Spirit Christmas, from the makers of Spirit Halloween, is opening 44 holiday stores in 15 states this year. Its first Florida stores are on the list, and the first five open Saturday, Oct. 17.
Spirit Halloween isn’t done when the costumes come down.
Its holiday spinoff, Spirit Christmas, is back for a third season with 44 stores in 15 states, Chain Store Age reported Oct. 8. That’s up from 30 stores last year and 10 in its first season in 2024.
This year also brings its first stores in Florida, plus new locations in South Carolina and Tennessee.
When does Spirit Christmas open?
The first five stores open Saturday, Oct. 17, according to Chain Store Age, which cited USA Today. The other 39 open in the first week of November, after they switch over from Spirit Halloween.
Spirit’s own store locator lists each store as opening in either “October” or “November,” with no exact dates. It’s a good idea to check your local store’s page before heading out.
The five early openings are in Winter Garden, Florida; Youngstown, Ohio; and Hamilton, Marlton and Riverdale, New Jersey.
The Hamilton store is at Hamilton Commons in Mays Landing, near Atlantic City, according to Spirit’s locator. It’s not the Hamilton near Trenton.
Where are the Spirit Christmas stores in 2026?
Here’s every location on Spirit’s store locator, by state:
Connecticut: Manchester, Milford
Florida: Clearwater, Coral Springs, Jacksonville, Winter Garden
Illinois: Aurora, Bloomingdale, Joliet, Springfield
Indiana: Clarksville, Fort Wayne, Hobart
Maryland: Waldorf
Massachusetts: Dartmouth, Natick, North Attleborough
Michigan: Flint, Grand Rapids, Macomb, Taylor
New Jersey: Hamilton (Mays Landing), Marlton, Riverdale, Rockaway
New York: Albany, Buffalo, Newburgh, Scarsdale
North Carolina: Mebane
Ohio: Dayton, Mentor, North Olmsted, Youngstown
Pennsylvania: Bethel Park, Erie, Mechanicsburg, Springfield
South Carolina: Charleston
Tennessee: Knoxville, Nashville
Virginia: Colonial Heights, Manassas
That adds up to 43 stores. Spirit announced 44, so one location hasn’t shown up on the locator yet.
What’s inside a Spirit Christmas store?
Pretty much everything for the holidays. Spirit Christmas sells decor, inflatables, animatronics, gifts, apparel and stocking stuffers, plus exclusive seasonal items.
There’s also an in-store attraction called the Candy Cane Express, a Christmas train station with a nearly life-size train that guests can climb into and steer. Kids can write a letter to Santa and check whether they’re on the nice list.
Another section, Inflatable Land, stars Frosty the Snowman and other holiday favorites.
Which characters are at Spirit Christmas?
Lots of characters from classic TV specials. Spirit says its animatronics include Snoopy from Peanuts, Frosty and Professor Hinkle from Frosty the Snowman, Heat Miser and Snow Miser from The Year Without a Santa Claus, and Clarice and the Misfit Toys from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Prefer your holidays a little spooky? Spirit also sells “Creepmas” items, including horror-themed products from Ghostface, Terrifier and Krampus.
Where do Spirit Christmas stores go?
Into empty big-box stores, just like Spirit Halloween. Spirit’s locator lists the former tenant for each location, and a lot of them are familiar names.
Six of this year’s stores are in former JoAnn fabric stores. Three are in old Bed Bath & Beyond spaces, two used to be Party City stores and two used to be Big Lots.
Who owns Spirit Christmas?
Spencer Spirit Holdings, the parent company of Spencer’s and Spirit Halloween. In September, it finished buying Hot Topic, BoxLunch and Her Universe from Sycamore Partners, according to Chain Store Age.
“The holidays are so much more than what’s under the tree,” said Kym Sarkos, executive vice president of Spirit.
So the store that sold you a Ghostface mask in October might be selling you a Frosty inflatable by November.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
Chain Store Age, Marianne Wilson (Oct. 8, 2026), the 44 stores in 15 states, the season history, the Oct. 17 and November openings, Kym Sarkos’ quote and the Hot Topic deal
USA Today (Oct. 2026), the opening schedule, via Chain Store Age
Spirit Christmas store locator (Oct. 11, 2026), every listed location, opening months, former tenants, the Candy Cane Express, and the animatronics and licenses
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