Throwback Thursday: From punk costumes to trick-or-treating safety in 1983

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Halloween is just a few weeks away, and this week’s Throwback Thursday takes us back to 1983 to see how people in the Cape Fear region were preparing for the holiday more than four decades ago.

From popular costumes to trick-or-treating safety, a WWAY report from October 1983 captured some familiar Halloween traditions, along with a few trends that reflected the times.

Witches, ghosts and goblins remained popular costume choices, but the punk look was emerging as the year’s biggest hit.

And Halloween wasn’t just for children.

Local merchants told WWAY that more adults were getting into the holiday, dressing up for parties and other celebrations.

“Every year I believe it’s a little bit more,” one merchant said of adults participating in Halloween festivities.

While costumes were a big part of the excitement, safety was also a concern.

Local police encouraged children to wear light-colored clothing, travel in groups and have an adult accompany them while trick-or-treating.

Parents were also advised to inspect their children’s candy before allowing them to eat it.

One parent told WWAY her family planned to head out before dark and visit only homes they knew.

She also said both parents would carefully inspect the candy their children collected, making sure everything was properly wrapped.

More than 40 years later, many of those Halloween traditions and safety recommendations remain familiar.

This segment is part of a weekly Throwback Thursday series that features stories from WWAY’s historical news archives. That archive can be accessed here.