Halloween Hullabaloo

Have your kids decided what to be for Halloween? Last night I discovered (to my dismay) that all the Luke Skywalker costumes on buycostumes.com are sold out. I hope this means I'm not out of luck, but my five-year-old just changed his mind from side kick Hans Solo to the man himself, and I've been - perhaps naively - hoping that, should this happen, I'd be able to borrow the Luke costume, since there had to be at least a dozen Lukes on the playground last year.  The infant-sized Chewbacca costume for my younger son is another story. That's a definite online buy.

Still, for a sewing-challenged parent like me, it's a relief that Cameron is veering toward a mass-produced movie character this Halloween. Yes, part of me feels like it would be so much more creative and interesting to construct some sort of clever D-I-Y costume out of egg cartons and old vacuum tubes. It briefly looked as though I was in trouble when he wanted to be the Pink Panther. Pretty sure they don't have Pink Panther at Toys 'R Us.

Though the toughest Halloween fulfillment order, surely, is what you're faced with when your little one can't decide WHAT to be, and instead concocts some sort of hybrid two-for-one costume in his or her little mind. Like being, say, "half Indiana Jones, half werewolf." I have absolutely no good advice for those situations.

What deadline do you impose for a final decision about Halloween costumes? I'm thinking that it's got to be soon... October 1st?

How do you plan to celebrate? Halloween has, apparently, become the second-biggest festive occasion in terms of consumer spending, and it's clear that some of that goes into decor and party decorations. Some people are clearly forgoing trick-or-treating for at-home Halloween parties, or doing both.

We live in a very kid-friendly, walkable neighbourhood, and Halloween is the time I feel most grateful for that. There's a great vibe on the street, parents socializing as kids bound up and down porch steps, fuelled by sugar and the high of being outside after dark. When the kids are done trick-or-treating, our enclosed porch is a great place to enjoy a drink with friends while the kids count their candy.

Watch here for details of our Halloween contest, and for tips on having a fun, safe and EASY Halloween.

Comments

[Anne of Green Gables]

My suggestion for an easy Halloween costume: get a big hat with red pigtails attached, paint some freckles on your face, and skip down the road to Avonlea

[Lisa]

We went to Value Village last night, where they have a huge selection of new and used costumes. Found the perfect floor length ballet outfit and wings for my daughter, the ballerina fairy. And a Power Rangers costume for my son. All for under $20! Yippee!

[Leanne]

I've got Belle, a Polly Pocket and a 'motorcycle guy' going out from my house this year. We started pulling it all together about a week ago. My best shopping place? Ebay.ca. Where else am I going to get a 5' 5" thirteen year old a yellow prom gown for $20? (Along with four girl friends she's being a Disney Princess for a children's party and full sized Adult costumes cost the EARTH) :)