Halloween in June? Decorations have hit Tampa Bay stores

Sweltering heat, dripping ice cream cones and hurricanes on the horizon: Summer has undeniably arrived in the Sunshine State.

The season, unofficially book-ended between Memorial Day and Labor Day, reaches its peak with the Fourth of Jul– er… Halloween?

Despite 90-degree temperatures, some local retailers are already stocked with decorations for the fall holiday. This merchandising phenomenon, known as “holiday creep,” refers to festive decorations arriving to stores earlier and earlier in the season. Creators on TikTok and YouTube are already calling for a “code orange,” which is how “Halloween Hunters” signal that new decor has hit stores.

But is it just a bunch of hocus pocus? Barely one week into June, I set out for myself to see what I could find at various Pinellas County stores.

Spoiler: Things got spooky.

My first stop was Cracker Barrel. The “old country store” had launched their Halloween collection online, selling over a thousand witch and ghost figurines in the past week. But when I entered the restaurant, the store remained untouched from anything haunted.

Red, white and blue-themed merchandise dominated the chain’s central display. There were star-spangled socks, patriotic gnomes and “Great American Trivia” cards. Watermelon and strawberry prints decorated children’s clothing — not a trick in sight.

Next up, HomeGoods. Summer was safe there, too, full of all things nautical. However, I did find a nutcracker. But he looked like a wooden rendition of Uncle Sam and brandished a small American flag.

After that, I headed to TJ Maxx. The closest I got to catching a whiff of pumpkin spice was a mocha-flavored candle with a burnt orange lid. (Thankfully, “citrus lemon” and “cabana time” scents were on either side of the coffee candle to keep things under control.)

My next three stops — Michaels, Target and the Dollar Tree — were located in the same Pinellas Park shopping center. I braced myself as I drove to the craft store. I expected a resounding “code orange,” but got another “code red-white-blue” instead. There were also plenty of Pride decorations, yet another reminder that June has just begun. Customers were greeted with a meager table holding knick-knacks for Father’s Day, which is June 16.

Discounts throughout the store indicate seasonal decor will soon be replaced. Management needs to make room for Halloween. Last year, the retailer kicked off the season with a 100 Days to Halloween campaign — on July 23.

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“We’re aware of Code Orange and we love the energy and excitement around Halloween,” said Michaels spokesperson Kelly Susco.

On my way into Target, I was assaulted with the sticky smell of sunscreen. The large retail corporation remained a promised land for beach toys and bikinis. There weren’t any ghostly goods in the Dollar Tree, either. I left the shopping center hoping that maybe consumerism was under control, after all. Halloween hunting was proving harder than I expected.

I cranked up my air conditioning on my way to At Home. Sweater weather isn’t coming soon, that’s for sure.

When I got there, there was patio furniture galore. Signs reading “hello summer” and “welcome aboard” hung from racks. And, of course, Old Glory was everywhere.

With summer decor abounding, I nearly missed it.

Feet above eye-level, sharing a display with decorations for the Fourth, was the first indication of code orange. There were only a few decorations, but they were clearly part of the store’s Halloween collection: a mirror with a border of black and red roses, ominous-looking candles, ghosts carrying jack-o-lanterns, and a row of skulls.

Earlier this week, a customer came into the store at 4501 66th St. N. in St. Petersburg looking for a big skeleton. He told Luke Havel, the store’s manager, to “get ready, because people are going to want it.” Once I saw a pumpkin spice candle, I knew it was time to leave.

My final stop was by far the biggest offender to the calendar: JOANN Fabric and Crafts.

Aisle B1 held patio lanterns. Aisle B2 had American flag decor. Aisle B3 got scary.

The entire row (labeled “Spring Outdoor Decor”?) was haunted by skulls and ghouls, bones and spell books. Glittery orange and black ornaments lined the shelves. Marquee signs screamed “BOO.” The collection hit the floor at the end of May. I turned the corner and found another entire aisle dedicated to the autumn holiday, an explosion of orange and black.

Oh, and we wouldn’t want Christmas to feel excluded. There were two rows of Halloween ornaments, hanging above miniature black pine trees.

Alas, my Halloween hunt ended with a chill — and not because of the weather.