Where to buy last-minute Halloween decorations

Have you decided last minute to deck out your home in spooky cobwebs, menacing skulls and light-up bats? There aren’t many days left in October, but if you want to entrance trick-or-treaters and impress guests at your Halloween party, you’ll need to pay a visit to the Halloween shop.

If only it were that easy. Well, at this time of the year, it may be. Since late September, some unassuming stores have been stocking scary, seasonal decor and knick knacks. We dare you to test your bravery at one of these last-minute Halloween destinations in the cities we serve: Vancouver and Calgary.

Dollarama

With 25 locations in Greater Vancouver and 25 locations around Calgary, Dollarama is a frighteningly affordable place to pick up plastic skeletons, toy rats, costumes and more.

The best part about dollar stores is that they’re one-stop shops. Need rope, tape or twine to hang decorations? Need batteries for your talking zombie punch bowl? What about plastic bowls and candy for trick-or-treaters? How about mittens to protect you from the cold? You can find much more than just seasonal stuff here (and no, Dollarama isn’t paying Maple Leaf Self Storage to write this!).

Spirit Pop-Up Stores

They aren’t open year-round, but now’s the perfect time to find a Spirit nearby. This seasonal brand opens 3 stores in Calgary and 8 stores around Vancouver just before Halloween. With everything from plastic gravestones, animatronic creatures and lights, to hundreds of costume and makeup options, this place was designed for everything Halloween.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in person, there might still be time for a rush purchase from their huge online arsenal. Give it a shot!

Local Costume/Party Stores

Well, it’s a given: if you live near a party store, you’ll probably find the Halloween decorations you’re looking for. Party Bazaar is a popular Vancouver establishment, and Party City is worth a look if you live in Calgary. These retailers are open year-round and tend to stock up on Halloween supplies in September and October.

Shoppers Drug Mart/London Drugs

If you can’t find your ideal Halloween decor at the other places listed above, your local drug store might have the goods. Shoppers and London Drugs usually have at least one aisle dedicated for seasonal supplies, and you never know what you’ll find there.

Don’t be afraid to go all out on decorating; it’s worth impressing and spooking anyone who dares to trespass. Whether you’re creating a graveyard on the front lawn or propping skeletons around the living room, you can use the same pieces year after year. Swap them out for Christmas decorations and keep them safe, dry, and ready for next Halloween in reusable plastic bins stored neatly in your offsite storage unit.