Whether you're 12 years old and keen to be a vampire when you sink your teeth into Halloween or 35 years young in search of a cape to fly at the Trail Creek 12k Trail Run on Saturday, Oct. 30, finding a costume in the Wood River Valley can be almost as much fun as trick-or-treating and bobbing for apples, or as scary. Since Halloween is on Sunday this year, there is the opportunity to try out a couple of different costumes, as events, including costume contests, begin on Friday and run throughout the weekend.
In Bellevue at the Haunted Forest, who will be streaming in for a fright? Voldermort, Stephen Slater, vuvuzela players?
Poindexter's, a costume shop from Twin Falls, has opened a satellite shop next door to the Yellow Brick Road in the Old Town Mercantile Building.
There are plenty of tutus at the Toy Store in Ketchum for would-be fairies of any sort. Both the Toy Store and Poindexter's are stocked with loads of new hats, wigs, wings, shoes and boots. Flapper dresses are back, too.
Tater Tots children's boutique in Ketchum has festive candy bags, though it doesn't sport the volume of pillowcases of yesteryear for cruising city streets while freaking out the neighbors with mock pierced noses and tattoo sleeves or in drag. It does have some compelling Boo Goo and eyeballs, however.
Originality and surprises are part of the deep Halloween tradition steeped in the Wood River Valley, which is where thrift stores thrive with their depth of supplies.
The Barkin' Basement in Hailey had a frightful turnout for costume shoppers when it put out its scariest threads in early October.
"We're selling a lot of Alice in Wonderland with the new movie out," said Amanda Buhler, the manager, who agreed with her partner in costume, Bo Bahr, that everyone wants to meet Johnny Depp this Halloween. "Next week, we're going to dress up every day to give people last-minute ideas."
With the word out about Alice, maybe a bumblebee or two will show up from this year's performance of the Wizard of Oz at the Community Campus.
"It's such a creative time," said Jan Mason, manager of the Gold Mine thrift store in Ketchum. "This town really comes out for Halloween."
Gold Mine stocker Camilla Thomas said, "My niece is trying to decide if she is going to be a Renaissance fairy or a fairy princess, and she's only 5."
Thomas said there will be plenty of versions of Lady Gaga still popular this year.
Mason said the Gold Mine will continue to restock Halloween accessories as they sell.
For details on Halloween events, see the Wednesday, Oct. 27, edition of the Express.
The Tin Man and Scarecrow made an appearance at last year’s Halloween street party in Ketchum.
