Halloween is just around the corner and it looks like Canadians are spending more on Halloween costumes this year.
A report from HelloSafe says spending on costumes has jumped to $87.60 from last year’s average of $68.20. Canadians spend almost half their budget on costumes compared to other Halloween expenses such as candies, activities, pumpkins and decorations.
Spirit Halloween, an annual pop-up store, is stocked up with costumes, decorations, props and animatronics for the season.
Anime costumes are very popular in Richmond, explained Daniella Dolmans, store manager of Spirit Halloween in Richmond.
Stranger Things and Hocus Pocus costumes are also trending this year, Dolmaus said, due to the newest season of Stranger Things and the recent release of Hocus Pocus 2.
For kids, Nintendo and Pokémon and other gaming-themed costumes are always popular, Dolmuaus added.
Spirit Halloween is also collecting donations for Spirit of Children, a program that provides activities and devices for kids at BC Children’s Hospital.
So far, Spirit Halloween has raised $802,734 for the program across their nine locations in the Lower Mainland.
Canadians are expected to spend $1.64 billion on Halloween-related purchases this year.
This, however, is about $780 million less than was spent in 2019, before the pandemic hit, according to HelloSafe.
There are Halloween themed events taking place in Richmond in the coming week.
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery currently has its annual Haunted Sea installation on display for all ages every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hamilton Community Centre will have an all-ages spooky Halloween Hangout on Oct. 29, with crafts and science demonstrations by Science World On the Road.
The city’s “largest fireworks display” will be at Minoru Park on Oct. 31. The Halloween Fireworks Festival will have music, face painting, magicians and a fireworks finale.
