OCALA, FL (352today.com) – It might only be August, but Halloween is already creeping into North Central Florida.
The familiar orange-and-black signs are beginning to pop up around the region as Spirit Halloween prepares its seasonal stores for another year. For Halloween enthusiasts, it’s officially time to start planning on costumes, decorations and what giant animatronic creature might end up guarding the front door this year.
Finding Your Closest Spirit Location
Spirit Halloween has several locations planned for the season, with two Ocala locations already open, while stores in Gainesville and Eustis are expected to open later this month.
The Ocala West location is located at 9598 SW 114th St., Ste. 6, in the former Bealls space, while the Ocala East location is located at 2653 E Silver Springs Blvd., in the former Big Lots space. Both Ocala locations are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
There will be two locations in Gainesville, with one location at 3202 SW 35th Blvd., in the former JoAnn Fabrics space and the other at 901 N Main St., in the former CVS building. There will also be a location in Eustis at 405 Plaza Dr. in the former Big Lots space.
The Gainesville and Eustis locations are currently listed as opening in August, with hours to be posted as the stores open.
Because Spirit Halloween locations are seasonal, opening dates and hours can change throughout the season. The company’s store locator is the best place to check for updates before visiting a particular location.
Costumes, Decor and Everything in Between
A Spirit Halloween store can cover quite a bit of ground when it comes to Halloween.
The seasonal stores carry costumes and accessories for adults, teens, children, toddlers, babies and even pets, along with makeup, masks, wigs, props and apparel. Decorations range from smaller pieces for indoor spaces to larger items intended for porches and yards.
There are also plenty of Halloween-themed items that don’t necessarily fall into the traditional costume-or-decoration categories. Shoppers can find plush toys, pajamas, toys, accessories and home decor for bedrooms, bathrooms and other parts of the house.
For horror fans, one of the more noticeable parts of Spirit’s seasonal lineup is its variety of animatronics. Popular characters from horror and pop culture are represented, including Freddy Fazbear from “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” the Xenomorph from “Alien,” Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th” and Michael Myers from “Halloween.” The larger pieces are more than static decorations, using movement, sound and lighting effects to bring the characters to life.
Getting Ready for the Season
The arrival of the stores is one of the first noticeable signs that Halloween is approaching in the 352, even if the temperatures outside haven’t quite gotten the memo.
For some, the season means choosing a costume. For others, it’s an excuse to decorate the house, collect horror memorabilia or add a few spooky touches to everyday spaces. And for those who prefer to wait until October, there’s still plenty of time before Halloween arrives.
Because the stores are temporary, shoppers looking for a particular location should check the Spirit Halloween store locator for the latest opening dates and hours. The company’s website also provides information about available merchandise and online ordering.
So if you’ve started noticing orange signs appearing around town, you’re not imagining things. Halloween is already making its way back to the 352–one seasonal storefront at a time.