If BetVirginia.com’s research into favorite Halloween candies is correct, then a bunch of kids from the Old Dominion are going to be treated – or tricked, depending on your tastes – in a couple of weeks.
While taking some time away from checking the Washington Commanders playoff chances, our BetVirginia team went down a rabbit hole, seeking the most popular Halloween candies in the Commonwealth. We used Google Trends to identify the most searched treats (or tricks, depending on your preferences) between Sept. 11 to Oct. 11.
WARNING: The following table for some palates might be scarier than "Smile 2."
Rank | Candy | Search Interest Score |
1 | Candy Corn | 48 |
2 | Skittles | 24 |
3 | Reese’s Cup | 17 |
4 | Hershey Bar | 14 |
5 | Starburst | 11 |
Our findings revealed that Virginians’ favorite Halloween candy is one of the most divisive foods in the country. There’s no gray area when it comes to the white, orange and yellow confection called candy corn in the state that offers Virginia sportsbooks.
Candy corn’s beginnings date to the late 1800s, with some saying it originated in Cincinnati – the same city that puts cinnamon in chili – and its makers initially calling it chicken feed. Others say it was first created by a Philadelphia candy maker.
While candy corn is typically available year-round, it’s mainly considered an autumnal treat. Besides Halloween, many will buy candy corn, including a chocolate-flavored variety, for Thanksgiving celebrations.
Also check out our list of top 10 Halloween costumes of 2024 in Virginia.
One of the biggest questions about candy corn is how to eat it. Three years ago, the National Confectioners Association set out to answer that question in a consumer survey.
That poll found that 31% of candy corn fans start nibbling on the pointy white end, 17% start from the yellow bottom and work their way up and the majority, 52%, just pop the entire thing in their mouths and chew.
Candy corn lovers will have two days to celebrate their favorite confection at the end of the month. Besides Halloween, Oct. 30 is National Candy Corn Day, according to the National Day Calendar.
Football fans in Virginia can celebrate that day by eating the candy as they watch Liberty University continue its push for a perfect season. The Flames host Jacksonville State in a big midweek Conference USA clash on Oct. 30.
According to bet365 Virginia Sportsbook, the Flames have odds of +700 to make the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff this season. For the first time, the top-ranked Group of 5 conference champion is guaranteed a spot in the CFP.
Author
Steve is an accomplished, award-winning reporter with more than 20 years of experience covering gaming, sports, politics and business. He has written for the Associated Press, Reuters, The Louisville Courier Journal, The Center Square and numerous other publications. Based in Louisville, Ky., Steve has covered the expansion of sports betting in the U.S. and other gaming matters.
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