The Coolest Animatronic At Spirit Halloween This Year

Spirit Halloween is one of the premier stores where you can snag the coolest animatronics for your Halloween display. This year, they have some pretty stellar options.

Spirit Halloween is only open seasonally, popping up in vacant storefronts across the country. Since they're only around once a year for roughly three months at a time, there is a lot of hype built around their displays and options each year.

As you walk in, you are greeted with the year's theme, as well as plenty of spooky Halloween decorations you can litter your lawn with.

From trendy villains to cutting edge at-home animatronic tech, there's a piece of decor for everyone.

I am a person who thoroughly enjoys Halloween, and to that extent, all things scary. I look forward to seeing what Spirit Halloween has to offer each year. I also make sure to visit the store essentially as soon as it opens for the season because I simply cannot wait for all things pumpkins and frights.

On my trip to the Spirit flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, I found what I think is the best decoration the store has to offer this year.

He looks unassuming, right? No hydraulics that could make him lunge at you. Not fully articulated. A silly little lollipop.

Look at those eyes, though. Kind of haunting, huh? They look SO realistic for an animatronic. Well, there's more to it than you'd think.

This spooky jester actually follows you with his gaze.

That's right! Those eyes hold some powerful sensors that can see you and where you're going. As the scary clown goes through lines of crazy dialogue, his head will turn so he can look at you as you move. How freaky!

I find things like this far more unsettling than anything that makes you jump. Jumpscares are cheap thrills. This guy offers good, old-fashioned, skin crawling suspense that will make you ask, "Is that thing LOOKING at me?"

Yes, in a sense, it is. It's like those paintings whose eyes seem to follow you. Except this thing really IS follwing you. With his head, at least.

Nibbles the Clown stands at 6 feet tall and is available both online and in-store. Don't miss him and all the other scary stuff at Spirit Halloween this year!

Here's a list of things to give Trick-Or-Treaters instead of candy this Halloween. These alternatives make the holiday fun for all.

Candy gets all the spotlight on Halloween. As a society, we have placed all the emphasis on TREATS, no tricks, on October 31st. Kids like treats. It's easy to buy a bag of fun-size candy bars and toss 'em in a bowl. You stick that bowl by your front door with a sign that says "Take one, please." Or, you stand there in your doorway, bowl in hand, delegating the sweets to the smiling, toothless faces in costumes.

That's fine, but as a kid, the thrill may be gone. With everyone in the neighborhood giving candy out, kids may want a shake-up. Some pizazz. Something that says, "I'M DIFFERENT!"

Also, kiddos with food allergies have trouble finding candies they can enjoy. They may forgo trick-or-treating altogether, avoiding the disappointment of a bunch of candy they can't eat. And that's SAD. All kids should be able to trick-or-treat and enjoy it!

So, why not hand out non-candy items to Trick-or-Treaters this Halloween? Kids love toys and trinkets as much as they love sugar. Be the house that shakes things up!

It' sticky. It's gooey. It is absolutely perfect for kids. Slime comes in packs of multiple tiny pots that you can hand out on Halloween. Kids will go bananas for slime, it's a huge craze.

Kids are also into all things fidget toys these days. Pop-its, stress balls, or fidget spinners will have kids leaving your porch happily.

You can never go wrong with rubber ducks. They're classic and come in enough of a variety that all kids feel represented. They're fun to play with, collect, or display.

Kids love stickers. Always have. Always will. If you pick up a pack of Halloween stickers, kids will automatically peel them off and wear them on their faces or hands. It's a universal experience and they almost always love it.

Play-Doh is in the same category as slime, only significantly less messy. Parents and kids will be happy with this choice.

Halloween-themed temporary tattoos are always fun for kids. They get in on the fun of tattoos without the commitment. It's another one of those universally-loved kid things.

Silly Bandz ROCK. You can buy a pack and hand out one per kid. They come in fun shapes and kids love to trade them.

Glow sticks are fun and functional. They act as safety measures for kids trick-or-treating out there in the dark. They also amp up any costume, and kids love how magical they seem.

You can always bait and switch, pranking kiddos that come by. Try to hand them something gross like a bag of raw carrots before giving them the real treat. Or, do something a bit spookier, like using a bowl that grabs their hands back. They squeal, but it makes for good memories!

If you're just tired of giving out candy, but aren't worried about being allergy-conscious, try giving out other pre-packaged foods. Snack cakes and small bags of chips are always good bets.

But, if you plan to give out non-candy food, here's what kids hate to receive. Sorry, but if you like giving these things out, you may want to change your ways.

Raisins, apples, popcorn balls, bags of pretzels, and any unwrapped or unpackaged food/candy are NO-GO's. Don't go giving these things out if you don't want to get ambushed by angry toddlers and children.