成人直播

KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 23, 2026

Skeletons and gravestones in the front yard. Fog machines and animatronics. Trips to haunted attractions. Halloween spending has grown beyond just costumes and candy. In fact, the National Retail Federation has projected Halloween spending to reach a record $13.5 billion. What makes people keep spending on Halloween, even when money feels tight?

成人直播 associate professor Patrick Fennell explains how nostalgia, family traditions, social connections, and self-expression drive spending on costumes, candy and decorations.

For Fennell, associate professor of marketing at the , the appeal goes beyond the products. He believes we鈥檙e not just buying costumes and decor; we鈥檙e buying a feeling. Fennell shares some reasons why Halloween spending is growing.

We鈥檙e buying a little nostalgia

For many people, Halloween brings back memories of trick-or-treating, choosing costumes, and celebrating with friends, Fennell said. Parents may want to recreate those experiences for their children or start new traditions their families will remember. Others participate because celebrating Halloween is simply something they have always done. Those traditions, passed down through generations, help keep the holiday going.

A costume says something about us

Halloween offers a chance to be someone else for a night, but a costume can also reveal something about the person wearing it, Fennell said. Dressing as a character from a favorite television show signals an interest. Another outfit might show off a newly toned physique. Whether playful, elaborate or unexpected, costumes give people a way to express themselves and connect with others. The holiday is also a social event and provides a reason to gather, attend parties and be seen.

One night has become a whole season

Halloween spending now stretches well beyond Oct. 31. Decorations appear at the start of fall, and retailers put seasonal merchandise on shelves early.

鈥淚n my neighborhood, Halloween decorations started going up the first day of fall,鈥� Fennell said. 鈥淪ome of this could be driven by retailers adjusting their seasonal offerings sooner. Disney World celebrates Halloween as early as September. So, some of the earlier purchase trends could be retailer-driven, but this wouldn't continue if there wasn't consumer demand.鈥�

Fennell points to that longer shopping window as a combination of retailer strategy and consumer demand. Stores may encourage an early start, but shoppers鈥� enthusiasm helps sustain it. That means more time to plan costumes, decorate homes, and build anticipation.

The escape is part of the appeal

Economic pressures and workplace uncertainty do not necessarily erase the desire to celebrate, Fennell said. Halloween can offer a temporary break from those concerns. For a night, people can trade their usual routines for something imaginative, social and fun. That experience helps explain why the holiday remains a powerful draw.

鈥� Story by Christin Senior

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

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