CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It's not even Labor Day yet some Chicagoans are already thinking about... Halloween.
Grocery stores have started selling Halloween candy and national retail chains are also shifting into Halloween mode. In fact, Target recently tweeted "August, is basically, Halloween."
Tomorrow is August...so...it's basically Halloween.
— Target (@Target)
July 31, 2019 Cortland Hickey, the general manager of Chicago Costume which has several locations throughout the city, said the store has been getting Halloween ready for a couple of months.
"You definitely start seeing the pumpkin spice lattes and all the other telltale signs of fall," Hickey said.
Hickey said planning for and celebrating Halloween is growing for the selfie generation, much like other holiday traditions that have exploded on social media.
"Obviously, here in the city we help a lot of adults get their Halloween costumes," he said. "It's always a good time, especially in the age of social media. Posting pictures of yourself, your family, your cool outfit, getting your social recognition for your costume and your effort is a big deal so it's definitely something for everybody."
Social media users are also already thinking of the holiday, which isn't just big for dressing up — makeup is a large part of the costume. Cosmetic companies are gearing up for a busy season of selling colorful mascara, black lipstick pens, face paint and fake gore.
Spooky Szn is (almost) upon us !! Let’s start a thread of makeup artists who play into the holiday! Drop your Halloween looks below ------IG: SNITCHERY pic.twitter.com/XbW6s6LLOH
— ♡ snitchery ♡ (@babysnitchery)
August 23, 2019 According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spend about $7.5 billion a year on Halloween, with about 175 million Americans partaking in the holiday.
