Local Shop Offers Fun, Frightening Costumes for Halloween

Fantasy Festival is a costume/magic center in Algonquin, Ill. Owned and operated by Ron and Bernice Ferraro, business is booming. They offer fun and frightening costumes for everyone and say those who are buying are spending more this year.

“We haven’t had a day off since September,” said Ron Ferraro.

They have 13,000 costumes for sale and rental. Some people like to buy their costumes so they don’t have to bring them back. “The people who want to be different and maybe even win a prize do the rentals,” he explained.

This year the popular costumes in the store for kids have been pirates and zombies.

Adults and kids have been opting for the scarier costumes. They also have customers aiming for their lighter, funny side, picking costumes like clowns.

The store carries masks, wigs, accessories, props, costumes and more. Everything on the site is also physically in the store.

Greg Biermann is Fantasy Festival’s wig master. He creates, cuts and upkeeps wigs.

 “I’ve been doing wigs for 30 years,” he said. “If you bring me a picture I can re-create it.”

In 2010, he did two wigs for Lady Gaga when she was in town for her August concert. He also does costume design and makeup application and design.

A customer, Tania Zaia of Chicago, happily held up her Red Riding Hood selection, saying, “I finally found a costume that I like!”