HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We wish you a very HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

From our Extreme Halloween Family to yours, a SAFE and Very Happy Halloween!

Vincent Price Inducted into the Halloween Hall of Fame

That's right folks, Vincent Price has been inducted into the Halloween Hall of Fame this week. The Halloween Hall of Fame is an organization dedicated to honoring people who have contributed to the popularity and the history behind Halloween, Halloween costuming and other related fields. After the board selects a group of nominees, they open it up to the public to select who gets to be in the Halloween Hall of Fame. This year, Vincent Price was the 2007 winner with 58.8% of the votes, beating the other nominees by a landslide.

Next year's list of nominees include Halloween greats such as:

• Jamie Lee Curtis - Curtis' film debut was in the classic 1978 horror film Halloween, playing the role of Laurie Strode. Curtis was subsequently cast in several horror films, garnering her the title of a "scream queen".


• Ed Wood - Wood is known as the "worst director of all time." He went down in Halloween history with recognition in the Michael Medved book The Golden Turkey Awards.


• Mary Shelley - Shelley wrote the novel "Frankenstein".


• Rick Baker - Baker was the very first recipient of the Oscar for Best Make-Up for "An American Werewolf in London" in 1981.


• Wes Craven - Craven has secured a place in Halloween history as the "king of horror." The director and writer is best known as the creator of many horror films.


• Tim Burton - Burton is an Academy Award-nominated film director, writer and designer known for the quirky and gothic atmosphere of his films.


• Sam Rami - Raimi came onto the radar of film fans with his low-budget, dark humor horror film The Evil Dead (1981), and has since entertained horror audiences with subsequent Evil Dead movies.


• Vlad III The Impaler - Vlad was a Romanian ruler best known for the exceedingly cruel punishments he imposed during his reign and for serving as the primary inspiration for the vampire main character in Bram Stoker's popular Dracula novel.


• Fred Gwynne - Gwynne is best known in Halloween history for his character in "The Munsters" (1964) as the Frankenstein-like patriarch Herman Munster.


• John Carpenter - Carpenter is considered one of the most accomplished and influential horror and science fiction directors in Hollywood. Some of the classic and most famous horror films he has directed: Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983).

Vote for your favorite nominee at http://www.halloweenhalloffame.org/halloween-nominees.html

Its Not Too Late! You Can Still Get Your Costume in Time for Halloween!

Did you wait til the last minute? Just get invited to a Halloween party you didn't know about? No worries!

Delivery on October 30th in time for Halloween is no problem!

There are thousands of costumes still in stock on http://www.anniescostumes.com/. Select "Delivery on Oct 30th" to receive your costumes in time for Halloween. On time delivery is guaranteed! The express shipping charge is just $20.00 for rush delivery if you order today. The Halloweem shipping information page will be updated with any shipping and price changes as it gets closer to Halloween.

You will be able to order all weekend and on Monday up until 6pm EST for Tuesday delivery and you can even order on Tuesday up until 6pm EST for delivery on Halloween day!

Happy Last Minute Costume Shopping and Happy Halloween!

Halloween Safety Tips for Your Pets

NO SCAREDY CATS THIS HALLOWEEN: TOP 10 SAFETY TIPS FOR PET PARENTS

Attention, companion animal caretakers! The ASPCA would like to call your attention to these common-sense cautions that’ll help keep your pets safe and stress-free this time of year.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are ingested.

3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can't see.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.

Red Cross Halloween Safety Tips for Children & Adults

Safety Tips from the Red Cross

With witches, goblins, and super-heroes descending on neighborhoods across America, the American Red Cross offers parents some safety tips to help prepare their children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat holiday. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun.

• Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.


• Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms.


• Cross the street only at corners.


• Don't hide or cross the street between parked cars.


• Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)


• Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.


• Carry a flashlight to light your way.
  
• Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flamable.)


• Visit homes that have the porch light on.


• Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger's house.


• Use face paint rather than masks or things that will cover your eyes. [Or make sure that your mask eye holes are wide enough for visibility.]


• Be cautious of animals and strangers.


• Have a grown-up inspect your treats before eating. And don't eat candy if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.
  

Free Pumpkin Stencil Maker

Design and print your own jack-o'-lantern patterns at Better Homes and Gardens website—FREE. Choose from thousands of possible faces or let them create one for you! In five minutes or less you’ll be ready to print out your pattern and carve a Jack-o-Lantern that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Click here to get started.

And for great Halloween costumes and accessories, remember to visit anniescostumes.com.

Get Into the Spirit of Halloween

It's almost time...Halloween is just less than 1 week away and if you're looking for ideas to get into the Halloween spirit, then visit Annie's Costumes. Over the past month, our ghouls and goblins have been working hard to expand our multimedia offerings by creating another Halloween-themed video and new online Halloween Movie Trivia quiz.

"At Annie's Costumes, we really do love Halloween. So, this year, we created a couple of fun videos and even a Halloween trivia quiz game," said Shari McConahay, Vice President of Marketing for Annie's Costumes. "The latest video, called "Meet the Couple", shows some of our funny and sexy costumes, which are great Halloween costume ideas for adults. The trivia quiz game, which focuses on classic scary movies, will stump even the most knowledgeable Halloween fan and can be passed on to friends via email."

We hope you enjoy all the Halloween fun. Do you have any additional ideas for Annie's Costumes? Send in your comments so we can add more ghoulish tricks and treats to next year's Halloween season.

Second Life Virtual Halloween Party Tonight!

You are cordially invitied to our Second Life Haunted Halloween Party!

It begins at 9:30PM EST (6:30PM Second Life Time) Tuesday, October 23, 2007 in http://www.secondlife.com/. There will be plenty of tricks and treats. In the virtual Haunted House you can experience trap doors, secret portals, catacombs, blood on the walls and all the other fun things you would experience in a real life Haunted House. Search for costumes or haunted house in world and you will find us!

While at the party, make sure to pick up a costume for your Second Life Avatar at Annies Costumes' Virtual Costume Store. There are many fun virtual costumes: vampires, pirates, wizards and princesses! Deck out your avatars for Halloween!

The third attraction in Second Life is the virtual museum for the Halloween Hall of Fame.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World

Looking for some Halloween fun for the little ones? Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL is just the Halloween Party for you!

Event Highlights:

• Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade!
  



• Trick-or-treating throughout Magic Kingdom® Park at numerous locations.
  



• Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular — where the Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky!
  



• Characters decked out in their favorite costumes — so wear yours, too.
  



• Some of the most popular Magic Kingdom® attractions.

Buy tickets online* now or call (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639)†

See the Walt Disney website for details.

Fantasy Fest Costume Contests 2007

TravelVideoTV.com reports on this year's Fantasy Fest festivities:

Entries in previous years have included a group of gigantic dancing Chinese takeout containers and a sea hag driving a 10-foot-tall blue and pink sequined replica steam engine, and competitors in the 2007 Pretenders in Paradise costume competition are expected to dream up equally elaborate and flamboyant ensembles.

A highlight of Key West's annual 10-day Fantasy Fest celebration, Pretenders in Paradise is to take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, on an outdoor stage beside Key West Harbor at the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa, 1 Duval St. The costume competition is celebrating its 25th year in 2007, and features a theme of "Somewhere Under the Rainbow" to complement the overall Fantasy Fest theme of "Gnomes, Toads & White Rabbit Tea Parties."

Each year, Pretenders draws over-the-top costume entries ranging from solo efforts to multiperson collaborations. Entrants put on full-scale performances, complete with lights and music, to entertain standing-room-only crowds.As well as being a lavish display of the costumer's art, the contest can be extremely lucrative for its winners. Judges award cash prizes totaling $10,000 in categories for professional, amateur and group entries.

Tickets for Pretenders are $28 per person, available beginning Oct. 1 at the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa.Exotic as it is, Pretenders is just one of Fantasy Fest's lively lineup of masking and costuming challenges. Set for Oct. 19-28, the festival offers creative spirits a wide variety of opportunities to explore their taste for glitz and glitter, offbeat originality and exuberant design excess. For example, "Mad Hatters" can strut their stuff at the 25th annual Headdress Ball. Set for 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, the Headdress Ball traditionally draws entrants sporting elaborate masks, cowls, bonnets and other headgear -- all vying for cash prizes awarded by local celebrity judges.Themed "Shrooms, Blooms & Mad Hatter Plumes," the gala is to take place under a gigantic tent in the parking lot of the Southernmost Hotel, 1319 Duval St.Between headdress presentations, attendees can enjoy a nightclub-style talent revue featuring top local entertainers. Tickets for the headdress happening are available at www.keystix.com

At least 10 other costume competitions also are scheduled for Fantasy Fest 2007, including the annual "Red Night" Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Fogarty's, 227 Duval St.; and the Southernmost Masked Mania Costume Contest at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, poolside at the Southernmost Hotel, 1319 Duval St.

For more on the happenings this week at Fantasy Fest, check out the official Fantasy Fest website: www.fantasyfest.net

Marvel Costume Contest Ends Oct 22nd

This article comes from the Comicbox Web Site:

Marvel tells us: Do you spend every Halloween dressed up as your favorite Marvel super hero or villain. Well, Marvel wants to see you in your costume and they’re handing out prizes to the best-dressed Marvel fans. All you have to do is head over to www.marvel.com/costumecontest right now to enter Marvel’s Costume Contest!
The deadline for submissions is October 22. Then, from October 23 through October 29, Marvel fans will be able to vote on Marvel.com for their favorite Marvel Costume Contest entry. Then, before you go trick-or-treating, check Marvel.com on Halloween day to see if you’re one of the winners of Marvel’s First Annual Costume Contest and Marvel Costume Contest Voter Sweepstakes!
The Grand Prize Winner will receive a personalized “handbook style” page to appear in a Marvel comic book and be spotlighted in a feature article on Marvel.com along with a signed Captain America Omnibus by Ed Brubaker! Plus, one randomly selected voter will win a signed Captain America Omnibus by Ed Brubaker for helping judge the competition.
What are you waiting for?? Grab your Marvel costume, your digital camera and head to Marvel.com right now to enter Marvel’s First Annual Costume Contest!
For complete rules visit www.marvel.com/costumecontest/

Costumes for Kids In Iraq

I came across this article last month about Hunter Hotaling, a 6 year old boy [pictured above]who undertook the challenge of sending 100 superhero costumes to the children of Iraq. Even though, they did not ask me, I love this idea and sent some super hero costumes to help out Hunter on his mission.

Hunter's mission is to help his father, Capt. Andrew Hotaling, and the captain's military transition team bring smiles to the faces of Iraqi children.

According to information provided in a press release, Hunter's endeavor began when he asked his mother, Mary Anne, if he could join the Army. Hunter told his mom that he did not want to fight, he said he wanted to be the "chore guy."

After receiving an e-mail from his dad to send leftover Halloween costumes to Iraq, Hunter set a goal to gather 100 costumes.

His mom said e-mails were sent out across the nation and within a month Hunter met his goal.

I am happy to know that we helped Hunter and in turn, helped the children in Iraq by bringing them the joy of fantasy and letting them know that they are super too!

Halloween Recipes From the Food Network

This weekend, the Food Network started showing their Halloween specials. The shows are so much fun, not only do they showcase great recipes and help you create a menu for your Halloween Party, but all the Food Network stars are in fabulous costumes! You are sure to find some great Halloween party menu ideas both on the shows and on the Food Network web site. Of course, you will find plenty of recipes for Halloween sweets and treats, but also check out the savory Halloween dishes, like Emeril's "Vampire Chicken on a Stake with blood wine sauce", Paula Dean's Sea Creature Soup, Rachael Ray's Yummy Mummy appetizer, creepy cocktails, and pumpkin recipes. If you are in need of visual help and miss the shows on tv, you can see the videos online.

Halloween Makeup Tutorial DVD

This is a demo of the full length DVD available at www.stageandtheatermakeup.com/beautycastdvd.htm

The full length DVD gives you step by step, visual instructions on how to get the best sexy look to go with you Halloween costume.

For Halloween Makeup: www.stageandtheatermakeup.com/halloweenmakeup.htm

13 Days of Halloween on the Sci Fi Channel

Starts Tonight!
Make sure to get you fill of horror movies this October. The Sci Fi Channel is featuring 13 Days of Halloween with a horror movie each day. Many of the movies they are featuring are never seen before Sci Fi Channel originals.

Meet the Couple Video Featuring Sexy Couples Halloween Costumes

For more information on any of the couples costumes featured in this funny video, see The Funny Couples Costume Page on AnniesCostumes.com.

For more costume videos, visit The Extreme Halloween Channel on You Tube.

30 Days of Night Vampire Movie

Just in time to get into the spooky Halloween spirit! 30 Days of Night opens today and is being called "The Best Vampire Movie in Decades".



Does the movie live up to its billing?

Best Horor Movies of All Time

Check out MovieFone.com for their Countdown of the Best Horror Movies of all time. There is a new movie each day, with the #1 movie announced on Halloween.

Did your favorites make the list?

You can vote for the scariest movie character of all time in Extreme Halloween's Scary Halloween Survey.

Play the Halloween Movie Trivia Game!

Have fun playing our new Halloween Movie Trivia Game. Six tricky trivia questions! How many can you get right? Do you know how Freddy Kruger's mother died? Play to find out! Then you can send the game to your friends - share the Halloween fun!

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights

It's that time again!

Freddy Krueger, Jason and Leatherface join forces at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights® during the following dates: Oct. 11-14, 18-21, 24-28, 31 & Nov. 1-3.

Come face-to-face with three of the biggest names in horror at Universal Orlando® Resort's 17th annual Halloween Horror Nights®, Amusement Today's 2006 Golden Ticket Award winner for Best Halloween Event.

Get tickets now.

For great Halloween costumes and accessories, visit Anniescostumes.com. (Remember, you're not allowed to wear costumes inside the park, however.)

Sweet and Spooky Halloween Drink Recipes

This fun article on Halloween Drinks from Better Homes and Gardens magazine’s website will help you add spark to a Halloween party with some unusual punches and beverages.


Creepy concoctions include: Ghoul’s Punch (complete with floating frozen ‘hands’!), Haunting Hot Chocolate, Spritzed Fruit Drink with Wiggle Worm Ice, Blue Slime Sipper and more.


Check them all out here.


For great Halloween costumes and accessories, visit Anniescostumes.com, too.

Time is Running Out to Buy Your Halloween Costume Online

It's crunch time folks! If you still haven't gotten ordered your Halloween costume online, you better do it soon. Here are some tips for online shoppers ordering last minute Halloween costumes.

First, when ordering online Halloween costumes, make sure that they are purchased from a Halloween store that keeps a real-time inventory. If their inventory isn't up-to-date, you may order a costume that's not in stock and not get your costume in time for Halloween. At Annie's Costumes, our automated inventory manager informs shoppers immediately if the online Halloween costume they're interested in is out of stock.

Second, be aware of the shipping time lines. Since Halloween is on a Wednesday this year, if you need a costume for celebrations the weekend before, place your order through a online Halloween costume store by Thursday, Oct. 25, selecting next-day delivery. For delivery by Halloween night, place your order for next day delivery on October 30th. Make sure to check the store's website for cut off times and details. Annie's has a variety of shipping options available and will be updated daily at www.anniescostumes.com/order.htm.

We have thousands of costumes still available for adults, children and babies for last minute Halloween shoppers. Have fun selecting your online Halloween costume!

Blog Reader's Special Giveaway! The Nightmare Factory

We really appreciate all of our blog readers and hope that you enjoy the content we put together for your reading enjoyment! In appreciation, we have a special giveaway for the first 5 blog readers who leave a comment letting us know you would like our giveaway item. And what are we giving away you ask?

A FREE copy of The Nightmare Factory book from Fox Atom Comics!

This is an awesome new graphic book based on the short stories of Thomas Ligotti. It is suggested for mature readers, so you must be 18 years or older to qualify.

From the back cover:

Enter the universe of renowned horror master Thomas Ligotti - a universe where clowns take part in a sinister winter festival, a scheming girlfriend makes reality itself come unraveled, a crumbling asylum's destruction unleashes a greater horror, and a mysterious Teatro comes and goes.

In the tradition of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, Ligotti's sophisticated tales of terror take us to places few would suspect exist, where madness is only a though away. The Nightmare Factory adapts four of Ligotti's most chilling tales into fine graphic literature by famed writers and artists Stuart Morre, Joe Harris,Colleen Doran (The Sandman), Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night), Ted McKeever (Batman), and Michael Gaydos (Alias). Featuring all-new introductions to each story by Thomas Ligotti.

I will add posts to let the winners know how to contact me. The book will be mailed to you free of any charge - ENJOY!

Top Halloween Costumes for Boys and Girls...YouTube Style

Extreme Halloween Network gives a visual tour of the top ten Halloween costumes for boys and girls on YouTube.com. Inspired by movie blockbusters and popular TV shows, these awesome Halloween costumes include classic favorites and newcomers such as Jack Sparrow, Star Wars, the Power Rangers, Shrek, Spiderman, and Batman.

"We're excited to be able to provide a visual tour of the Top Ten Halloween costumes this year," said Shari McConahay, Marketing Director for the Extreme Halloween Network. "Seeing the kids Halloween costumes from all angles really helps parents and kids decided what they want to dress up as for Halloween this year."

The top ten Halloween costumes for boys and girls were determined by sales trends and an annual survey, voted on by parents and children around the country. Visit http://www.extremehalloween.com/surveyform.htm to vote in this year's poll.

Think Pink Costumes for the Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we are honoring all women who have battled or are in the battle against breast cancer. We have put together a great line of pink costumes and costume accessories for our Think Pink Costumes for the Cure promotion. For each of our think pink costumes sold in the month of October, 10% of the sale will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. You can help us and celebrate Halloween all at the same time. Visit: www.anniescostumes.com/thinkpinkcostumes.htm

Thank you for your help and support!

Annie's Costumes Launches Second Life Store

Annie's Costumes just launched a virtual haunted house and costume shop in Second Life. Avitars are able to shop for costumes and then be spooked as they walk through the virtual haunted house.

This move only increases the web presence of this amazing company. “Going virtual just seemed like the next step for our costume shop,” states Shari McConahay, Marketing Director for Annie's Costumes, “We worked closely with Ten Golden Rules and LeftBank Studios to design a Second Life costume and clothing line that would reflect the true spirit of Halloween. All the classic Halloween costumes are represented from vampires to witches, from pirates to princesses.”

Halloween Safety Tips

• With Halloween fast approaching, here are some great Halloween Safety Tips from the Los Angeles Fire Department:
  

BEFORE HALLOWEEN:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
  Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.


• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.


• Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic makeup or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.


• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.


• Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.


• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.


• Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical lightsticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.


• Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.


• Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.


• Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.


• Learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.
  

WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING:

• A Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.

Remind Trick-or-Treaters:

• By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.


• Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.


• Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.


• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.


• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.


• Never cut across yards or use alleys.


• Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.


• Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.


• Always walk. Never run across a street.


• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).


• Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.


• Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will.


• Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.


• No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.


• Law Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
  

AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:

• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.


• Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.


• Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.

Find a perfect (and safe!) Halloween costume and accessories at Anniescostumes.com.

'Family Guy' meets 'Star Wars'

According to an article on the Family Guy Star Wars Season Premiere, The Force is with "Family Guy."

Fox's animated hit will kick off its fifth season this fall with an hourlong episode that retells the "Star Wars" saga using "Family Guy" characters.

Lucasfilm has blessed the event, which will have the Griffin family acting out all the key scenes and narrative from "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope," the first installment of the franchise. "

Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane is a major "Star Wars" fan and was personally involved in getting Lucasfilm on board, an exec from 20th Century Fox TV said. Family patriarch Peter Griffin will play the role of Han Solo, while mom Lois will appear as Princess Leia. Evil baby Stewie will be Darth Vader, natch.

Brian the family dog will serve as Chewbacca, while son Chris is Luke. Robots R2-D2 and C-3PO will be handled by Cleveland and Quagmire, respectively, while creepy old guy Herbert plays Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Plot of the episode has the Griffin family stuck at home during a blackout. With no TV to entertain them, Peter decides to tell a story -- leading to the "Star Wars" flashback.

Planning for the seg began more than a year ago. MacFarlane was set to show off footage from the episode at the "Star Wars" mega-convention in Los Angeles. MacFarlane and the "Family Guy" writers have shown a strong interest in "Star Wars," serving up several mini-spoofs of the franchise in years past.

In addition to the "Star Wars" tribute, "Family Guy" will mark its 100th episode next season with a two-part special set to air in November.

Show your own tribute to Star Wars this Halloween with a cool Star Wars costume from anniescostumes.com.

Halloween Hall of Fame

Halloween Hall of Fame opened its "creaking" doors this week. Honoring the extraordinary folks who make Halloween popular, the Halloween Hall of Fame recognizes the amazing talents of Bobby "Boris" Pickett, Lon Chaney Jr, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Elvira "Mistress of the Night".

The inspiration for the Halloween Hall of Fame actually came from Harold Maxwell, founder of Annie's Costumes. After hearing that Bobby "Boris" Pickett passed away, Harold remarked, "He really should be in the Halloween Hall of Fame." And when he did a little research and found out that there wasn't one, he helped form a Board of Directors to get the Halloween Hall of Fame going.

The exciting part of the Halloween Hall of Fame is that the public gets to express their opinion on who should be in it. Check out the list of nominees and vote your favorite celebrity into the Halloween Hall of Fame.

Classics Are Back in Halloween Costumes

If you're looking for Halloween costume ideas, you might want to look at classic Halloween costumes.

Pirates of the Caribbean series has sparked a resurgence of pirate mania. Halloween shoppers have been searching online to find the perfect Halloween pirate costume. National Retail Federation rates pirate costumes are being second top choice amongst adult Halloween costumes. Pirates score well across the board on our own Halloween costume survey.

Other classic Halloween costume favorites are vampires and witches, according to the National Retail Federation.