Halloween is a holiday adults love, too

Halloween is not just for kids. Shelley Ellison, a 40-year-old judicial assistant, said it's one of her favorite holidays.

"Halloween and Christmas have always been huge holidays in my life," Ms. Ellison said. "Although I have always loved children, I don't have any of my own. I have learned to embrace the fact that I can dress up on Halloween, get all my friends to bring their kids over so I can fill them full of chocolate and then send them home."

This year, Ms. Ellison said she will dress as the "glamour witch of Riverview."

"One year, I dressed up particularly scary and passed out 1-pound chocolate bars to every kid that came to my door," she said. "I remember a little boy covering his eyes with one hand walking up my steps but was reaching for the big chocolate bar I had in my scary hand."

Ms. Ellison called herself "a kid at heart."

"My parents did everything they could to entertain us on holidays such as Halloween and Christmas," she said. "They always made holidays so much fun."

Adults, particularly those ages 18-24, are the biggest Halloween spenders, according to the National Retail Federation. This age group spends an average of $68.56 at Halloween, while consumers in general are expected to spend $56.31 on average.

The 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation, showed that 88 percent of respondents said they plan to spend less overall this Halloween, with 16.8 percent making costumes instead of purchasing them. About 16 percent said they will be reusing last year's.

Sales at Party City in East Brainerd are only slightly down from this time last year, said Paige Plankett, merchandise manager. "We may catch up before the Halloween season ends."

Ms. Plankett said nearly as many adults come into the store looking for costumes as do children.

"The women want costumes that are sexy," she said, noting that Snow White ($54.99), Sexy Cinderella ($69.99) and Sequined Dorothy ($54.99) are some of the favored newer costumes this year.

Christina Chu, 24, a retail associate, says she prefers to make her costumes.

"I want to look different from everyone else," she said. "I want to wear something that you couldn't typically buy at a costume store."

This year, Ms. Chu will dress as singer Lady Gaga.

"I used to go for the sexy costumes when I was in college, and I sort of got away from that in recent years. I know Lady Gaga is sexy, but I'll try not to be too sexy."

Ms. Chu said she celebrates the holiday with friends at parties.

"I buy my costumes and have several of them," Ms. Ellison said. "Sometimes I mix and match my old costumes. I have at least five scary masks, many Halloween wigs and costumes. This year I bought my Glamour Witch costume at Halloween Express, and it is my favorite. Maybe I won't scare the kids too much."