Every year about this time, when we hit midsummer, I get the Halloween bug (what am I saying? I always have the Halloween bug!) By mid July, I often feel the anticipation of Halloween in full force, eager and ready to light fall candles, browse stores for Halloween merchandise and decorate the home. Part of the nostalgia of Halloween is seeing lots of merchandise in stores. I can remember as a child always being excited by what new creepy and spooky things the stores would unveil.

I have been browsing the stores, anticipating the brilliant colors of fall and Halloween. I eagerly await the wonderful sights, smells and Halloween goodies in store each season. I am happy to report that two online retailers have updated their websites with early 2011 Halloween merchandise. Grandin Road has six pages of merchandise, and will reveal the rest in the coming weeks. Grandin Road’s full Halloween Haven will be revealed in the first quarter of August. Another retailer that has early merchandise is Pottery Barn, currently available is three pages of merchandise and all merchandise is available online only. In addition two these stores, Michael’s craft store has stocked early merchandise as well. The inventory so far includes fall flags, Halloween window clings and various fall items. In the coming weeks, Michaels will have additional fall, Halloween and Spooky Town merchandise.