Halloween Shopping Guide

Ghouls and goblins aren’t the only things to be feared this Halloween. Running out of fun-sized candy amidst a rush of trick-or-treating neighbors or trying to snag a last-minute costume a few hours before your party—those are the real nightmares.

Candy:

Whether you’re stocking up on candy corn because it’s your all-time-favorite sugar fix or you just need a big bag of mini Snickers for the coming trick-or-treaters, you’ve got plenty of shopping options in South City.

If you want to aim for the cool factor with your Halloween candy, has a great selection of spooky treats like their packages of gummy body parts, running between $1.50 and $4.50 each when you buy 2. Their big bags of Hershey’s, Skittles, and Wonka candies are on sale this week for $7.99 while smaller bags will run you between three dollars and seven dollars.

has just two fun size candy options, both selling for $13.99. They’ve got between 100 and 150 pieces in them with candies like M&Ms, Hershey’s, and Nestlé.

At and , be sure to peruse the Halloween aisle for tons of great deals on candy. Their 100 packs of mini Almond Joy, Heath, and Reese’s are just $9.99 while other big bags with 70-100 pieces are between nine dollars and $13. Smaller 10 oz. bags are mostly $2.50, and the “jumbo” bags, about twice the size, are five dollars.

Costumes:

Looking for costumes for your kids? South City does have a few options, even though the big Halloween stores are outside our city limits.

has a small section of costumes for babies and girls. Your toddlers can dress up as a cute cow, cat, dragon or tiger for $12.99 while girls can choose to be a Disney princess, medieval queen, pirate or cowgirl with a price tag between $15 and $20. Unfortunately, you’ll be out of luck if you’re looking for boys’ costumes, any sort of makeup, masks or costume accessories.

has a wonderful selection of toddler, boys, girls and even some adult costumes. Pirates, Minnie Mouse, Tinker Bell, Super Mario, skeletons, pixies, and vampires are all options, each running you between $10 and $25. You’ll also find a variety of wigs between just six dollars and eight dollars, hats, masks and makeup kits to complete your look.

Is there a pooch who will be accompanying your trick-or-treating group? Next door to Walgreens on Westborough Boulevard, Pet Club has about a dozen looks your furry friend (and you!) will love. I especially liked the chicken, firefighter, bumble bee, cowboy and pumpkin outfits, each costing between $10 and $22.

and only have baby costumes, and they’re all running at $17. Your baby can be snuggled up as a pea pod, pumpkin, banana or ladybug.

If you do need to step outside South City to find a more elaborate selection of costumes, you have a few options less than a mile away. Spirit Halloween Store has set up at the Serramonte Chrysler on Collins Avenue in Colma, Halloween City is on Colma Boulevard just off Junipero Serra in Colma and Party City Halloween is on Gellert Boulevard in Daly City. Here you’ll find every type of costume, mask, wig and accessory imaginable, plus a wide variety of home props, makeup kits, fake blood, vampire teeth, you name it. Just don’t try shopping there too close to Halloween—the crowds are monstrous!