EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Halloween, the largest seasonal Halloween retailer in North America, has officially opened its doors for the 2012 Halloween season, providing the best in costumes and decor to suit all ghouls and goblins. From super heroes like The Avengers and Spiderman to on-screen favorites Adventure Time and Monster High, Spirit Halloween has kids covered with this season's top costumes. And for adults, the hit movie Ted will be battling it out like the Hunger Games this October.

This year, Spirit will open more than 1,000 stores across the United States and Canada featuring interactive and unforgettable in-store experiences including The Barn, House of Horrors and the Zombie Terror Mill to excite and fright all customers. Kids and adults alike will also have the opportunity to get caught in a stockade for a fun photo opp. Halloween enthusiasts can bring the fun home with Spirit's exclusive line of decor featuring the infamous Zombie Babies, animated Jumping Spider and all new animatronics including the Teddy Bear Girl from AMC's "The Walking Dead".

"At Spirit Halloween it is our mission to get everyone excited for the Halloween season," said Steven Silverstein, President and CEO, Spirit Halloween. "Each year we strive to offer the best costumes, decor and a frightening, fun experience for our customers no matter what their age."

As North America's largest seasonal Halloween retailer and the leading authority for Halloween fashion and trends, it is the obligation of Spirit Halloween to announce the top costumes each year. This year Spirit Halloween names the following:

The Avengers Spiderman Adventure Time Hunger Games Monster High Ted Power Rangers Angry Birds Batman Zombies

In addition to announcing the top costumes each year, Spirit Halloween has another job: Forecasting the next president of the United States. Since the mid-90s, Spirit has accurately predicted the winner of the past four presidential elections with its Presidential Index, based on nationwide sales of U.S. presidential candidate masks.

At the heart of Spirit Halloween is the Spirit of Children program which focuses on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families. Since its inception in 2006, Spirit of Children has brought smiles, laughter and a much needed escape to thousands of pediatric patients in 130 hospitals across the United States and Canada. One hundred percent of the money collected each year is given directly to the local Child Life Departments at partner hospitals. Spirit of Children's goal is to raise $3.5 million this year, bringing its total contribution total to more than $10 million. Spirit encourages customers to head to their local Spirit Halloween store or visit online to make a difference in a child's life today.

To locate a Spirit Halloween store in your area, visit www.SpiritHalloween.com. For exclusive discounts and the inside scoop on all things Halloween, "Like" us if you dare on Facebook www.facebook.com/spirithalloween, follow us on Twitter @SpiritHalloween, check us out on YouTube www.youtube.com/SpiritHalloweencom and follow us on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/spirithalloween.

About Spirit Halloween

Spirit Halloween (www.spirithalloween.com) is the largest Halloween specialty retailer in the country with over 1,000 locations in strip centers and malls across North America. The authority on all things Halloween, Spirit has offered one-stop shopping – ranging from costumes to decor and party goods to accessories – for nearly 30 years. In addition to being a fun and interactive event for shoppers, Spirit stores offer complete selections of costumes and accessories for infants/toddlers, children, 'tweens, teens, and adults along with exclusive decor you won't find anywhere else. At the heart of Spirit Halloween is Spirit of Children (www.spiritofchildren.com), a program which focuses on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families. For the 2012 Halloween season, Spirit of Children's goal is to raise $3.5 million, bringing its total contribution to more than $10 million since its inception in 2006.

SOURCE Spirit Halloween