With Halloween not traditionally celebrated in Costa Rica, how do those wanting to dress up enjoy the spooky season? For Heather Rigby, a Canadian expatriate mom of three, creating costumes from scratch has become a Costa Rican tradition for her family since moving here four years ago. The costumes — a mermaid, an alligator, and a bumblebee — were made with materials from Yamuni in La Sabana and the central market in San José, each taking her six to seven hours to complete.
“Halloween does not exist here,” she says. “In the United States, it’s a kids’ day, a time for children to get candy. Here, trick-or-treating is limited to gated communities.” Although more stores now offer costumes, Rigby enjoys making her own. “Everything is imported, and prices are high. It’s just more fun to make them myself.”
Deirdre Robinson, a homemade costume expert, recommends second-hand stores in downtown San José for costume supplies. A shop on Avenida 3 near Diana’s Inn offers affordable jewelry perfect for punk costumes, complete with necklaces, bracelets, and temporary tattoos.
For those not interested in DIY, several stores sell ready-made costumes and accessories. Hallmark in Pavas, for example, carries a variety of costumes for all ages, with the most popular this year being characters from Shrek and princesses. Groovy Stuff, located in Mall San Pedro and Jacó Beach, has Halloween costumes for both adults and children, while Almacén El Gallito offers a range of costumes and accessories, from masks to makeup.
Rigby plans to celebrate Halloween with a group of expatriate moms, hosting a party with Halloween-themed food and decorations. She also plans to take her children trick-or-treating at a friend’s gated community.
For those seeking public events, several clubs in San José will host Halloween parties. On Oct. 30, Moomba, Orale, and other clubs will collaborate for an evening of bar-hopping, offering party bus services between locations. Planet Mall in San Pedro will host a foam party for ages 12 and up, while the New York Bar in San José will hold its annual costume contest. Beach lovers can enjoy Halloween at Hot Rocks Café in Puerto Viejo, where horror movies will screen outdoors, or at Hotel Pasatiempo in Tamarindo, featuring live music.
Even without traditional pumpkins, expatriates like Rigby find creative ways to embrace Halloween. “This year, I thought about using a squash,” she said. “It carves the same, and you can still put a candle in it.”
