Buy, Rent or Build Your Own
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and Chicago fills that weekend with parades: Arts in the Dark downtown on October 24 and Haunted Halsted on the night of October 31. That leaves about ten days to sort out a costume, and the city's costume trade works three different ways. You can buy a packaged costume and add to it, rent a full theatrical one, or build your own from vintage racks. Each has its own shops, and knowing which you want saves a wasted trip.
Three independent shops are the main stops: Fantasy Costumes and Chicago Costume on the Northwest Side and in Lincoln Park, and Lost Eras in Rogers Park. For the do-it-yourself route, the resale row on Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park covers the rest.
Buying Off the Rack: Fantasy Costumes
Fantasy Costumes (4065 N Milwaukee Ave) is the big one. The store describes itself as one city block long with more than a million items in stock, and it has been in business for more than 60 years. Come here when you want everything in one trip: packaged costumes, masks, decorations and the accessories that finish an outfit.
The makeup department stocks theatrical makeup from Mehron, Ben Nye and Graftobian, including grease paints and setting sprays, plus effects supplies such as liquid latex, prosthetics, scar wax, rigid collodion and fake blood. If your costume depends on a face rather than a jumpsuit, this is the shop. Wigs fill their own section, sorted into women's, men's, kids', Halloween, character and TV and movie styles, and the store also does custom wig styling.
The store's website lists hours of 9:30am to 9pm Monday through Saturday and opens at 11am on Sunday; the page gives two different Sunday closing times, so call 773-777-0222 before a Sunday trip. Rentals are offered too. Ask about terms when you call, since the store does not post them on its hours page.
Renting a Full Costume: Chicago Costume
Chicago Costume runs two shops. Chicago Costume, Lincoln Park (1120 W Fullerton Ave) sells costumes, masks, makeup and accessories. Chicago Costume, Portage Park (4727 W Montrose Ave) is where the rentals happen: fittings for its rental costumes, offered with its partner Broadway Costume, are scheduled here by appointment.
Renting works like this. Book a fitting online and give the shop 24 to 48 hours' notice before you need the costume; walk-ins may not be accommodated, which matters in the last week of October. A rental can be kept for up to three days. The shop takes a $100 security deposit per costume, by cash or card, makes a copy of your driver's license or state ID, and may charge a $25 late fee for each day a costume comes back late. Its rental page quotes full rentals from $150, and its FAQ puts most individual rentals between $165 and $250 plus tax, so confirm the price at your fitting. The company says it has about 100,000 rental costumes, and it also sells retired rentals.
For the season, both shops stay open late. Through October 23 they open 10am to 9pm, then 10am to 8pm on October 24 and 25, 10am to 9pm on October 26 and 27, and 10am to 10pm from October 28 to 30. On Halloween itself, Saturday, October 31, both are open 10am to 9pm. They are open 11am to 5pm on November 1, then return to regular hours.
Vintage Costumes: Lost Eras
Lost Eras (1511 W Howard St) in Rogers Park sells costumes, props, vintage clothing and antiques. The shop says it was established in 1969, keeps more than 50,000 vintage pieces in stock and carries thousands of costume styles, and it offers rentals. WTTW described its costume stock as entirely vintage, gathered over about 50 years. That makes it the place for a period look that reads as real: an actual 1940s dress rather than a polyester copy. Its website lists no store hours, so call 773-764-7400 before you go and ask about rental terms at the same time.
Building Your Own: Thrift and Resale
For decade parties and DIY costumes, Wicker Park's resale row is the place to start. Ragstock Wicker Park (1459 N Milwaukee Ave) keeps more than 10,000 vintage and used pieces with new arrivals daily, alongside new basics and party and holiday costumes, so you can pair a real thrifted jacket with a packaged accessory in one stop. Across the street, Buffalo Exchange Wicker Park (1478 N Milwaukee Ave) sells vintage, designer and everyday clothing and is open 11am to 8pm daily. Both are a short walk from the Blue Line's Damen station. Our Wicker Park records and books walk covers the whole strip, and the Chicago vintage shopping guide lists vintage shops in other neighborhoods.
Seasonal chain pop-ups such as Spirit Halloween change locations, so check the chain's own store locator for this year's addresses before you drive to one.
What to Buy Where
Go to Fantasy Costumes for makeup, effects supplies, wigs and a full off-the-rack costume in one visit. Book Chicago Costume's Portage Park shop for a theatrical rental you will wear once, and do it this week. Call Lost Eras for authentic period pieces. Use Ragstock and Buffalo Exchange to build a decade look on a budget. Buy makeup and adhesives a few days early and test them on your skin before the night.
The 2026 Parades and Contests
Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 6pm to 8pm. The parade steps off at Balbo Drive and marches north on Columbus Drive. It is free, it is organized by LUMA8 and costumes are encouraged.
Haunted Halsted: Saturday, October 31, 2026, on N Halsted St in Northalsted, run by the Northalsted Business Alliance. The fest runs 11am to 10pm, and Halsted is cleared at 6pm for the parade. The parade steps off at 7pm at Halsted and Belmont and ends around 8pm at Halsted and Brompton. It goes ahead in rain or snow, and watching is free.
The costume contest and after-party follow the parade at the lot at 3514 N Halsted. There are five categories (Character, Creative, Scary, Group and Youth), with prizes of $500, $200 and $100 in each, and entry costs $5 for all ages. Register in advance on Ticket Tailor or at the tent at 3211 N Halsted from 2pm on the day.
For younger trick-or-treaters, Trick or Treat on Southport runs Monday, October 26, from 4pm to 7pm on Southport Ave between Roscoe and Grace; see our Southport page for the shops along the way.
