Fresh off the heels of CreepyCon Halloween & Horror Convention, the region is crawling with the first symptoms of Spooky Season Fever. Even though the air still bakes under summer’s glare and the leaves cling stubbornly to their green, the shadows are lengthening… and the aisles of big-box stores are filling with sinister delights. Spirit Halloween has already manifested in four locations across the Knoxville region, with more hauntings scheduled soon. Home Depot’s skeletal titans are looming once again, their hollow gazes daring you to bring them home before your neighbors do.
If you want to feed your Halloween obsession now, without prematurely setting out pumpkins to be sacrificed to the August sun, this guide is your ticket to embracing the dread early.

Shop Like a Stalker, Not a Victim

At this time of year, the best prey are the decorations that disappear in hours, not weeks.

Home Depot – Where Giants Still Walk

The 12-foot legend known only as Skelly returns. His LCD eyes track you like prey, and his posable arms make him both a sentinel and a warning. Once scalped for up to $1,300 in the online black market, he now rests at his retail price of $299—if you can catch him.

This year, Skelly has companions:
• 5-ft LED Cat – Large glowing eyes and bared fangs with posable mouth ($199)
• 7-ft LCD Dog Standing – skeletal hound with animated ears and posable mouth and tail with 8 different eye settings ($199)
• 5-ft LCD Dog Sitting- Skeletal Hound with posable mouth and 8 different eye settings with programmable remote control ($249)

Spirit Halloween – Where Nightmares Stock Shelves
Top sellers in Spirit’s graveyard this year include inflatables, animatronic grave guardians, and bone-lined pathway markers. But the name on everyone’s trembling lips? A 6 ft 3 in Art the Clown Santa Claus animatronic. With actor David Howard Thornton’s portrayal of Art the Clown cemented in horror culture, this twisted holiday crossover is poised to be the season’s unholy grail.
6 ft 3 in Art the Clown Santa Claus Animatronic- Features Art the Clown sweeping side-to-side torso movement and blood-soaked appearance inspired by Terrifier 3. His arm waves back and forth as Authentic audio from Terrifier 3 fills the air ($269.99)

If you are not one to spend the cash on yard decorations, here are seven other ideas to get into the spooky season early.

Seven Ways to Feed the Fever Before October

1. Build Your Haunted Soundtrack
Mix film scores, haunted house ambient loops, and vintage Halloween novelty songs into a playlist to haunt your commutes.

2. Begin Your Costume Hunt
Scout thrift stores, craft shops, and online listings now—before the good finds vanish into other ghoulish hands.

3. Stock Your Seasonal Pantry
Gather candy, caramel flavoring, cinnamon sticks, and popcorn now so you can experiment with spooky snacks on the fly.

4. Ghost Summer Photo Shoot
Grab some friends and sheets and strike a ghostly pose with typical summer time backdrops.

5. Scout Haunted Attractions
Many open in late September, but tickets and VIP nights sell fast. Reserve early so you’re not left howling outside the gates.

6. Upgrade Your Haunt Gear
Fog machines, projectors, and lighting rigs often sell out well before October—buy now and stash them like cursed relics.

7. Host a Pre-Season Séance Night
Gather friends for tarot, Ouija boards, or paranormal documentaries. It’s the perfect appetizer for the month of mayhem ahead.

Final Omen: Halloween isn’t a date, it’s a mindset. The heat may still cling like a curse, but every eerie choice you make now sharpens the blade for the harvest to come. When the air finally cools and the pumpkins survive the porch, you’ll be ready to claim the season as your own.