Halloween Costumes & Pumpkin Carving in Vancouver, WA (2026)
Where to find a Halloween costume in Vancouver and Clark County, from Spirit Halloween to a downtown costume rental shop, plus where to pick your pumpkin, how to enter a carving contest, and how to host one on your own street.
It’s the final stretch before Halloween, and if your house is anything like mine, someone still hasn’t decided what they’re going to be. (Usually it’s me.) Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which means more parties, more trick-or-treaters, and more people shopping for costumes at the last minute.
So here’s my local game plan: where to find a costume in Vancouver and Clark County, where to pick up a carving pumpkin, and how to turn pumpkin carving into a friendly competition, whether that’s an online contest or a showdown with the neighbors.
Where to Shop for Halloween Costumes Near Vancouver, WA
| Store | Where | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Halloween | Vancouver Plaza, Park Place (Parkway Dr), SE Mill Plain | Licensed and trending costumes, décor | Seasonal, open through Halloween |
| Center Stage Clothiers | 1400 Main St, downtown Vancouver | Show-quality costume rentals | Year-round rental shop |
| Thrift stores | Across Clark County | Budget DIY costumes | Best selection early in the week |
| The Lippman Co. | 50 SE Yamhill St, Portland | Costumes, wigs, party supplies | A Portland Halloween staple since 1948 |
Where to Buy a Halloween Costume in Vancouver, WA
Spirit Halloween (3 Vancouver locations)
The pop-up Halloween superstore is the easiest one-stop shop for officially licensed costumes, accessories, and animatronic décor. This season, Spirit Halloween’s store locator lists three Vancouver stores:
- Vancouver Plaza: 7809-B NE Vancouver Plaza Dr, Suite 102 (the former Burlington)
- Vancouver Park Place: 8101 NE Parkway Dr, next to Firehouse Subs
- Vancouver Mill Plain: 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd (the former Baxter Auto)
Spirit stores are seasonal and locations can change from year to year, so check the store locator for current hours before you go.
Center Stage Clothiers (downtown Vancouver)
Want something better than a costume in a bag? Center Stage Clothiers at 1400 Main Street is a year-round costume rental shop in downtown Vancouver, stocked with stage- and film-quality costumes from dinosaur suits to ball gowns. Rentals have run roughly $55 to $275 for three days, and they sell some smaller accessories too. It’s my pick for adult costume parties when you want to win the contest.
Thrift stores for DIY costumes
Some of the best costumes come together from a thrift-store run. Goodwill and other thrift stores around Clark County are great for decade looks (think ’70s disco or ’80s workout gear), flannel and overalls for a scarecrow, or a blazer to build a character costume around. Grab face paint and accessories separately to pull it all together.
Worth the drive: The Lippman Co. (Portland)
Normally I’d ask who wants to drive to Portland, but costume lovers make an exception for The Lippman Co. at 50 SE Yamhill St. It’s been Portland’s go-to for Halloween costumes, wigs, and party supplies since 1948.
Shopping tip: The weekend before Halloween is the busiest of the season. Go on a weekday, or shop the week of October 26 for markdowns on leftover décor.
Where to Get a Carving Pumpkin in Clark County
A grocery-store pumpkin works, but picking one at a local farm is half the fun. A few local favorites still open through Halloween:
- Bi-Zi Farms (9504 NE 119th St, Vancouver): Open through October 31, closed Mondays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Tickets are sold online in 30-minute time slots.
- Walton Farms (1617 NE 267th Ave, Camas): Open through October 31, Thursday and Friday 3 to 5 PM and weekends 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission includes a corn maze, train ride, and one pumpkin, and leashed dogs are welcome.
- Pomeroy Farm Pumpkin Lane (Yacolt): Weekends through October, with a hayride past more than 100 pumpkin-people scenes. Bring cash, since some vendors may only take cash and there’s no ATM on site.
For the full list, see my guide to the best pumpkin patches in Vancouver, WA and Portland.
Carving tip: Look for a pumpkin with a flat bottom, a sturdy green stem, and no soft spots. Carve no more than two or three days before Halloween so it doesn’t collapse before trick-or-treaters arrive.
Pumpkin Carving Contests You Can Enter This Year
Pumpkin carving gets a lot more fun when there’s a trophy on the line. Here are a few ways to show off your jack-o’-lantern this season.
Enter a national online contest
The Pumpkin Masters 40th Annual Carving Contest is open through 11:59 PM Eastern on October 31, 2026. Carve your pumpkin, email photos in one of seven categories, and you could win the $2,500 grand prize. It’s open to U.S. and Canadian residents 18 and older, and no purchase is necessary.
Join the fun in downtown Camas
Downtown Camas kicks off the season every year with its October Pumpkin Pageant, where you vote for your favorite decorated pumpkins at participating businesses. This year’s pageant was October 2, so put it on next year’s calendar. In the meantime, the Downtown Camas Boo Bash trick-or-treat event is Wednesday, October 28, from 3 to 5 PM, rain or shine. It’s a perfect excuse to wear your costume twice.
Host your own neighborhood carving contest
Honestly, some of the best pumpkin contests happen right on your own street. It’s one of my favorite ways to get to know neighbors, especially if you’re new to the area. Here’s how to pull it off:
- Pick a date and spot: A driveway or cul-de-sac the weekend before Halloween works great. Have a covered backup (a garage or carport) in case of rain, because this is Vancouver.
- Set fun categories: Scariest, funniest, most creative, and best kid carver, so everyone has a shot.
- Keep judging simple: Let neighbors vote with candy corn in cups, or ask a neutral judge (grandparents are great at this).
- Use battery tea lights: They’re safer than candles, especially around costumes and little hands.
- Make it a party: Add a crockpot of cider or chili and you’ve got a new neighborhood tradition.
Know of a local pumpkin carving contest in Clark County? Send it my way and I’ll add it to this guide.
Halloween 2026 Tips for Vancouver Families
- Plan for a Saturday Halloween. Expect bigger crowds at stores and patches the week before, and check your city’s trick-or-treat events, since schedules shift when Halloween lands on a weekend.
- Dress for the weather. Pick a costume that fits over a rain jacket or warm layers. Late-October nights here are chilly and often wet.
- Add reflective tape or a glow stick. Shorter days mean it’s dark early, so make costumes easy for drivers to see.
- Rainy-day backup: If the forecast turns, my rainy day things to do in Vancouver, WA list has plenty of indoor ideas.
More Fall Fun in Vancouver, WA
Halloween in Vancouver, WA: Common Questions
Where is Spirit Halloween in Vancouver, WA?
Where can I rent a Halloween costume in Vancouver, WA?
Are there pumpkin carving contests near Vancouver, WA?
Where can I get pumpkins in Vancouver, WA?
When is the Camas Boo Bash in 2026?
What day is Halloween in 2026?
Thinking About Calling Vancouver Home? 🎃
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Cassandra Marks
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764
Realtor, Licensed in OR & WA License ID: 201225764