18 Vintage Snapshots That Offer a Glimpse into Old Halloweens

Written by Mariano Montagna on
Four children in colorful Halloween costumes stand indoors. From left to right: a clown, a pumpkin, a character with a Donald Duck mask, and a child in a leopard costume with a full face mask.

Before Halloween was all about store costumes and plastic decorations, it had a quieter, softer charm. These 18 vintage photos take us back to times when kids wore homemade masks and the night felt full of wonder. Let’s revisit those sepia-toned Octobers, when the spirit of Halloween lived in imagination and neighborhood fun!

1. Pumpkin Heads and Paper Masks in the 30’s

Two children in vintage floral dresses stand outdoors; one has a pumpkin jack-o'-lantern on her head, the other wears a dark, cat-like mask. The photo is sepia-toned, evoking an old-fashioned, eerie Halloween atmosphere.
CHRISVALD/Reddit.com

2. Kids dressed for halloween on a school bus

A group of children in Halloween costumes and masks sit on a school bus, smiling and looking at the camera. The costumes include ghosts, witches, animals, and various creatures. The photo is in black and white.
anonymous/Reddit.com

3. Treats or risk being bitten

A child in a clown costume and party hat stands at a front door holding a Halloween bag that says "TREATS OR I BITE," accompanied by a small dog also dressed in a clown outfit and hat.
Slow-moving-sloth/Reddit.com

4. Mid-century halloween party (1950)

People in vintage costumes gather at a lively Halloween party. Some wear masks, hats, or glasses. A skeleton decoration and a “Celebrate Halloween Night” sign are visible in the festive background.
OdinsBeard/Reddit.com

5. Childhood Wonder

A group of children dressed in colorful costumes and masks, some with painted faces, pose outdoors near a large tree. The costumes include animals, clowns, fairytale, and fantasy characters.
LOLMANTHEGREAT/Reddit.com

6. Chasing some shadows down suburban streets

Five children in Halloween costumes, including Batman and other characters, walk excitedly down a suburban sidewalk in a residential neighborhood on a sunny day.
anonymous/Reddit.com

7. Halloween in Hero Mode (1967)

Three children in Halloween costumes—Batman, a cowboy, and Gumby—stand indoors holding orange trick-or-treat bags. "Halloween 1967" is written in orange at the top of the photo.
deleted/Reddit.com

8. A family on halloween in the 1970´s

Five adults in unique costumes and one child pose in a kitchen. Costumes include a pumpkin head, a nurse with a tall hat, a boxer, a woman in white, and a child dressed in yellow holding bread.
AdSpecialist6598/Reddit.com

9. A little clown

A child dressed in a colorful clown costume and mask holds a pumpkin-shaped bucket, standing in front of a cardboard skeleton decoration on a wall.
WJKCreations/Reddit.com

10. Jaws kid (1976)

A child stands outdoors in front of a wooden fence, wearing a vintage shark costume with a "JAWS" T-shirt and a shark mask, raising their hands in a playful pose. Plants sit on a shelf attached to the fence.
Slow-moving-sloth/Reddit.com

11.Halloween decor

A dining table decorated for Halloween with a pumpkin-patterned tablecloth, matching pumpkin placemats, Halloween figurines, jars of candy, and two wooden chairs in front of a window with closed blinds.
anonymous/Reddit.com

12. Homemade costumes in the 80s were legit

A child smiles while wearing a homemade Marlboro cigarette box costume, standing next to another child in a homemade robot costume made of foil-covered boxes. The text reads, “Homemade costumes in the 80s were legit.”
Moollyfit/Reddit.com

13. Neighborhood Vibes

A yard covered in fallen autumn leaves features ghost decorations made from white sheets around a large tree, with a white house in the background.
anonymous/Reddit.com

 14. My brothers and I (1985)

Three children in colorful Halloween costumes and masks stand indoors in front of a painting of a sailing ship. One is dressed as Count von Count, another as Oscar the Grouch, and the third as E.T.
RancorNativity/Reddit.com

15. Masks and candy

A woman and two children in Halloween costumes stand outside at night. The woman wears a tiger-striped outfit and black mask, the boy is in a skeleton costume, and the girl is a ballerina with a tiara, holding a pumpkin bucket.
deleted/Reddit.com

16. Pooh Takes on the Spooky Streets

A young child smiles widely while wearing a Winnie the Pooh costume, with bear ears, a red shirt labeled "Pooh," and a painted black nose, standing in front of a wooden door.
anonymous/Reddit.com

17. A basement party taking place

A group of teens in costumes gather in a wood-paneled basement decorated with orange and black streamers and a "Happy Halloween" sign. Some are seated and talking, while one boy stands at the right edge of the photo.
graemeknows/Reddit.com

18. ‘Giggles and goosebumps’ (early 1990’s)

Five children in Halloween costumes—Pooh bear, hockey player, fox, pirate, and football player—sit on a porch with trick-or-treat bags and pumpkins near a front door.
anonymous/Reddit.com