LOCAL ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT | HALLOWEEN

By BILL BOWEN
Special Contributor businessnews@dallasnews.com

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A record 160 million people in the U.S. were estimated to have celebrated Halloween last year, some spending as much as $70 or more on candy, costumes, events and parties. More than $8 billion is expected to be spent this year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation.

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Amusements
Thousands of Halloween venues in the U.S. charge admission to millions of visitors in the weeks leading up to the unofficial holiday. Haunted houses, corn mazes, spaceships and other themed amusements stage October runs for family and young-adult themed experiences. Otherwise, teens rule. Some of the largest are functions of charitable groups as fundraising events. Some of the top venues in our area, from a recent survey: Thrillvania Terrell thrillvania.com Five haunted houses on nearly 50 acres Fright Fest Six Flags in Arlington frightfest.sixflags.com/overtexas One of 13 Six Flags parks that stage Fright Fest The Boneyard State Highway 360 and Division Street, in Arlington theboneyard.org Bills itself as the worlds largest haunted house Screams FM66 near Waxahachie screamspark.com Five major themed attractions

Hangmans House of Horrors Fort Worth, Mistletoe Heights neighborhood hangmans.com Largest charity haunted house fundraiser in the U.S.

Texas Scaregrounds Four haunted amusements on 13 acres in Kennedale texasscaregrounds.com/ One of the largest in the country; much fake blood

Cutting Edge East Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth, near downtown cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com Top ratings from reviewers

SOURCES: BIGinsight research for the National Retail Federation; Dallas Morning News research

The bottom line

Our surveys over the past few years show us that more people are participating in the holiday. Weve watched it go from 50 percent of shoppers, up to 74 percent expected this year. Kathryn Grannis, spokesman for the National Retail Federation Spending on Halloween decorations tops Thanksgiving this year 58 percent of consumers plan to spend money on Halloween vs. 54 percent who plan to spend money on Thanksgiving decorations. Trae Bodge, consumer spending expert, RetailMeNot.com Even alcohol sales have benefited from the rising popularity of Halloween as a more adult-themed holiday.

Bill Bowen, special contributor, The Dallas Morning News