Halloween costume exchange returns

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Municipal Library will be hosting its annual costume exchange, Oct. 12, and is encouraging local residents to donate old costumes. 

Laura Henderson, public services manager with the library, explained the aim of the event is to create an opportunity for affordable costumes, as well as to reduce waste around Halloween. 

“The costume exchange is just such a neat event – I think it is so beneficial to families. You wear those costumes once a year unless you have a daughter like mine who dresses up every day,” said Henderson. “You buy it and then it just sits. On top of that, kids grow out of their costumes so quickly so by next year, you have to buy another one. It becomes costly, and then what do you do with those costumes, you hold on to them for a long time or you donate them or try to sell them.”

The library is offering the costume exchange as an alternative for folks to bring in their old costumes and pick up another donated costume instead. 

A stock of previously contributed costumes is available from the library’s collection, and folks are invited to bring anything they might have that is clean and in reasonable condition. 

Upon donation, they will be presented with a “costume ticket” which they can then exchange for a costume on the day of the event. 

“We have already collected a few, and we anticipate they will continue to come. We will even accept those donations the day of the event,” said Henderson. “It is an opportunity to save a little bit of money instead of having to buy a whole costume. We try to run it earlier in the month just so that there is still time after the event for people to find any remaining missing pieces for their costumes.”

Henderson added the program suffered during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic – however, it has steadily seen rising number of people participating again. 

Prior to the pandemic, she said, the library would see lineups out the doors of the facility with people waiting to participate.

“It has been a complicated program to bring back following the pandemic … but even last year, we had well over 100 attendees and I had 60 costumes go out the door easily,” said Henderson.

She joked it is almost akin to hermit crabs trading their shells for larger ones, as participating children and families trade their old costumes for new and better-sized fits. 

The costume exchange will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.