Families looking for a different Halloween outfit may be able to swap a costume they already have. Wicklow County Tourism’s October programme lists a two-day swap in Blessington and a longer swap window at Arklow Library, offering a local alternative to buying another outfit.

The dates matter because the county’s Halloween programme includes events that have already happened alongside ones still ahead. Its Greystones Library swap was listed for 3 October; that date has passed.

Blessington: Friday and Saturday, 16–17 October

The programme lists the Blessington swap at Blessington Tourist Office on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October, from 10am to 3pm. These are the two published event dates, rather than a promise of a continuing daily swap service.

Before travelling, check the organiser’s latest information about the exchange process. Find out whether a costume must be handed in beforehand, whether accessories are accepted and whether there are particular sizes available. The listing advertises the costume swaps as free, but it does not set out every acceptance or exchange condition.

Arklow: the advertised window runs to 28 October

Arklow Library’s swap is listed from 1 to 28 October. The programme does not give a separate daily timetable for that listing, so check the branch’s current opening arrangements and swap details before making a journey.

A multi-week date range does not mean the building is open every day or that a particular outfit will still be available. If you need a specific size or an accessible way to take part, ask the venue before packing the bag.

Wicklow County Tourism’s Samhain Wicklow announcement, published on 15 October, includes costume swaps within its wider autumn programme. It is a county-wide promotion; the individual venue’s dates and arrangements remain the useful detail for a visit.

Prepare an outfit someone else can actually use

Start with the complete costume. Check which pieces belong together, whether fastenings work and whether any instructions or labels remain with it. Follow the care label when cleaning it, and ask the receiving organiser what condition it accepts.

MyWaste’s clothing and textiles guidance encourages extending the life of clothing through reuse and repair. For a swap, the practical aim is a clean, usable outfit with its relevant information, rather than simply clearing a space at home.

Try the replacement on before Halloween

The CCPC’s Halloween safety guidance, published in September 2025 and checked for this guide, remains relevant when considering a used costume. It advises checking age suitability, avoiding oversized outfits and long capes, and keeping costumes away from open flames. Children’s costumes and related toy items should carry the required CE marking and safety information.

Try the outfit with the shoes and outer layer the child will wear. Check for trailing material, loose parts and awkward movement, and follow the product’s instructions. Previous use does not establish that an outfit is suitable for its next wearer.

The swap gives a garment another chance to be worn. A quick check at home makes that choice more useful than discovering on Halloween night that the size, fastening or accompanying pieces do not work together.