Rainbow Blog

This Halloween Don’t Buy Costumes…Swap Them!

posted by: Kia

Halloween in weeks away which means it’s time to start thinking about costumes!  Getting all dressed up is a lot of fun but buying new costumes every year is costly and not very earth friendly!  Thankfully there sites like www.CostumeSwapDay.com that make it easy to find costume swap locations or let you add your own event! It’s easy to host a swap and there is no cost to register.  This is a fun way to get new-to-you costumes, connect with others in your community and save yourself some money! National Costume Swap Day is Saturday, October 8!

Here are some great tips on hosting a costume swap from Green Halloween:

• Secure a location. Hosting a small swap? How about using your living room or cleaned out garage? Or get the neighbors involved and use the cul-de-sac. For larger efforts, holding the swap in a mall or at a natural food retailer is great for many reasons. (For one thing, they can do a lot of the advertising). Other venues such as libraries, public colleges, churches and recreation centers are great, too. Consider:
• Size – will it hold the crowd you expect with room between tables or racks so that kids can try on costumes
• Location – Is the site easily accessible for the people you are hoping to attract? Is there parking and public transport nearby
• Cost – is there any rental cost? Will you need insurance? (If so, will you charge admission? A small fee can cover your expenses or all of the money can go to a local charity. If you choose this route, involve the charity beforehand. DO NOT say “proceeds” will be donated to XXX unless you have agreement and buy-in from the charity!)
• Parking – Is there enough? Is it free or will patrons have to pay? Is public transportation available nearby?
• What’s included? Do they already have tables or racks and hangers or will you have to supply? Is there a room to change in?
• Decide on your date and hours.
• We invite you to choose the second Saturday in October, National Costume Swap Day, for your swap. However, whatever date works for you is fine and you still are free to register your swap on the National Costume Swap Day site and benefit from potential PR from this national effort.
• When it comes to setting hours, there is no right timeframe that will work for everyone. But whether your swap is scheduled for a half day or full, be sure to leave enough time before for set up and after for clean up

Consider having additional activities for kids. If you’re up for it, include invite other businesses or non-profits to participate with a table activity for kids like coloring or a simple craft involving recycled materials. For ideas, check out www.GreenHalloween.org

I’ve been so forunate to be a weekly guest writer on the Green Halloween Blog - you can read my posts there every Monday!  We are so lucky to have an organization like Green Halloween and their partners www.Swap.com and  www.Kiwimagonline.com helping us make better choices for our families and for the earth!  I think the concept of making our holidays, like Halloween, environmentally friendly sends an important message to our kids!  It’s time we stop doing things “the way we’ve always done them” and start making choices that show our children that we are all responsible for our planet.  Every little thing that we do matters…we all make a difference! 

Kia