Halloween is just around the corner, but there’s still plenty of time to find everything you need to spook up the holiday: pumpkins and ghosts for your décor, mugs for hot cider, big bowls for candy and, of course, costumes!
Goodwill of Colorado has 45 retail thrift stores and four outlets across the state, and its teams prepare all year long, carefully sorting donations and setting seasonal finds aside to stock up for Halloween.
Nearly three in four Americans (74%) plan to celebrate Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual Halloween survey, and spending is expected to reach a record $13.5 billion.
That works out to about $115 per person, with costumes alone accounting for $4.4 billion. NRF also found that shoppers are approaching the season with an eye on affordability, which is exactly where thrift shines.
A 2026 Goodwill Halloween survey backs that up: 85% of costume shoppers plan to work thrift finds or DIY touches into their costume this year, and 60% mainly make their own costumes instead of buying them ready-made.
More than half (53%) shop thrift for Halloween to save money, and 44% go looking for one-of-a-kind pieces they can’t find anywhere else.
Here are a few tips to make your Halloween shopping all treats and no tricks.
Ask a costume helper
Find one of our costume helpers at your local Goodwill store. They’re all-in on Halloween and aren’t the least bit frightened by the task of helping you create a unique costume.
Whether you’re heading out to a costume party (or two, or three), getting the family ready for trick-or-treating or locking in for the top prize at the office costume contest, Goodwill of Colorado’s racks are full of choices.
Summon the Tailor
Use the new in-store app, Summon the Tailor, to snap photos of the items you discover on the racks, and it will suggest costumes you can create with those pieces. Riff on the Tailor’s ideas to put together a couple’s costume or a favorite movie character, or to amp up the scare factor for an extra-unique touch.
Sparkly orange tank top? The Tailor might pair it with bell-bottoms and a wig for a groovy ’70s vibe. Long black lace dress? Add some costume jewelry and you’re a witchy heiress.
Don’t forget the décor
As you browse, grab a big bowl for handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. You might also find a doormat adorned with jack-o’-lanterns, a garland of ghosts and a few goblins to perch on your bookshelf.
You won’t be the only one decorating the thrifty way: 72% of shoppers in the Goodwill survey plan to add thrift or DIY elements to their Halloween decorations.
Shop early, and come back often
Almost half of shoppers (49%) planned to start their Halloween shopping in September or earlier, according to NRF.
Because Goodwill’s inventory changes every day, every visit is a fresh treasure hunt. Keep an open mind: the best costumes often start with an unexpected find.
And just like that, you’re ready for Halloween!
Every purchase stays local
Goodwill of Colorado is a locally led nonprofit, and when you shop there, every costume or décor purchase supports the no-cost education and job training programs it provides in Colorado communities.
Your donated superhero-themed family costumes help fellow Coloradans get job training and placement, earn their high school diploma, receive heating assistance when temperatures drop or receive other services to help change their lives.
Give your costume an encore
After the last party has wrapped and the candy haul has been sorted, remember to donate your used costumes to Goodwill of Colorado.
It makes room for new looks, keeps costumes in circulation for someone else’s Halloween (71% of survey respondents say they want costumes that can be reused or repurposed) and supports members of your community.
Find your local Goodwill of Colorado thrift store here and find your Halloween treats today!
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