Spirit Christmas Is Opening in 15 States This Year (Is Yours One?)

The leaves may not have fully changed color yet, but you might already have Christmas on your mind.

If you're looking to keep more of your money, Spirit Christmas is expanding this year, giving you even more places to shop for seasonal decor. The retail chain is the holiday-focused offshoot of Spirit Halloween, bringing seasonal decorations and festive finds for a range of different budgets. 

Now in its third season, the retailer is set to have 44 locations across 15 states this season, transforming 39 of its Halloween stores into holiday destinations. Here's everything you need to know about where and when you'll be able to shop these pop-up shops.

What is Spirit Christmas?

Spirit first tested its Christmas stores way back in 1990, under the chain's founder, Joseph Marver.

However, it wasn't until 2024 that the company, now owned by Spencer Gifts, officially launched the concept, opening 10 locations in the Northeast.

"Our goal is to create a festive retail experience that captures the spirit of the season, much like we do for Halloween," a Spirit spokesperson said at the time.

The stores are intended to be a one-stop destination for all things Christmas, stocked with everything from holiday décor to inflatables, animatronics, gifts, apparel, stocking stuffers, and exclusive seasonal merchandise.

Most locations open just after Halloween, allowing the chain to transform its Halloween shops into winter wonderlands without needing to scout new locations or secure new leases.

Where is Spirit Christmas opening in 2026?

This holiday season, Spirit Christmas will have 44 locations spread across 15 states.

The retailer's footprint will spread across the Northeast into the Great Lakes region down through the Mid-Atlantic and into the southeastern portion of the country.

States getting a store include: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

When are the Spirit Christmas locations opening?

The vast majority of Spirit Christmas stores will open in the first week of November, giving the individual locations time to transition from Halloween to the holiday season.

However, in a break with tradition, a select number of stores will be opening on October 17.

These stores include:

• Winter Garden, Florida
• Youngstown, Ohio
• Mays Landing, New Jersey
• Riverdale, New Jersey
• Marlton, New Jersey

Customers attending the grand opening celebrations at any of these locations have a chance to receive a surprise, according to the retailer.

Spirit Christmas has a unique retail model

Spirit Christmas' rapid expansion could be attributed, in part, to its unique retail model.

Instead of committing to permanent locations, the company leases retail spaces for a limited period, often in shopping centers or standalone buildings that recently lost a tenant. Historically, it's taken over spaces left behind by struggling or bankrupt companies like Forever 21, Stein Mart, Big Lots, and Bealls.

This sort of lease-takeover model allows the chain to secure space quickly without requiring it to build new stores from the ground up, which means it could open new locations faster than other major competitors.

What does Spirit Christmas sell?

Spirit Christmas sells a wide variety of holiday-themed items from home decor to lawn ornaments to apparel.

The retailer described itself as being "filled with conversation-starting white elephant gifts, crowd-pleasing games, festive décor, and unique ornaments, [offering] something for every celebration, from family game nights to tree-trimming traditions."

Many locations also include interactive elements, and even host visits from Santa Claus, although it's unclear whether that will be the case again this year.

How to know if a Spirit Christmas will be opening near you

With stores in 15 states, the odds are decent that there will be a Spirit Christmas location opening near you.

But if not, there's an easy way to keep tabs on planned openings in the coming years.

The retailer's store locator is updated often and is the only authoritative list of current and upcoming locations.

Bottom line

For the Christmas-obsessed, Spirit's Christmas pop-ups are a great addition to the retail lineup.

Even if they're temporary and won't be contributing to the economy long-term, they do a lot to improve the overall feeling of the season.

Kym Sarkos, Executive Vice President of Spirit, put it best in a recent statement.

"The holidays are so much more than what's under the tree. They're about the traditions families return to year after year and the magic of creating new ones," she said. "Spirit Christmas was created to celebrate that feeling. From decorating your home and trimming the tree to family game nights and white elephant exchanges, we're proud to offer a holiday destination where guests can discover new favorites and create memories that become part of their own holiday traditions."

So, if you feel like you've exhausted shopping hacks for Walmart and Target, it might be worth checking out the closest location in the coming months.

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