After helping cosplayers build affordable looks for Dragon Con’s 40th anniversary, Goodwill of North Georgia invites metro Atlanta to thrift, remix, and reimagine their Halloween costumes for less.

Dragon Con may have ended, but costume season is just getting started. More than 75,000 fans filled downtown Atlanta over Labor Day weekend. For many of the cosplayers, the creative process began at Goodwill of North Georgia, whose team members were on the ground to celebrate with shoppers and hear firsthand how thrifted finds became convention-ready characters. 

“I got my top from Goodwill and my shiny base pants,” said one Dragon Con cosplayer.

“This fabric is all thrifted,” said another.

Now, Goodwill has prepped its stores to help shoppers create one-of-a-kind Halloween looks without the one-of-a-kind price tag.

Goodwill’s leadership knows too well just how important the event is to Atlantans. 

“Dragon Con and Halloween are essentially cultural movements in Atlanta,” said Trenise Lyons, Director of Communications and Customer Engagement at Goodwill of North Georgia. “We’re proud to be part of the cosplay culture. If you shopped with us for Dragon Con, you already know the secret, and with Halloween just weeks away, the same stores that helped build your Dragon Con look are ready to help you build your Halloween costume.”

Halloween Was Never Meant to Be Expensive

This season, Goodwill of North Georgia is inviting shoppers to “Re-Mix Spooky Season,” trading pricey, prepackaged costumes for creative looks built from thrifted finds. The idea is simple: spend less, imagine more, and bring a character to life with a little reinvention.

Halloween Look Book Cover

To spark ideas, Goodwill’s new Halloween hub at goodwillng.org/halloween features runway looks created entirely from thrifted pieces and organized around four themes: Masked Villains, Anti-Heroes, Storybook Icons, and Enchanted Fantasy.

A Store Built for the Season

For shoppers who want a head start, Goodwill of North Georgia’s Marietta store features The Seasonal Spot, a curated concept space that blends donated and new items around timely themes.

“We created The Seasonal Spot specifically for holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and, of course, Halloween,” Lyons said.

Since its introduction in 2025, The Seasonal Spot has hosted wedding pop-up shops as well as Christmas and Halloween collections. It’s located inside the Goodwill store at 1355 Roswell Road, Suite 500, Marietta, GA 30062.

The organization has also prepped its stores to have Halloween Mini-Shops, featuring curated items for the season.

More Than a Costume

Every thrifted costume does more than save money. Purchases and donations at Goodwill of North Georgia’s 71 stores help fund free job training and employment services for people across the region, at its 14 career centers and mobile unit, supporting the organization’s mission to put people to work.

“We can’t wait to see what shoppers create this Halloween,” Lyons said. “Whether you’re a seasoned cosplayer or putting together your very first costume, there’s something at Goodwill waiting to become part of your look.”

Shoppers can find Halloween inspiration at goodwillng.org/halloween and locate their nearest store at goodwillng.org/locations/stores. Follow along for costume ideas on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

About Goodwill of North Georgia:

Goodwill of North Georgia is a nonprofit organization that has served the Atlanta metro area and surrounding communities for more than 100 years. Through free career coaching, job training, and employment placement services offered at the organization’s 14 career centers and mobile unit across 45 counties throughout north Georgia, the organization has been recognized as the #1 Goodwill in the nation for placing job seekers in meaningful employment for seven consecutive years. For more information, visit www.goodwillng.org. consecutive years. For more information, visit www.goodwillng.org.