I wish my mom would’ve hosted a Halloween costume swap instead of…well whatever she calls the mish-mash of “costumes” we wore as kids. (I love my mom and she did her best with 5 kids).
Halloween time has the potential to incite stress in some parents. Especially since I feel like the bar has been set so high in the costume department. In the age of social media, it feels like it’s less about the fun and adventure of halloween and more about “Who wore it best”? Or should I say, “who DIY-ed it best”?!
Well I’m taking a stand. Our kids really don’t care how much time you took making their costume, or that you spent $89.99 on an OFFICIAL Disney Princess costume. They don’t care about the Instagram likes or that your family costume looks better than what’s their names family. All they care about are the memories and the CANDY.
![trick or treaters in costumes](https://beauty-and-the-babes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pexels-photo-5614394.jpeg)
Hosting a Halloween costume swap is a fantastic way to save money, reduce waste, and foster a sense of community. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to organize and host a successful Halloween costume swap event:
1.Pick A Date, Time, and Place For The Halloween Costume Swap
You are going to want enough time to allow the guests to prepare. Also it seems as though Halloween events start closer each year to the time summer is officially over. I recommend having your event at least 3 weeks before Halloween night.
You need to determine the size of your event prior to picking a location. If you are someone like me who has two friends, someones living room would probably suffice. If you are someone like my hairstylist who had 20 bridesmaids, she would need to think about renting a venue or using a bigger public space like a park or community center.
2. Decide Who You Are Going To Invite
Are you just going to invite just your two besties like I am? Or will you open up an invite for the whole community? Will the whole family be invited, or just the mothers?
It can be a fun family friendly event but with more people come more opinions, as we know.
Visualize the goal and purpose of your event so that you are able to establish a list of invitees as well as the venue.
3. Set The Rules and Let Them Be Known
Clearly communicate the established guidelines for the swap. Include details such as:
-How many costumes each attendee should bring
-What condition each costume should be in
-Some examples of things that are unacceptable (I.e toy guns, bloody knives, etc.)
-Age and size restrictions
4. Set The Stage
With this being a Halloween costume swap, it only makes sense to create all of the halloween vibes. Don’t overdue it, as the whole idea of the swap is to create sustainable and budget-friendly fun.
Consider decorating the costume swap with halloween lights, decorations, and music. Keep it simple!
If the space allows, you may also want to consider a small changing room, to ensure that the costumes will fit the guests they are going home with. This can be a restroom, a sheet with some bungee cords, or a portable changing station. The last thing you want is for people to text you the day before Halloween saying the costume they picked doesn’t fit their child.
4. Halloween Costume Swap Time!
If there is time, try and organize the costumes by size on clothing racks or tables, so that the attendees can have a straight-forward “shopping” experience.
Find a way to monitor how many costumes each family is allotted. Perhaps they get one ticket for each child, that they will in turn “cash-in” when they find the costume they want.
Start the music, and let the swapping begin!
To end the swap have a mini “fashion show” to show off which costume each kid picked.
![little boy in an astronaut suit after halloween costume swap](https://beauty-and-the-babes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pexels-photo-5560506.jpeg)
Photo by Amina Filkins on Pexels.com
The biggest piece of advice is to HAVE FUN! Keep it light and simple and remember it’s about making memories for the little ones.
A Halloween costume swap is not just an opportunity to save money or find a unique costume; it’s a chance to make a positive impact on the environment and build connections within your community.
By hosting a costume swap, you’re not only fostering a more sustainable Halloween tradition but also contributing to a more sustainable future for all.
Happy swapping!
![Halloween costume swap](https://beauty-and-the-babes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/signature.png)
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