DIY or bust: West Philly’s self-made Halloween celebrations

DIY or bust: West Philly’s self-made Halloween celebrations

While Halloween has become a widespread commercial success in the U.S., with the National Retail Federation estimating that Americans will spend more than $13 billion on Halloween festivities in 2025, including almost $4 billion on costumes, West Philly’s celebration remains mostly handmade.  For more than three decades, West Philly has produced do-it-yourself indie Halloween — traditions that wink at pop culture while honoring the quirky, the w…