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Halloween in Berlin 

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(Oct. 5, 2023) Love Your Mama is all about living sustainably, so as we enter the season of over-indulgence, Halloween would appear to be a good time to factor in Mother Earth.

That’s why Lizzie Ottenstein, the proprietor of Love You Mama, is hosting her second annual costume swap on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 1-4 p.m at the shop at 2 Stevenson Lane, #1A in Berlin.

Members of the public are invited to go through their closets and attics and find those costumes from Halloweens past and bring them down to Love Your Mama to exchange them for a new-to-you costume for trick or treat on Halloween night.

Ottenstein said last year, most of the costumes were kids costumes, but all are welcome to join in on the sustainable fun.

“Many families brought multiple costumes,” Ottenstein said.

Last year, one of the best costumes was a Rainbow Bright costume that retailed for around $75. There were some great homemade adult costumes too.

She welcomes kids, adults, and pet costumes, homemade or store bought. Accessories are also welcome, as many people dropped in to pick up a few pieces to make their costumes last year.

“Whatever can create a good event and give people a variety to shop from,” Ottenstien said.

“Our mission is to reduce and bring awareness to people to cut back in life. Halloween costumes can be expensive. Big box corporations rent out storefronts for a month. This event gives the community a chance to keep things circular and gives those costumes a second life,” she said.

Costumes that are not taken during the swap will be donated. Last year, Ottenstein donated costumes to Worcester County Youth and Family to distribute to those who might need one.

This is a swap, so it is preferred that people bring costumes to exchange, but if there are enough costumes, Ottenstein is happy to have kids in need of a costume who don’t have one to exchange to pick out something fun. Participation in the costume swap is free.

She does not want anyone to miss out on the fun of Halloween.

Ottenstein does not open her shop doors for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night, but she does hit the streets of Berlin the next morning to pick up candy wrappers that the throngs of costume-clad revelers left behind.

“We do a lot of different swaps in the shop,” she said.

One of the recent ones was a book swap.

Ottenstein is also planning to do some collections over the holidays for families in need. Follow Love your Mama on Facebook to learn more https://www.facebook.com/loveyourmamallc

Those who want to donate candy for the residents in Berlin to hand out to the hundreds of trick-or-treaters that descend on the town for Halloween can drop off bags at the Atlantic Hotel on Main Street.