Get a fang-tastic Halloween costume for free at a swap near you

Halloween is on Saturday, and if finding a costume is still haunting you, you don’t have to buy a new one. Councils and libraries across the country are running free costume swaps, where you can pick up a pre-loved outfit and drop off any your children have grown out of.

It’s a treat for your wallet, because costumes can be a big expense for something worn once or twice. It’s estimated that around 90% of families buy new Halloween costumes each year, and roughly 40% of costumes are worn only once before they’re thrown away. They’re a horror for the planet too, with research from Hubbub and the Fairyland Trust found that Halloween costumes create more than 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste every year, the same as 83 million plastic bottles.

How does a spooky swap work?

Most swaps work in the same way. You drop off clean costumes in good condition at your local library or council building, then come back and pick a different one from the swap rail.

And with most schemes you don’t have to give a costume to take one. So if money’s tight this year, you can still go along and pick something for free.

Where can I find a swap rail near me?

These are the schemes we’ve dug up for this Halloween.

Devon

Libraries Unlimited and Recycle Devon have expanded their Halloween Costume Swap to 22 libraries across Devon this year. It’s grown because more than 180 costumes were donated across 14 libraries last year, helping hundreds of families find a pre-loved outfit. There’s no need to donate a costume to take part, and costumes are free to take home. Families should check with their local library for the date, times and details of their swap.

Knowsley, Merseyside

Knowsley Council’s Recycling Engagement Team is running Halloween swap shops over the October half-term, where parents can pick up a free pre-loved costume. There are is a session left on Wednesday 28 October at Huyton Library between 2pm to 3.30pm.

You can drop off unwanted costumes too, as recycling bins are available at each library across the borough. And it doesn’t have to be ghoulish. A council spokesperson said they’ve had a Spider-Man.

Dumfries and Galloway

The council’s “Scare, Share and Wear” scheme runs until October 31. You can donate costumes at any council library, and swap rails are at Ewart Library, Stranraer Library, Kirkconnel Library, Lockerbie Library and Dalbeattie Library. You don’t need to bring a costume to take one from a swap rail.

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire Libraries has announced that its Halloween Costume Swap is back, taking both adult and child costumes, as well as accessories and part costumes. Ask your local library for this year’s dates.

What if there isn’t a swap near me?

Don’t be spooked, as there are other places to look. Ask at your local library, as lots of them run small swap rails that never make the news. You can also check your council’s website, local Facebook groups and your child’s school, as some PTAs run their own swaps.

Free sharing apps and local “free” groups often have costumes going at this time of year too. And it’s worth asking friends and family if they’ve got anything lurking in the dressing-up box.

How else can I keep Halloween costs from creeping up?

You don’t need a shop-bought costume to have fun. An old sheet makes a ghost, a black top and a bit of face paint makes a cat, and a few bandages turn last year’s outfit into a mummy.

For sweets, set a budget before you go shopping, and look for multipacks, as they’re usually cheaper than buying bags one at a time. Supermarkets often cut the price of Halloween sweets and decorations in the last few days, so waiting could mean more treats for less.

Is a second-hand costume safe?

Most are, but check the label to make sure it’s a proper fancy dress costume and not just a cheap outfit. Whatever your child wears, keep them away from candles in pumpkins and other naked flames.

What should I do with old costumes after Halloween?

Don’t bury them in the bin. Keep them for next year’s swap, or hold on to them for World Book Day in March, as lots of libraries and councils run costume swaps then too. Libraries in Devon and Torbay ran World Book Day costume swap rails at 15 libraries this year, and Somerset and South Norfolk did the same.