August is upon us, so naturally it’s time to start thinking about… Halloween costumes? It is if you’re a Spirit Halloween store! After lying dormant for nearly nine months, stores nationwide are fast approaching the due date for when they’ll reopen and show off all the new arrivals. And despite their logo being a menacing skeleton in a death cloak, Spirit Halloween wants you to know that they’re here for you, whether you fall on the Heidi Klum or Leonardo DiCaprio end of the costume prep spectrum, or somewhere in between. Parade has highlighted what to expect from Spirit Halloween stores when they open later this week, and I think you’ll agree that there’s one service they offer that stands out among the rest:
For over 40 years, Spirit Halloween stores (more than 1,500 of them!) have been making appearances in strip malls and shopping centers all across America, and even parts of Canada. While summer is still in full swing, we could all use a bit of a pick me up to beat the heat and remember that Halloween is on its way. So, let’s talk: When does Spirit Halloween open in 2024?
The popping up of Spirit Halloween stores all around the country may not be the official end of summer, but it definitely feels like the unofficial start of fall. So, when exactly can we step foot into a Spirit Halloween store this year? Keep reading to find out!
Spirit Halloween stores begin to open toward the end of the summer, according to their website, which explains that opening dates won’t be official until August 1. The dates will likely vary based on location.
If you can’t quite wait until August 1 to get the opening date of your local store, there’s some good news — their online store is up and running all year long.
In the past, Spirit Halloween’s stores hours have been 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with the exception of Sundays in which they only remained open until 9 p.m. We have every reason to believe that stores around the country will hold similar hours this year. Never fear if you need a last minute costume, they’re open late almost every night of the week!
Another bit of helpful information is that Spirit Halloween has a Zombie Tech Squad that can help you with any faulty animatronics you may have in your attic. So, stop worrying about that skeleton that doesn’t quite pop up like it used to, their customer support is always around to lend a helping hand!
Um, am I completely not with-it (don’t answer that), or is it news to y’all as well that Spirit Halloween has a Zombie Tech Squad? Oh wait, it’s me, I’ve been living under a rock, because their website says the squad (née Dr. Zombie) has been around for more than 30 years. How has a Zombie Tech Squad been flying under the radar my whole life?! I implore you to check out their site for yourself, and mad props to whoever wrote the copy on how they fix your props. The page abounds with Dad joke caliber humor, like “Have no fear. The squad is here,” and “…our in-house undead experts are here to help you have so much fun it’s scary!” But it’s not all laughs. They’re so serious about their services that they’ve divided the Animatronics FAQs into seven categories: General, Rising, Pop-Up, Lunging & Jumping, Swinging, Twisting & Turning, Roaming. This is a level of organization and specificity not found in stores that provide year-round products! I almost want to buy a fog machine and break it just so I can call them. Don’t worry, I won’t. I’ll take that money and instead load up on Halloween candy that is also rolling out months ahead of time.
we don't know who needs to hear this, but Spirit stores start opening in one week 🫣
— Spirit Halloween (@SpiritHalloween) July 26, 2024
me pulling up to spirit halloween in one week pic.twitter.com/92eOTMFGwv
— katie:) (@thirteenah) July 27, 2024
https://t.co/ZYyBzYYPs9 pic.twitter.com/LeiKYBoqdD
— Spirit Halloween (@SpiritHalloween) July 25, 2024
Look who's crawling into stores this year 👶 Shop now: https://t.co/XrnGaHtWD1 pic.twitter.com/Ql6GeVrgje
— Spirit Halloween (@SpiritHalloween) July 16, 2024
I love Halloween, but starting this early kills the vibe for me. If you wait until October to buy, everything is picked over and they stop restocking, but if you buy in August, all kid’s excitement about their costume is gone by the time Halloween rolls around. It’s like this for everything. I only need a month max to prep for a holiday.
My grocery store put the Halloween candy out last week. I’m sure the strategy is that if you buy the candy now you’ll have eaten it all way before Halloween, so you’ll have to buy more – again and again and again…
I guess it’s time. School starts for some on August 1st.