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Business & Tech

Halloween Shopping Guide: Costumes and Candy

Your guide to Halloween tricks, treats and deals in the Tri-Cities.

Ghouls and goblins aren’t the only things to be feared this Halloween. Running out of fun-sized candy amidst a rush of trick-or-treating neighbors or trying to snag a last-minute costume a few hours before your party — those are the real nightmares.

Candy

Whether you’re stocking up on candy corn because it’s your all-time-favorite sugar fix or you just need a big bag of mini Snickers for the coming trick-or-treaters, you’ve got plenty of shopping options.

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If you want to aim for the cool factor with your Halloween candy, Walgreens stores in Fremont have a great selection of spooky treats like their packages of gummy body parts, running between $1.50 and $4.50 each when you buy two. Their big bags of Hershey’s, Skittles, and Wonka candies have been on sale recently for $7.99, while smaller bags will run you between $3 and $7.

Costco in Fremont has just two-fun size candy options, both selling for $13.99. They’ve got between 100 and 150 pieces in them, with candies like M&Ms, Hershey’s and Nestlé.

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At Safeway, be sure to peruse the Halloween aisle for tons of great deals on candy. Their 100 packs of mini Almond Joy, Heath, and Reese’s are just $9.99, while other big bags with 70 to 100 pieces are between $9 and $13. Smaller 10 oz. bags are mostly $2.50, and the “jumbo” bags, about twice the size, are $5.

Costumes

Looking for costumes for your kids?

Costco has a small section of costumes for babies and girls. Your toddlers can dress up as a cute cow, cat, dragon or tiger for $12.99, while girls can choose to be a Disney princess, medieval queen, pirate or cowgirl with a price tag between $15 and $20. Unfortunately, you’ll be out of luck if you’re looking for boys’ costumes, any sort of makeup, masks or costume accessories.

Walgreens has a wonderful selection of toddler, boys', girls' and even some adult costumes. Pirates, Minnie Mouse, Tinker Bell, Super Mario, skeletons, pixies and vampires are all options, each running you between $10 and $25. You’ll also find a variety of wigs between just $6 and $8, hats, masks and makeup kits to complete your look.

Safeway only has baby costumes, and they’re all running at $17. Your baby can be snuggled up as a pea pod, pumpkin, banana or ladybug.

For a more elaborate selection of costumes, you may want to check out one or more of the seasonal Halloween stores in the Tri-Cities area.

Spirit Halloween stores have set up at (510-818-0671); Mowry East, 5200 Mowry Ave., Fremont (510-796-4074); and Southland Mall, Hayward (510-293-9958). Halloween City is also operating at Southland Mall. Party City Halloween stores are at Pacific Commons, 43732 Christy St., Fremont; Union Landing, 30761 Dyer St., Union City; and Milpitas Center, 311 W. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas.

Here you’ll find every type of costume, mask, wig and accessory imaginable, plus a wide variety of home props, makeup kits, fake blood, vampire teeth, you name it. Just don’t try shopping there too close to Halloween — the crowds are monstrous!

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