BALTIMORE (Map, News) - There’s a lot more to the business of Halloween than just Snickers, Twizzlers and Milky Ways, as consumers are expected to spend more than $5 billion this year on costumes, decorations and props to celebrate the haunted holiday.

“Halloween is becoming as big as Christmas, especially in this area,” said Joseph Driscoll, store manager of Spirit Halloween in Glen Burnie.

Annual spending on Halloween supplies continues to increase, according to the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. The average consumer plans to spend $64.82 on the holiday, up from $59.06 last year.

Of the total spending, the average consumer spends about $23.33 on costumes, $19.84 on candy, $17.73 on decorations and $3.92 on greeting cards, according to the survey.

Stores like Spirit Halloween typically open at the beginning of September and handle a customer crunch in the days leading up to Oct. 31.

“At the beginning of the season, props are the big sellers, like life-size Jason and Devil props,” Driscoll said. “Closer to Halloween, it’s all costumes and decorations.”

Hollywood has gotten people excited for Halloween, with an increasing number of horror movies playing on big screens these days, Driscoll said.

In total, Halloween consumers plan to spend $1.82 billion on costumes, $1.55 billion on candy, $1.39 billion on decorations and $310 million on greeting cards, according to the survey.

Adults have become more involved in Halloween as restaurants and bars host costume contests and neighborhoods judge homes for the best decorations, said Kathy Grannis, spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation.

“It’s absolutely more than just a kids’ holiday, and it’s become more of a seasonal event,” Grannis said. “There’s more opportunities for adults to participate in Halloween than just trick-or-treating with their kids.”

acannarsa@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

8:30 AM MST on Wed., Oct. 17, 2007 re: "Council: Don�t drop Halloween"

Irony said:
Saw what? I think you're misinterpreting Christianity with Islam. Haven't seen many Christians beheading "infidels" lately.

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10:45 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 16, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Examiner Reader said:
Holloween is not being attacked by by the PC Lefties. It is the Christian Right who find it offensive. If you want to find out who the protected classes are in this country, try saying something about Christians and their irrational beliefs based on scripture. Anyone brave enough to to state that Christian faith is delusional would be burned at the stake.

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9:36 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 16, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Kelkyen said:
I'd like to point out the error of those who think the loss of Halloween is due to the non-religious or other bleeding hearts. From Wikipedia ---> Some consider Halloween to be completely incompatible with the Christian faith due to its origin as a Pagan "festival of the dead."

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10:11 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Examiner Reader said:
We can thank the ACLU and the bleeding hearts for this. Just look what they have done to Christmas for cryin' out loud. Total ignorance.

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10:02 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Examiner Reader said:
Watch out thanksgiving is next because it involves Religion and a bunch of white people dressed in silly outfits....

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9:37 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Dale said:
Ok this is about the most rediculous thing I've heard. Heaven forbid (oh wait, can't say that b/c it might be construed as religion) anyone be offended by anything. Halloween is a time for kids to dress up and celebrate being children, fun for families regardless of background because there is no presumption of religion. How do you not celebrate? Exactly how did they determine that less than 10% of the students celebrate the holiday? They send out surveys to 2nd graders? I live up the street and am adding this to the numerous reasons for me moving out of state, right below being taxed to death by Governor tax alot Omalley...REDICULOUS

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7:14 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Runnin' for the Back Door said:
Hmm, apple pie and apple juice at the end of the day. That's enough fiber and pectin to give more than a few of the kids the old Hershey squirts. Good idea. The bus ride home should be fun!

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7:11 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal fun replacing Halloween"

Benny said:
�I�m for anything that creates a sense of inclusion..." OK, then I will come over and slap all you PC morons upside the head. That should give you a sense of inclusion!! Less than 10% of the school population says they don't celebrate Halloween, so they cancel it. This is a perfect example of the tyranny of the minority. Who does Halloween offend? It is a secular holiday! You put on a costume, you have fun, you get some candy. What could be better than that for a kid? These PC school administrators need to get over themselves and let the kids be kids.

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5:32 AM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007 re: "Seasonal celebrations replacing Halloween"

Teflon Leprechaun said:
This is ridiculous! If you don't want to sell Halloween, then get the hell out of this country! Halloween is not a religious holiday, it's a holiday for kids. No wonder children are shooting up schools, they are taking away everything fun like Gym, Recess, Christmas, and Halloween. So far, the terrorists have won as they're slowing causing stuck up PC yuppies to overly protect their children instead of letting them be children. This country is starting to suck real bad!!

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