Halloween Spending Surges, Overtaking Christmas for Some Businesses

Halloween has transformed from a single night of festivities into a significant economic event, with some businesses now generating more revenue from the spooky season than they do from Christmas. Demand for Halloween-themed attractions, costumes, and decorations has surged, turning October into one of the busiest months of the year for retailers and entertainment venues.

At Avon Valley Adventure Park near Bath, Halloween activities account for approximately one-third of the park's annual income. Founder Doug Douglas stated that "Halloween is really important for us, it has surpassed Christmas." Similarly, David Gaze, owner of Chaplins fancy dress shop in Bristol, reported that half of their annual turnover occurs in October, with the week of Halloween alone contributing one-third of that figure. The shop has experienced its busiest October last year to date, with customers spending an average of £40 on costumes and accessories.

Retailers, farm attractions, and scare parks are observing increased consumer spending on Halloween-related items. Harvir Dhillon, lead economist at the British Retail Consortium, noted that retailers compete intensely during this period due to heightened demand for sweets, chocolate, decorations, and costumes. A survey by market researcher IGD indicated that 36% of shoppers planned to celebrate Halloween this year, a rise from 27% in 2025.

For many farms, Halloween has become a crucial period for diversification. Heather Parry, managing agent at the National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN), described how pumpkin patches have evolved from simple fields with wheelbarrows into elaborate family experiences. NFAN members increasingly offer a range of attractions, including maize mazes, after-dark trails, scare attractions, and pumpkin festivals. Parry highlighted that this diversification is vital for farms navigating challenges such as climate change, evolving government support, high input costs, and changes to inheritance tax relief.

Avon Valley Adventure Park, for example, generates £2 million from its October activities, with its FEAR Scream Park attracting around 30,000 visitors over 13 nights for immersive scare experiences, scare mazes, and live actors. The park also runs a popular pumpkin event that draws approximately 120,000 visitors annually. Douglas noted the significant operational costs, including employing around 200 staff, with about 120 actors for the scare events.

Individual consumers are also increasing their spending. Catarina Vieira, an A&E doctor, spends between £150 to £200 annually on Halloween, largely on decorations and events. She finds the