Asheville to Host Free Halloween Costume Swap
The city and county will host a community costume event on October 17 at the Stephens-Lee Community Center.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Seasonal Events
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Asheville and Buncombe County will host a free Halloween costume swap on October 17 to support community recovery efforts. Families can pick up donated character outfits and masks without any requirement to provide donations.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to provide financial relief to families and reduce the volume of holiday items sent to local landfills. It also serves as a point of connection for the public during the recovery period following Helene.
Approximately 80% of all Halloween costumes end up in landfills nationwide. Currently, 71% of shoppers plan to purchase new costumes for the holiday.
The players
Stephens-Lee Community Center
This facility is a city-run venue in Asheville that serves as the host site for the costume swap and workshop.
Buncombe County
The local government entity oversees regional waste management and is co-hosting the event to support community recovery.
The details
Organizers have collected and sorted gently used items to ensure a variety of outfits are available for the community. The event will also feature a creative reuse workshop where children can use recycled materials to build monsters at the Creature Lab.
Timeline
October 17, 2026: Costume swap and creative reuse workshop.
Noon to 4 p.m.: Operating hours for the swap event.
Industry Dynamics
This community-focused exchange counters the massive commercial cycle driven by the National Retail Federation consumer spending forecast. It highlights a growing movement to prioritize circular consumption over the holiday industry standard of purchasing new, disposable items.
Residents can obtain costumes for free without needing to bring an item to trade, lowering the barrier for local families. The event is open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. at the community center.
The takeaway
Choosing to reuse existing costumes helps families save on seasonal costs and prevents holiday gear from entering the waste stream. Residents are encouraged to use local community resources to participate in circular holiday traditions.
Further reading
Find more local activities in the Asheville Seasonal Events section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLOS.
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Would you choose secondhand costumes or decorations to save money for your household this year?
