Swap children's Halloween costumes at Virginia Beach event

VIRGINIA BEACH

When Virginia Beach resident Lesleyanne Mulkey read about National Costume Swap Day last year, the mother of two knew she had to help organize a local event.

In these cash-strapped times, she realized many parents might benefit from trading their children’s old Halloween costumes for ones that would be new to their youngsters.

“Costumes are really expensive,” Mulkey said. “You’ll end up spending $30 to $40 on a costume that your child will wear once.”

The swap, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at The Knapsack consignment shop on Princess Anne Road, gives people a chance to find a costume that’s new to them for a $1 donation. Parents and children can search the store’s racks for that perfect sparkly princess gown or new booty for pirates in the making.

The idea came from Green Halloween, a national nonprofit initiative aimed at making the holiday more eco-friendly.

The first National Costume Day was held last October. Mulkey and Kimberly Logsdon, owner of The Knapsack, only had two weeks to organize the local event.

Even so, Mulkey said they were pleased with the turnout. About 30 parents showed up, and this year they expect an even bigger crowd.

They have posted the event on Facebook and on Mulkey’s Macaroni Kid Virginia Beach website. Mulkey is editor and publisher of the local website, which focuses on family events and activities in South Hampton Roads.

Macaroni Kid is part of a national organization and has eight franchises throughout Virginia.

So far, 1,600 local residents have signed up to receive Mulkey’s monthly e-newsletter.

Parents who want to participate should drop off clean, gently used children’s costumes to The Knapsack this Saturday and Sunday, or Tuesday through Oct. 7. For each dropped-off costume, parents will receive one ticket, which allows them to attend the Oct. 8 event and purchase one of the other costumes for a $1 donation.

Proceeds benefit the Circle in the Bridge, a fundraising group for Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.

Swag bags filled with coupons and offers from local retailers will also be given to the first 50 people at the Costume Swap event.

Logsdon saved a few of the costumes from last year’s swap that didn’t find new owners. She has also purchased a few new costumes to donate to this year’s event. Last year, she said, they had some really nice costumes donated.

She tries to be selective about the outfits they accept.

But besides finding a quality costume for nearly nothing, Logsdon said there are other positives to hosting the event.

“I think the appeal is doing anything we can to decrease our imprint on the world,” Logsdon said. “So there’s a lot of different benefits.”