Normally, eco-friendly Halloween costumes are hyper expensive. But, what if you could get one or more green Halloween costumes for FREE!? Yup, free. If you’d jump at that chance, then you’re in luck, because not only does National Costume Swap Day spare you from purchasing new and expensive costumes, but it’s a great way to celebrate an eco-friendly Halloween.
National Costume Swap Day officially falls on Saturday, October 8, but swap events will be happening all October. The entire event is jointly sponsored by Green Halloween, Swap.com and Kiwi Magazine.
During a costume swap, green families come together to swap out, or trade previous year’s Halloween costumes, in exchange for new-to-you costumes from another green family. A costume swap need only be a few families getting together or it can be as large as a citywide event. Big or small though, a costume swap saves resources. It takes a ton of materials, packaging and shipping emissions to create new costumes. A swap is more fun, less expensive (usually free) and totally green!
It’s very easy and 100% free to set up and host a Halloween Costume Swap in your community. Bonus - registering a Costume Swap is an excellent way to encourage media sources, both local and national, to support greener Halloween events. Head to Costume Swap Day to find local swaps you can attend or even register your own event. New swaps can register every single day right up to Halloween. To learn more you can also participate in the National Costume Swap Day Twitter party on Tuesday, September 27, 9 p.m. EST #CostumeSwap or join up with Costume Swap Day on Facebook.
Will you be doing a costume exchange this year?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I tried to do a costume swap last year with my local MOPS group but most of the moms told me that their costumes don’t survive the year after months of being used for dress-up after Halloween. So I settle for buying costumes at a local consignment sale. But I think a costume swap is a great idea, especially for little ones who don’t get much wear out of their costumes.
I like Laundry Lady’s comment in that it sounds like those costumes are being used multiple times until they wear out which is great. Unfortunately, most costumes are not re-worn through the year and are just tossed. As usual, a great job on spreading the word about an event that can have a huge impact on the environment and also on parents’ wallets!
I love a costume swap idea! I am really lucky this year because my kids have decided to each be something we already have a costume for (we have quite the dress-up selection these days). No shopping, new or used, for us this year.
Next year, with a little more lead time, I would love to organize one of these in my community.
With a costume shop popping up on every corner and the old ones thrown away I’m loving this concept. It’s such a creative niche. Sending to all my mom clients and friends.