Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, a rare treat for spooky folks who celebrate, and a recent survey asked B.C. residents if they’d be into a permanent Saturday solution for the festivities.
According to some calendar math online, Halloween typically falls on a Saturday once every six to 11 years. After this weekend’s ghoulish day, Halloween won’t fall on a Saturday again until 2037.
Research Co. asked over 1,000 Canadians about their thoughts between Oct. 18 and Oct. 20 of this month.
B.C. is among the provinces showing the lowest support for changing when Halloween takes place. Only 32 per cent of residents, down nine points since 2024, favour moving Halloween to the last Saturday of the month. The only province where the idea is less popular is Alberta (31 per cent).
Across the country, over one-third of Canadians actually agree with moving Halloween to the last Saturday in October. However, that sentiment has become six points less popular since 2024.
Two in five Canadians (44 per cent) said they disagree with modifying Halloween’s date every year. And 20 per cent simply aren’t sure.
Research Co. also asked respondents about Halloween costumes, with over half of Canadians believing that three types of children’s costumes are inappropriate, including costumes that represent ethnic stereotypes, costumes that change the colour of someone’s skin, and costumes that incorporate toy or replica weapons.
The survey also asked when Canadians believe is the right time to stop trick-or-treating, with 29 per cent of respondents saying adulthood is the cutoff point, 21 per cent say when kids are aged 16 or 17, and 22 per cent say when kids are 14 or 15.
And possibly the most important Halloween question: How do you feel about candy corn?
Research Co. asked respondents about the controversial Halloween candy, with 47 per cent saying they like it, and 44 per cent saying they dislike it. Half of Canadians aged 55 years and older say they have a distaste for it.
Pumpkin pie is much more popular, with 70 per cent of Canadians saying they enjoy it.
“The margin of error — which measures sample variability — is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20,” Research Co. says.
How would you feel about moving Halloween to the last Saturday of every month in B.C.? Sound off in the comments.