Summer's Arrival Signals Early Celebration of Halloween for Retail Shops
Ghouls, Goblins, and Everything In Between:
Get ready to bring the spooky season into your home all year round, as popular TV shows, classic horror icons, and supernatural lore-inspired collections hit the shelves at major home decor retailers and seasonal pop-up giants like Spirit Halloween and Party City!
The fascination with Halloween isn't just limited to October 31st anymore, so it's no surprise that decor and goods inspired by scary movies, legendary monsters, and sinister legends are becoming mainstream staples in everyday life. From comic book and sci-fi diehards embracing their love for the eerie year-round, it's high time that the Halloween enthusiasts follow suit. But what's truly alarming is the early onset of Halloween teases, with some favorites already making their appearances well before July's fireworks have even fizzled out.
A quick visit to the sites or even locations for retailers such as the Disney Store, Lowe's, Spirit Halloween, Home Depot, Party City, Michaels, At Home, and Joann will reveal that pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, and more are now available for purchase. If you're quick, that is! Early-bird horror aficionados, as well as resellers eyeing the potential for viral items to become the must-haves for 2024, are already pouncing on the merchandise, causing some items to sell out in the middle of the sweltering summer months. But fear not! Most items will be restocked, so if there's something you just can't live without, set those alerts so you can be first in line when they return. And remember, what's been dropped so far is just a taste of what's to come as we close in on fall.
The Disney Store's Halloween collection has already kicked off with the release of the Haunted Mansion collection, with more planned in the coming weeks. And while Beetlejuice items have trickled out to retailers like Spirit Halloween (check out the giant inflatable circus carousel ghost made famous by the classic film), it's worth noting that so far, it's only been product from the original movie. We're eagerly awaiting the arrival of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice merchandise. Tim Burton fans will be thrilled to know that The Corpse Bride and classic slashers like Scream and John Carpenter's Halloween franchise will be major features at Spirit Halloween. Home Depot is rounding out its collection with Universal Monsters, the not-so-frightening but clearly beloved Bluey, and more Nightmare Before Christmas additions – among them, a 13-foot animated Jack Skellington statue that we do hope comes with a Sandy Claws outfit for the holiday season!
But what if you prefer a more subtle, unlicensed touch for your seasonal decor? Don't worry; supernatural folklore enthusiasts, gothic literature fans, and aficionados of eclectic familiars, sentient pumpkins, and spectral spectators aren't being left out. Michaels, At Home, and Joann Fabrics have their own aesthetically pleasing collections aimed at making your abode to feel downright haunted. We're particularly enamored with the Midnight Moon and Haunted Forest collections at Michaels that harken back to classic monster and A24 atmospheric vibes. Then for those into astrology, traditional Halloween, and graveyard gothic, definitely look into the drops at Joann and At Home (not to mention these awesome Jack Skellington pieces). And let's not forget Lowe's epic aquatic horror line, with a huge front-yard Kraken that's proving to be quite the sought-after grab, because who wouldn't want to unleash the Kraken for Halloween?
"Release the Kraken!" – Lowe's (@lowes)
There's already something for everyone, and choosing a theme will be quite the challenge this year! Let us know if you've managed to snap up anything already or if you're holding out and are only to find yourself up against Christmas decorations in September. Don't say we didn't warn you.
For more io9 news, be sure to check out the latest updates on Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the DC Universe, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Enrichment Data:
Halloween Decor Collections for 2024 at Major Retailers
1. Home Depot
- Notable Items:
- 12 ft. Giant-Sized Skelly and its companion 7 ft. Skelly Dog, which, though currently sold out, are some of the most popular items.
- 12.5 ft. Inferno Deadwood Skeleton and 12 ft. Inferno Pumpkin Skeleton.
- 13 ft. Giant-Sized Animated LED Jack Skellington.
- 9 ft Murderous Maple, available in seven different LED colors.
- Price Range: $49.98 to $399 for most items.
2. Lowe's
- Notable Items:
- 28-in Lighted Doodle Dog with Cape Decoration.
- Pre-Lit Grim Reaper Sculpture.
- Price Range: $49.98 to $148.99.
3. Spirit Halloween
- Notable Items:
- 9.6 Ft Thresher Walkthrough Animatronic.
- 4.6 Ft. Standing Candelabra.
- Price Range: $99.99 to $349.99.
4. Disney Store
- No specific early release information available for 2024.
5. Party City
- No specific early release information available for 2024.
6. Michaels
- No specific early release information available for 2024.
7. At Home
- No specific early release information available for 2024.
8. Joann
- Notable Items:
- 14" Halloween Tree Peeker.
- 36" Halloween Black Metal Flying Witches Yard Stake.
- Price Range: $17.99 to $34.99.
Trends and Themes
- Dark and Gothic: Items like the Crow Lamp and Crows and Books Halloween Wall Plaque are popular brand staples.
- Minimalist Halloween: Terracotta pumpkins and simple decorative items are trending for those looking for a more understated approach to Halloween decorating.
- Harvest and Pumpkin: Cozy fall-themed decorations featuring pumpkins and scarecrows are also on-trend this season.
- In the future, the fascination with Halloween decorations may extend beyond October 31st, as Io9 predicts an increase in particular collections aimed at astrology, Lowes Halloween 2024, and graveyard gothic themes at Joann and At Home.
- Technology is playing a significant role in Halloween decor, with animated Jack Skellington statues, 9.6-foot Thresher Walkthrough Animatrronics, and even a 13-foot Kraken at Lowe's being some of the exciting offerings.
- Home Depot, known for its Halloween decorations, will feature noteworthy items such as the 12 ft Giant-Sized Skelly and 12.5 ft Inferno Deadwood Skeleton in their 2024 collection, available at varying prices.
- Spirit Halloween, Party City, Michaels, and various other retailers will offer a wide range of Halloween decor, including legendary monster-inspired collections and items from classic horror movies like Beetlejuice and the Scream franchise.
