Halloween news stories on Newser

Did White House Hide Lavish Costume Bash?

Mark Russell — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:12:00 CST

At the nadir of the economic crisis, the Obama White House held a lavish Alice in Wonderland -themed Halloween costume party, organized by Johnny Depp and Tim Burton and full of Star Wars character. But with unemployment at 10%, the Tea Party at its apex, and the economic downturn still...

'Human Slinky' Costume on Sale for $1M

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:29:54 CST

The Daily Mail may have just uncovered the world’s most expensive Halloween costume: Behold the “Human Slinky,” which you can buy right now on eBay … provided you have $1 million. But hey, at least the shipping is free! The costume, apparently made famous in some circles by a performer...

US Drops Record-Busting $2.3B on Halloween Candy

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:01:20 CDT

By the time trick-or-treating ends tonight, Americans will have spent a record-breaking $2.3 billion on this year's Halloween candy, according to the National Confectioner's Association. Much like costume sales , candy sales appear to be impervious to the poor economic climate: LiveScience reports that they keep rising 1% to 3%...

Haunted House Worker Found Caught in Noose

Rob Quinn — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:45:16 CDT

The horror wasn't all make-believe at St. Louis-area haunted house Creepyworld Thursday night. A 17-year-old worker at the attraction is in critical condition after being found hanging from a noose that was being used as a prop, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The young woman, whose job was to scare...

Racist, Sexist Halloween Costumes Come Under Fire

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:06:01 CDT

Before you don your Halloween costume tomorrow, consider this: Is it offensive? Two groups are fighting back against costumes they consider racist or sexist: Ohio University's Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS) created a campaign with the headline, "We’re a culture, not a costume." Students are featured in ads...

Let's Have Halloween on Saturdays

Neal Colgrass — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:22:05 CDT

One state lawmaker wants to boost the economy and help out harried parents by legislating that Halloween always falls on a Saturday, the Hartford Courant reports. Connecticut Rep. Tim Larson says having Halloween on the last Saturday in October would also be safer for trick-or-treaters because parents could start earlier...

10 Really Relevant Halloween Costumes

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:00:00 CDT

Why dress up as a maid or a construction worker when you can instead construct a Halloween costume that’s relevant to our times? Time offers up a list of ideas, complete with instructions: Pregnant Beyonce : Grab yourself a fake baby bump (unless, of course, you’re already pregnant) and a brightly-colored...

Couple Get Lost in Corn Maze, Call 911

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 02:08:10 CDT

What fun: Halloween corn mazes. Except it wasn't for one zany Massachusetts couple who became so hopelessly lost in the stalks that they called 911 for help. The mom and dad wandered in the maze north of Boston for well over an hour with their infant. As the place shut...

Hate Halloween? Celebrate 'Jesus Ween'

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:15:05 CDT

Seth Abramovitch was delighted when he ran across JesusWeen.com , a site encouraging folks to participate in "Jesus Ween," a Christian alternative to Halloween, on Oct. 31. "Jesus Ween is not, in fact, a celebration of Jesus's ween," Abramovitch notes on Gawker ; even so, the whole thing "seemed just a...