Walk into any big-box retailer in August and you’re usually met with a sensory overload of plastic jack-o'-lanterns, animatronic witches, and enough synthetic spiderwebs to cover a suburban zip code. But if you head over to your local Hobby Lobby expecting that same spooky energy, you might leave feeling a little confused. Or even annoyed. It’s one of those weird retail quirks that sparks a massive debate on social media every single year: does Hobby Lobby have Halloween decorations?
The short answer? Not really.
Actually, it's a hard "no" if you’re looking for ghosts, ghouls, or anything remotely related to the occult. You won’t find a single "Happy Halloween" sign in the entire building. This isn't an accident or a supply chain snafu. It’s a very deliberate, decades-long corporate policy rooted in the religious convictions of the Green family, who own the private company. They don't do Halloween. Period.
The Reality of Shopping for Fall at Hobby Lobby
If you go looking for "Halloween" in their search bar or on their shelves, you’re going to strike out. It’s fascinating, honestly. While Michael’s and Joann Fabric are leaning hard into "Pink-o-ween" or "Vintage Spooky" aesthetics by mid-July, Hobby Lobby sticks strictly to an "Autumn" or "Fall" theme. They sell thousands of items during this season—just none that involve monsters.
Think pumpkins. Lots and lots of pumpkins. They have ceramic ones, velvet ones, beaded ones, and even glass ones. But you’ll notice something specific: none of them are carved into jack-o'-lanterns. You can buy a cornucopia, a "Grateful" wooden plaque, or a wreath made of artificial maple leaves, but you cannot buy a skeleton.
This creates a weird situation for crafters. If you’re a DIY enthusiast who wants to build a spooky haunted house diorama, you’re basically buying raw materials—orange fabric, black paint, maybe some wire—and doing the "Halloween" part yourself. Hobby Lobby provides the harvest, but they leave the haunts to their competitors.
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Why the "No Halloween" Policy Exists
Hobby Lobby is famously vocal about its Christian foundations. You’ve probably noticed they’re closed on Sundays. They play instrumental hymns over the speakers. This worldview extends directly to their inventory. To the owners, Halloween is often associated with themes they choose not to celebrate or profit from, specifically those involving the supernatural or the macabre.
It’s a business move that flies in the face of traditional retail logic. Halloween is a multi-billion dollar industry. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans spend upwards of $11 billion or $12 billion annually on the holiday. By refusing to stock specific Halloween items, Hobby Lobby is essentially leaving millions of dollars on the table. But for them, it's about brand identity. They focus on the "Harvest" aspect of the season, which aligns with their values of gratitude and family-centric celebrations.
What You Can Actually Find Instead
Even though the "scary" stuff is banned, the store is still packed with seasonal decor. It’s just... wholesome. You’ll see a massive influx of "Fall Floral" and "Farmhouse Autumn" items.
- Pumpkins Galore: They have entire aisles dedicated to un-carved pumpkins. If you want a neutral, aesthetic fall vibe for your porch that can last from September through Thanksgiving, they’re actually a top-tier choice.
- The "Fall" Loophole: You can find orange and black craft supplies. Orange yarn? Check. Black spray paint? Check. Glittery purple ribbons? Check. They sell the "colors" of the holiday without acknowledging the holiday itself.
- Baking Supplies: You can find pumpkin-shaped cake pans or leaf-shaped cookie cutters. You just won’t find coffin-shaped ones or sprinkle mixes with little edible bats.
- Signage: You’ll see "Harvest Blessings," "Hello Fall," and "Give Thanks." You will never see "Trick or Treat."
For a lot of people, this is a dealbreaker. If you’re the person who starts the "31 Days of Halloween" on October 1st, you’re probably shopping at Spirit Halloween or HomeGoods. But for the "cottagecore" crowd or people who just want their house to smell like cinnamon and look like a Vermont orchard, Hobby Lobby is a goldmine.
The Contrast With Michael’s and Joann
It’s worth noting how much of an outlier they are. If you walk into a Michael's, they usually have a "Lemax Spooky Town" display that takes up half an aisle. They embrace the "dark academia" and "goth" trends. Joann usually goes heavy on the "Cute Halloween" for kids—think smiling ghosts and friendly spiders.
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Hobby Lobby’s refusal to participate creates a vacuum that other craft stores are more than happy to fill. It’s a rare example of a company prioritizing its mission statement over a massive seasonal revenue spike. Whether you agree with it or not, it’s a consistent brand move.
Navigating the Aisle Without "Halloween"
So, how do you shop there if you actually do like Halloween? You have to get creative. Most "Halloween" DIYers treat Hobby Lobby like a raw materials warehouse.
I know people who buy their generic grapevine wreaths and then go to a dollar store to buy the plastic skulls to glue onto them. You can buy the orange "fairy lights" at Hobby Lobby because they’re marketed as "Autumn Lights." It’s all about the phrasing.
Honestly, it can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. You might find a black bird that looks suspiciously like a raven from an Edgar Allan Poe story, but it’ll be tucked away in the "Nature" or "Spring" section as a crow. It’s not "Halloween decor"; it’s just a bird. See the difference? It’s a loophole.
The Controversy That Won't Die
Every year, a viral TikTok or Facebook post goes around with someone filming the empty "Halloween" section at Hobby Lobby, usually accompanied by some outraged commentary. It’s become a bit of a cultural ritual. Some people praise the store for "standing their ground," while others call for boycotts, accusing the store of being "no fun."
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Regardless of where you land, the reality is that the policy isn't changing. If anything, Hobby Lobby has leaned further into its identity over the last decade. They aren't trying to be the store for everyone. They are the store for a very specific demographic that wants a "Fall" aesthetic without the "Fright."
Actionable Strategy for Your Seasonal Decorating
If you're planning your 2026 fall decor, don't just wander into a store blindly. You need a plan based on the vibe you're going for.
Go to Hobby Lobby if:
You want high-quality artificial foliage, neutral-toned pumpkins, Thanksgiving table settings, or "blessed" farmhouse decor. Their sales are also legendary—they often run 40% to 50% off seasonal items almost as soon as they hit the shelves. If you want the "Autumn" look without the ghosts, this is your spot.
Skip Hobby Lobby if:
You need skeletons, witches, vampires, "Trick or Treat" bags, or anything that glows in the dark with a green or purple hue. You’ll just leave frustrated.
The Pro-Tip for Crafters:
Use Hobby Lobby for your "base" layers. Buy the plain orange wreaths, the burlap, the candle rings, and the lanterns. Then, head to a dedicated Halloween retailer to buy the "flair"—the tiny ghosts, the plastic spiders, and the spooky signs. By mixing the two, you get the high-end look of Hobby Lobby’s floral department with the actual Halloween spirit you’re looking for.
Check the labels, too. Even in the "Fall" section, items are usually categorized by "Harvest." If you're shopping online, use "Orange and Black" as your search terms instead of "Halloween" to see what items might fit your color palette.
The bottom line is that Hobby Lobby is a "Fall" store, not a "Halloween" store. Once you accept that, you can stop looking for the ghosts and start looking for the glittery pumpkins.