Okay. So, you did it again this year. It’s two days before costume parties begin and you don’t have a costume. It’s not that you aren’t excited about Halloween…perhaps you just didn’t have time to go pick something out, or maybe you just have no idea what you want to be. Either way: you are in quite the predicament. The line to get into the Halloween Store on Beaver Avenue, Gift Adventures, is going to be out the door, and there just isn’t enough time! Where do you go?

Luckily, State College has a variety of places to choose from to get your last-minute, cliché costumes.

If you have a car or are excellent at coordinating bus times, then you may want to venture a little bit away from campus to pick out your costume. Below are some off-campus options:

Walmart:  If you don’t mind sharing the same costume as 500 other people in State College, then this is a good choice. They have a variety of costumes from Mario and Luigi to a Scrabble board.  The prices start at $8.00, so if you want a cheap costume Walmart is not a bad choice! (1665 N. Atherton St. or 373 Benner Pike)

Spirit Halloween:  Spirit Halloween is where I ordered all of my costumes online. They have, arguably, the best variety of costumes in State College, at a mid-range price. This store goes pretty bare by the Friday of Halloween weekend, so check it out while they still have things in stock! (2121 S. Atherton St.)

TJ Maxx:  Here you will either have  great or horrible luck. TJ Maxx, for those of you who do not know, sells clothing at a discounted price. They do carry some Halloween costumes, and if you’re lucky enough to snag one up in time, you’ll be happy with your purchase! However, if you go and they have no costumes available…don’t blame me! (1613 N. Atherton St.)

Nittany Mall: If you decide to venture out to the lovely mall we have here in State College, a few stores will be carrying costumes. Rue 21 and Victoria’s Secret carry the standard female costumes (i.e. angel, bumble bee, etc.). Other than those two stores, you are on your own to get creative and search for something more to your liking! (2901 E. College Ave.)

Goodwill:  Come on, who doesn’t love a good trip to Goodwill?  Grab yourself a Hawaiian shirt, add a lei, and you’re…well a Hawaiian tourist (and you can also say, “I got laid!”). Or you can buy a button down shirt and a knock-off pair of Ray Bans and go with the Risky Business theme. You can always find something at Goodwill; don’t underestimate that store! (424 Westerly Pkwy.)

For those of you who do not have the option to venture outside of our campus-bubble, check out some of these locations downtown:

Jezebel’s:  Girls, this is slut-costume central. Go here if you are comfortable showing some skin (which you should be!). The costumes are sexy and cliché. You know you want to be a slutty nurse or firefighter. Don’t fight the urge. (366 E. College Ave.)

The Rag and Bone: This store in Calder Way is my favorite vintage store that has some costume-worthy clothing! Whether you find a nice flapper outfit or just grab an old school pipe to accent your Sherlock Holmes outfit, you will be unique if nothing else! (224 E. Calder Way)

If you wander the streets of State College, odds are there will be a lot of stores selling costumes that normally do not, so keep an eye out!

If you just aren’t feeling purchasing costumes from any of the above options, get creative. Grab a foam finger, write ceiling on it, and be a “ceiling fan.” Or, you know, something cooler.

If there is anywhere else you would suggest to purchase some costumes, post them in the comments!