10 great places for Halloween lovers year-round

For those who can't get enough of Halloween, there's more than one time of year to traipse around in disguise. Jeralyn Gerba, senior features editor at dailycandy.com, tells Sarah Sekula for USA TODAY her favorite places to accessorise go incognito. Burning Man
Black Rock Desert, Nev. This annual event (Aug. 29-Sept. 5) is a festival packed with art and otherworldly outfits. "Not only can you make up your own style of costume, you can make up a name, persona, doppelg?nger or creation story for yourself," Gerba says. "Stay one step ahead of the game with goggles (for sudden sand storms), utilitarian boots (for climbing into, out of, and on various sculptures, structures and vehicles), and a scarf (for sudden drops in temperature)." 415-863-5263;burningman.com Carnaval de Barranquilla
Barranquilla, Colombia "Be prepared to salsa dance all over the street in this annual late-night rumba (March 5-8), which showcases indigenous music and merrymaking," Gerba says. "Think sexy carnival attire, something bright and ruffled with skin in the middle." carnavaldebarranquilla.org New France Festival
Quebec City, "The French fest favors 17th-century-style garb, with all the delightfully over-the-top trappings of Versailles. This is time travel true to its historic roots, so if you can muster strength for a corset (or a codpiece), you'll really look like you belong, "Gerba says."I'm partial to the period costumes or Marie-Antoinette's crowd — lavish, gilded and bustled." The August event takes place in venues throughout the city. nouvellefrance.qc.ca/SantaCon
Various locations worldwide "it's a holiday democracy at this non-profit, non-political, non-logical ' Convention for would-be Kris Kringles," Gerba says. "Everyone slips into the role of Big Red for one night or polite pub-crawling.Bushy white beards are a plus. Black shiny belts a must. " While the main purpose is to have fun, many SantaCon events (throughout December) also collect donations for charity. Santacon .info Kentucky Derby
Louisville "unless you're a debutante, you'll have no problem slipping onto the horse-racing grounds undetected," Gerba says. "Witness the first jewel of the Triple Crown (May 7) bedecked in an oversized topper, a luxury stole and a pair of driving gloves. We should aim to make a statement (pinstripe suits, derby hats). " 502-636-4400;kentuckyderby.com Comic-Con International
San DiegoThe largest Convention or its child, Comic-Con (July 21-24) is a must for devotees or comic books, film, animation and video games.It's the perfect place to transform into a superhero or villain. Don't be surprised to spot elaborate Avatar getups, Mad Hatter look-alikes and anime favorites. 619-491-2475; comic-con.org Gasparilla Pirate Festival
TampaSwashbucklers unite in full pirate regalia at this raucous street festival (Jan. 29). Named after legendary pirate Jose Gaspar, who stormed Florida's west coast during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the gathering begins with a mock invasion and ends with an explosive "Piratechnic Extravaganza." 813-251-8844; gasparillapiratefest.com Jazz Age Lawn Party
New York Sample summery cocktails, swing dance to Big Band music and enjoy a picnic at this 1920s-style gathering. "This party calls for serious head-to-toe fashioning, from a jaunty fedora down to spit-shined saddle shoes. Pearls, straw boaters, canes and seersucker act as a mere setting for all the classy dance moves taking on Governors Island. "dreamlandorchestra.com Krewe du Vieux
New Carnival OrleansThis Mardi Gras krewe features "themes and floats that are politically charged, a little risqu? and accompanied by the best marching bands in NOLA," Gerba says. "On this collective night of catharsis, (Feb. 19 next year), it's all about mocking and resolving the errors and follies of the past year."A theme likely to be popular for the 2011 parade will be costumes referencing the BP oil spill."Crude du Vieux, perhaps?" kreweduvieux.org Day of the Dead
San FranciscoThis holiday honoring departed loved ones is big in Mexico.But it's becoming popular in the USA, too, including in San Francisco, where a procession and exhibit or altars is on Nov. 2 in the Mission District.Paint your face to look like a skull, and you'll blend right in, Gerba says.dayofthedeadsf. orgGuidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil.Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent.Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference.Read more.

Twenga Reports Halloween Costumes for Adults are up 170% in September

Press Release Source: Twenga On Thursday September 30, 2010, 10: 30 am EDT

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Americans don't think Halloween is just for kids.On Twenga, the next-generation shopping search engine, searches for Halloween costumes for adults increased by nearly 170% in the past 30 days *.

Interestingly, traditional Halloween scary costumes such as ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils are becoming less popular.US adult shoppers now see Halloween as an opportunity to show their creative side: Harlequin, dinosaur, musketeer and bullfighter costumes are the most popular searches, as well as Pokemon characters and the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

* Visits from August 28 to September 28, 2010, compared with the previous month.

About Twenga

Twenga, the new-generation search engine enables millions of shoppers throughout the world to find what they want, at the best price, from the online shop of their choice. Thanks to its home-grown technology recruitment, global markets recruitment, Twenga automatically gathers offers from online retailers and displays them in one searchable interface.As a result, Twenga has the most comprehensive listing of online shops.Its search results are objective and not biased by commercial relationships.

Founded in 2006 by Bastien and Cedric Anes Duclaux, Twenga runs 15 sites, including the United States, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Russia, Australia, India and China, displaying more than 250 million offerings from more than 130,000 online shops.Twenga's sites receive more than 35 million visits per month.In January 2010, Twenga won the Red Herring 100 Global Award which recognizes the 100 most innovative companies in the world.

Website: http://www.twenga.com