounds, smells, and feelings bring back fond Halloween memories?”

“The leaves falling and the quick temperature change, uh, I just love being able to, I just love the vibe of it, and being able to wear hoodies at school.” – Aiden Burton

“Candy corn definitely hits a soft spot in my heart. And I love a lot of Tim Burton movies, and I like the darkcold nights near Halloween in October with all the decorations.” – Robert Gabbard

“All the pumpkin smells and Starbucks fall drinks, and… candy corn.” – Bree Adams

“Friday night lights [football games], the cold weather in the mornings, it being dark in the mornings. Starbucks drinks, 7 Brew drinks, pumpkins, just coming back to school, honestly.” – Callie Becker

“[It]brings back anxiety and bad emotions…[Halloween] is not fun. Not for me.” – Meloyne Clark.

“People’s decorations.the seasonal aisle at Walmart with all the Halloween candy. And then, like, the old school… Halloween movies that they play on TV. “ – Heather Oquinn.

“Is your household's Halloween celebration the same as it always was, or has it changed?”

“It definitely changed. I think the older me and my sister have gotten, the less effort has been put in every year, typically. Instead of going out, obviously, and trick-or-treating, we no longer do that. We kind of just stay at home and pass out candy, and my parents don’t really go into decorating as much as they used to.” – Aiden Burton.

“When I was with my parents, and they were really cool about it when I was younger, but now I have an apartment, and I help out with my grandparents and [they are] super Christian. They don’t really celebrate it a lot.” – Robert Gabbard

“Pretty similar, because we decorate our house, and usually have some people over.” – Bree Adams

“It’s kind of the same. We always go trick-or-treating. We always decorate the house, and we’ve always decorated. We still decorate, ’cause I have younger siblings, so… I still have to do all kinds of Halloween stuff with them.” – Callie Becker.

“What about this time of year do you like the best?”

“I love seeing everyone’s yard decorated, and I like to see kids get excited to go out and trick or treat.” – Aiden Burton.

“I think the gatherings of the holidays are what make it fun. In the wild things people do. I feel like people do more wild things, and they’re more open to more fun things out there.” – Robert Gabbard.

“I love fall, and all of the leaves turning, like how pretty everything around us looks, and how it’s a little bit chillier, but not too hot, not too cold.” -Bree Adams

“Probably getting a little bit colder, probably football games.” – Callie Becker.

“The changing of the leaves and cooler weather. Sweater weather.” – Meloyne Clark.

“In October, they start the Hallmark Christmas movies.” – Heather Oquinn

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