Yes, the true spirit of Halloween is a numbers game. This year, WalletHub projects that $13.1 billion will be spent overall in the U.S., with $4.3 billion going for costumes and $3.9 billion for candy. The annual revenue generated by ticket sales in the Halloween attraction industry is estimated to be $400 million. On the plus side, 53% of haunted houses are supporting or being affiliated with a nonprofit organization.
But what about books that need to be sold rather than balanced? Indie booksellers are definitely into the spirit of the season, as evidenced by some of the bookishly spectral social media posts I've seen recently.
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| At BookPeople | |
"It's Halloween season at your local bookstore," BookPeople, Austin, Tex., posted. "Not only do we have scary season displays for all ages but also TWO Halloween-themed events--one for little readers and one for big ones.... Costumes are encouraged for both!" The events included a Boook Bash and Tattoo Flash last weekend, and tomorrow is Trick-Or-Read musical storytime for the kids.
As mentioned above, Halloween costumes are a big biz game that not everyone can afford to play, but Storytime Bookshop, Kennewick, Wash., offered a nice option: "COSTUME SWAP!!!!... No need to swap, if you need free costumes for your kiddos, please come get them. No one will be turned away."
Well Read Books, Elk River, Minn., suggested some "books that would make great costumes, noting: "Looking for a little Halloween inspiration??? Look no further than your favorite book!... If you dress as any of these, please, PLEASE, stop by to show us or share your pictures!"
Or why not dress up as booksellers, like the folks at Lost City Books, Washington, D.C.: "who goes there? oh it's just the cutest booksellers in town rockin their limited edition spooky shirts. all proceeds through the end of the year go towards supporting @harrietsdreams. design by @badbucket print by @malokul202 cop yours today."
I noticed several spooky cool ideas, including one at Watermark Books, Wichita, Kan., which hosted its first annual Haunted Bookstore Day last weekend: "Thank you to everyone who came out, shopped, ate and participated in the activities.... We had an amazing day and can't wait to do it again next year!"
And at Recluse Books in Fort Worth, Tex., "every day we hand-make a couple dozen bags with little messages, jokes, or drawings, so every time you buy a book at Recluse it's like you're also supporting a local artist as well as a local business! What a great neighbor you are! A pillar of your community and a patron of the arts!"
In the "Double, double toil and trouble;/ Fire burn, and cauldron bubble" department, Petals & Pages, Custer, S.Dak., noted: "What a witchin' good time we had tonight at our second annual Witches Night Out!! So many gorgeous brooms flew out the doors tonight! Thanks to many of you who dressed up and hung out!... We can't wait to do it again!"
River Bookshop, Amherstburg, Ont., Canada, held its "third Annual Witches Walk at River Bookshop. Thank you so much to the 17 participating businesses and locations for the treats and contest donations, to our judges Chris Gibb and Jennifer Ibrahim, and especially to all the amazing families who joined us for the trick or treating fun and costume parade. We had some great costumes from our participants and our participating businesses."
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| At House of Books, Kent, Conn. | |
National Pumpkin Day was October 26. It seems a touch cruel to celebrate during the same week pumpkins everywhere also become stabbing victims, but I guess ironic horror is also key to the spirit of the season.
On a brighter note, Magical Forest Bookstore, Fox River Grove, Ill., had a great Jacko-lantern ("Thank you to pumpkincarver.net for an amazing design!"), and Bonfire Bookstore, Woodstock, Va., went for the undead pumpkin scarecrow option: "Please enjoy Zedric the Zombie reading important life skills books with his zombie cat buddy!"
Quill & Quest Bookstore, Farmington, N. Mex., posted: "Thank you to everyone who came out to the Pumpkins and Pages night. We had a blast and hope you all did too. These are the pumpkins we remembered to get pictures of. I think we have some very talented people in this town. This was an awesome event that we plan to do again this year."
We've been featuring Halloween-themed chalkboards a lot recently, so why not add one more from the Dog-eared Page, Danville, Va. ("Nothing haunts us like the books we didn't buy.").
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| At Vroman's | |
Of course, Halloween-themed bookstore sales floor displays are a must, and Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, Calif., had an interesting take on theirs: "Vroman's booksellers have put some HAUNTING READS together! Here's a little more about their display: 'An alternative Halloween reads display which features books that have left a haunting impression on Vroman's booksellers. Some that are more obvious than others and some that may leave you questioning.... 'why that book?' If you are looking for something off the beaten path this season, try a haunting read!"
Did I see ghosts? Well, sort of, at Copperfish Books, Punta Gorda, Fla.: "We do what we can for trendy content…and we don't ask questions!!"
But if you really want to be frightened, Sulfur Books in Clifton Springs, N.Y., warns us that we're less than a month away from another terrifying holi-deadline: "Come see Karen the Christmas Wreath for your candy treats tonight during the Spooktacular!"
The Xmas Creep manifests earlier each year. For him, all other holidays after July 4 are simply inconveniences, brief stops along the red-&-white brick road to Christmas. Black Friday as the beginning of the holiday season is as much an illusion as Marley's ghost. Happy Halloween!