By Karen Parr-Moody

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – For the past five years the gargantuan pumpkin that houses Halloween Express arrives by Governor’s Square Mall, bringing with it ample spookiness. This year, it offers an array of costumes – several rising to heights of popularity – along with a party on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Guests can gather, free of charge, to listen to two local bands play on Oct. 18 – Geezer at 7 p.m. and Queen City Heist at 8 p.m. – says Mike Heist, the store’s owner. From the store’s opening at 10 a.m., children can enjoy jumping in a bounce house for $2 each and playing in an obstacle course for $3. As part of the festivities, food purveyors will be on site, as well: Tacos Maria and Edwin’s Grill.

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Halloween Express sells an array of costumes, accessories and decorations.

Meanwhile, the store will sell its array of Halloween costumes, accessories and decorations. Heist says that the Disney animated movie “Frozen” has created a hit out of the costume of its film heroine, Queen Elsa. The ice-blue, sparkling gown was sold out in children’s sizes as of press time; adult sizes were still available, as were children’s sizes of Elsa’s sister, Anna.

Kristine Carter, a sales woman at the store, says, “Everybody wants to be Elsa.”

“Frozen” has been so popular, Carter says, that a lot of customers have even asked for a costume for Olaf, the film’s snowman. But, she notes, the store didn’t carry the costume.

Carter says that Maleficent, an evil fairy and the title character of another Disney film, has also been a popular costume for girls.

As for the boys, both Heist and Carter agree that ninjas of all varieties have been the most popular. Such costumes include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle characters along with classic ninjas, as well. Superheroes of all stripes, Heist says, are also in demand.

If these costumes say anything about our culture, it is that consumers want to be powerful. While “Frozen” is loosely based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, the movie version serves up a heroine with grit. And everyone knows that ninjas and superheroes always save the day.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costumes have been popular with boys.

Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.