Halloween Costumes for 2012, What's Hot

If you haven't started shopping yet for Halloween, you'd better hurry.

Most trick-or-treating is expected to take place Friday, Oct. 26. That's the case in Upper Macungie, where the township has designated Trick or Treat Night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

And in the Parkland School District on Friday, youngsters in its eight elementary schools, including Jaindl and Fogelsville elementary schools in Upper Macungie, will parade in costume at 2:15 p.m. At the high school in South Whitehall, staff will have their picture taken in costume and students will vote during their lunch periods for best costume.

This year, consumer spending on Halloween costumes, decorations and candy is expected to increase; a record 170 million people are projected to spend as much as $8 billion.

According to the National Retail Federation, 71.5 percent of Americans will be in the haunting mood this year -- up from 68.6 percent in 2011. The federation's survey found that the average person is expected to spend $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $72.31 last year.

At Drop Me a Line in Allentown, Superhero costumes are hot this year, including Spider-Man, Thor and Iron Man, as well as Zombie costumes, said store owner Louella Torrence.

For younger girls, princess costumes are popular -- "anything with a tiara," she said -- while younger boys are opting to be knights and policemen. 

Some of the best sellers for kids' costumes this year at Party City in Whitehall are Monster High character costumes, said store manager Jennifer Adams. In fact, she said, it's been that way for the past three years.

Monster High, a line of dolls from Mattel, features the children of well known monsters, like Draculara and Frank E. Stein.

Traditional superhero costumes and Disney Princess outfits are also popular - anything based on blockbuster movies and popular culture. 

Adams said the morph suit - think Blue Men outfit - is also a popular costume.

"Things are trending similarly to last year," Adams said. Remembering the October 2011 snow storm that paralyzed the Lehigh Valley, she added, "The only difference will be that we hopefully won't have the snow storm."