WHERE TO SHOP
Where to shop: 5 standout San Antonio costume shops for Halloween
Cherry's Costumes Galore is run by a skeleton crew.
Halloween may be the most wonderful time of the year (sorry, Kris Kringle), but choosing a costume can be stressful. Sure, Amazon Prime can deliver a few white tablecloths for a reasonable Odyssey fit, but no one wins contests without stepping it up. Want to bewitch the crowd at your spooky soirée? Try our favorite San Antonio costume shops on for size.
Hex Appeal by Hocus Pocus Halloween
If Spirit Halloween’s rows of animatronic ghouls are too overstimulating, head to this North Side alternative for a ready-made costume. The Hex Appeal name nods to the selection of sexy women’s costumes, which range from a “swat hottie” to a minxy mushroom that would make The Last of Us an entirely different tale. Elsewhere, men can cosplay gladiators or Pennywise, couples can be cookies and milk, and kids can be almost anything thanks to a variety of morphsuits.
Starline Costumes
This Broadway staple is where San Antonians go when they want to take Halloween up a notch, offering next-level fits for rental or purchase. The costumes range from fairy tale gowns to bulging superhero suits, but the shop specializes in mascots. Choose from a variety of familiar characters or (should budget allow) create your own. The shop even offers custom cleaning services, if you’ve ever wondered where the Spurs Coyote goes for a spa day.

The Sanctuary
Fall may be spooky season, but it's also the time when knights, wizards, and pirates flock to Renaissance fairs. The Blanco Road bazaar is a one-stop shop for all things medieval and fantastical, whether looking for Khalesi finery or Charlemagne’s mighty sword. Dragons, thankfully, are not included.
Reapers Collections
While some shops like to get cute, this Rolling Oaks Mall haunt has all the blood and guts of a David Cronenberg film. Check out a downright scary assortment of realistic masks, chilling costume props (chainsaws, oh my!), and dangerous home decor like candy bowls that might bite back. Reapers also has fun photo ops with spooky characters throughout the season and in-store activities like readings from the Psychotic Psychic.
Cherry’s Costumes Galore
This uptown shop might be San Antonio’s most theatrical address, helping many a Joseph find his amazing Technicolor dreamcoat. Less dramatic locals will find historical garb, mystical characters, and a few Santa suits to play Christmas in October. The shop prides itself on its service. Book an appointment and staff will take your measurements, pull several costumes to consider, and get you set up for the masked ball.

Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich is available at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, plus online.Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard