In the city of Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada, Halloween is treated with an iron fist. On October 3rd, local officials enacted a law that prohibits anyone over the age of 16 from participating in trick-or-treating, alongside a curfew that mandates all Halloween festivities cease by 8 p.m. The city’s new slogan: “Bathurst: What are you smiling about?” might just say it all.
Under the new regulations, teenagers caught trick-or-treating or wearing a “facial disguise” after curfew could be slapped with a hefty $200 fine. This is a shift from previous laws that allowed only children up to age 14 to partake in the festivities and imposed an even earlier curfew of 7 p.m. Deputy Mayor Sarah Thompson has expressed her frustration with the ongoing restrictions, stating, “It’s ridiculous. If a kid knocks on my door at 8:30 p.m., I’m not going to turn them away.” However, her views seem to be drowned out by a council that appears to delight in enforcing these joyless laws.
In a further effort to maintain Halloween’s “purity,” the council has also mandated that Halloween can only be celebrated on October 31st. This decision was likely inspired by neighboring communities that have dared to hold festivities on the 30th when the actual holiday falls on a Sunday. The message is clear: Bathurst’s city council will not tolerate any deviation from their strict Halloween traditions, even if it means penalizing residents for celebrating in a way that they find inappropriate.
City representative Mark Jennings explained that the laws were originally created to address residents’ fears of “troublemakers” during Halloween. Interestingly, census data from 2016 indicates that nearly half of Bathurst’s population is aged 55 or older, which could play a role in these stringent regulations. Deputy Mayor Thompson pointed out the absurdity of the age limit by highlighting that some teenagers are quite tall. “What are we going to do, ask them for ID?” she quipped, highlighting the impracticality of such enforcement.
While it may be irritating to see a teenager arrive at your door without a costume, the reality is that adults have the power to manage their own Halloween experience. If you don’t want to deal with older trick-or-treaters, simply turn off your porch light after 8 p.m. and enjoy a quiet evening. There’s a certain charm in allowing kids to indulge in their creativity and silliness, regardless of age. A few years back, a teen dressed as a bush showed up at my house, and I ended up laughing so hard that I gave him more candy than I intended.
When we embrace the spirit of Halloween rather than stifle it with regulations, we contribute to a more joyful atmosphere for everyone. Additionally, creating a more relaxed environment might even spare you from unwanted surprises like excessive toilet paper in your yard the next day.
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In summary, Bathurst’s strict Halloween rules may seem overzealous, and the community could benefit from a more relaxed approach that allows kids of all ages to enjoy the holiday spirit.