SEATTLE: Seattle is one of nearly 20 cities nationwide joining in the official “Green Halloween®” event for parents who want to save money and the environment by swapping their children’s old costumes for new ones.

The greater Seattle area has costume-swapping locations in Bellevue, Edmonds, Federal Way, Issaquah, Seattle, and Vashon Island. See below for drop-off dates, swap dates, times, locations, and details.

The event will take place on October 9 at all greater Seattle locations except Vashon Island, that will take place on October 10.

Note: New swaps are still being added so if you don't see your location below, be sure to check www.CostumeSwapDay.com throughout the first half of October.

“Green Halloween®” offers a common-sense solution for conscientious parents. Last year your child might have wanted to be Dora the Explorer, but this year she wants to be a princess.

Rather than throw away a perfectly usable costume, which is what often happens, why not swap it for a new-to-you, gently used one?

How this works

Each location offers drop-off dates when parents can drop off their child’s gently-used costume in exchange for a token or ticket.

Then parents can, if they choose, return on October 9 (at most locations) to choose a new costume with their child.

Some locations include fun activities for children on the day of the swap. Some are even offering free childcare so parents can shop at the stores holding the swaps.

Leftover costumes will be donated to various non-profit organizations. Families wishing to participate without donating a costume may pay a $5.00 fee.

Seattle has the most costume-swapping locations in the nation. (Scroll down for more details).

Green Halloween’s® National Costume Swap Day

The concept is good – kids get new-to-them costumes, parents save money, and it’s good for the environment.

Swapping is not limited to costumes, but can also include witches hats, superhero capes, and so on.

 “A costume swap is recycling at its most fun,” said Corey Colwell-Lipson, founder of Green Halloween®. “It not only means that fewer resources are used to make new products, but also means less packaging and less waste, since costumes often are trashed as soon as Halloween is over. People will really be making a difference in their community.”

If half of the children who celebrate Halloween in the U.S. would participate in swapping costumes, annual landfill waste would be reduced by 6,250 tons, or the weight of 2,500 mid-sized cars. That does not even address adult costumes.

“The team at Green Halloween® has spearheaded an incredible initiative that is perfectly aligned with our mission to grow the ‘swap movement’, and of course, add a little fun to one of our favorite holidays,” said Jeff Bennett, CEO of Swap.com. “We’re excited to help build momentum across the country for this eco-friendly and cost-savvy event.” 

For tips on how to organize a costume swap, or to find a swap in your area, visit the National Costume Swap website.

Green Halloween®, a nationwide non-profit initiative to keep all the fun in the holiday but make it better for kids and the planet, has partnered with KIWI magazine, a magazine dedicated to raising families the natural and organic way, and Swap.com, the leading swap marketplace with nearly one million members. 

Click here for more information about Green Halloween®, or contact Lynn@GreenHalloween.org

KIWI is dedicated to raising families the natural and organic way and includes a magazine, website, webinar series, and more. KIWI helps families balance their green ideals with their busy real lives, so today’s eco-conscious moms and dads can bring up healthy, happy, caring kids.

Click here for more information or contact Editorial Director Sarah Smith at sarahsmith@maymediagroup.com.

Swap.com is the easiest way to swap your stuff – books, music, movies, and video games. The award-winning website brings people together to swap the stuff they have for the stuff they want, saving cash and the planet. Millions of people list millions of things so swap opps are staggering.

Swap.com is a privately held company headquartered in Boston, MA. For more information please visit www.swap.com. Follow us on Twitter @swap or visit on Facebook .

Seattle swap locations, dates, times, and details:

Bellevue

Swap date: October 9
(Note: listed as "private")

Edmonds

Drop-off dates: October 1 to October 9
Swap Date:  October 9
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Coldwell Banker Bain Associates, 108 5th Avenue S Edmonds, WA 98020
Contact: Melinda Knight
Facebook: Green Halloween Edmonds

Details:  Womentorz.com and Coldwell Banker Bain will be hosting the Costume Swap to help the environment, donate a costume, and save money. They will offer activities for children throughout the scheduled time. . This will be a wonderful time to help the environment, donate a costume and save some money. Parents will receive a token if they would like to return to pick up a new costume on the day of the event. Costumes should be in good condition. This will provide a nice selection of costumes to be available the day of the costume swap. All leftover costumes will be given to a local charity.

Federal Way

Swap date: October 9
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Farmer’s Market at The Commons Mall in Federal Way
Contact: Jennifer

Details: For adult and child costumes, hosted at outdoor Farmer's Market so plenty of items to browse while there. Only canceled in extreme weather, light rain and cold OK.

Issaquah

Drop-off dates: October 2 to October 8
Swap date: October 9
Time: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Location: Small Threads {for kids} Consignment - 1480 NW Gilman Blvd # 3, Issaquah, WA 98027-5380
Telephone No.: (425) 427-5430
Contact: Dana Verhoff, Snoqualmie Valley Macaroni Kid

Details: Drop off your swap-able costumes at Small Threads during business hours the week of October 2nd – 8th. In exchange for your costume(s) you will be given a Swap Ticket(s) to be brought back for the event on October 9th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. During the event, participants will be treated to a 20% discount on all Small Thread merchandise; that’s right, you can swap and then shop! To sweeten the deal even more, Adventure Kids Playcare is offering one free hour of childcare during the two hours of the swap. Dana and Diana of Macaroni Kid will be there, too!

Seattle

Drop-off dates: October 1 to October 9
Swap date: October 9
Time: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Locations: Whole Foods (3 locations)
1026 ne 64th St., Seattle WA 98115
888 116th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
2001 15th Avenue W, Seattle, WA 98119
Contact: Mary Hernandez

Details: Starting October 1st we’ll be collecting gently used Halloween costumes. Drop off your costumes at Whole Foods Market Roosevelt Square, Bellevue, or Interbay and receive a ticket for our Green Halloween Costume swap on October 9th from 12pm-3pm. For every costume or 5 small accessories turned in you’ll receive a ticket. Bring your tickets back on Saturday October 9th to swap them out for a “new-to-you” gently used costume!

Vashon Island

Drop-off dates: October 1 to October 10
Swap date: October 10
Time: None given
Location: Books By the Way, 9922 SW Bank Rd. Vashon, WA 98070
Contact: Jenni Wilke

Details: In collaboration with National Costume Swap Day and Just Stuff, Books By the Way will host a Halloween Costume Swap-n-Sew. Costumes in good condition can be dropped off at the store beginning October 1st. Families will earn an exchange credit for every costume they donate. On the day of the swap costumes will be organized by size. Sewing machines and instructors will be on hand to alter costumes or help create new ones. Leftover costumes will be donated to various non-profit organizations. Families wishing to participate without donating a costume may pay a $5.00 fee.

Check the website, as there may be more locations added before the swap date.