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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-08
Europe's Biggest Halloween Store Returns to Merry Hill with 13ft Witch
Halloween House, Europe's largest Halloween store, has opened its doors for its eighth year at Merry Hill in Brierley Hill, Dudley, UK. The store has become a must-visit destination for Halloween lovers across Britain and is the largest of its kind in Europe . 2026 Highlights: New Mad Scientist's Lab: An immersive themed zone for 2026 Revamped Cemetery Area: Features a towering 13-foot wicked witch among dozens of animated characters First 200 customers who spend £25 or more receive a free goody bag worth over £50 Jonathan Poole, centre manager at Merry Hill, stated: "We're very proud to house Europe's largest Halloween store right here in the heart of the Midlands, and every year we're impressed by the number of visitors it draws in from across the country" . The store stocks a vast array of spooky costumes, masks, Halloween makeup, and quirky autumn and Halloween home décor. It will be open seven days a week until early November before transforming into the popular Christmas H
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
The Future of Halloween Shopping: Earlier, Longer, and More Occasion-Based
The Halloween season is starting earlier than ever before, driven by the "Summerween" trend. Hershey notes that consumers are now enjoying the festivities in stages while embracing a "treat me" mentality . Key Consumer Insights: Parents are increasingly likely to buy seasonal candy before September — 77% for chocolate, 72% for gummies Halloween is evolving from a single day into a multi-month retail season Consumers are looking for products that serve multiple occasions and offer value beyond October 31 Retailers are responding by stocking Halloween merchandise earlier and expanding assortments across categories, from giant yard decorations to pet costumes and salty snacks
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Halloween and Party Expo: 237 Exhibitors Showcase 2026 Trends
The Halloween & Party Expo at Las Vegas' World Market Center featured 237 exhibitors showcasing the latest Halloween products for the 2026 season . Major Exhibitors: Rubies Costume Co. and Party City had a large booth presence Jazwares took space alongside Berkshire Hathaway-owned Oriental Trading Co. Trick or Treat Studios featured Droog costumes from A Clockwork Orange and masks based on Rob Zombie's House of 1,000 Corpses, plus a board game featuring Zombie's artwork Dental Distortions provided consumer versions of bio-compatible FX fang plastic teeth seen in films like Dawn of the Dead and the upcoming Resident Evil movie Notable Trends: Headdresses are selling well, driven by the release of Taylor Swift's "Life as a Show Girl" album, according to supplier Zucker Feather .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Pottery Barn Halloween Decor on Sale for First Time
Pottery Barn is holding a Labor Day sale with markdowns up to 70% off, including Halloween decor — marking the first time the retailer has discounted its Halloween collection . Featured Halloween Items: Pumpkin Pillow Covers: Soft, plush pillows in seasonal colors Lit Ghost Collection: Weather- and wind-resistant outdoor ghosts, one of Pottery Barn's Halloween best-sellers Pumpkin Icon Tumblers: Glassware adorned with tiny pumpkin motifs Gus The Ghost Family Doormat: Spooky doormat featuring ghost characters for the whole family The sale also includes an extra 20% off clearance items, running through Labor Day
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Pet Halloween Products: A Growing Category
Halloween is increasingly a family celebration that includes pets, with the NRF estimating consumers would spend **$860 million on pet costumes in 2025**, up from $700 million the year before. New York City's Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade marks its 36th year in 2026 . Fastest-Growing Pet Halloween Searches: Halloween dog bandanas: +400% Dog Halloween costumes: +233% Halloween dog cookies: +100% Halloween dog toys: +48% Halloween dog treats: +21% Retailers are moving beyond single novelty pet items to create dedicated Halloween pet assortments that let shoppers dress up and treat their animals throughout the season .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Tariffs Impacting Halloween Business; Slight Increase Expected
Attendees at the Halloween & Party Expo anticipate only a slight increase in Halloween business for 2026, despite the holiday falling on a Saturday. This cautious outlook comes after a year when U.S. tariffs (ranging from 30-145%) affected companies heavily reliant on China-based manufacturing . Industry Sentiment: "Last year, big retailers re-evaluated and this year they're ahead of it and won't be surprised [by the added tariff costs]. They've had a year to stabilize," said Mark Von Ohlen, Brand Licensing Manager at Rubies . Costume Trends: Generic and licensed costumes are getting equal billing, along with animatronic and inflatable figures aimed at lawn displays. Retailers are buying "a little more optimistically" given the Saturday date, but business growth may be tempered by consumer behavior shifts including delayed buying, more mindful spending, and cautious retail ordering .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Target, Walmart, and Amazon Pull Controversial "German Soldier" Costume
Amazon, Target, and Walmart removed a "German soldier" Halloween costume sold by Orion Costumes after online critics claimed it resembled uniforms worn by German soldiers during World War II. Walmart confirmed that the costume was removed from its site, stating, "We expect all items sold by third-party sellers on our site to meet our policies and standards. When violations are detected, we take swift action, including removal of listings" . Second Target Controversy in Two Weeks: This is the second time Target has faced backlash over a Halloween costume in as many weeks. Earlier, Target pulled a "Kids' Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume" after shoppers said it evoked blackface imagery. Target responded: "As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment" . Marketplace Issue: Like Amazon and Walmart.com, Target.com operates as a marketplace allowing third-party sellers to list
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Pop Culture Costume Trends for 2026: Supergirl, Masters of the Universe, and Barbie
At the Halloween & Party Expo in Las Vegas, Rubie's Costume Company previewed the top costume trends for 2026 . Licensed Costume Highlights: Supergirl: Official costume from the new DC movie debuting summer 2026 He-Man/Masters of the Universe: Costumes and accessories, plus an inflatable Castle Grayskull for parties Barbie: Inspired by the upcoming animated Barbie Nutcracker movie Other Licensed Offerings: Rubies also featured costumes from Wednesday, Jason Universe, and nostalgia brands including 7-Eleven, Hasbro's Twister and Guess Who?, and Mattel's Uno, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, and Magic 8 Ball . Trick or Treat Studios featured masks from Vecna and Demogorgon characters from Stranger Things . Inflatables Trend: Oversized yard inflatables continue to grow in popularity, with displays becoming more elaborate year-round — not just for October, but also for Thanksgiving and Christmas .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Sweets Assortment Stand-Up Bag Introduces Sour Strips to Hershey Portfolio
The Sweets Assortment Stand-Up Bag (120-count) introduces Sour Strips to the Hershey seasonal portfolio and adds Airheads through a partnership with Perfetti Van Melle. The variety bag also includes Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis, Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis, and Twizzlers Twists in Strawberry . Other Jolly Rancher Offerings: Jolly Rancher Gummies Minis Snack Size: Fruit-shaped gummies in a poppable format Jolly Rancher Gummies Assortment: Mix of sour and sweet gummies including Sour Gummies Minis, Gummies Trickies Minis, and Sour Gummies Minis Awesome Reds Hershey Halloween All-Stars: An 18-count box of full-size, limited-edition Halloween shapes and flavors, including Reese's Pumpkins, Kit Kat Count & Witch shapes, Kit Kat Ghost Toast, and Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-09-06
Hershey is expanding beyond candy with a range of salty and savory options in its 2026 Halloween portfolio . Savory Offerings: Pirate's Booty Trick-or-Treat: Individual snack packs of
Hershey is expanding beyond candy with a range of salty and savory options in its 2026 Halloween portfolio . Savory Offerings: Pirate's Booty Trick-or-Treat: Individual snack packs of signature aged white cheddar puffs Pirate's Booty Boos & Bites: Ghost and monster-shaped puffs in snack-size packs Reese's Sweet & Salty: Snack-size Reese's Dipped Animal Crackers, Dipped Pretzels, and Filled Pretzels SkinnyPop Halloween Packs: Individual packs in Halloween-themed packaging LesserEvil Pumpkin Spice Popcorn: Warm cinnamon-and-spice fall flavor on signature popcorn LesserEvil Spooky Popcorn and Spooky Spaceballs: Better-for-you salted popcorn and cheese corn puffs in Halloween-themed packs Jolly Rancher Gummies Trickies Minis: Bite-sized chewy candies in colors that don't match their flavors — green apple, blue raspberry, cherry, grape, and watermelon — creating a fun, interactive candy experience .
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