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The Street
The Street
Laura Rodini

All about Home Depot's Halloween animatronics, inflatables, and decorations

Dying to have the best Halloween decorations on your block? Over the last few years, Home Depot’s (HD) -) Halloween inflatables, towering skeletons, and spooky animatronics have transformed regular front yards into ghoulish wonderlands – but because they’ve become so popular, you have to shop early.

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When Does Home Depot release its Halloween decorations?

Citing extraordinary demand for its Halloween decorations, in 2023 Home Depot announced a “Code Orange." This meant joining the retail trend of pre-Labor Day releases of Halloween decorations online at 6:00 a.m. on July 12 and its in-store Halloween displays at the end of August.

That’s right. While the rest of us were lounging at the beach, Pumpkinheads were rejoicing that Home Depot had provided nearly three months of shopping time to trick out their haunted mansions. After all, Halloween is more than a day; it’s a whole season. And it ranks as the second-biggest commercial holiday after Christmas.

But even the soulless few who waited ‘til the last minute to buy their Halloween decorations can find plenty of ghoulish décor at Home Depot.

Related: Halloween candy: When it comes out, where to find the good stuff, and which candy trick-or-treaters prefer

Which Home Depot Halloween animatronics are still available?

A great way to enliven your front lawn is to animate it – literally. In 1994, Spirit Halloween introduced the first sensor-activated mechanical puppet: A witch named Gemmy. Named after her creator, Gemmy Industries, Gemmy sat in a chair and held a broomstick; when activated, her eyes lit up and her head moved left and right while a tape recording played jokes and spells.

Technology has advanced since this rather rudimentary display; for instance, home animatronics now can stand upright, although, thankfully, they cannot walk — yet (gulp).

Stephen Ferrone (left) and his son Stevie Ferrone, 16 carry a skeleton back into their garage in Middletown, Md. on Oct. 20, 2020. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The Washington Post/Getty Images

Unfortunately, Skelly, Home Depot’s famous 12-foot skeleton, sold out completely within 24 hours of its July release. But not to fret; you can own an even bigger Halloween decoration, one that clocks in at 13 feet — that’s taller than the first story of most homes — plus, it sings.

Jack Skellington

Fortunately, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King from Disney’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” is a motion-activated animatronic figure aglow with LED lights. Jack twists his head, opens his mouth, and lifts his bony arms while performing his beloved song, “Jack’s Lament.” For a more sinister look, you can swap out his happy face with a menacing mask that’s also included.

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Which Home Depot inflatables are still available?

Larger-than-life-sized puppets not your thing? How about an inflatable pumpkin patch? Inflatables come with a plug-in air pump that makes set-up a cinch, plus they’re made from waterproof fabric that can withstand any weather. They’re a great way to add both height and depth to your Halloween display, and Home Depot has plenty of inflatable decorations to choose from.

Inflatable ghost

This scowling phantom stands nine feet tall and lights up when plugged in. Setup takes seconds with a plug-in air pump, and stakes and tethers, which are also included, keep it from floating away — as ghosts are wont to do.

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Pumpkin reaper

Jason Voorhees isn’t the only villain who wields an axe. This hooded reaper has a jack o’lantern for a head and sinister smile. Unfurl him to his 10-foot glory, then take cover before darkness descends.

"Hocus Pocus" Sanderson sisters

Home Depot teamed up with Disney to create a whole line of inflatable movie characters, including the Sanderson sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” Here, Winnifred, Sarah, and Mary hold a spell book – they look great for their 380 years – and self-inflate in seconds.

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Which Home Depot skeletons are still available?

If you're nursing some hurt over the unavailability of the 12 ft skeleton, don't despair. Home Depot's Halloween stock still has some overly large skeletons available to tide you over until next year.

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Decayed skeleton

The best part about this five-foot skeleton isn’t its decomposed bones or poseable arms, legs, hands, and feet – it’s its eerie red LED eyes. Set it up, then try not to let it scare you.

LED Gold-Encrusted Casket

Home Depot’s most terrifying decoration might have come straight from a funeral home: A six-foot, frighteningly realistic casket. It has wood grain detailing, a gilt, skull-embossed lid, and a hinged top that creaks open – and shut. A base is included so you can position it upright, Dracula-style. LED lights highlight its spooky red interior, which even includes a pillow, presumably so that those inside can rest in peace. 

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